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SC Ventures backs SOLV in enabling seamless trade and access to finance for small businesses in post-COVID world

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SC Ventures, the innovation, ventures and fintech investments unit of Standard Chartered, today announced the commercial launch of SOLV, a full-stack B2B marketplace for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), in India. The platform is part of the Bank’s vision to rewire banking to serve the needs of its existing and new client segments in the digital age.

The 60 million+ strong MSME sector in India is one of the primary growth drivers of the country’s economy, accounting for nearly 30 per cent of GDP, 40 per cent of the workforce and 40 per cent of exports, and is growing at around 10 per cent year-on-year. However, MSMEs in India have not been able to harness technology for growth despite rapid strides in digital transformations across all sectors.

SOLV’s B2B commerce platform offers India’s MSME sector an open and inclusive trade ecosystem across the entire value chain – from facilitating connections and negotiations with verified suppliers and buyers, door-step pick-up, and delivery of goods, to timely and easy access to finance as well as simplified business support functions. These are critical elements that will help expand market access, bring operational efficiencies, and shape success for millions of small businesses across the country.

SOLV’s intuitive and user-friendly conversational commerce platform also brings the power of technologies like blockchain, artificial intelligence and machine learning – emerging technologies that are usually only accessible to the more established players – to these small businesses and helps them conduct their business with multiple stakeholders in a trusted environment.

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Since its inception, SOLV has been focused on digitising entire supply chains across various sectors, including fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), mobiles and accessories as well as hospitality. More than 15,000 small retailers, traders, wholesalers, and manufacturers to date are using SOLV and realising the benefits of this transformation. Many small businesses that previously had no digital identity are now able to leverage the power of a full-stack e-commerce platform that allows them to have their own digital store fronts, access a wide range of products at the best prices, optimise their inventory, digitise their payments, generate goods and services tax compliant invoices and reconcile their accounts. Small businesses on SOLV’s platform can also generate ‘SOLV score’, an alternative credit score, to establish their creditworthiness within the ecosystem.

SOLV currently operates in over 20 Indian towns, and is set to expand to 200 towns within the next year. Beyond India, SOLV will be rolling out in KenyaGhana and is also exploring other markets for expansion.

“Simplifying growth for small businesses in emerging markets, especially in the current post-pandemic environment, is one of the most pressing challenges that financial institutions can help to tackle. Backed by Standard Chartered’s global capabilities and deep local knowledge from over 160 years of presence in India, SOLV has the potential to positively impact millions of local MSMEs by helping them to achieve sustainable growth,” said Jiten Arora, Venture Lead, SOLV and Global Head for SME Platforms, SC Ventures. “As data continues to grow exponentially in the Indian market, SOLV is plugging into these data sources and building end-to-end technology led commerce and financial services solutions supported by business solutions, that can help to solve problems across customer onboarding, alternative credit scoring and underwriting, digitising operations and improving the efficiency of supply chains. We believe the platform is well-positioned to expand to other geographies to deliver its benefits to more small business owners around the world.”

With B2B buying and selling patterns shifting significantly towards digital channels after the outbreak of COVID-19, SOLV has been helping to keep supply chains operational by making use of its network of small businesses on the platform to connect suppliers to new buyers, and buyers to new suppliers. In maintaining the flow of essential goods, it has more than doubled the revenue of many small businesses on its platform with over 300 per cent growth in the value of goods traded over the last quarter and is now supplying over 250 tonnes of goods to small businesses every day.

SOLV is also trusted by several leading FMCG manufacturers, restaurant chains and non-governmental organisations in India to help them achieve deeper penetration in middle India through its network of small retailers and source quality products.

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Additionally, SOLV’s extensive open network of more than 20 financial service providers enables invoice financing through a ‘buy-now-pay-later’ solution, growth capital through business loans and a well- integrated supply chain finance programme to support small businesses in their growth journey.

SOLV started as a business idea incubated at SC Ventures. Standard Chartered has been actively experimenting with new business models to meet the evolving needs of its clients. The Bank recently announced the launch of Mox, its digital retail bank in Hong Kong, in partnership with PCCW, HKT and Trip.com; nexus, its banking-as-a-service solution; Cardspal, a credit card deals aggregation platform in Singapore, as well as a joint venture with Assembly Payments to develop and deliver next generation payment solutions.

Blockchain

Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – January 30, 2025 (Dogecoin, U.S. Army, DeepSeek, Web3)

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blocks-&-headlines:-today-in-blockchain-–-january-30,-2025-(dogecoin,-us.-army,-deepseek,-web3)

 

Introduction

The blockchain and cryptocurrency industry continues to evolve, with major advancements in institutional adoption, regulatory modernization, and innovative applications. Today’s roundup covers Dogecoin’s new blockchain strategy, the U.S. Army’s use of blockchain for tracking aid, notable blockchain startups, domain challenges for Web3 companies, the first AI blockchain agent, and Luxembourg’s legal updates for custody chains. Let’s break down the biggest headlines shaping the future of blockchain technology and decentralized finance.


Dogecoin Unveils Strategic Blockchain Movement

Expanding Beyond a Meme Coin

Dogecoin, often viewed as a lighthearted cryptocurrency, is making serious strides toward blockchain utility with a new strategic initiative aimed at expanding its use case beyond simple transactions. The Dogecoin Foundation has announced plans to integrate layer-2 solutions, smart contracts, and interoperability features, potentially positioning DOGE as a serious competitor in the decentralized finance (DeFi) space.

This move signals a shift in the perception of Dogecoin, which has long relied on community-driven momentum. With the new strategy, DOGE could become an integral part of the growing Web3 ecosystem.

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Source: Crypto Briefing


U.S. Army Utilizes Blockchain for Aid Tracking in Ukraine

Military Adopts Emerging Tech for Transparency

The U.S. Army is leveraging blockchain, big data, and generative AI to track billions of dollars in aid sent to Ukraine. This marks a significant step in blockchain’s adoption by governments and defense agencies to enhance transparency and prevent fraud.

By using blockchain for immutable record-keeping, military officials aim to improve logistics tracking, reduce inefficiencies, and ensure secure auditing of aid distribution. This could set a precedent for future government adoption of blockchain-based verification systems.

Source: Breaking Defense


10 Blockchain Startups to Watch in 2025

Innovation Driving the Next Wave of Web3

A new report highlights ten emerging blockchain startups poised to disrupt industries from finance to supply chain management. These companies are working on scalable smart contracts, decentralized identity solutions, and improved cross-chain interoperability.

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Among the standout names are startups focusing on privacy-preserving transactions, institutional DeFi tools, and real-world asset tokenization, reinforcing blockchain’s growing role in mainstream finance and enterprise adoption.

Source: Yahoo Finance


Web3 Companies Struggle with Domain Name Challenges

Decentralization vs. Traditional Domain Ownership

As blockchain companies push forward with Web3 adoption, many are encountering significant hurdles in securing relevant domain names. Unlike traditional domains governed by ICANN, blockchain-native domains such as .crypto and .eth exist outside standard regulatory frameworks, leading to disputes and accessibility issues.

Industry experts are calling for greater collaboration between blockchain projects and domain registrars to ensure seamless Web3 adoption while maintaining online accessibility for users.

Source: Domain Name Wire

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Klaus Agent Becomes the First Blockchain AI to Use Custom DeepSeek Model

AI and Blockchain Converge

The Klaus Agent, an AI-powered blockchain agent, has integrated the DeepSeek AI model to enhance decision-making, smart contract automation, and decentralized application (dApp) intelligence. This innovation represents a major step in merging artificial intelligence with blockchain networks, allowing for more sophisticated automation in DeFi, NFT trading, and DAO governance.

As AI and blockchain continue to converge, the potential for autonomous smart contract execution and predictive analytics is expected to grow, leading to more efficient decentralized systems.

Source: GlobeNewswire


Luxembourg Modernizes Custody Chain Laws for Blockchain

A Legal Framework for Tokenized Assets

Luxembourg, a key financial hub in Europe, has updated its custody chain regulations to accommodate blockchain-based assets. These changes are designed to facilitate institutional adoption of tokenized securities and digital asset custody solutions.

By providing a clear regulatory framework, Luxembourg aims to attract fintech firms, investment funds, and digital asset custodians, further strengthening its position as a leader in blockchain finance.

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Source: National Law Review


Conclusion

The latest blockchain developments underscore the rapid evolution of the industry, from Dogecoin’s strategic shift to military adoption of blockchain for transparency. As AI and blockchain begin to merge, and governments refine regulations, we are witnessing a pivotal moment in decentralized technology.

With institutional interest growing and regulatory frameworks taking shape, blockchain and Web3 technologies are moving closer to mainstream acceptance. Stay tuned for the next Blocks & Headlines briefing as we continue to track the most significant trends shaping the future of decentralized finance and digital assets.

 

The post Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – January 30, 2025 (Dogecoin, U.S. Army, DeepSeek, Web3) appeared first on News, Events, Advertising Options.

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Fintech as a Service Business Research Report 2025: Global Market to Reach $1.1 Trillion by 2030 from $387 Billion in 2024 – SMB Adoption of Fintech Services Spurs Market Expansion Opportunities

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Fintech as a Service (FaaS) Market

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From Apes to Humans: ApeChain Joins Humanity Protocol’s zkProofer Network to Scale Proof of Humanity

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Humanity Protocol, a leader in on-chain Proof of Humanity (PoH) and decentralized identity, is today announcing its partnership with ApeChain, the blockchain powering the ApeCoin ecosystem. ApeChain will join Humanity Protocol’s zkProofer network, a decentralized infrastructure for privacy-preserving identity verification. This partnership positions ApeChain at the forefront of integrating Sybil-resistant, human-centric identity solutions, enhancing governance, utility, and trust across the ApeCoin ecosystem.
Humanity Protocol has established itself as the leading identity layer for Web3 with over 2.5 million users onboarded during its testnet and an impending mainnet launch. Humanity Protocol leverages its Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) framework and PoH technology to deliver unique human authentication for decentralized applications. zkProofers, key components of this framework, validate identities using zero-knowledge proofs, ensuring privacy while maintaining trust. As a zkProofer, ApeChain will play a pivotal role in scaling this identity network, enabling privacy-preserving verification for its users without compromising personal data.
ApeChain, the blockchain underpinning the vibrant ApeCoin ecosystem, supports decentralized applications across NFTs, DeFi, gaming, and governance. Its commitment to scalability, security, and interoperability makes it an ideal partner for Humanity Protocol. By integrating PoH and becoming part of the zkProofer network, ApeChain is elevating its ecosystem with innovative identity solutions designed to bridge the gap between the digital and physical worlds.
With Proof of Humanity, ApeDAO governance will benefit from greater transparency and fairness. Verified human identities tied to voting will prevent Sybil attacks and foster genuine community engagement while maintaining user privacy. This partnership addresses longstanding challenges in decentralized governance, enabling ApeDAO to operate more effectively and equitably.
Terence Kwok, Founder and CEO of Humanity Protocol said: “Partnering with ApeChain as a zkProofer is a significant milestone in advancing decentralized identity. Humanity Protocol’s Proof of Humanity framework will enhance governance, unlock new utility for NFTs, and create privacy-preserving experiences that bridge digital ownership with real-world interactions. This collaboration represents a shared commitment to building secure, human-centric systems that drive innovation in Web3.”
Waabam, ApeCoin Special Council Member and ApeChain Director, said: “This partnership with Humanity Protocol represents a pivotal step forward for the ApeCoin and ApeChain ecosystem. By joining Humanity Protocol’s zkProofer network and integrating its groundbreaking Proof of Humanity technology, we are enhancing not only the security and fairness of our governance processes but also unlocking new possibilities for utility and engagement across our ecosystem.”

The post From Apes to Humans: ApeChain Joins Humanity Protocol’s zkProofer Network to Scale Proof of Humanity appeared first on News, Events, Advertising Options.

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