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Consumers Growing Demand for Improved Cryptocurrency Payment Platforms on the Rise

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A recent article analyzing Point of Sale (PoS) cryptocurrency systems had the following headline: “Analysis: The Rise of Point of Sale Cryptocurrency Systems – Demand for solutions has grown as more and more retailers start accepting cryptocurrency payments.” The article continued: “During the past month, amidst the usual bombardment of cryptocurrency and blockchain-related stories, something caught this author’s tired eyes. In the space of two weeks, four articles related to cryptocurrency point of sale (PoS) systems cropped up across the industry’s media outlets. For cryptocurrency fanboys, PoS systems will be old news. But though the technology may have been around, at least in cryptocurrency terms, for a while, it remains – globally – largely unused.” The article continued: “That could be about to change due to a confluence of factors. Even taking into account the recent plumment in bitcoin’s value (in 2018), the cryptocurrency market is much less volatile than it was 12 months ago. That makes payments a more viable option for both payment service providers (PSPs) and merchants. At the same time, cryptocurrency is now something most people are familiar with. True they may not hold any, but the market boom at the start of this year took cryptocurrency from being a niche industry to something the ‘average joe’ is familiar with. Finally, and on a purely pragmatic level, there are now a number of companies offering the means by which businesses can start selling their products via cryptocurrency.  Active Companies in the industry include NetCents Technology Inc.(CSE:NC) (OTC:NTTCF), Square, Inc. (NYSE: SQ), PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: PYPL), Xunlei Limited (NASDAQ: XNET), HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd. (TSX-V: HIVE) (OTC: HVBTF).

The article concluded with: “Bitcoin may have taken a beating (in the last quarter of 2018) but an overall trend towards lower volatility, and a reduction in the number of get-rich-quick traders is a positive sign that cryptocurrencies are starting to behave like regular markets and not Ponzi schemes. But if they really want to be currencies, not just a strange blend of commodity and security, they must have some practical use. PoS systems are a step in that direction. Not only will they allow existing holders of cryptocurrencies to start spending their holdings, but they will also continue to normalize the market and attract newcomers to it. On top of that, with no chargebacks and lower transaction fees, they could also offer retailers better value for money.”

NetCents Technology Inc. (CSE:NC) (OTCPK:NTTCF) (Frankfurt:26N) BREAKING NEWS:  NetCents Technology is pleased to issue a letter to shareholders from the CEO, Clayton Moore.  Dear Fellow Shareholders – Today, I am pleased to provide you with our view on the cryptocurrency sector which has seen a rebound as well as to highlight a few of the key strategic successes that has enabled NetCents to continue be a leader in the market.

Over the last few years, the cryptocurrency market has gone through its ups and downs and some would say even profound changes. In late 2017 and early 2018, investors and retail banks were heavily investing into the crypto space and in many instances their decisions were based on hype alone. The adoption of regulations in the crypto sector and normal market maturation all worked in concert to create a bear market and a prolonged “crypto winter”.  No one predicted the cryptocurrency sector would go through such a large correction nor as rapidly as it did.

We have consistently aligned ourselves with key people and companies in the payment and crypto sectors while always maintaining a Plan B in our back pocket. This approach has allowed the Company to  keep moving forward  through some very challenging times.  There is every indication the crypto winter is in indeed thawing. Aside from the price appreciation of Bitcoin which has rebounded from a low of approximately $3,200 USD in early December to where it is today hovering around the $5,300 USD mark, the future for crypto-currencies as a viable mainstream payment option looks very promising. Amazon and PayPal are both now seriously looking at accepting crypto currency and for either of these two entities to do so, will greatly influence the overall acceptance and usage.

The questions which I am asked most often by investors, shareholders and other stakeholders are in regard to share structure, access to growth capital and revenues. To date, the company has approximately 56 million shares issued and outstanding on a fully diluted basis, which, when compared to other participants in the crypto sector is often less than half. Regarding the issuance of stock options, I would like to mention that we seek to incentivize valued employees currently working hard to bring success to NetCents, aligning their incentives with our shareholders. It is precisely this structure and approach which allows the company to raise capital quickly from key strategic investors as needed, often within days.

The challenge which was before the Company was to introduce a brand-new product into the marketplace, as well as a complete overhaul of how payments are conducted and perceived. We are validating the use of cryptocurrency by working with, not against existing payment infrastructures and legacy platforms by embedding our technology within the traditional payments space and distribution channels with Independent Sales Organizations (ISO’s), payment gateways, Independent Software Vendors (ISV’s), and technology companies who work with merchants on a day-to-day basis and who intimately understand the requirements.

We identified the quickest way to market and to mass adoption was to have NetCents as the underlying technology that powers all cryptocurrency transactions. We have purposefully aligned ourselves with those payment partners who understand that cryptocurrency is coming and want to integrate a crypto solution into their existing processes and technology, so the transition from traditional payments to cryptocurrency payments is as seamless as possible. Read this in its entirety and more news for NetCents athttps://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-nc/    

Other recent developments in the tech industry include:

PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: PYPL) has joined Cambridge Blockchain’s Inc. Series A funding round. With this investment, the two companies will explore potential collaborations to leverage blockchain technology.  “Our service helps streamline digital identity compliance while giving customers control over their identity data,” said Matthew Commons, Cambridge Blockchain’s CEO. “We are honored by PayPal’s vote of confidence, and we look forward to their support and guidance.”

Square, Inc. (NYSE: SQ) recently announced that it will release financial results for the first quarter of 2019 on May 1, 2019, after market close. Square will also host a conference call and earnings webcast at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time / 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the same day to discuss these results. The live webcast of the call can be accessed from Square’s Investor Relations website. A replay will be available at the same website following the call.

Square, Inc. revolutionized payments in 2009 with Square Reader, making it possible for anyone to accept card payments using a smartphone or a tablet computer. Today, Square provides tools that empower businesses and individuals to participate in the economy. This cohesive ecosystem of managed payments, hardware, point-of-sale software, and other business services helps sellers manage inventory, locations, and employees; access financing; engage buyers; and grow sales.

Xunlei Limited (NASDAQ: XNET) a leading innovator in shared cloud computing and blockchain technology in China, recently announced that the Company has cooperated with the Copyright Protection Center of China (“CPCC”) to build a blockchain-powered digital copyright identifier (“DCI”) system.

CPCC, established in 1998, is the national copyright public service institution supervised directly by the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of the People’s Republic of China (National Copyright Administration of China). CPCC has a DCI system, which plays a significant role in the core infrastructure of the national internet copyright public services.

HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd. (TSX-V: HIVE.V) (OTCQX: HVBTF) recently stated that on April 19, 2019 Genesis Mining (“Genesis”), the largest shareholder of the Company, holding approximately 26.3% of the Company’s outstanding shares, has requisitioned a meeting of shareholders for the purpose of removing directors independent of Genesis and electing a board of directors, the majority of whom would be senior officers and employees of Genesis. On April 20, 2019 , the HIVE Board met and appointed an independent Special Committee of the Board to deal with the requisition and related contractual disputes between Genesis and HIVE which gave rise to the requisition. The Special Committee will act in the interests of all HIVE shareholders and the Special Committee will set a date for the requisitioned meeting to be held within four months of proper delivery of the requisition notice.

DISCLAIMER: FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates FinancialNewsMedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security.  FNM’s market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material. All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult =a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks. All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release.  FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers. Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks. For current services performed FNM has been compensated forty nine hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press releases issued by NetCents Technology Inc. by a non-affiliated third party. FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

Blockchain

Supply Chain Finance Market Forecast to Reach $9.4 Billion by 2029: Increasing Emphasis on Sustainable Sourcing

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Global Supply Chain Finance Market

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Blockchain

Web3 Startups Raise Nearly $1.9B in Q1 2024 Despite Overall Downtrend in Crypto VC Interest

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Venture capital funding for cryptocurrency and blockchain projects has seen a notable resurgence in the first quarter of 2024, marking its first quarterly rise since 2021. Crunchbase data released today indicates that Web3 startups secured nearly $1.9 billion in funding across 346 deals during this period. This represents a substantial 58% increase from the previous quarter, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the ongoing downward trend in overall crypto VC interest.

The recent surge in funding can be attributed to investors adopting a more long-term perspective on Web3, as opposed to the hype-driven “tourist investors” predominant in recent years. Chris Metinko, the author of the report, notes that investors are shifting their focus to the AI sector, indicating a change in investment strategy. There is a growing interest in supporting the foundational infrastructure of the decentralized internet, rather than solely concentrating on crypto wallets and lending platforms, which attracted significant investments during the peak period of 2021 to 2022.

While large funding rounds were relatively uncommon in Q1, several notable investments stood out. Exohood Labs, a company integrating AI, quantum computing, and blockchain, secured a remarkable $112 million seed round at a valuation of $1.4 billion. EigenLabs, an Ether token “restaking” platform, raised $100 million in a Series B round led by a16z crypto. Additionally, Freechat, a decentralized social network leveraging blockchain technology, secured $80 million in a Series A round. These investments, among others, contributed to the increase in valuations and the emergence of four new Web3 unicorns in Q1.

Despite the recent progress, the future trajectory of Web3 remains uncertain. Metinko suggests that the next few quarters will be pivotal in determining the industry’s direction. While investors anticipate a rebound in investment as the decentralized internet evolves, it may take another year for venture capital activity to stabilize after the exuberance of 2021. Factors such as the approval of U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds and the upcoming Bitcoin halving could also influence the market, given the rising prices of Bitcoin and Ether.

A noteworthy example of significant funding in the Web3 space is Monad Labs’ recent successful funding round, which secured $225 million led by Paradigm. Monad Labs is a layer-1 blockchain compatible with Ethereum, offering faster transaction processing. This funding round harkens back to the golden era of crypto funding in 2021-2022, when L1 solutions attracted substantial investments.

Earlier this year, Balance, a digital asset custodian based in Canada, announced that it had once again reached $2 billion in assets under custody (AUC) amidst the recent market recovery. Similarly, Korea Digital Asset (KODA), the largest institutional crypto custody service in South Korea, has experienced remarkable growth in crypto assets under its custody, expanding by nearly 248% in the second half of 2023.

Analysts at Bernstein Research project that crypto funds could reach an impressive $500 billion to $650 billion within the next five years, representing a significant leap from the current valuation of approximately $50 billion. This forecast underscores the growing optimism and potential for substantial growth within the crypto industry in the coming years.

Source: cryptonews.com

The post Web3 Startups Raise Nearly $1.9B in Q1 2024 Despite Overall Downtrend in Crypto VC Interest appeared first on HIPTHER Alerts.

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Blockchain

ASIC cracks down on blockchain mining firms

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Three blockchain mining companies – NGS Crypto, NGS Digital, and NGS Group – along with their directors, Brett Mendham, Ryan Brown, and Mark Ten Caten, are facing legal action from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) for allegedly operating without a license, in violation of Australia’s Corporations Act. ASIC initiated legal proceedings against these entities on April 9, citing concerns about their non-compliance with financial regulations and their solicitation of Australian investors.

According to ASIC, the NGS companies promoted blockchain mining packages with fixed-rate returns to Australian investors, encouraging the transfer of funds from regulated superannuation funds to self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) for conversion into cryptocurrency. Approximately 450 Australians invested a total of around USD 41 million in these packages, raising concerns about potential financial losses.

The legal action filed by ASIC alleges that the companies violated section 911A of the Corporations Act, which prohibits companies from providing financial services without a valid Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL). ASIC is seeking interim and final court orders to prohibit the NGS companies from offering financial services in Australia without an AFSL.

ASIC Chair Joe Longo emphasized the importance of investors carefully considering the risks before investing in crypto-related products through their SMSFs. Longo stated that ASIC’s actions send a message to the crypto industry about the regulator’s commitment to ensuring compliance with regulations and protecting consumers.

In a separate development, the Federal Court appointed receivers for the digital currency assets associated with the NGS companies and their directors to safeguard these assets amid concerns about the risk of dissipation. Mendham was also issued a travel restriction order, preventing him from leaving Australia.

While a court date for the proceedings has not been set, ASIC’s investigation is ongoing, with the regulator continuing to gather evidence and build its case. It is worth noting that the investigated companies share a similar name with NGS Super, a legitimate Australian pensions provider, leading to potential confusion among investors. NGS Super clarified that it is not involved in selling cryptocurrency or related products and has taken legal action to protect its trademark and members’ interests.

Source: iclg.com

The post ASIC cracks down on blockchain mining firms appeared first on HIPTHER Alerts.

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