IBM Consulting will deliver comprehensive, cost-effective managed services supported by IBM’s watsonx to Finastra clients in North America and Europe

LONDON and NEW YORK, March 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Finastra, a global provider of financial services software applications, and IBM (NYSE: IBM) today unveiled their collaboration on an enhanced cloud-based lending managed services offering. Finastra’s Lending Cloud Service (LCS) offers comprehensive and cost-effective services for its Corporate Lending solutions — Loan IQ, Trade Innovation and Corporate Channels – and is supported by IBM for Finastra clients in North America and Europe.

Steve Moe, Head of Technology for Lending at Finastra said, “We are excited to make this announcement as it demonstrates momentum in continuing to provide seamless digital lending solutions to our customers. Part of our approach champions collaboration and tapping into partner core capabilities, and that’s what we are doing here. Working with industry giants like IBM gives us huge scale, credible skills and a reliable and quick path to implement offerings that deliver value at speed for our customers.”

IBM is providing design and implementation for LCS, leveraging its generative AI for enterprise platform, watsonx, as part of operationally focused IBM Consulting assets, to more efficiently and resiliently manage the new platform. IBM will also provide ongoing services to Finastra’s LCS clients in North America and Europe with the aim of helping Finastra continue to grow its business.

Shanker Ramamurthy, Global Managing Partner Banking & Financial Markets at IBM Consulting said, “The global banking community is increasingly recognizing the imperative of leveraging exponential technologies, such as generative AI, the flexibility, resilience and security of hybrid cloud, and the exceptional access a robust ecosystem can deliver. The combination of these elements is a truly powerful competitive advantage. IBM is pleased to collaborate with Finastra on its modernized Lending Cloud Service, leveraging Microsoft Azure, which delivers a valuable offering, that provides greater value, automation, resiliency and generative AI powered insights and actions to its corporate clients.”

The Lending Cloud Service is delivered on Microsoft Azure and harnesses Finastra’s financial services technology expertise and excellence, and proven mission-critical solutions. A cornerstone of the new LCS is Service Value Management (SVM), a customer first, continuous improvement, value-based approach to managing customers’ cloud transformation journey. Combined with IBM’s established and reliable scalability, availability, and deep application management knowledge, users can benefit from:

• Quick deployment via a most valuable scope and pre-configured standing service
• Simplified and standardized system and business processes via service automation and tooling
• Enhanced value through the economics of cloud and additional features of the application
• Ongoing conformance with market protocols and applicable financial services industry standards
• Deep knowledge and expertise in application management for infrastructure management and resiliency delivered by IBM Consulting

The LCS complements the Finastra suite of leading solutions for end-to-end loan management. For more information click here.                                

Finastra.com 

About Finastra
Finastra is a global provider of financial services software applications across Lending, Payments, Treasury and Capital Markets, and Universal (retail and digital) Banking. Committed to unlocking the potential of people, businesses and communities everywhere, its vision is to accelerate the future of open finance through technology and collaboration, and its pioneering approach is why it is trusted by ~8,100 financial institutions, including 45 of the world’s top 50 banks. For more information, visit finastra.com.

About IBM
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service.  Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

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SINGAPORE, March 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — HTX Research, the research arm of HTX Group, has released an in-depth report titled, “dTAO and the Evolution of Bittensor: Reshaping Decentralized AI with Market-Driven Incentives.”. The evolution of artificial intelligence has transitioned from foundational model development to the refinement and optimization of existing systems, a trend exemplified by industry leaders such as DeepSeek and OpenAI. This analysis examines how Bittensor’s Dynamic TAO (dTAO) upgrade addresses inherent challenges within decentralized AI, positioning the network as a pioneering force in this emerging sector.

Bittensor’s Architecture: Foundation for a Decentralized AI Ecosystem

Bittensor’s architecture is structured around three core components: the Subtensor blockchain, a Polkadot parachain with EVM compatibility; 64 specialized subnets; and a governance-focused Root Subnet. The network employs a dual-key security system, Coldkey-Hotkey, and a subnet UID framework to facilitate secure and open participation for miners and validators. At the core of its operational model is the Yuma Consensus (YC), a dynamic incentive mechanism that diverges from traditional static reward systems. YC assesses validators’ weight vectors, derived from historical performance and stake, to distribute TAO rewards every 12 seconds, establishing a self-regulating “stake → weight → reward” loop. This mechanism aligns contributions with incentives while mitigating malicious activities through continuous adjustments.

The dTAO Upgrade: Market-Driven Resource Allocation

The dTAO upgrade, implemented on February 13, 2025, introduces liquidity pools for subnet tokens, fundamentally altering Bittensor’s economic framework. Key innovations include:

• Subnet Token Liquidity Pools: Each subnet’s dTAO tokens are paired with TAO in automated market-maker pools, enabling price discovery driven by supply-demand dynamics.
• Emission Rebalancing: 50% of new subnet emissions are injected into liquidity pools, incentivizing long-term participation.
• Validator-as-VC Dynamics: Validators now act as venture capitalists, strategically staking TAO into high-potential subnets to maximize returns.

This upgrade addresses previous systemic limitations, such as validator centralization, resource redundancy, and misaligned incentives. By linking subnet rewards to market performance, dTAO fosters competition, encouraging the development of specialized AI solutions, ranging from multimodal content detection to decentralized search engines.

Ecosystem Impact: Emergence of High-Performance Subnets

The implementation of dTAO has led to the emergence of high-performing subnets, operating within a self-reinforcing feedback loop where increasing token prices attract greater TAO emissions, subsequently drawing more users and validators. Examples include:

• Chutes: A CLI toolkit for deploying decentralized apps, Chutes’ subnet token surged rapidly, driven by its integration with Bittensor’s Subnets 19 and 56.
• Multi Modality (Subnet 4): Focused on AI-generated content detection, this subnet leverages balanced validator-miner challenges to ensure model accuracy.

However, projects like Kaito highlight potential pitfalls, demonstrating that technical proficiency alone does not guarantee success without robust integration with core product utility.

Despite the advancements introduced by dTAO, HTX Research also identifies ongoing challenges, including the lack of real-world demand drivers for TAO rewards, the potential for resource redundancy among overlapping subnets, and persistent validator centralization. To ensure sustained growth, HTX Research emphasizes the necessity for on-chain verifiability, standardized subnet performance benchmarking systems, and the integration of subnet token utility, such as governance or service access, to reduce speculative trading.

Bittensor’s dTAO upgrade signifies a transition from centralized governance to market-driven incentives. While challenges remain, the network’s architecture and economic model provide a solid foundation for decentralized AI innovation. As subnet tokens evolve into tools with tangible utility, Bittensor is positioned to redefine collaborative and competitive dynamics within AI ecosystems.

HTX Research remains committed to providing comprehensive analyses of these developments, offering actionable insights into the intersection of AI and blockchain technology. For the complete report, please visit Here.

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About HTX Research:

HTX Research is the dedicated research arm of HTX Group, responsible for conducting in-depth analyses, producing comprehensive reports, and delivering expert evaluations across a broad spectrum of topics, including cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and emerging market trends. Committed to providing data-driven insights and strategic foresight, HTX Research plays a pivotal role in shaping industry perspectives and supporting informed decision-making within the digital asset space. Through rigorous research methodologies and cutting-edge analytics, HTX Research remains at the forefront of innovation, driving thought leadership and fostering a deeper understanding of evolving market dynamics.

Visit us here.   

Contact: glo-media@htx-inc.com 

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EcoVadis places Thunes in the top 15% of companies globally, validating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) commitment and performance.

SINGAPORE, March 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Thunes, the Smart Superhighway to move money around the world, announces its Silver Medal award from EcoVadis, a global leader in business sustainability assessments. Thunes has been placed in the top 15% of all companies rated globally by EcoVadis in the past 12 months. 

EcoVadis evaluates more than 130,000 companies globally, with a rigorous framework using 21 sustainability criteria across four core themes: Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement. The evaluation is based on international sustainability standards, including the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact, the International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards, and ISO 26000.

Thunes has reported annually to EcoVadis since 2022 as part of its transparent, responsible business practices and continuous ESG improvement. In this year’s assessment, Thunes achieved the best possible score in Labor & Human Rights for the company’s internal measures that support its sustainability policies and commitments, and Ethics for its robust policies and intention to reduce impact, mitigate risk, and improve performance.

In addition to its EcoVadis recognition, Thunes has been a United Nations Global Compact member since 2022, reflecting its commitment to responsible business practices. By leveraging EcoVadis’ evidence-based roadmap for continuous improvement, Thunes prioritises sustainability, fosters inclusion, drives innovation, and upholds high standards to build a more sustainable, equitable global economy.

Floris de Kort, CEO at Thunes, said: “As the Smart Superhighway to move money around the world, Thunes brings financial and economic inclusion. Achieving our highest EcoVadis score yet is a testament to our dedication to sustainability, ethics, and responsible corporate governance. This is an ongoing journey for Thunes. We believe that by further embedding ESG principles into our strategy we can drive positive change and we plan to build on our progress to date.”

About Thunes:

Thunes is the Smart Superhighway to move money around the world. Thunes’ proprietary Direct Global Network allows Members to make payments in real-time in over 130 countries and more than 80 currencies. Thunes’ Network connects directly to over 7 billion mobile wallets and bank accounts worldwide, as well as 15 billion cards via more than 320 different payment methods, such as GCash, M-Pesa, Airtel, MTN, Orange, JazzCash, Easypaisa, AliPay, WeChat Pay and many more. Thunes’ Direct Global Network differentiates itself through its worldwide reach, in-house SmartX Treasury System and Fortress Compliance Platform, ensuring Members of the Network receive unrivaled speed, control, visibility, protection, and cost efficiencies when making real-time payments, globally. Members of Thunes’ Direct Global Network include gig economy giants like Uber and Deliveroo, super-apps like Grab and WeChat, MTOs, fintechs, PSPs and banks. Headquartered in Singapore, Thunes has offices in 13 locations, including Barcelona, Beijing, Dubai, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, London, Manila, Nairobi, Paris, Riyadh, San Francisco and Shanghai. For more information, visit: https://www.thunes.com/

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