Fintech PR
Former Cointelegraph Editor-In-Chief Kristina Cornèr Joins Exponential Science to Expand Partnerships and Drive Global Strategy
- The foundation will harness the expertise of former Cointelegraph Editor-in-Chief, Kristina Corner as the new Global Head of Strategy and Partnerships.
- The appointment will shape Exponential Science’s strategic vision, enabling the convergence of emerging technologies and driving interdisciplinary research and partnerships.
LONDON, Nov. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Following October’s successful 10th annual Peer-to-Peer Financial Systems Workshop in Dubai, where the launch of independent foundation Exponential Science was announced, founders Dr. Paolo Tasca and Professor Nikhil Vadgama have bolstered their team with the hiring of former Cointelegraph editor-in-chief, Kristina Cornèr. Kristina will lead the Partnerships and Strategy arm of the foundation, bringing deep expertise in securing new resources and forging impactful partnerships.
Exponential Science was established to address the growing interdependencies among emerging digital technologies and deep tech. It focuses on harnessing the synergy between blockchain and other cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, AR/VR, and other deep-tech innovations. Scientists have long driven many of humanity’s greatest achievements and translating this academic expertise into actionable insights for businesses and regulators is crucial. To assist with this, Exponential Science has brought on Kristina whose mission is to communicate the foundation’s work effectively across industries and sectors, ensuring its impact reaches both practical and policy applications.
Kristina joins Exponential Science after seven years at leading blockchain publication Cointelegraph. With her extensive knowledge of the digital assets landscape and blockchain, Kristina is expertly placed to help the foundation broaden its connections and expand its research to new audiences in a digestible and engaging way. Kristina is also an accomplished sustainability leader, serving as an ambassador for the Climate Chain Coalition, an international, multi-stakeholder organisation focused on advancing blockchain and digital technologies to support climate action and sustainability. She is also a founding advisory member of 100Women@Davos, which has helped to build a community of female CEOs, leaders, and change-makers dedicated to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
“Exponential Science is uniquely positioned to unite businesses, regulators, and academics to tackle global challenges using the potential of blockchain, AI, and deep tech. I am thrilled to be able to explore powerful narratives within the scientific community and amplify their voices to key players shaping the future of technology. I am committed to advancing impactful ideas and fostering collaboration across industries, communities, and borders,” says Kristina Cornèr.
“Exponential Science’s mission is clear – we want to advance research, innovation, and education of emerging technologies such as blockchain, AI, quantum computing and much more. We want to facilitate the safe and empowering adoption of these technologies so that society can thrive and solve real-world problems. Kristina will play a critical role in growing our partnerships and fine-tuning our strategy so that we can make a real difference in the emerging technology space. We are in an exciting growth stage at the foundation and we look forward to bolstering our team of experts further in the coming months,” says Dr. Tasca.
This month, Exponential Science released its first study, which aimed to quantify the environmental effectiveness of Bitcoin mining bans by estimating the resultant carbon emissions from displaced mining operations. Part of the study examined the effect of Bitcoin mining bans in low-emission countries and found it could result in a significant net increase in global carbon emissions due to redirecting mining activities to regions with higher carbon intensities. For example, a ban in Canada could lead to an increase of almost 6%, or 2.5 million tonnes of CO2 annually.
About the Exponential Science Foundation (ESF)
The Exponential Science Foundation (ESF) is a Hedera-funded independent foundation driven to advance research, education, and innovation across emerging digital technologies/deep tech. With a mission to explore the convergence of blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and other transformative technologies, ESF aims to drive interdisciplinary collaboration and deliver impactful solutions to challenges faced by society. ESF is committed to fostering sustainable, transparent, and innovative developments that will shape a more advanced and interconnected future. For more information go to: www.exp.science.
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/former-cointelegraph-editor-in-chief-kristina-corner-joins-exponential-science-to-expand-partnerships-and-drive-global-strategy-302296764.html
Fintech PR
WSPN Appoints Former EY Global Chief Innovation Officer Jeff Wong as Independent Director
SINGAPORE, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Worldwide Stablecoin Payment Network (WSPN), a leading stablecoin infrastructure company, announces the appointment of Jeff Wong as Independent Director. Mr. Wong brings over 25 years of experience in technology innovation and enterprise transformation to WSPN. He most recently served as EY’s Global Chief Innovation Officer from 2015 to 2024, where he spearheaded the firm’s global innovation initiatives and established EY’s advanced technology labs focusing on Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Quantum Computing, and Web3.
Prior to EY, Mr. Wong held leadership roles at eBay and JPMorgan Partners. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Forbes Technology Council, and the founding Chair of Asia Society’s Technology and Innovation Council, helping drive the innovation and transformation agenda. He was also a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Innovation Ecosystems. He has previously served on the Oxford Foundry Board at Oxford University and the Advisory Board for AI4All. Mr. Wong is a recipient of the Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business award and an honoree of the A100 List by Gold House, recognizing individuals with Asian Pacific heritage who have made a significant impact on American culture and society.
“Joining WSPN at this pivotal moment in the stablecoin industry is incredibly exciting,” said Mr. Wong. “I look forward to contributing my experience in emerging technologies and enterprise transformation to help WSPN build the next generation of digital payment infrastructure.”
“Jeff’s appointment represents a significant strategic addition to WSPN,” said Raymond Yuan, Founder and CEO of WSPN. “His deep expertise in innovation management, enterprise transformation, and emerging technologies, combined with his leadership experience at global institutions, will be invaluable as we accelerate our market expansion and global development.”
About WSPN
WSPN is a leading provider of next-generation stablecoin infrastructure, committed to building a more secure, efficient, and transparent payment solution for the global economy. Their flagship product, WUSD stablecoin, is pegged 1:1 to the U.S. Dollar and aims to optimize secure digital payments for Web3 users. WSPN’s Stablecoin 2.0 approach prioritizes user-centricity, community governance, and accessibility, paving the way for widespread stablecoin adoption.
Learn more: www.wspn.io | X | LinkedIn
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/wspn-appoints-former-ey-global-chief-innovation-officer-jeff-wong-as-independent-director-302338852.html
Refining Capacity of the Base Surpasses 50 Million Tons per Year
NINGBO, China, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation‘s (HKG: 0386, “Sinopec”) recently announced the mechanical completion of the second-phase expansion and advanced materials project at its Zhenhai Refinery. This milestone sets new benchmarks for innovation, smart manufacturing, and energy efficiency in large-scale projects. The refinery’s capacity has now been upgraded to 40 million tons per year, contributing to the Zhejiang Ningbo Petrochemical Industrial Base surpassing a total refining capacity of 50 million tons annually. The achievement solidifies its position as China’s largest, most advanced, and globally competitive petrochemical industrial base.
Located in the Yangtze River Delta, a key downstream product consumption hub, the Zhejiang Ningbo Petrochemical Industrial Base plays a vital role in Sinopec’s value chain. The second-phase expansion and advanced materials project, with a total investment of CNY 41.6 billion, incorporates 18 production units, including atmospheric distillation, catalytic cracking, polypropylene, and propane dehydrogenation units. By emphasizing chemical-focused processes, the project creates multiple high-value-added supply chains.
The facility’s expanded production capacity supports the development of high-end polyolefins, advanced materials, and specialty chemicals. It is expected to provide approximately 8 million tons of petrochemical products annually, significantly boosting the overall capacity of supply chains for industries such as automotive, home appliances, and textiles in the region. This expansion is forecast to generate trillions of yuan in upstream and downstream industrial value.
The project achieved remarkable progress in technological innovation and sustainability. Highlights include:
- Localization of 10 core technologies, including the world’s highest-load vertical labyrinth compressor.
- Extensive deployment of smart technologies, enabling simultaneous delivery of digital and physical factories.
- Integration of a fully localized industrial operating system and a self-developed industrial internet platform to enhance decision-making and management.
- Implementation of comprehensive energy-saving measures, achieving an overall reduction in energy consumption of 11.7%.
- Safety and quality were paramount during construction, with over 90 million consecutive safe man-hours recorded and a 100% quality pass rate for all units, setting a new industry benchmark.
Zhenhai Refinery, Sinopec’s largest integrated refining and chemical enterprise, boasts an ethylene production capacity of 2.2 million tons per year. It is also the only enterprise in China consistently ranked in the top performance group of the Solomon Global Ethylene Performance Evaluation.
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/sinopec-completes-construction-of-chinas-largest-petrochemical-industrial-base-302339157.html
Fintech PR
2025 Will See Increased QR Code Payments but Payment Card IC ASPs Will Not Return to Pre-Covid Levels
ABI Research’s 5th annual Trend Report identifies the key Digital Payment Technologies trend that will come to fruition —and the 1 that won’t—in 2025
NEW YORK, Dec. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — As 2025 kicks off, predictions abound on the technology innovations expected in the year ahead. In its new whitepaper, 101 Technology Trends That Will—and Won’t—Shape 2025, analysts from global technology intelligence firm ABI Research. ABI Research analysts identify 54 trends that will shape the technology market and 47 others that, although attracting vast amounts of speculation and commentary, are less likely to move the needle over the next twelve months. In the Digital Payment Technologies space, 2025 will see increased QR code payment acceptance but little growth for payment card IC ASPs.
“2024 has been marked by challenges, from global conflicts and inflationary pressures to political uncertainty. These factors have strained enterprise and consumer spending, leading to market inertia, short-term technology investments, sidelined capital, and the exposure of vulnerable suppliers,” says Stuart Carlaw, Chief Research Officer at ABI Research. “From a technology perspective, many industries and end markets are in that awkward stage of technology adoption where they are formulating implementation strategies, assessing solutions and partners, and trying to see if they have the resources needed to roll out solutions at scale. This is a particularly sensitive time, which tends to suggest 2025 will have tech implementers and end users on the brink of a period of a massive technology shift as they work through these issues.”
What Will Happen in 2025:
QR code payment acceptance will continue to increase with use cases expanding
Although QR code payment acceptance is prevalent in countries such as China and growing in emerging digital payment markets, including in India, use cases and potential growth areas are not limited to these countries. Significant and continued investments by vendors, including PayPal, Stripe, and SumUp, are setting the foundation for increased adoption in other mature and established economies with use cases expanding. Although QR codes are already being used by many Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and pop-up retail businesses, 2025 will mark the year when the technology begins to shift from one niche to partial mainstream.
What Won’t Happen in 2025:
Payment card IC ASPs will not return to pre-COVID-19 levels
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, chipset pricing has been on a continual rise, driven by increased pricing in myriad manufacturing areas, including energy, raw material, transit pricing, and inflation, driving up wages. The chip shortage further compounded this, and according to ABI Research, the Average Selling Price (ASP) for a payment card Integrated Circuit (IC) increased by approximately +30% between 2020 and 2023. However, despite pricing pressures returning, the cost of payment ICs is some years away from matching pre-COVID-19 levels. Although 2025 will mark another year of pricing deprecation, it will not be until around 2028 when pricing is expected to drop to levels similar to those achieved in 2019 steadily.
For more trends that will and won’t happen in 2025, download the whitepaper, 101 Technology Trends That Will—and Won’t—Shape 2025.
About ABI Research
ABI Research is a global technology intelligence firm uniquely positioned at the intersection of technology solution providers and end-market companies. We serve as the bridge that seamlessly connects these two segments by providing exclusive research and expert guidance to drive successful technology implementations and deliver strategies proven to attract and retain customers.
ABI Research是一家全球性的技术情报公司，拥有得天独厚的优势，充当终端市场公司和技术解决方案提供商之间的桥梁，通过提供独家研究和专业性指导，推动成功的技术实施和提供经证明可吸引和留住客户的战略，无缝连接这两大主体。
For more information about ABI Research’s services, contact us at +1.516.624.2500 in the Americas, +44.203.326.0140 in Europe, +65.6592.0290 in Asia-Pacific, or visit www.abiresearch.com.
Contact Info:
Global
Deborah Petrara
Tel: +1.516.624.2558
[email protected]
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/2025-will-see-increased-qr-code-payments-but-payment-card-ic-asps-will-not-return-to-pre-covid-levels-302338531.html
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