Blockchain
SMBs represent a trillion-dollar opportunity for CSPs, but they are not waiting for anyone
Report finds SMBs already connect technology adoption to business resiliency but in order to thrive, they need solutions specific to their needs
Dublin, Ireland – November 30 – Beyond Now, a fast-growing ecosystem orchestration and digital platform provider, today launched global research that illuminates a ‘new’ kind of small medium business (SMB) market, one that has vast, untapped potential for communications services providers (CSPs) to accelerate their growth in the B2B sector. Despite impending recession, SMBs are not afraid to invest in technology as they understand it’s a key factor in improving business resilience.
The report, CSPs: it’s time to reacquaint yourselves with today’s SMBs, found that 85% of SMBs recognize the importance of technology to the success of their businesses, with 51% ranking technology as very-to-crucially important. However, SMBs need help from CSPs to realize those improvements. 68% of SMBs want a single platform for technology solutions. And for CSPs that can get it right, SMBs represent a $1.42 trillion (Analysys Mason) global market opportunity.
While SMBs are cost conscious, they currently invest 8% of their annual revenues in technology products and services. And despite economic uncertainty, those investments will increase. In the next year, half of SMBs will increase their technology spend by an average of 6%. In the next two years, 59% will increase investments by an average of 7.5%. And in five years, 64% expect to boost technology investment by an average of 9%.
The research found that SMBs are more sophisticated adopters of technology than many give them credit for. They are digitally-minded and their business priorities are closely aligned with what technology can help them achieve. In the next 12 months, 70% of SMBs believe that technology can help them achieve efficiency improvements and further digitalize their businesses, with some also exploring business growth, customer experience improvements, and easing issues caused by a lack of time and human resources.
Notably, SMBs recognize the business impact of a range of bleeding edge technologies. It’s expected that they would perceive IT security and cloud technology as delivering significant value. But what is surprising is that SMBs recognize the potential value in more nascent technologies including blockchain (72%), AI/ML (71%), Edge (70%) and even robotics (56%). Additionally, they are already thinking about 5G use cases. 73% perceive value from the technology and expect CSPs to help them realize the potential of 5G beyond standard connectivity offerings.
However, SMBs report administrative headaches with having to manage multiple technology providers to meet their needs. 62% said there are gaps in off-the-shelf technology products in helping them to meet their business priorities. 64% want technology providers to work together to build joint solutions that help them achieve their goals. Critically for CSPs, 65% of SMBs would prefer to buy all their ICT from one source, and they would pay a premium for this. 33% would be willing to pay between one and five percent more, and 45% would pay between five and 10% more.
The research findings are accompanied by a playbook outlining how CSPs can develop successful SMB lines of business. The steps outlined in the playbook highlight what CSPs need to do to meet the clear expectations of SMBs and deliver a viable business model for themselves. It demonstrates demand for digital sales channels and an appetite for the industry to collaborate on the co-creation of solutions that meet vertical industry requirements. Importantly, findings from the research were similar across all respondent industries: hospitality and leisure, professional services, agriculture, manufacturing, education, healthcare, retail, and technology, media and entertainment. SMBs, regardless of industry and sector, have common pain points that they need technology to address and CSPs cannot ignore.
“It’s fascinating that at a time when the industry is so focused on enabling digital transformation for large enterprises, that many SMBs are already digitally transformed businesses. There is a rich vein of revenue available to CSPs if they can get their SMB value proposition right. That means building solutions around SMB needs, finding repeatable patterns and embracing digital channels that are key for developing viable business models. This involves creating a digital marketplace that can deliver the scale and automation necessary for CSPs to work with partners on delivering technology solutions that meet the diverse requirements of the SMB sector,” said Angus Ward, CEO, Beyond Now.
“Against the backdrop of an economic downturn, SMBs want to achieve business resilience through technology, and CSPs should be the ones to step up and help them. But SMBs are in a hurry and, traditionally, CSPs have not done enough to get to know their SMB customers. The result is that the clock is ticking for CSPs to become the SMB ICT provider of choice. It’s a lucrative segment, and CSPs that don’t act fast enough risk losing out to other players lining up to take on that same role,” Ward concluded.
Download a free copy of the report here: https://www.beyondnow.com/en/insights/start-something/Smb/smb-report?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=bulletin&utm_campaign=smb-report and CSP playbook here: https://www.beyondnow.com/en/insights/start-something/playbook/playbook-report
– ENDS –
Methodology
This research study is based on responses from 700 decision-makers or key influencers for ICT service providers in small and medium business, across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.
Respondents are equally represented from eight sectors including: hospitality and leisure, professional services, agriculture, manufacturing, education, healthcare, retail, and technology, media and entertainment.
Field work was concluded in August 2022 by independent research consultancy, Coleman Parkes.
About Beyond Now
Beyond Now is a fast-growing ecosystem orchestration and digital platform provider, powering organizations to launch new services at speed and grow revenue by utilizing our digital platform, digital marketplace and SaaS BSS.
Our platforms are designed to help our customers experiment, monetize and orchestrate services while taking advantage of new technologies such as cloud, edge, IoT, AI, 5G and more. We enable them to co-create solutions with a growing network of partners; bringing them closer to their customers, helping drive higher efficiency and automation, taking them further, faster, Beyond Now.
We serve customers across Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East, Africa and the Americas, spanning industries from telecommunications, media and entertainment, to tech and IT, financial, and automotive.
For more information, please visit: www.beyondnow.com
Source: RealWire
Blockchain
Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – May 30, 2025 (Fraser Edwards, Kyiv NFT, Spirit Blockchain Capital, Indian eHealth, Hedera)
Blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies continue to redefine industries—from competitive gaming and cultural heritage preservation to corporate finance, healthcare, and alternative tokens. Today’s briefing highlights five pivotal developments shaping the ecosystem: Fraser Edwards’s vision for trust in eSports; Ukraine’s wartime cultural preservation via NFTs; Spirit Blockchain Capital’s Q1 2025 operational report; India’s push for blockchain-enabled electronic health records (EHRs); and the rise of viral altcoins such as UniLabs, Sui, and Hedera Hashgraph. Together, these stories illustrate the themes of trust and identity, preservation and provenance, institutional maturation, public-sector innovation, and token diversification. In this op-ed–style round-up, we distill the essence of each story, cite sources, and offer analysis on how they advance Web3, DeFi, and NFT frontiers.
1. Rebuilding Trust in eSports: Can Blockchain Fix Competitive Integrity?
Source: CCN
Summary:
In a recent CCN interview, veteran trader and eSports investor Fraser Edwards argues that blockchain’s immutable ledgers can restore credibility in the rapidly commercializing world of competitive gaming. According to Edwards, match-fixing scandals and opaque prize-pool distributions have eroded fan confidence. By tokenizing tournament entries and payouts on public blockchains—complete with smart-contract–enforced escrow—organizers can guarantee that prize monies are distributed exactly as advertised, and that no post-match manipulation occurs. Tournament operators in Asia and North America are already piloting Ethereum-based payout dApps, aiming to increase transparency for players and sponsors alike.
Key details & analysis:
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Smart-contract escrow: Funds are held in a time-locked contract that releases prize money only upon verifiable match results. This prevents disputes over referee decisions or delayed payments.
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On-chain reputation: Player and team reputations can be tokenized via non-fungible reputation badges that accrue based on fair play and community votes—discouraging cheating.
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Scalability concerns: High-traffic tournaments may require Layer 2 rollups or alternative chains (e.g., Polygon, Immutable X) to reduce gas costs and latency.
Opinion: Blockchain’s dual promise of provable fairness and programmable finance makes it uniquely suited to eSports. Yet adoption hinges on UX: seamless wallet integrations, minimal transaction fees, and clear regulatory guidance on esports tokens.
2. When Art Meets Blockchain: Ukraine’s Wartime Cultural Preservation
Source: The Kyiv Independent
Summary:
As monuments crumble under artillery fire, Ukrainian curators and technologists are partnering to mint NFTs representing lost or endangered artifacts. The Kyiv Independent reports that the National Art Museum of Ukraine has launched “Project Phoenix,” tokenizing high-resolution 3D scans of sculptures, manuscripts, and paintings. Proceeds from initial sales fund restoration and digital archiving efforts. Each NFT embeds provenance metadata—including GPS coordinates, curator notes, and condition reports—ensuring that future generations can verify authenticity and context, even if the physical artifact is destroyed.
Key details & analysis:
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Metadata richness: Beyond simple ownership, NFTs store structured metadata—using ERC-721 metadata extensions—that capture curatorial insights and conservation logs.
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Decentralized archives: IPFS and Arweave are employed to host ultra-high-resolution imagery, with on-chain hashes guaranteeing data integrity.
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Community engagement: Fractional-NFT drops allow diaspora communities to collectively own tokens, strengthening cultural ties and crowdfunding preservation.
Opinion: Blockchain’s ability to immutable record heritage provides a lifeline for war-torn nations. However, ensuring that local institutions retain governance over metadata edits and future migrations is critical to avoiding “cultural colonialism” by global NFT marketplaces.
3. Spirit Blockchain Capital’s Q1 2025 Highlights: Growth, Investments, and Outlook
Source: GlobeNewswire
Summary:
Spirit Blockchain Capital’s Q1 2025 report benchmarks the firm’s operational milestones and financial performance. Assets under management (AUM) climbed 45% to $1.02 billion, driven by strategic allocations to top-tier Layer 1 and Layer 2 protocols, DeFi liquidity pools, and a newly launched token-index fund. Operating income rose 37%, fueled by management fees and performance incentives. The firm also closed its second blockchain-focused venture fund at $150 million, earmarked for early-stage Web3 projects in gaming, infrastructure, and decentralized identity.
Key details & analysis:
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Diversification strategy: 60% of AUM in blue-chip cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum); 25% in DeFi (Aave, Uniswap, Lido); 15% in tokenized commodities and NFTs.
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Fund performance: The flagship fund delivered a 9.8% return in Q1, outperforming the 6.2% benchmark set by the Bloomberg Galaxy Crypto Index.
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Venture investments: Early stakes in zero-knowledge proof startups and decentralized storage platforms signal confidence in scalability and privacy innovations.
Opinion: Spirit’s robust growth and disciplined diversification mirror institutional maturation in the blockchain asset management space. As regulatory clarity improves, expect further inflows from endowments, pensions, and family offices.
4. Blockchain EHRs in India: The Next Digital Health Revolution
Source: ORF
Summary:
The Observer Research Foundation (ORF) details India’s pioneering pilot of blockchain-backed electronic health records (EHRs) in the state of Andhra Pradesh. By leveraging a permissioned Hyperledger Fabric network, the initiative ensures that patient records—from vaccination histories to diagnostic imaging—are securely shared across hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies. Patients control access via digital identities anchored to India’s Aadhaar system, granting temporal permissions for data viewing and preventing unauthorized sharing.
Key details & analysis:
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Interoperability: HL7 FHIR standards are mapped to on-chain transactions, enabling seamless data exchange with existing hospital information systems (HIS).
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Privacy safeguards: Off-chain storage of PHI (Protected Health Information) is encrypted with patient-held keys; only hashed pointers reside on-chain to ensure immutability without exposing sensitive data.
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Regulatory alignment: The pilot aligns with India’s draft Digital Health Act, which emphasizes data sovereignty and patient consent frameworks.
Opinion: Blockchain EHRs can democratize healthcare access in a populous nation—but success depends on user-friendly portals, robust identity verification, and contingency plans for network outages in rural areas.
5. The Hottest Viral Altcoins of 2025: UniLabs, Sui, and Hedera Lead the Pack
Source: TronWeekly
Summary:
According to TronWeekly, the altcoin landscape in 2025 is dominated by three viral tokens: UniLabs (UNI-L), Sui (SUI), and Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR). UniLabs, a governance token for a decentralized laboratory network, saw a 1,200% year-to-date surge on news of its AI-driven drug-discovery partnership. Sui’s Move-based smart-contract platform gained traction for sub-second finality and low gas fees, with total value locked (TVL) surpassing $2 billion. Hedera’s HBAR continues its enterprise pivot, securing multi-year agreements with global brands for identity verification and supply-chain tracking.
Key details & analysis:
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UniLabs use case: Token holders vote on research grants and share in royalty revenues from patented compounds developed on-chain.
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Sui performance: With a novel object model and horizontal sharding, Sui supports over 3,000 TPS (transactions per second) without compromising on decentralization.
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Hedera enterprise: The Governing Council—comprising Boeing, Google, and LG—bolsters confidence in HBAR’s governance model and paves the way for compliant enterprise deployments.
Opinion: These tokens exemplify the diversification of blockchain applications. Investors should assess not only market hype but also protocol fundamentals—developer activity, economic incentives, and real-world adoption.
Cross-Story Trends & Key Takeaways
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Trust & Transparency at the Core
From esports prize-pool ledgers to wartime NFT archives and permissioned health records, blockchain’s immutability fosters verifiable trust—a prerequisite for mainstream adoption across sectors. -
Institutional & Public-Sector Innovation
Spirit Blockchain Capital’s fund growth and India’s EHR pilot signal that both private and government entities view blockchain as a strategic infrastructure, not just speculative assets. -
Vertical Specialization Fuels Token Growth
Viral altcoins like UniLabs, Sui, and Hedera thrive by addressing niche use-cases—governance in biotech, scalable DeFi rails, and enterprise identity—underscoring the importance of purpose-built protocols. -
Metadata & Provenance Drive NFTs Beyond Art
Ukraine’s cultural NFTs demonstrate how rich on-chain metadata can preserve heritage, while esports applications show that reputation tokens can enforce fair-play credentials. -
Ecosystem Maturation Requires UX & Governance
Across all stories, user experience—wallet onboarding, identity verification, metadata curation—and robust governance frameworks (tokenomics, regulatory alignment) emerge as decisive factors in blockchain’s next wave.
Conclusion
Today’s blockchain headlines reveal a maturing ecosystem where trust, transparency, and targeted innovation unlock new frontiers—from safeguarding digital heritage amid conflict to revolutionizing healthcare and sports. As institutional players allocate billions, and public-sector pilots chart regulatory pathways, the fate of tomorrow’s Web3 landscape hinges on seamless UX, rigorous governance, and demonstrable real-world utility. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s Blocks & Headlines, where we’ll continue tracking the trends, tokens, and technologies that define the blockchain revolution.
The post Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – May 30, 2025 (Fraser Edwards, Kyiv NFT, Spirit Blockchain Capital, Indian eHealth, Hedera) appeared first on News, Events, Advertising Options.
Blockchain
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