Connect with us
Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2025 (25-26 March)

Blockchain

This Week in Finance News: 11 Stories You Need to See

Published

on

this-week-in-finance-news:-11-stories-you-need-to-see

 

With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help finance journalists and consumers stay on top of the week’s most newsworthy and popular releases, here’s a recap of some major stories from the week that shouldn’t be missed.

The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download.

  1. Prosperity or catastrophe: #Insurance2040 study reveals four possible futures for the industry
    By 2040, technological innovation driven by customer centricity could pave the way to greater climate resilience and more personalized offerings by the insurance industry. Alternatively, insurance could become a luxury afforded only to the wealthiest few.
  2. Cardinal Health announces two strategic additions to its portfolio
    Cardinal Health will acquire a majority stake in GI Alliance (GIA), the country’s leading gastroenterology (GI) management services organization (MSO), from a combination of GIA physician owners and funds managed by affiliates of Apollo. Cardinal Health will also acquire the Advanced Diabetes Supply Group (ADSG), one of the country’s leading diabetic medical supplies providers, for approximately $1.1 billion in cash.
  3. BlackRock Launches New BUIDL Share Classes Across Multiple Blockchains to Expand Access and Potential of BUIDL Ecosystem
    This initiative represents the next step in the evolution of the tokenization market, by enabling BUIDL to be used within leading blockchain-based financial products and infrastructure across ecosystems.
  4. Primo Brands Corporation Announces Successful Completion of Merger of Primo Water and BlueTriton Brands
    “I believe Primo Brands is positioned to be a leader in the healthy hydration beverage category, thanks to the strength of its iconic, sustainably-sourced brands, its robust operations and extensive North American network, and its responsible operation of numerous springs across the country,” said Dean Metropoulos, Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Primo Brands.
  5. Jackson Hewitt Tax Services Expands Workforce, Offering Job Opportunities Nationwide for Upcoming Tax Filing Season
    The week-long event will launch the combined hiring of 18,000 employees to prepare for the upcoming tax filing season. The Jackson Hewitt hiring events are open to the public and include on-site interviews. Qualified candidates could receive a job offer immediately.
  6. PNC Bank to Double Planned Branch Openings to More Than 200 Across Six States This announcement brings the bank’s total investment to approximately $1.5 billion to open more than 200 new branch locations in 12 cities across the U.S. over the next five years, while completing the renovations of 1,400 existing branches during the same time period.
  7. Alchemy Pay Expands Virtual Card Functionality with Google Pay Support The new card BINs added will significantly enhance the capabilities of crypto cards, expanding their support for a broader range of payment scenarios and improving transaction success rates. This advancement is particularly impactful when paired with Google Pay, one of the most popular and widely used digital payment platforms, trusted by millions for its convenience and security.
  8. Finaya Unveils Nationwide Homeownership Platform
    From providing rich and current information about home values and property conditions, to finding helpful repair and remodeling providers, to shopping for and securing the right insurance, the platform simplifies the homeownership process, making it more accessible, convenient and efficient.
  9. GenAI predicted to inspire revenue growth in 76% of businesses, but only 4% qualify as “leaders” in AI and analytics
    Kearney’s report confirms that businesses are not only aware of how big data, AI, and analytics will impact revenue generation and enhance business strategies, but they are investing to stay ahead of the curve, too.
  10. GameAbove Sports Acquires Meaningful Ownership Stake in Brisbane Bullets with NBA Legend George Gervin as Part of Ownership Team
    This move marks a significant milestone for GameAbove Sports, a CapStone Holdings Inc. company, as it expands its influence on international basketball ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.
  11. Most US shoppers are encountering generative AI while shopping without realizing it
    A survey of 700 online shoppers in the US shows 71% are unaware of having used generative AI while shopping online even though most had recently shopped at retailers currently using it. 41% of customers say they would feel comfortable using a generative AI tool from a brand they trust.

For more news like this, check out all of the latest finance-related releases from PR Newswire.

Do you have a finance press release to distribute? Sign up with PR Newswire to share your story with the audiences who matter most.

Advertisement

Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News

These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists.

Once they’re signed up, reporters, bloggers, and freelancers have access to the following free features:

  • Customization: Users can create customized newsfeeds that will deliver relevant news right to their inbox. Newsfeed results can be targeted by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more.
  • Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include in a journalist or blogger’s next story.
  • Subject Matter Experts: Journalists will have access to ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in their articles.
  • Related Resources: Our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, features regular media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more.

The post This Week in Finance News: 11 Stories You Need to See appeared first on .

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Blockchain

Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – April 22, 2025 (Activity‑Weighted Consensus, Pectra Upgrade, Yoki Legacy, Verae–Evercycle, Earth Day)

Published

on

blocks-&-headlines:-today-in-blockchain-–-april-22,-2025-(activity‑weighted-consensus,-pectra-upgrade,-yoki-legacy,-verae–evercycle,-earth-day)

 

As blockchain technologies mature and diversify, today’s highlights underscore a burgeoning shift: from consensus innovation and protocol upgrades to strategic partnerships and sustainability imperatives. In this edition, we unpack five pivotal developments shaping Web3, DeFi, NFTs, and enterprise-grade blockchain adoption:

  1. Activity‑Weighted Consensus Steals the Show at Paris Blockchain Week

  2. Ethereum’s Pectra Upgrade: The Next Evolution in Scalability

  3. Astar’s Yoki Legacy Launches on Sony’s Soneium Blockchain

  4. Verae and Evercycle Forge Blockchain‑Enabled ITAM Partnership

  5. Earth Day 2025: Why an Efficient Blockchain Is a Smart Energy Choice

Together, these stories reveal key trends—innovative consensus models, cross‑chain interoperability, tokenized asset management, and an urgent focus on energy efficiency—driving blockchain’s trajectory in 2025.


1. Activity‑Weighted Consensus Steals the Show at Paris Blockchain Week

At the recent Paris Blockchain Week Conference, the concept of Activity‑Weighted Consensus (AWC) emerged as a potential game‑changer for network security and governance. Unlike Proof‑of‑Work (PoW) or Proof‑of‑Stake (PoS), AWC allocates block‑production rights based on a node’s continuous on‑chain engagement metrics—transaction relaying, smart‑contract interactions, and decentralized application hosting. Advocates argue that this model:

Advertisement
  • Aligns Incentives with Ecosystem Health: Nodes that actively support dApps, relays, and DeFi protocols earn governance weight, dissuading passive stake‑hoarding and promoting network utility.

  • Enhances Security: By requiring sustained activity rather than one‑time stake deposits, AWC makes long‑term collusion and stake concentration more costly and detectable.

  • Fosters Decentralized Governance: Community participants demonstrating developer contributions or sustainable validator uptime can gain voting power, democratizing protocol upgrades and treasury decisions.

During the Paris sessions, leading research teams unveiled prototypes on testnets demonstrating up to 60% reduction in attack surface compared to vanilla PoS chains, without compromising block‑finality times. Critics, however, caution that accurately measuring “useful activity” demands robust oracles and could introduce new attack vectors if measurement data is manipulated.

Opinion: Activity‑Weighted Consensus represents a vital next step in consensus algorithm innovation—bridging the gap between security, decentralization, and real‑world utility. While the implementation complexity is nontrivial, protocols prioritizing ecosystem engagement could see higher network effects and healthier token economies. If designed with transparency and anti‑gaming safeguards, AWC could become a mainstream alternative by 2026.

Source: Cointelegraph


2. Ethereum’s Pectra Upgrade: The Next Evolution in Scalability

Ethereum’s core developers have officially detailed the ambitious Pectra Upgrade, slated for Q4 2025. Building upon the success of past hard forks, Pectra aims to tackle two pillars: throughput and data availability. Key components include:

  • Rollup‑Centric Sharding: Rather than full‑state sharding, Pectra introduces “data shards” optimized for rollups, increasing per‑shard throughput to 10 MB per block—3× current levels—while aggregating rollup proofs on‑chain.

  • On‑Chain Data Availability Sampling (DAS): Incorporates KZG commitments to enable light clients to verify data availability without downloading entire blocks, bolstering security against data‑withholding attacks.

  • EIP‑4990: Prover Optimization: Introduces optimized precompile contracts to accelerate zk‑SNARK and zk‑STARK proof verification by up to 40%, reducing gas costs for privacy and scaling solutions.

  • Native Token Recycling: Pectra reallocates a portion of burnt ETH (post‑EIP‑1559) to a “Scaling Fund” administered via on‑chain governance, seeding grants for L2 rollups and data‑availability networks.

Analysis: Pectra’s rollup‑centric vision reaffirms Ethereum’s commitment to being the settlement layer for a multi‑chain ecosystem. By offloading execution to specialized rollups while securing data integrity on L1, Ethereum anticipates 50,000 TPS across aggregated rollups, vastly improving DeFi composability and reducing gas fee volatility. Critics note the increased client complexity and potential centralization risks if DAS providers consolidate.

Advertisement

Implications: For DeFi protocols, NFT marketplaces, and application developers, Pectra could slash transaction costs, enabling new use cases—from micro‑transactions to real‑time gaming—while maintaining the security assurances of Ethereum’s vast validator set. The Scaling Fund’s token recycling mechanism also sets a precedent for sustainable ecosystem funding.

Source: Gadgets360


3. Astar’s Yoki Legacy Launches on Sony’s Soneium Blockchain

In a landmark partnership bridging gaming and blockchain, Astar Network announced that Yoki Legacy, its flagship play‑to‑earn RPG, will deploy on Sony’s Soneium Blockchain starting May 2025. This collaboration offers:

  • Cross‑Chain Interoperability: Utilizing Astar’s XCM (Cross‑Consensus Message) protocol, Yoki Legacy assets—NFTs, in‑game tokens, and governance rights—can transfer seamlessly between Astar (Polkadot) and Soneium, enabling multiverse gameplay.

  • Eco‑Friendly Consensus: Soneium employs a hybrid PoS‑PoA model with carbon offsets verified on‑chain, aligning with Sony’s commitment to sustainability.

  • Developer Toolkits: Joint SDKs allow game studios to tap both networks’ developer ecosystems, sharing middleware for asset minting, royalty management, and composable NFT design.

Opinion & Impact: This alliance signals Web3 gaming’s maturation, as major entertainment brands partner with public blockchains to reach broader audiences. Soneium’s consumer electronics pedigree and global distribution channels could propel Yoki Legacy into mainstream consoles—validating blockchain gaming beyond niche communities. Furthermore, asset interoperability across Astar and Soneium paves the way for unified gaming economies, where items retain value across genres and platforms, potentially reshaping in‑game monetization models.

Source: VentureBeat

Advertisement

4. Verae and Evercycle Forge Blockchain‑Enabled IT Asset Management

Industrial IoT specialist Verae and sustainability platform Evercycle have launched a blockchain‑powered IT Asset Management (ITAM) solution targeting circular‑economy compliance. By merging Verae’s device telemetry with Evercycle’s digital product passports on a Hyperledger Fabric network, the partnership offers:

  • Provenance Tracking: Each hardware component—servers, routers, laptops—receives a tamper‑proof record of manufacture, warranty, maintenance, and end‑of‑life recycling status.

  • Regulatory Compliance: Automated reporting modules help enterprises meet EU’s Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directives and emerging Right to Repair regulations.

  • Tokenized Incentives: “Green Credits” are issued when devices are refurbished or recycled according to verified processes, tradable within corporate sustainability marketplaces.

Analysis: As enterprises grapple with e‑waste—projected to reach 74 million metric tons by 2030—blockchain‑backed ITAM offers both auditability and circular‑economy incentives. By tokenizing responsible disposal, companies can transparently showcase ESG compliance to investors and regulators. Critics warn of integration challenges with legacy procurement systems and potential data privacy concerns if supply‑chain partners refuse on‑chain transparency.

Strategic Takeaway: This partnership exemplifies how permissioned blockchains can underpin enterprise sustainability efforts, harmonizing environmental goals with operational efficiency. For IT procurement and finance teams, on‑chain asset management reduces manual audits, accelerates warranty claims, and unlocks new value streams through tokenized recycling incentives.

Source: PR Newswire


5. Earth Day 2025: An Efficient Blockchain Is a Smart Energy Choice

In honor of Earth Day 2025, CoinGeek highlights how next‑gen blockchains—from Proof‑of‑History in Solana to Nakamoto PoA hybrids—are slashing energy consumption compared to legacy PoW networks. Key metrics include:

Advertisement
  • Energy Efficiency: Modern PoS chains consume 99.9% less energy per transaction than Bitcoin, with some layer‑2 rollups achieving sub‑gram carbon footprints per transfer.

  • Carbon‑Offset Innovations: Protocols like Algorand and Cardano integrate on‑chain carbon oracles that automatically retire carbon credits proportional to network activity.

  • Green Data Centers: Validators increasingly deploy in solar‑ and wind‑powered facilities, with projects like EcoChain offering renewable‑energy staking pools.

Opinion: As mainstream scrutiny intensifies around crypto’s environmental impact, energy‑efficient protocols are not just eco‑friendly—they’re competitive differentiators. Enterprises and institutional investors demand sustainability assurances; blockchains failing to address carbon footprints risk regulatory backlash and reputational damage. By spotlighting energy‑optimized consensus and renewable‑powered infrastructure, the industry can redefine itself as a driver of green innovation.

Source: CoinGeek


Conclusion: Mapping the Blockchain Horizon

Today’s briefing underscores three overarching themes propelling blockchain forward:

  1. Consensus Reinvention: From activity‑weighted protocols to energy‑efficient hybrids, networks are refining consensus to boost security, scalability, and sustainability.

  2. Cross‑Chain & Enterprise Integration: Interoperability—whether via rollup‑centric upgrades, cross‑chain gaming partnerships, or permissioned frameworks for ITAM—enables seamless value flows across disparate ecosystems.

  3. Environmental & Regulatory Alignment: As global frameworks converge around ESG and circular‑economy mandates, blockchain applications that embed sustainability and compliance at their core will capture both market share and stakeholder trust.

For developers, enterprises, and investors alike, staying ahead means embracing not only technical breakthroughs but also governance models and partnerships that align blockchain with real‑world needs. Tune in tomorrow as we continue tracking the decentralized revolution—one block at a time.

The post Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – April 22, 2025 (Activity‑Weighted Consensus, Pectra Upgrade, Yoki Legacy, Verae–Evercycle, Earth Day) appeared first on News, Events, Advertising Options.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Blockchain

Top Australian Analysts Endorse GoldmanPeak as Most Reliable Crypto Platform

Published

on

top-australian-analysts-endorse-goldmanpeak-as-most-reliable-crypto-platform
Continue Reading

Blockchain

Astra Fintech Launches $100M Solana Ecosystem Fund to Accelerate Innovation, Announces Strategic Expansion in Asia

Published

on

astra-fintech-launches-$100m-solana-ecosystem-fund-to-accelerate-innovation,-announces-strategic-expansion-in-asia

Astra Fintech

Continue Reading
Advertisement
 title=
Advertisement

Latest News

Recent Listings

  • Global Payout, Inc.

    Since the Company’s inception in 2009, Global Payout, Inc. has been a leading provider of compreh...

  • MTrac Tech Corp.

    MTrac Tech Corporation, a Nevada Corporation, is a privately held, wholly owned subsidiary of Glo...

  • Net1

    Net1 is a leading provider of transaction processing services, financial inclusion products ...

  • uBUCK Technologies SEZC

    Based in Georgetown, Cayman Islands, uBUCK Tech is a fintech enterprise that specializes in digit...

  • LiteLink Technologies Inc.

      LiteLink is a major player in developing world-class enterprise platforms that utilize ar...

  • Good Gamer Corp.

      Good Gamer Corp. is a privately-held technology company focusing on gamers and streamers....

  • BitPay

      Founded in 2011, BitPay pioneered blockchain payment processing with the mission of trans...

  • About Net1

      Net1 is a leading provider of transaction processing services, financial inclusion produc...

  • Blockchain Foundry Inc.

    Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Blockchain Foundry (CSE:BCFN)(FWB:8BF)(OTC:BLFDF) is a global b...

  • Sixgill

    Sixgill provides a full suite of universal data automation and authenticity products and services...

Trending on TBE