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
VanEck Prepares to Launch PurposeBuilt Fund to Invest in Real-World Applications on Avalanche
Blockchain innovation continues to accelerate, weaving together emerging technologies, sustainability goals, and new financial models. In today’s Blocks & Headlines briefing—May 20, 2025—we explore five groundbreaking stories: Cerebra Supernova’s AI-blockchain energy convergence, Chainlink/Kinexys/Ondo’s blockchain DVP trial, the launch of Blockchain Cloud Mining’s “Master” digital-gold platform, Sakhila Mirza steering Responsible Gold’s blockchain expansion, and Automobili Estrema’s NFT-powered “Dizzy Viper” art drop. Each development signals how Web3, DeFi, and NFTs are reshaping finance, supply chains, and creative industries. Below, we strip away hyperlinks, offer concise coverage, and provide op-ed insights on the broader implications for blockchain’s next chapter.
1. AI & Blockchain Convergence for Sustainable Energy Systems
Key News: Cerebra Supernova, a French startup, has unveiled a pilot platform that combines AI-driven grid optimization with a blockchain-enabled energy-credit marketplace. By using reinforcement-learning algorithms to forecast renewable output and smart contracts to automate peer-to-peer energy trades, the system aims to reduce curtailment and incentivize prosumers.
Details:
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Reinforcement Learning Grid Management: AI agents predict wind and solar generation with 98% accuracy, dynamically adjusting dispatchable assets (batteries, gas turbines) to maintain stability.
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Energy-Credit Tokens: Green-energy surplus is tokenized as “SolarLoop” ERC-20 tokens, tradable among households, businesses, and utilities with settlement on an Ethereum Layer-2 network.
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Sustainability Impact: Early trials on Corsican microgrids reported a 12% reduction in fossil-fuel use and a 20% increase in renewable utilization.
Opinion & Implications:
The fusion of AI and blockchain in energy grids marks a pivotal shift toward decentralized, citizen-driven utilities. Traditional power markets struggle with intermittent renewables; embedding autonomy via smart contracts democratizes access and aligns incentives for cleaner output. However, real-world rollouts must address interoperability (across protocols), token volatility, and regulatory clarity on digital asset classification. Cerebra Supernova’s initiative may well set the template for community microgrids worldwide, but scaling will require standardized APIs, robust cybersecurity measures, and policy frameworks to integrate tokenized energy credits into broader carbon-pricing schemes.
Source: SiliconANGLE
2. Chainlink, Kinexys & Ondo Test Blockchain DVP Settlement
Key News: Chainlink Labs, Kinexys, and Ondo Finance have jointly piloted a Distributed Delivery-Versus-Payment (DVP) settlement mechanism on a public blockchain, targeting institutional bond and ETF trades. By leveraging Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) and Kinexys’ settlement-oracle mesh, the trial achieved atomic settlements: assets and payments exchanged simultaneously, irrevocably on-chain.
Details:
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Atomic DVP Workflow: Upon trade execution in an off-chain matching engine, settlement instructions trigger on-chain via CCIP messages; Kinexys oracles confirm balances, and Ondo’s tokenized cash-equivalent stablecoins (nUSD) finalize payment.
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Performance Metrics: End-to-end latency clocked at 3 seconds per transaction, with sub-$0.50 gas costs due to Rollup-level batching.
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Risk Reduction: Eliminates counterparty and settlement-fails risk inherent in T+2 markets, enabling real-time finality and freeing collateral faster.
Opinion & Implications:
Bridging traditional capital markets and public blockchains has long been the Holy Grail of institutional DeFi. This DVP pilot demonstrates that rigorous market-standard settlement can coexist with open-ledger transparency and composability. Yet, regulatory acceptance remains the linchpin—securities regulators must endorse on-chain finality as equivalent to legal settlement. Moreover, interoperability across permissioned and permissionless networks will determine whether tokenized securities truly scale. If such trials proliferate, expect incumbent custodians and clearinghouses to partner with decentralized-oracle providers, laying the groundwork for a 24/7 global settlement infrastructure.
Source: The Paypers
3. Blockchain Cloud Mining’s “Master” Digital-Gold Platform Launch
Key News: Blockchain Cloud Mining has released Master, a turnkey cloud-mining and staking portal enabling users to allocate fiat and crypto into diversified mining assets—Bitcoin, Ethereum PoS, and a curated basket of altcoins—via a single, web-based dashboard.
Details:
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Encrypted Wealth Strategy: Master abstracts miner procurement, hosting, and maintenance; users simply choose “Digital Gold,” “Ethereum Yield,” or “DeFi Basket” plans.
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Revenue Sharing: Monthly returns distributed as tokenized dividends (DCM-TOKEN), tradable on major DEXs.
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Security & Compliance: KYC/AML integrated Sign-in, cold-storage custody of mined coins, and quarterly third-party audits published on-chain.
Opinion & Implications:
As retail investors seek passive crypto exposure, cloud-mining platforms promise hands-off rewards but often lack transparency. Blockchain Cloud Mining’s audited model and tokenized dividend structure could elevate trust—but token economics must guard against dilution and rug-pull risks. Moreover, the environmental debate around proof-of-work mining persists; integrating renewable-energy credits or carbon offsets into mining-assets offerings could be a differentiator. As staking yields compress and DeFi bear cycles loom, platforms like Master will need to innovate risk-adjusted return products and perhaps incorporate algorithmic governance to align user incentives.
Source: GlobeNewswire
4. Responsible Gold Taps Sakhila Mirza to Lead Blockchain-Powered Expansion
Key News: Responsible Gold, the tokenized-asset platform enabling fractional, KYC-compliant gold ownership, has appointed fintech executive Sakhila Mirza as Chief Growth Officer. Her mandate: scale the “Trusted Gold” ecosystem and forge partnerships with bullion exchanges, central banks, and luxury-goods providers.
Details:
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Trusted Gold Tokens (TGT): ERC-721 tokens representing audited, insured physical gold bars stored in vaults across Switzerland and Singapore.
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Expansion Strategy: Under Mirza, the platform aims to integrate with central-bank digital currency (CBDC) pilots, enabling gold-backed CBDC overlays. Plans include white-label solutions for jewelry retailers to mint fractional gold tokens at point-of-sale.
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Governance & Audits: Monthly on-chain proof-of-reserve updates via Merkle-proof contracts; annual audits by Big Four firms.
Opinion & Implications:
Tokenizing real-world assets like gold has been heralded as blockchain’s killer app—but adoption hinges on regulatory trust, custodial transparency, and consumer education. Mirza’s track record in partnerships could bridge the gap between crypto-natives and traditional finance, positioning TGT as a credible store-of-value for both investors and commerce. CBDC integration is particularly visionary: by tethering digital fiat to gold reserves on-chain, central banks could assuage inflation concerns and experiment with programmable money. However, geopolitical tensions around reserve asset denial and cross-border gold transfers may challenge such initiatives—making governance frameworks and legal clarity paramount.
Source: Business Wire
5. Automobili Estrema & Fabian Oberhammer’s “Dizzy Viper” NFT Collaboration
Key News: Italian hypercar maker Automobili Estrema has partnered with digital artist Fabian Oberhammer to launch “Dizzy Viper”, a limited-edition NFT art series minted on the NEAR Protocol, celebrating the brand’s cutting-edge “Fulminea” electric supercar.
Details:
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Collector Drops: 333 dynamic NFTs featuring generative-art viper motifs synchronized to real-time telemetry data from a Fulminea test run.
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Utility Perks: NFT holders receive VIP track day invites, factory tours, and a fractional stake in a bespoke Fulminea prototype.
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Environmental Offset: Minting energy consumption offset via NEAR’s carbon-neutral consensus and direct funding of reforestation projects in Italy.
Opinion & Implications:
Luxury automotive brands entering the NFT arena exemplify Web3’s fusion with experiential marketing. By linking on-chain art to real-world perks and data streams, Automobili Estrema deepens fan engagement while tapping new revenue from digital collectibles. NEAR’s eco-friendly blockchain underscores the need for sustainability in NFT minting—a growing concern among high-net-worth audiences. The fractional ownership model hints at broader use cases: tokenized access to exclusive assets (cars, yachts, art) could spur secondary markets and novel governance rights. For blockchain enthusiasts, this collaboration showcases how tokenomics and experiential utility can elevate brand loyalty beyond traditional merchandising.
Source: PR Newswire
Conclusion & Key Takeaways
Today’s headlines reflect a blockchain ecosystem maturing across multiple dimensions:
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Sustainability & Decentralization: AI-blockchain energy grids and carbon-neutral NFT minting demonstrate a commitment to environmental stewardship.
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Institutional Integration: DVP settlement trials and tokenized gold underscore blockchain’s encroachment into capital markets and reserve assets.
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Democratized Access: Cloud-mining platforms and fractional gold tokens lower barriers to crypto and real-asset investing, while highlighting the need for transparency.
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Experiential Web3: Luxury brands and community microgrids leverage tokenized incentives to forge deeper user connections.
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Regulatory & Governance Frontiers: From Massachusetts-style AI commissions to CBDC-gold overlays, legal frameworks will shape the pace and direction of blockchain adoption.
As blockchain transcends niche use cases, cross-sector collaboration and robust governance will determine whether these innovations realize their transformative promise. Today’s stories are more than headlines—they’re signposts pointing to a decentralized, tokenized future where AI, finance, sustainability, and creativity converge on the distributed ledger.
The post Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – May 20, 2025 appeared first on News, Events, Advertising Options.
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