Fintech PR

Huma Raises $38M to Hyper-scale its Payment Financing (PayFi) Network

Published

7 days ago

September 12, 2024

huma-raises-$38m-to-hyper-scale-its-payment-financing-(payfi)-network

Huma Finance is transforming payment financing by utilizing real-world assets to deliver instant and borderless liquidity, enabling faster, more accessible, and more efficient financial solutions.

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Huma, the first Payment Financing (PayFi) network, announced today that it has raised $38 million in funding. Distributed Global led the equity round, with significant participation from Hashkey Capital, Folius Ventures, the Stellar Development Foundation, and TIBAS Ventures, CVC arm of İşbank, the largest private bank in Turkiye. Part of this raise came as investments into high-yield real world assets (RWA) assets on platform.

The vast majority of businesses and people around the world depend on a form of payment financing. Credit cards alone finance $16T in merchant payments globally. Trade finance facilitates $10 trillion in B2B payments. One in every six families depends on remittances—money sent back home across the borders—yet even that system depends on trillions of dollars being locked in pre-funding accounts. The list goes on. While the demand for payment financing increases daily, creating an urgent need for more innovative solutions, traditional financial institutions are unable—or unwilling—to meet this need, widening the liquidity gap with each passing day. Payment financing is so ingrained in every part of our lives that, without it, the entire economy would stop growing.

PayFi aims to address this giant liquidity gap by bringing trillions of dollars of real world payment volume over to blockchains and stablecoins. Leveraging the core strengths of blockchain—global money movement in seconds through programmable money—PayFi also enables new real-world use-cases that were previously impossible. Huma has built the first ever PayFi network with all of these use cases in mind, adopting an open, modular and decentralized approach to empower interoperable solutions across participants. By bringing the best of RWA, Payments, and DeFi together, Huma is creating a network that is far more efficient and accessible than traditional alternatives.

“While designing Huma, we often asked ourselves: How do you build an open payment financing network on blockchain that is more powerful than Visa? Today, stablecoins are already powering $2T in payments annually. An open payment financing network is going to help grow the entire payment ecosystem faster.” said Huma co-founder Richard Liu. “The surge of interest we’re seeing right now is a testament to PayFi’s potential. As more partners join us every week, it’s clear that PayFi is quickly becoming the new frontier of RWA.”

Building on this vision, Huma’s April merger with Arf, the leading on-demand liquidity solution for global payments, brought together the two of the most prominent PayFi players. Huma and Arf have already surpassed $1.8 billion in payment financing transactions and are on track to reach $10 billion next year, making them one of the fastest growing use cases for Circle’s USDC.

Part of this raise came as investments into Arf’s high-yield RWA assets. The Stellar Development Foundation provided a $10 million investment. Additionally, tokenized assets are currently available to accredited investors on Scroll for a limited period. With this funding infusion, Huma plans to further expand its PayFi network to the Stellar smart contract platform and to Solana in the coming months, making sure the network is accessible from all the major payments-focused chains.

“Moving money quickly and cheaply across borders is at the core of what the Stellar network does best. PayFi is providing real world utility that solves problems for people and companies, and it is the type of project tailor-made for the Stellar network. We look forward to continuing to working with Huma to grow the PayFi ecosystem,” said Denelle Dixon, CEO of the Stellar Development Foundation.

“Huma’s PayFi network represents an important step forward in payment financing, offering solutions to long-standing inefficiencies in the industry,” said Chao Deng, CEO of HashKey Capital. “We believe innovations like this are crucial for addressing real-world challenges, and we’re pleased to see Huma playing a key role in advancing the Web3 space.” Huma’s growing PayFi network has caught the attention of leading blockchain advocates, further fueling the momentum behind PayFi. The Solana Foundation’s support signals how PayFi’s innovative on-chain financial solutions are set to redefine global finance.

“PayFi is the creation of new financial markets around the time value of money. On-chain finance can enable new financial primitives, product experiences, and financial access that are impossible in traditional or even Web2 finance. When I met the Huma team, it was immediately apparent that they’d be a great anchor for the PayFi ecosystem within Solana.” said Lily Liu, President of Solana Foundation.

Huma plans to launch the Huma Foundation this year, a pivotal move to decentralize its PayFi network and broaden global access, further solidifying its leadership in the RWA space. Additionally, Huma is set to host the inaugural PayFi Summit in collaboration with the Solana Foundation and Stellar Development Foundation at Singapore Token 2049 on September 17th——an event poised to ignite conversations and drive innovation in the industry.

About Huma

Huma Finance is the first PayFi network. Huma powers financing of global payments, with instant access to liquidity anywhere, anytime. For more information about Huma and the PayFi network, visit https://huma.finance/

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/huma-raises-38m-to-hyper-scale-its-payment-financing-payfi-network-302246341.html

Fintech PR

“Make Your Way” Bata unveils brand evolution

Published

18 mins ago

September 19, 2024

CISION (PR Newswire)

Bata Celebrates 130 Years with a new Brand Campaign: “Make Your Way”

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, Sept. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Bata, one of the world’s leading footwear companies, proudly celebrates its 130th anniversary with a new brand campaign named: “Make Your Way.” This milestone marks a celebration of Bata’s rich heritage, and an exciting evolution aimed at positioning the brand as one of the top choices worldwide.

A New Era for Bata

The “Make Your Way” campaign reflects Bata’s renewed focus on style, comfort, and affordability, aiming to attract a younger, trend-conscious audience while honouring its strong heritage.

“This campaign is about inspiring self-expression and confidence. At Bata, we make shoes to accompany consumers as they create their own path in life and build their road to the future,” says Sandeep Kataria, Global CEO of Bata.

Strategic Vision

The new positioning, “Stylish, comfort-enhanced, affordable shoes for every side of you to make your way” aims to connect with today’s fashion-conscious consumers, to expand Bata customers base and drive further growth. It will be communicated through Bata’s key labels: “Bata”, “Bata Comfit,” and “Bata Red Label.” This strategy positions Bata as the only major high-street footwear Retailer genuinely targeting ‘Every Side of You’ through authentic and heritage-rich in-house brands, covering every aspect of consumer life: dress, leisure and sport.

Global Campaign Rollout

Developed with the agency &Rosàs, the global campaign includes media investments, in-store storytelling, and a redesign of Bata’s e-commerce and social media approach.

Special Initiatives

It will also feature do-good marketing efforts to inspire and support women across various disciplines. Starting in September in Europe, Bata will introduce a special 130th-anniversary edition of women’s ballerinas, supporting women in ballet and dance, fostering participation from diverse backgrounds, and aiding women facing economic challenges. The Ballerinas are a fashionable reinterpretation of the original Batovka, an innovative shoe launched in 1897 by Bata, which embodied the company’s vision about quality & affordability.

About Bata Group

Bata is one of the world’s leading shoemakers, selling more than 150 million pairs of shoes annually. With comfortable fit, stylish designs, affordable prices, and responsible manufacturing, Bata customers can feel good in their shoes – from their head to their toes. Founded in 1894, the family-owned business operates in over 56 countries across five continents. Bata designs, manufactures, and retails its own footwear, constantly innovating to find the perfect fit.

About &Rosàs

Founded in 2003, &Rosàs is a leading advertising and communications agency based in Barcelona, known for its consistency, market awareness, and loyalty.

Press Contact

Sarah Stocchetti
Global Corporate Communications at Bata Group
E-Mail: [email protected]
Mobile: +41 79 724 60 68

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/make-your-way-bata-unveils-brand-evolution-302240672.html

Fintech PR

KM Malta Airlines, the Maltese Islands’ New National Carrier, Implements CellPoint Digital’s Payment Orchestration Solution Ahead of Official Launch

Published

2 hours ago

September 19, 2024

CISION (PR Newswire)

The partnership will enable Europe’s newest airline to provide passengers with a seamless payment experience and access to their preferred payment methods.

LONDON, Sept. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — CellPoint Digital, a global pioneer in Payment Orchestration, today announced that it will provide Payment Orchestration solutions to KM Malta Airlines (KMMA) as the new flag carrier of the Maltese Islands begins service on March 31, 2024. CellPoint Digital will support KMMA’s payment processes across all sales channels, including on its new website, allowing passengers to pay with key alternative payment methods (APMs) like Apple Pay.

Using CellPoint Digital’s Payment Orchestration platform, KMMA launches service with optimised payment processes, a cost-effective payment strategy, and a customer-centric payment model. This partnership reflects KMMA’s commitment to providing its passengers with a seamless, convenient payment experience and the airline’s recognition of CellPoint Digital as the ideal payment solution provider for its debut.

The partnership with CellPoint Digital also gives KMMA access to multiple acquirer connections to support its growth strategy, including its preferred acquirer Shift4 (formerly Finaro). This enables the new airline to route its transactions optimally, resulting in lower payment costs and settlement in its preferred currency.

“It’s not often that we get to be present at the inception of one of Europe’s next great airlines, but that’s the opportunity we have with this partnership,” said Kristian Gjerding, CEO of CellPoint Digital. “By prioritising its payment strategy as a cornerstone of its launch strategy, KMMA demonstrates that it cares about providing passengers with the best possible booking experience and setting itself up for future success.”

A New Airline with a New Approach to Payments

KMMA is the brand-new flag carrier of Malta, replacing Malta Air and beginning service on March 31, 2024. The airline, which will fly to 17 airports in 15 major European cities, was established to protect and enhance the connectivity of the Maltese Islands to Europe and beyond, to support the Islands’ continued economic development and to grow into a successful and sustainable airline. Working with CellPoint Digital and implementing Payment Orchestration pre-launch allows the airline to jump-start and future-proof its payment processes – a critical advantage for a nascent airline entering a crowded and competitive market.

“We believe a highly optimised, cost-effective payment strategy is essential to the success of our brand launch,” said Roy Kinnear, CCO of KM Malta Airlines. “That’s why we sought out the experts in commercial aviation payments to provide a comprehensive payment platform designed to meet the needs of our passengers. There’s no one we trusted more to handle our payments from the outset than CellPoint Digital.”

The Advantage of Day-One Payment Orchestration

Payment Orchestration is a concept that describes the end-to-end management of all components of a payment, from authorisation to routing to settlement to reporting, allowing airlines to boost conversions in direct and indirect sales channels at lower transaction costs. CellPoint Digital’s Payment Orchestration Platform, which KMMA will implement, routes transactions intelligently to increase acceptance, simplifies and centralises back-end reconciliation, integrates various payment methods like Apple Pay, and easily accommodates multiple PSPs and acquirers, including KMMA’s preferred acquiring partner, Shift4.

For more information about the CellPoint Digital partnership with KM Malta Airlines or to speak with company executives, please get in touch with Steven Osei at [email protected].

About CellPoint Digital
CellPoint Digital is a fintech leader in payment orchestration and optimisation. CellPoint Digital’s main solution is a powerful Payment Orchestration Platform that optimises digital payment transactions from cards or alternative payment methods and accelerates the deployment of new payment options. Merchants can easily scale their own payment ecosystem across the world, unify the customer payment experience across their website, mobile apps and other channels, optimise the routing of each transaction, increase conversion rates and minimise payment costs. CellPoint Digital has offices in Copenhagen, Dallas, Dubai, London, Miami, Pune and Singapore. Visit www.cellpointdigital.com to learn more.

About KM Malta Airlines
KM Malta Airlines is the national airline of the Maltese Islands, operating a modern fleet of aircraft to various destinations in Europe and beyond.

The KM Malta Airlines Summer 2024 schedule will operate from 31st March 2024 through until 26th October 2024, with the airline serving 17 airports across 15 key European cities, namely, Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Catania, Dusseldorf, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, Lyon, Madrid, Milan, Munich, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Paris Orly, Prague, Rome, Vienna and Zurich.

Visit https://www.kmmaltairlines.com/en to learn more.

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Fintech PR

Thomson Reuters SYNERGY Conference Debuts in Dubai Bringing Customer-Driven Innovation to Legal, Tax and Finance Professionals

Published

3 hours ago

September 19, 2024

CISION (PR Newswire)

Innovation updates demonstrating Thomson Reuters multi-million-dollar investment in the MENA region include:

The launch of the new and improved Westlaw Middle East, featuring intuitive search and collaboration tools using the best-in-class global research technology for Middle East legal professionals.
New enhancements to deepen our know-how content offering in Practical Law Middle East
Continuous development of tax offerings to support customers navigating the changing regulatory environment including the rise of e-invoicing mandates
Demonstration of our professional-grade GenAI assistant, CoCounsel, powered by a combination of cutting edge LLMs, our content, and software solutions.

DUBAI, UAE, Sept. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Thomson Reuters (TSX/NYSE: TRI), a global content and technology company, today brings its premiere SYNERGY conference to the Middle East and North Africa for leaders in the legal, tax and finance professions. In an increasingly complex regulatory environment, Thomson Reuters is delivering a customer-driven innovation roadmap to empower professionals with the knowledge and technology to solve business challenges.

Ibrahim Abdel Rehim, Regional Head, Middle East & North Africa, Thomson Reuters said: “By bringing our global flagship conference to Dubai for the first time in 2024, Thomson Reuters is showcasing its continued commitment to investing in the region. Our aim is to provide the knowledge, connections and technology to help professionals understand today and navigate tomorrow with confidence.”

Announcements at SYNERGY MENA 2024 include:

The launch of our new Westlaw Middle East: The new and improved legal research application demonstrates major advances in legal search and collaboration tools, enabling Westlaw Middle East customers to complete legal research quicker and more effectively than before. Lawyers in the Middle East will be able to access both Arabic and translated English legislation and case law, supporting them to stay ahead of the complex legal landscape.

Sonya Syan, Head of Knowledge Management, Al Tamimi & Company, said: “As a longstanding client of Westlaw Middle East, we are delighted to see significant enhancements being made to the platform. The new interface is clean and much more user-friendly, catering to the needs of bilingual lawyers while greatly improving research efficiency and accuracy. These upgrades are timely as the region has seen accelerated growth in recent years, driving an increased demand for faster, more informed legal insights.”
Practical Law unveils expansion plans to deepen legal know-how content offering in Middle East: For the first time, lawyers will have access to growing repositories of locally maintained content designed to help them keep pace with regional legal developments, compare jurisdictions across the GCC, and gain an overview of the legal system in minutes.
Continuous investment in tax offerings: As the region looks to diversify revenue sources and standardize the tax systems, we’ve seen e-invoicing mandates already confirmed across five countries in the region with four more likely to follow. Thomson Reuters is dedicated to ensuring tax professionals stay compliant while navigating changing regulations through our continuous investment in ONESOURCE and our recent acquisition of Pagero, a global leader in e-invoicing and indirect tax solutions.
Deep dive into CoCounsel, the professional-grade GenAI assistant: Immersing attendees into the AI technology strategy and demonstrating our commitment to and progress toward transforming the way legal professionals work.

His Excellency Professor Dr. Ebrahim Alhajri, President, Khalifa University, said: “We are committed to staying in the forefront of innovation and providing our students, faculty, and researchers with the best tools to succeed in a rapidly evolving world. Partnering with Thomson Reuters to implement CoCounsel is a significant step in our journey to integrate advanced AI solutions into our academic and operational framework. We are delighted to see the transformative impact this will have on our community.”

Other key topics from the day include:

The UAE’s Shift to a Digital First Nation: The opening keynote by His Excellency Dr. Saeed Al Dhaheri uncovers how leaders in the UAE propelled the nation to the forefront of digital innovation, with a look ahead to their ambitious roadmap for continued digital success.
Forces Shaping Professional Work: Panel discussion with industry leaders from Al Futtaim, Gartner and Abu Dhabi University exploring how AI and digital transformation is rapidly reshaping the UAE’s professional landscape, including insights from The Future of Professionals report.
Navigating Compliance Complexity: Tax, finance and legal experts discuss the latest developments and strategic implications of new regulations on multinationals, including insights from the Ministry of Finance and the UAE Cabinet.
International expansion of strategic industries: In a panel hosted by Reuters, leaders from Emirates, Masdar and Gradiant delve into the opportunities and challenges posed by macroeconomic trends on international expansion plans in their industries.

Thomson Reuters
Thomson Reuters (TSX/NYSE: TRI) (“TR”) informs the way forward by bringing together the trusted content and technology that people and organizations need to make the right decisions. The company serves professionals across legal, tax, accounting, compliance, government, and media. Its products combine highly specialized software and insights to empower professionals with the data, intelligence, and solutions needed to make informed decisions, and to help institutions in their pursuit of justice, truth, and transparency. Reuters, part of Thomson Reuters, is a world-leading provider of trusted journalism and news. For more information, visit tr.com.

Media Contact

Brooke Heywood
Corporate Affairs Manager, Asia and Emerging Markets
[email protected]

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/thomson-reuters-synergy-conference-debuts-in-dubai-bringing-customer-driven-innovation-to-legal-tax-and-finance-professionals-302252700.html