Blockchain
Global digital transformation agency disrupts the UK market with world-class technology services
- Integrated Management Systems (IMS) launches in the UK to empower businesses with technology, product strategy, and growth marketing expertise
- IMS opens its London office and aims to hire 100 new software engineers across the IMS Group by the end of 2023
London, UK; 23rd August 2022: Global digital transformation agency, Integrated Management Systems (IMS), has launched in the UK to empower businesses to build industry-disrupting ventures.
According to Gartner, 91% of companies are engaged in digital initiatives. As digital transformation becomes increasingly important for businesses, UK companies are turning to experts to help drive their digitalisation and growth plans. IMS Group offers brands services to support digital transformation, focusing on a results-driven approach that enables companies to lower costs and drive revenue.
With offices in London, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Singapore, IMS offers an array of digital transformation services, including Customer Relationship Management (CRM), blockchain, artificial intelligence, and data analytics.
IMS specialises in developing industry-disrupting B2B software and empowers companies to digitise and transform their businesses. This, in turn, enables them to multiply their financial revenue and deliver better value for their clients. The company also offers vital growth marketing expertise through its digital marketing, eCommerce, and experiential marketing services, essential to help companies stand out from the crowd.
With a reputable track record across multiple industries, clients to date include household names such as AIA, Lululemon, Visa, HSBC, Generali, Marriott, and Bosch.
Creating world-class digital ventures
IMS Digital Ventures is the venture capital arm of IMS, created to help entrepreneurs turn business ideas into commercially viable projects.
With a focus on B2B SaaS companies, IMS Digital Ventures supports businesses with their product and go-to market strategy. By leveraging IMS’ agency capabilities, the Digital Ventures arm creates innovative, world-class tech for these companies.
IMS has a range of Digital Ventures underway, including in the Web3, Real Estate, cybersecurity and healthcare spaces.
Anastasios Papadopoulos CEO and founder at IMS, commented: “Our mission is to empower entrepreneurs to build industry-disrupting ventures, by providing them with the necessary technology, product strategy, and growth marketing expertise for successful businesses. Furthermore, we aim to become the preferred partner for UK-based companies looking to launch blockchain or AI projects. AI is one of the building blocks for future game-changing companies.”
IMS group client, Murray Holdgate, CEO at Whisky Genius, commented: “Our vision for Whisky Genius is to create an inclusive community and marketplace that makes it easier for whisky enthusiasts to invest in whisky, and brands to create better digital customer connections. Our platform leverages state-of-the-art deep tech built by IMS to deliver innovative solutions to industry actors’. I see all brands selling a percentage of their spirits this way in the future.”
IMS is made up of a global team of over 300 software engineers, blockchain specialists, seasoned marketers, and data scientists, with 20 of them currently based in London. IMS has ambitious plans of hiring over 100 new software engineers, specialising in blockchain and AI, across the IMS group, by the end of 2023.
ENDS
About IMS
Integrated Management Systems (IMS) is a global digital transformation agency, offering world-class technology services for data-driven strategies that transform businesses and generate measurable business value.
With offices in London, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Singapore, IMS helps clients generate measurable business value through digital transformation and marketing solutions, with deep expertise in blockchain, AI, web3, and data-driven growth marketing.
Part of the IMS group, IMS Digital Ventures is a venture capital firm with an investment portfolio valued at over USD 250 million. IMS Digital Ventures specialises in teaming up with visionary entrepreneurs to launch game-changing business ventures.
PR Contact
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Source: RealWire
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Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – May 22, 2025

The blockchain universe never sleeps. From pioneering cross-border payment systems in Central America to city-wide crypto strategies in New York City, today’s headlines reveal an industry maturing at breakneck speed. In this edition of Blocks & Headlines, we explore five landmark developments:
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Guatemala’s Banco Industrial integrates blockchain for seamless cross-border remittances.
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NYC Mayor’s Office unveils a comprehensive crypto and blockchain roadmap.
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OSR Holdings, BCM Europe & Taekwondo Cooperative sign an MOU to launch the OSRH token.
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Bybit’s “Chicken Trader” livestream—crypto meets poultry in the world’s first poultry-powered trading showdown.
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FIFA taps Avalanche to build a dedicated blockchain for its NFT platform.
These stories underscore three key trends reshaping the ecosystem:
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Institutional Adoption & Regulation: From national banks to municipal governments, legacy institutions are embracing decentralized technologies.
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Tokenization & Community Engagement: Strategic partnerships are launching specialized tokens that bridge niche communities with global markets.
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Innovative Use Cases: Whether gaming, entertainment, or live-stream events, blockchain’s versatility spawns ever-more creative applications.
Join us as we unpack the implications, weigh the opportunities, and forecast where these trajectories might lead.
1. Guatemala’s Largest Bank Integrates Blockchain for Cross-Border Payments
What Happened
Guatemala’s Banco Industrial, the country’s biggest financial institution, announced the deployment of a private‐permissioned blockchain network to streamline remittances from the U.S. into Guatemala City and beyond. The solution reduces settlement times from days to minutes, cuts fees by up to 60 %, and offers real-time traceability for senders and receivers.
Source: Cointelegraph
Analysis & Commentary
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Financial Inclusion Boost: Remittances account for over 12 % of Guatemala’s GDP. By minimizing friction and cost, blockchain integration will extend financial services to remote communities reliant on diaspora funds.
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Risk & Compliance: Permissioned networks allow Banco Industrial to retain AML/KYC controls, mitigating concerns around illicit flows. This hybrid approach demonstrates that enterprise blockchain can balance decentralization with regulatory rigor.
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Regional Ripple Effects: Neighboring Central American banks are watching closely. Should Guatemala’s pilot succeed, we can expect a domino effect across El Salvador, Honduras, and Costa Rica—each seeking to capitalize on faster, cheaper cross-border rails.
Implications
Legacy banks worldwide should view this as a blueprint: private blockchains can coexist with existing compliance frameworks while delivering transformative user benefits. Early movers will capture remittance market share and cultivate fintech partnerships across the Latin American corridor.
2. NYC Mayor Unveils Ambitious Crypto & Blockchain Agenda
What Happened
New York City Mayor Eric Adams detailed his administration’s multi-pronged strategy to make NYC a global crypto hub. Key initiatives include:
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A regulatory sandbox for crypto startups to pilot DeFi, NFTs, and token-based fundraising under city supervision.
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Partnerships with CUNY and Columbia University for blockchain research and talent development.
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Deployment of a blockchain-based public record system for land titles and business registrations.
Source: GovTech
Analysis & Commentary
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Regulatory Harmony vs. Overreach: By offering a controlled sandbox rather than blanket deregulation, NYC signals a nuanced stance—encouraging innovation without sacrificing consumer protection.
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Talent Pipeline: Academic partnerships aim to remedy the talent shortage plaguing blockchain firms. Local graduates trained in distributed ledger technologies (DLT) will feed startups, financial institutions, and government agencies.
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Public Services on Chain: Land registries and business filings on blockchain promise greater transparency and fraud reduction. If scaled effectively, NYC could set a global standard for government-blockchain integration.
Implications
Other major cities—London, Singapore, Dubai—will feel pressure to match NYC’s playbook. Municipal leaders should prioritize sandbox frameworks and academia-industry liaisons to nurture homegrown crypto ecosystems.
3. OSR Holdings, BCM Europe & Taekwondo Cooperative Launch OSRH Token
What Happened
OSR Holdings, BCM Europe, and the Taekwondo Cooperative signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding to co-develop the OSRH token, a blockchain-based digital asset aimed at supporting global Taekwondo practitioners. Features include:
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Membership Rewards: Tokens earned through event participation, coaching certifications, and tournament wins.
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Decentralized Governance: Athletes vote on sponsorship allocations and rule-change proposals via on-chain ballots.
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Marketplace Integration: A dedicated NFT marketplace for Taekwondo memorabilia, from digital belts to highlight reels.
Source: PR Newswire
Analysis & Commentary
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Niche Tokenization: OSRH token exemplifies the power of community-focused tokens. By aligning incentives with passion points—training, competition, governance—stakeholders gain ownership and engagement.
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Governance Innovation: Athlete-driven decision-making on sponsorship and funding disrupts top-down federation models. This could democratize sports governance across disciplines.
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Commercial Ecosystem: The NFT marketplace offers monetization channels for athletes and federations alike. Strategic royalties on secondary sales ensure sustainable funding.
Implications
Other sports federations and niche communities should explore token models that blend rewards, governance, and commerce. Successful launches will hinge on clear utility, user education, and regulatory compliance in key jurisdictions.
4. Bybit Presents “Chicken Trader”: The World’s First Poultry-Powered Trading Showdown
What Happened
Cryptocurrency exchange Bybit debuted “Chicken Trader,” a live-streamed event where two contestants trade crypto pairs—and manage live chickens—to earn “Egg Points.” Viewers can stake on their favorite trader, earning NFTs and token rewards based on performance.
Source: PR Newswire
Analysis & Commentary
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Gamification Meets DeFi: Chicken Trader’s fusion of live-stream engagement, staking mechanics, and NFTs exemplifies Web3’s playful ethos—turning trading into interactive entertainment.
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User Acquisition Strategy: Bybit gamified acquisition funnels, leveraging viral social content to onboard nontraditional crypto audiences intrigued by the novelty factor.
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Regulatory Tightrope: Combining staking with competition and livestock raises jurisdictional questions around gambling, securities, and animal welfare. Bybit must navigate diverse regulations to scale globally.
Implications
Other exchanges will replicate gamified formats to differentiate UX and grow communities. Yet long-term viability demands balancing flashy live-events with rigorous compliance, sustainable tokenomics, and authentic value for participants.
5. FIFA Taps Avalanche to Power Its NFT Platform
What Happened
Global soccer body FIFA selected the Avalanche blockchain to launch its official NFT marketplace, featuring digital collectibles—from World Cup highlights to player-card packs. Avalanche’s high throughput and low fees were cited as decisive factors.
Source: TradingView (via Cointelegraph)
Analysis & Commentary
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Scalability & Sustainability: Avalanche’s consensus mechanism delivers sub-second finality and carbon-offset commitments, aligning with FIFA’s environmental pledges.
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Fan Engagement: Tokenized highlights and limited-edition digital memorabilia expand revenue streams beyond broadcast rights, offering fans verifiable ownership and collectible provenance.
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Interoperability: Avalanche’s growing DeFi ecosystem enables future integrations—staking fan tokens, launching prediction-market games, or embedding NFT rewards in FIFA’s mobile apps.
Implications
Major sports leagues and entertainment brands eyeing NFT forays will scrutinize Avalanche’s performance under FIFA’s global load. Blockchain platforms must prove they can handle spikes during marquee events—kickoff times, finals, transfer windows—while preserving UX and sustainability goals.
Conclusion
Today’s Blocks & Headlines illustrate blockchain’s multifaceted evolution:
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Legacy institutions like banks and city governments are unlocking new efficiencies and transparency through private and public DLT networks.
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Community-driven tokens are redefining governance and monetization in sports and niche domains.
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Innovative engagement—from poultry-fueled trading spectacles to global soccer NFTs—demonstrates blockchain’s capacity for gamification, fan loyalty, and novel revenue models.
Yet with opportunity comes responsibility: scalable architectures must coexist with robust compliance; token economies require thoughtful design to sustain value; and regulators, academia, and industry must collaborate to craft frameworks that balance innovation with consumer protection.
As blockchain weaves deeper into finance, governance, entertainment, and sports, stakeholders who embrace strategic partnerships, prioritize user education, and invest in resilient infrastructures will lead the charge into Web3’s next frontier.
The post Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – May 22, 2025 appeared first on News, Events, Advertising Options.
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