Blockchain
Upco International Inc. Letter to Shareholders December 23, 2020
Vancouver, British Columbia–(Newsfile Corp. – December 23, 2020) – Upco International Inc. (CSE: UPCO) (OTC Pink: UCCPF) (FSE: U06) (“Upco”) is pleased to send an update to all Upco stakeholders on what has been achieved in 2020 and the next steps. These documents can be accessed from the SEDAR web site at www.sedar.com.
In July 2020, we announced the new strategy defined by the new Management appointed a few months earlier. We want to inform all Shareholders about the new plan and the strategy of Upco by emphasizing the determination to focus on the right priorities and the revenues which will flow in the company from now on in order to improve the business operations and ultimately, maximize shareholder value.
We would like to review what has been achieved by Upco during the last six months and provide an outlook for the next year, taking into account both internal developments and external conditions.
The highlighted areas of considerations are the following:
- Market Opportunities & Business Model
- M&A
- Restructuring & Financial control
- Sales and Marketing
Market Opportunities & Business Model
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the daily life of people everywhere. The Pandemic has emphasised our reliance on technology. Some of the changes, however, such as the accelerated shift from in-store purchasing to online and digital, present tremendous new opportunities. Following these recent shifts in consumer behaviour which we believe to be permanent, we have re-evaluated and shifted our efforts and priorities accordingly. Digital transformation is sweeping through all industries. Consumers have squeezed years-worth of adoption of apps and online banking into just a few months.
Upco’s new business model is based on building a Federated Business Platform for the Telco-Digital space. While such platforms are becoming the predominant business model in the digital era, the application to the Telco business is very limited worldwide, and new services are gaining momentum. Upco’s model responds to an opportunity to leverage this approach and play a lead role.
M&A
Under the Federated Carrier Program (FCP), the first acquisition has been completed on November 21st, acquiring Equinox Group, which has given us an initial footprint in the Americas that is a very strategic for Upco for both areas’ telecom and digital. The second one is in the pipeline, focusing on Asia, and this will complete the first milestone of our Strategy and will allow us to benefit from a consolidated over ten years market position in the region Asia-Pacific. The new target is fully complementary to our subsidiaries in the wholesale Telecom market; Additional targets will be considered based on the financial resource availability and the geographic location with the objective to create a long term conditions to grow up in the telecom arena.
This strategy will create a solid Revenues source that will enable Upco to accelerate its goal and ambitions.
Restructuring & Financial control
With regard the Financial Statements, the main focus of the new Management has been on corporate restructuring, reducing the liabilities with an excellent result by decreasing US$ 351.868 in 2020 of work representing the 27 % in Q3 comparing the Year End Financial Statements 2019. All efforts dedicated to the restructuring and M&A without new capitals are the fundamental objectives achieved by the new management to start the strategy of Upco. Our ambitious plans are premised on our ability to continue funding our business. In 2020, we undertook cost cutting measures. Our disciplined approach to costs will continue through 2021. Surely the new situation will not avoid the need of additional financial resources to support the short- and medium-term growth of our targeted ambitious growth plan in the next 2 years.
Sales & Marketing
Relevant goals are in the agenda of Upco as outcome of the work done in 2020, considered a transition year. Upco will support the overall sales strategy by obtaining revenue coming from the telecom operation. To scale up our sales and marketing activities on a bigger scale, new partners will be affiliated in the Federated Business Platform; Marketing resources will be necessary to achieve the telecom and digital sales growth which could come only from the new investments and push during the next years our Digital app Upco Pay.
The Board have been showing all Upco stakeholders, “we think differently” and pursue major objectives and opportunities. We have been developing new revenue strategies and technologies for Upco that we believe can be scaled globally and in which we can achieve a higher value in the following years. To get there, we will require all present shareholders to support us by attracting new investors who believe in our plan and execution.
On Management side, we will continue to be nimble and adapt our business model as market conditions evolve. We remain optimistic that these avenues will support our plans. With a smaller nimbler and more focused team we have achieved a great deal and proven to ourselves we are more than capable of thriving in this new economy.
UPCO’s founder and CEO Andrea Pagani says: “Our stock and the overall market have had extreme fluctuations due to multiple factors. While we typically do not discuss the performance of our stock price in our press releases or communications with shareholders, this year has been far from typical and we decided to make an exception.
I would like to thank everybody for the incredible support in the Market recently and we look forward together to have a positive impact really soon; I wish you all a beautiful Merry Christmas extended to all your family.”
About Upco International Inc.
Upco International Inc. (CSE: UPCO) is a Vancouver and New York City based telecom and digital services company founded in 2014 that provides price competitive, high-quality and privacy-protected telecom and communication payment social platform in niche markets globally.
The Company operates primarily in the telecommunication industry as a global telecom carrier within the international VoIP (voice over IP) wholesale business with a current focus on wholesale international long-distance traffic termination (the Wholesale Telecom business unit or B2B vertical of the business).
Complementary to the goals in its B2B segment, the Company targets to provide subscribers of partner global and local telecom companies reasonable pricing on high-quality on-network international calls, while still offering its users free texting, international airtime top-up capabilities (the ability to add talk-time/data to a user’s pre-paid mobile phone plan), and other social media features present in most over-the-top applications around the world.
The Company is also presently in the process of consolidating its wholesale business through the reorganization of its operations into Upco System Inc., while trying to develop its own customer base via its attractive rates and flexible calling plans offered through Upco-out in its Upco Mobile Messenger application (the Digital Services business unit or B2C vertical of the business). Additionally, the Company announced the development of UpcoPay to achieve its desired network effects among its customers in the short to medium term.
Please visit www.upcointernational.com for further information.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Andrea Pagani, CEO and Director
[email protected]
212-461-3676
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking information or forward-looking statements (collectively “forward- looking information”) within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward- looking information is typically identified by words such as: “will” “may” “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “estimate”, “development”, “forthcoming”, “potentially” and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Upco cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by Upco is not a guarantee of future results or performance.
Welcome to Blocks & Headlines, your daily deep-dive into the most impactful movements in blockchain technology and the cryptocurrency sector. In today’s edition, we unpack five major stories that illuminate trends in funding, sustainability, payment innovation, banking collaborations, and technical interoperability—all vital signposts for developers, investors, and Web3 enthusiasts. Here’s what’s on the docket:
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Camp Network’s New IP-Focused Testnet
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Blockchain for Sustainable Packaging
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Meta’s Blockchain-Based Payment System Plans
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Mocse Credit Union Joins Metal Blockchain’s Innovation Program
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Apex Fusion on the Urgency of Blockchain Defragmentation
Through concise reporting, opinion-driven analysis, and SEO-optimized insights—featuring keywords like blockchain, cryptocurrency, Web3, DeFi, and NFTs—we’ll explore how these developments shape the next wave of decentralized finance, enterprise adoption, and mass onboarding.
1. Camp Network Launches Testnet for IP-Focused Blockchain
What Happened:
Camp Network has unveiled its long-anticipated testnet following a $30 million funding round led by leading crypto VCs. This new network is tailored for intellectual property (IP) asset tokenization, aiming to streamline rights management and royalty payments via smart contracts.
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Technical Highlights:
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Modular Consensus: Hybrid PoS/PoA consensus that allows IP rightsholders to validate transactions.
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On-Chain Licensing: Smart contracts enabling programmable licensing terms, automated royalty splits, and revocable access controls.
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Interoperability: Bridges to Ethereum and Polygon enable seamless asset transfers and liquidity provisioning.
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Analysis & Implications:
By focusing on IP tokenization, Camp Network addresses a glaring gap in current NFT platforms, which often lack robust legal-framework integration. This specialization could catalyze:
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New Revenue Models: Musicians, authors, and inventors can fractionalize royalties, unlocking liquidity and democratizing investment in creative works.
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Institutional Adoption: Traditional publishers and studios may pilot tokenized licensing, accelerating blockchain’s entrée into regulated industries.
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Secondary Markets: With on-chain licensing data, marketplaces can enforce provenance and anti-fraud measures more effectively.
Camp Network’s testnet success will hinge on developer tooling, legal partnerships, and gas-fee economics. Should it deliver a smooth UX and clear ROI for rightsholders, it could set a new standard for Web3 IP infrastructure.
Source: The Block
2. Blockchain as a Sustainable Packaging Game-Changer
What Happened:
A recent report explores how blockchain can revolutionize sustainable packaging by delivering end-to-end supply-chain transparency. The solution combines on-chain tracking of materials, IoT sensor data for carbon footprint measurement, and tokenized incentives for recycling.
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Key Components:
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Immutable Traceability: Each packaging component is logged on a public ledger, enabling consumers to verify sustainable sourcing.
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Carbon Credit Tokens: Brands earn tokenized credits when they hit recycling targets, tradable on carbon-market DAOs.
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Consumer-Facing Apps: QR-code scanning interfaces reveal environmental impact metrics and reward programs.
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Analysis & Implications:
Integrating blockchain with sustainable packaging tackles greenwashing and fragmented reporting. The ability to tie physical materials to on-chain records introduces:
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Enhanced Accountability: Brands face real-time public scrutiny of ESG claims, improving trust and regulatory compliance.
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Market Mechanisms: Carbon credit tokens linking packaging to broader DeFi ecosystems incentivize circular economy behaviors.
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Consumer Engagement: NFTs or loyalty tokens tied to sustainable purchases could accelerate brand loyalty in eco-conscious demographics.
This convergence of blockchain, IoT, and token economics exemplifies how decentralized technologies can underpin not only financial systems but also planetary stewardship.
Source: Yahoo Finance
3. Meta Plans New Blockchain-Based Payment System
What Happened:
Meta is reportedly developing a blockchain-powered payment network to underpin its digital wallet ambitions, aiming to facilitate low-fee remittances, in-app purchases, and peer-to-peer transfers across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
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Proposed Features:
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Cross-Border Settlements: Utilizing stablecoins pegged to major fiat currencies to avoid volatility.
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Layer-2 Scalability: Built atop an Ethereum Layer-2 or a proprietary chain to ensure sub-second confirmation times and minimal fees.
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Regulatory Compliance: On-chain KYC/AML checks integrated via permissioned sidechains.
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Analysis & Implications:
Meta’s push into blockchain payments could reshape the competitive landscape:
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Crypto On-Ramp: With 3 billion+ monthly users, built-in wallet functionality could massively expand mainstream cryptocurrency adoption.
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Disintermediation Risk: Traditional payment processors and remittance services face margin compression as Meta internalizes transaction flows.
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Regulatory Scrutiny: Centralized control of a global payments network raises data-privacy and antitrust questions, likely attracting significant oversight.
If Meta balances decentralization ethos with compliance demands, it could serve as a blueprint for other Big Tech firms eyeing Web3 integration.
Source: Dig.watch
4. Mocse Credit Union Joins Metal Blockchain’s Banking Innovation Program
What Happened:
Mocse Credit Union has signed on to Metal Blockchain’s Banking Innovation Program, a consortium designed to accelerate pilot projects in tokenized lending, fractional deposits, and programmable savings accounts.
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Program Benefits:
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Sandbox Environment: Regulatory-compliant testbeds for tokenized asset experiments.
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API Integrations: Plug-and-play modules for KYC, smart-contract auditing, and fiat-crypto on-ramps.
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Co-Innovation Workshops: Joint labs with fellow financial institutions and DeFi projects.
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Analysis & Implications:
This partnership signals the banking sector’s growing willingness to explore blockchain beyond hype:
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Tokenized Deposits: By issuing interest-bearing stablecoin equivalents, credit unions can attract a new demographic of digitally native savers.
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Risk Management: Sandboxed pilots allow institutions to evaluate smart-contract risks without exposing core systems.
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Interoperable Finance: Aligning legacy banking with DeFi rails can unlock hybrid products—e.g., flash loans collateralized by insured deposits.
Such collaborations could spearhead a wave of embedded finance offerings, blurring the lines between centralized and decentralized banking infrastructures.
Source: Newswire
5. Apex Fusion: Defragmenting Blockchain for Mass Adoption
What Happened:
In an op-ed, Apex Fusion argues that blockchain interoperability and defragmentation are critical prerequisites for mainstream Web3 uptake. The piece advocates standardized cross-chain messaging protocols, unified identity layers, and aggregated liquidity pools.
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Core Proposals:
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Protocol Neutral Messaging: A universal middleware to transmit value and data across disparate chains.
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Decentralized Identity (DID): A shared credential framework enabling seamless dApp logins without wallet-hopping.
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Liquidity Hubs: Cross-chain Automated Market Makers (AMMs) that pool assets to reduce slippage and gas friction.
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Analysis & Implications:
A fragmented blockchain ecosystem hinders user experience and developer efficiency:
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Onboarding Friction: New users face wallet complexity, chain-switching hassles, and inconsistent UX across apps.
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Capital Inefficiency: Isolated liquidity silos lead to higher trading costs and limit DeFi yield optimization.
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Developer Overhead: Building multichain dApps requires fragmented toolkits and disparate security audits.
Solving these challenges through interoperable frameworks will be pivotal for DeFi, NFT, and enterprise Web3 solutions to scale beyond niche audiences. Apex Fusion’s recommendations may inform upcoming standards efforts by bodies like the Blockchain Governance Initiative Network (BGIN).
Source: Euro Weekly News
Conclusion
Today’s blockchain developments reflect a maturing industry at the crossroads of innovation and integration:
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Specialized Networks: Camp Network’s IP testnet showcases niche use-cases driving targeted blockchain deployments.
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Sustainability & Token Economics: Linking environmental impact to on-chain incentives demonstrates blockchain’s potential in non-financial arenas.
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Big Tech Entry: Meta’s payment ambitions could accelerate global crypto adoption while raising regulatory stakes.
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Banking Collaboration: Programs like Metal Blockchain’s underscore financial institutions’ appetite for safe, regulated Web3 experimentation.
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Interoperability Imperative: As Apex Fusion highlights, defragmentation and cross-chain standards are essential for seamless UX and liquidity flow.
As blockchain weaves deeper into finance, supply chains, and digital ecosystems, the future hinges on striking the right balance between decentralization, compliance, and user-centric design. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s Blocks & Headlines where we continue to chronicle the pulse of Web3 innovation.
The post Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – May 9, 2025 appeared first on News, Events, Advertising Options.
Blockchain
Bitget Blockchain4Youth sostiene l’innovazione del Web3 e dell’IA all’hackathon “Build with AI” di Google Developer Group
Bitget, società Web3 e uno dei principali exchange di criptovalute, ha ottenuto un riscontro significativo in occasione del recente hackathon “Build with AI”, tenutosi dal 2 al 5 maggio 2025 presso la Constructor University. Spingendosi oltre la semplice sponsorizzazione, l’iniziativa Blockchain4Youth di Bitget ha coinvolto attivamente più di 130 studenti di talento.
L’evento, organizzato dai Google Developer Groups (GDG) on Campus, ha offerto a Bitget uno spazio dinamico per entrare in contatto diretto con gli innovatori tecnologici di nuova generazione. Nel corso di una presentazione dedicata, è stato introdotto il programma Blockchain4Youth Builder, che mostra l’impegno di Bitget nel formare giovani talenti all’interno dello spazio del Web3. Questa partecipazione evidenzia l’approccio lungimirante di Bitget nell’integrare la formazione in materia di blockchain con i settori emergenti come l’IA, riconoscendo il loro potenziale combinato.
Gli studenti hanno lavorato alla creazione di modelli basati sull’IA e di prodotti in fase iniziale utilizzando gli strumenti avanzati di Google, mentre la presenza di Bitget ha offerto una prospettiva unica su come la blockchain possa migliorare ed essere integrata nelle soluzioni di IA. Questa interazione con il mondo reale ha fornito preziose indicazioni agli studenti, colmando il gap tra conoscenze teoriche e applicazione pratica all’interno del panorama tecnologico in rapida evoluzione.
“La formazione rimane un principio fondamentale della nostra missione e, attraverso iniziative come Blockchain4Youth, intendiamo fornire alle nuove generazioni le competenze necessarie non solo per esplorare, ma anche per plasmare attivamente questo settore dinamico”, ha commentato Vugar Usi Zade, COO di Bitget. “Collaborare con comunità come il Google Developer Group offre una base preziosa per connettersi con talenti di spicco e aiutarli nel percorso di utilizzo della blockchain per creare soluzioni di impatto. Blockchain4Youth continuerà a espandere la sua portata, favorendo la crescita dei futuri leader del Web3 in grado di cogliere le numerose opportunità offerte da questa tecnologia”.
Il coinvolgimento mostrato all’hackathon “Build with AI” di GDG è un elemento chiave del più ampio programma Blockchain4Youth di Bitget, l’iniziativa aziendale dedicata alla Responsabilità Sociale d’Impresa (RSI). Questo programma mira a favorire la prossima generazione di leader Web3 attraverso opportunità formative ed esperienze pratiche.
Tra le iniziative più recenti del programma Blockchain4Youth c’è il lancio del Graduate Program di Bitget, concepito per reclutare i migliori laureati nel settore blockchain e Web3. Inoltre, l’espansione del programma Bitget Builders continua a fornire agli individui più promettenti del Web3 un’esperienza diretta attraverso gli eventi offline, i programmi formativi e la crescita strategica della community.
A proposito di Bitget
Fondata nel 2018, Bitget è una società Web3 tra i principali exchange di criptovalute al mondo. Con oltre 100 milioni di utenti in più di 150 Paesi e aree geografiche, l’exchange Bitget si impegna ad aiutare gli utenti a fare trading in modo più smart con la sua pionieristica funzione di copy trading e altre soluzioni di trading.
The post Bitget Blockchain4Youth sostiene l’innovazione del Web3 e dell’IA all’hackathon “Build with AI” di Google Developer Group appeared first on News, Events, Advertising Options.
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