Latest news with #MarkPhillips
Business Wire
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Chronicle Named Exclusive Oracle Partner to Grove, Enabling a New Era of Onchain Credit Allocation
ZUG, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Chronicle, the oracle infrastructure powering secure, scalable financial data onchain, has been named the Exclusive Oracle Partner to Grove Protocol, an institutional-grade credit protocol developed by members of Steakhouse Financial. The Next Chapter of Onchain Credit Grove is a new star in the Sky ecosystem and recently announced a $1B commitment to a tokenized asset strategy including initial allocations to the Janus Henderson Anemoy AAA CLO Fund (JAAA) and the JTRSY Treasury Fund (JTRSY), both issued natively through Centrifuge. As Grove prepares to launch a new generation of tokenized yield strategies backed by real-world assets (RWAs), Chronicle will provide the oracle infrastructure required to safely and transparently scale credit allocation across the ecosystem they serve. 'Partnering with Chronicle as our exclusive oracle provider gives us the infrastructure we need to execute Grove's vision transparently and at scale. Reliable, verifiable data is essential to expanding onchain credit markets, and we're thrilled to be partnering with the leading RWA oracle to take onchain transparency to new heights.' — Mark Phillips, Co-founder of Grove Labs Chronicle's designation as Grove's exclusive Oracle Partner ensures that credit flowing from the Grove Liquidity Layer, through the Grove ecosystem—whether to RWA issuers, DeFi protocols, or structured vaults— can rely on Chronicle for powering the oracle infrastructure. This offers not just security, but strategic alignment for those looking to tap into Grove's growing capital network. 'Chronicle was created to ensure the onchain economy can scale with integrity and transparency. Being selected as Grove's exclusive oracle partner underscores our role as the bedrock powering data for institutional-grade strategies. Together, we're building the infrastructure that will allow billions in credit allocations to flow into DeFi safely.' — Niklas Kunkel, CEO of Chronicle Grove and Chronicle together deliver the credit, transparency, and scalable infrastructure needed to support next generation investment strategies connecting tokenized real-world assets with onchain markets through transparent real time data and credit rails. Grove's initial focus is on launching the Grove Liquidity Layer, an allocation system inspired by the Spark Liquidity Layer, designed to direct capital toward both onchain and offchain credit opportunities. Much like Spark, Grove's Liquidity Layer incorporates a surplus buffer (or first-loss capital) mechanism, which expands the investable universe by absorbing early risk and enhancing capital efficiency. This positions Grove to pursue a wide range of opportunities at the intersection of DeFi, stablecoins, and traditional finance, while providing a flexible foundation for future ecosystem growth. Through its strategic partnership with Grove, Chronicle is deepening its role as the oracle backbone for the next wave of tokenized real-world assets. Earlier this year, Chronicle was announced as the oracle provider for SparkDAO's $1 billion Tokenization Grand Prix. The winning funds included BlackRock and Securitize's BUIDL fund, Superstate's tokenized U.S. Treasury fund (USTB), and Centrifuge's short-duration U.S. Treasury fund (JTRSY). In this role, Chronicle was selected to provide the underlying oracle infrastructure for each of these funds, delivering secure, verifiable onchain data. Looking Ahead The launch of Grove marks the beginning of a new era in decentralized credit, one where tokenized real-world assets flow seamlessly into the onchain economy at scale. By designating Chronicle as its exclusive oracle partner, Grove ensures its credit allocation strategy rests on the most verifiable, transparent, and battle-tested oracle infrastructure available. This partnership is more than a technical integration, it's the connective foundation between institutional-grade credit products and the open, programmable markets of DeFi. Together, Grove and Chronicle are creating the rails for a financial system that is not only more transparent but also more accessible, resilient, and aligned with institutional standards. Chronicle's role as Grove's exclusive oracle partner ensures this vision to deliver the credit, transparency, and scalable infrastructure becomes a reality. Just as Grove is building the credit rails to bridge DeFi and traditional finance, Chronicle is providing the verifiable data infrastructure that makes those rails secure, transparent, and scalable. Together, Chronicle and Grove are creating a new cycle of capital formation, one where institutional-grade credit products are no longer reserved for the few, but accessible to billions through the onchain economy. For protocols, asset issuers, and chains, the message is clear: to access Grove's capital network, Chronicle is the oracle of choice. About Chronicle Chronicle is the oracle network built for secure, verifiable data in DeFi and real-world asset markets. As the first oracle to launch on Ethereum, Chronicle has evolved into a high-performance network securing over $7 billion in value. With transparent validator sets, cryptographic proofs, and fully auditable data models, Chronicle delivers on-chain data you can inspect, trust, and scale with. Institutions and protocols rely on Chronicle to power mission-critical feeds with end-to-end transparency and institutional-grade reliability. About Grove Grove is an institutional-grade credit infrastructure DeFi protocol designed to serve as the liquidity engine of Decentralized Finance. Incubated by Grove Labs as a Star within the decentralized Sky Ecosystem governance framework, Grove enables protocols, crypto-native organizations, and individual users to access institutional-grade yield. To learn more, visit X, and LinkedIn.
Express Tribune
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Ludwig discusses multistreaming shift and charity challenges on State Farm's Gamerhood
Ludwig has reflected on his most intense charity stunts and addressed his move to multistreaming during the fourth season of State Farm's Gamerhood competition. The streaming series features well-known online personalities competing in video game and physical challenges to raise funds for charity. Returning for his third season, Ludwig joins figures like Mark Phillips and Berleezy in this year's competition, aiming to raise part of the $100,000 prize pool for causes they support. In an on-set interview, Ludwig spoke about the lengths he's gone to for charity, including his widely viewed 2022 Subathon 2.0, where he spent 50 hours in a glass box. That stream raised over $300,000 for Alveus Sanctuary and No Kid Hungry. However, he highlighted another challenge as one of the most exhausting: playing through the entire Rock Band catalogue to support wildfire relief. 'It took like 12 hours,' Ludwig said, adding that the event raised $250,000 and involved punishments like eating unpleasant food. Ludwig also discussed his recent transition to multistreaming on both YouTube and Twitch. While previously hesitant, he noted that YouTube's superior VOD system influenced his decision. 'When you stream on YouTube, it's like a catalog forever,' he said, pointing to its usefulness for viewers. Episodes of Gamerhood air every Friday in August at 6 PM ET across YouTube, Twitch, and participants' own platforms. Ludwig confirmed plans for more fundraising events, including a potential return of the Streamer Games and Fast 50, as he continues to organise high-profile community competitions for charitable causes.
BreakingNews.ie
02-08-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Man who tried to kidnap Britain's Princess Anne in 1974 claims innocence
The gunman who attempted to kidnap Britain's Princess Anne in 1974 has claimed he is innocent nearly six years after his release from a secure hospital, according to a report. Ian Ball tried to abduct Anne and her then-husband Captain Mark Phillips as they were driven along The Mall to Buckingham Palace on March 20th, 1974. Advertisement Anne kept her cool and when Ball, then 26, told her to 'come with me for a day or two' because he wanted £2 million, she replied 'not bloody likely, and I haven't got £2 million'. The Daily Mail reported that Ball was released from Broadmoor Hospital on probation in 2019 and has subsequently self-published an autobiographical novel called To Kidnap A Princess. In an interview with the newspaper, Ball, now 77, said: 'I'm an innocent, sane man because I had good reason to believe the gunpowder had been taken out of the bullets and another girl had been substituted for Princess Anne.' Discussing Anne, Ball said: 'She wasn't bothered on the night. Advertisement 'I didn't scare her. I was more scared than she was.' The description of Ball's book on Amazon reads that it 'opens with the dramatic and thrilling attempted kidnapping of Princess Anne' and details the author's 'eventful and turbulent 45-year stay in Rampton and Broadmoor criminal lunatic asylums'. It adds: 'The book is an emotive read and it will make you laugh, make you cry, shock you even, but ultimately it will leave you in wonder at the indomitability of the human spirit.' Ball pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey in May 1974 to charges of attempted murder and attempted kidnap and was detained without time limit under the Mental Health Act. Advertisement A UK Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: 'Restricted patients can be recalled back to hospital if their mental health deteriorates to such a level that the risk they pose becomes unmanageable in the community.' Anne, who was 23 at the time of the attempted kidnapping, later said she was 'furious at this man who was having a tug of war with me' and for ripping her favourite blue velvet dress. Anne's father, Prince Philip, later quipped of the attempted kidnapping: 'If the man had succeeded in abducting Anne, she would have given him a hell of a time in captivity.' Ball had blocked the princess's car with his own as it drove along the Mall and fired a series of shots through the rear window as he tried to kidnap her. Advertisement Anne and Mark Phillips in the grounds of Buckingham Palace in 1973 (PA) Anne Captain Phillips were unhurt during the late-night ambush but Anne's bodyguard, chauffeur, a police constable and a journalist were all shot by Ball, who was armed with two revolvers. Anne's bodyguard, former Metropolitan Police inspector Jim Beaton, was awarded the George Cross after being shot three times as he protected Anne. Passer-by, former heavyweight boxer Ronnie Russell punched Ball twice in the head as he tried to kidnap the princess. For his bravery Mr Russell was awarded the George Medal by Queen Elizabeth II, who told him: 'The medal is from the Queen, but I want to thank you as Anne's mother.' Advertisement Discussing the incident, Mr Russell previously said Ball was trying to drag Anne from her car while her husband was pulling her back. 'She was very, very together, telling him, 'Just go away and don't be such a silly man',' he said. 'He stood there glaring at me with the gun and I hit him. I hit him as hard as I could – if he had been a tree he would have fallen over – and he was flat on the floor face down.'
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Newest 'Star' in Sky Ecosystem Launches With $1B Tokenized Credit Strategy
Grove, a new decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol focused on institutional-grade credit infrastructure, emerged from stealth on Wednesday with a $1 billion commitment to a tokenized asset strategy. The protocol aims to bridge DeFi with traditional financial assets by routing on-chain capital into regulated credit investments, focusing on collateralized loan obligations (CLOs). Through its infrastructure, Grove gives crypto-native protocols and asset managers access to real-world asset (RWA) investments, helping them put idle reserves to work and a yield that's independent from crypto markets. The launch also marks Grove's debut as the latest "Star" within the Sky Ecosystem, one of the largest and longest running DeFi lender formerly known as MakerDAO. Sky is undergoing an overhaul called Endgame that breaks the protocol into autonomous units called "stars," each responsible for its own governance and innovation at the edge of the ecosystem. The first such entity was Spark, a yield-earning and borrowing protocol. Sky also issues the $3.7 billion DAI and $3.4 billion USDS stablecoins, and has been increasingly shifting reserves to real-world assets such as tokenized Treasuries. Grove starts out with a $1 billion allocation from Sky that will put into the Janus Henderson Anemoy AAA CLO Strategy (JAAA), a tokenized fund of managed by Janus Henderson and built on Centrifuge, a blockchain platform that specializes in real-world asset tokenization. The core contributor team behind Grove — Mark Phillips, Kevin Chan and Sam Paderewski — had previous experiences at Deloitte, Hildene Capital Management, BlockTower Capital and Citibank before transitioning to DeFi. The protocol was incubated by DeFi specialist Steakhouse Financial, a firm that played a key role in bringing real-world assets into the Sky system. "While tokenized treasuries have paved the way, there's a growing demand for more diversified, high-quality assets on-chain," said Anil Sood, chief strategy and growth officer of Centrifuge. 'With the launch of Grove, for the first time, protocols can access liquid, institutional-grade CLOs while maintaining the flexibility to pivot between DeFi and TradFi yield environments," said Sam Paderewski.
Business Wire
25-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Grove Announces Launch of Institutional-Grade Credit Infrastructure DeFi Protocol with $1 Billion Allocation to Tokenized Janus Henderson Anemoy AAA CLO Strategy
CANNES, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Grove, an institutional-grade credit infrastructure protocol designed to serve as the liquidity engine of Decentralized Finance ('DeFi'), today emerged from stealth with a $1 billion allocation from the Sky Ecosystem (formerly MakerDAO) into the Janus Henderson Anemoy AAA CLO Strategy (JAAA), a tokenized, onchain vehicle launched in partnership with Centrifuge, using Grove's decentralized infrastructure. The Sky ecosystem approved an allocation deployed using the Grove protocol infrastructure in the Janus Henderson Anemoy AAA CLO Strategy, the first CLO strategy to be available onchain. This milestone follows the breakout success of the Janus Henderson Anemoy Treasury Fund (JTRSY), one of the top five tokenized Treasury funds by AUM, launched earlier this year in collaboration between Centrifuge and Janus Henderson. Following that strong market adoption, Janus Henderson selected Centrifuge again to bring their flagship credit strategy onchain. Managed by the same portfolio managers behind Janus Henderson's $21 billion AAA CLO ETF, this strategy offers global onchain investors an institutional-grade solution which seeks capital preservation with attractive yield—and an answer to the growing question: what comes after tokenized T-Bills? As traditional asset managers seek access to a new channel of DeFi balance sheet capital and crypto-native protocols seek access to yield-bearing real-world asset (RWA) strategies onchain, Grove's decentralized infrastructure launches as a solution. The non-custodial protocol serves as a secure DeFi-to-Traditional Finance ('TradFi') capital highway that increases capital efficiency, reduces friction, and unlocks access to diversified credit investment opportunities on and offchain. Grove, as a Star within the decentralized Sky Ecosystem, was incubated by Grove Labs, a subsidiary of Steakhouse Financial, with Mark Phillips, Kevin Chan, and Sam Paderewski as Co-Founders. Steakhouse Financial, who, in collaboration with Sky, were innovators in bringing RWAs to DeFi, provides capital formation, credit structuring, risk management, and strategic advisory services with clients across both TradFi and DeFi. The team building Grove began their careers in TradFi working across management consulting, structured finance, and product engineering, including at companies such as Deloitte, BlockTower Capital, Hildene Capital Management, and Citigroup, before transitioning to roles in DeFi. With financial markets undergoing a generational transformation, they are uniquely positioned to bring traditional finance into DeFi in a safe, secure, and reliable way. Grove delivers value across key stakeholder groups, including: Asset Managers: Establishes a new global distribution channel with programmable capital rails. Protocols/DAOs: Serves as a premier onchain capital partner and capital allocation conduit, allowing them to deploy idle capital and increase capital efficiency. DeFi Ecosystem: Provides increased credibility, durability, diversification, and long-term sustainability. 'Demand for access to TradFi asset classes in DeFi continues to build momentum, as evidenced by the rapid growth of tokenized treasuries to $7.3 billion from $500 million in 2023 with Treasury bills and other assets moving onchain. The launch of Grove comes at a pivotal time when TradFi and DeFi are converging and to serve as a gateway between these two critical financial ecosystems. CLOs are just one of the many assets ripe for movement into DeFi due to their attractive yield profile and structure, and we are excited to partner with Janus Henderson and Centrifuge on the debut application of Grove's infrastructure,' said Sam Paderewski, Co-founder of Grove Labs. 'With the launch of Grove, for the first time, protocols can access liquid, institutional-grade CLOs while maintaining the flexibility to pivot between DeFi and TradFi yield environments. This $1 billion allocation from the Sky ecosystem to JAAA is just an early step in supporting a robust onchain capital highway where institutional managers and DeFi protocols can securely, efficiently and transparently operate on an open blockchain.' DeFi yields have historically declined during market downturns, while protocols, despite holding billions in reserves, have lacked secure and compliant channels to deploy capital efficiently. Through its capital routing and governance infrastructure, Grove allows idle onchain capital to be deployed into regulated, institutional-grade vehicles, empowering crypto-native organizations to integrate diversified, risk-adjusted yield strategies directly into their onchain operations without friction. The allocation of capital from Sky into JAAA marks the first application of Grove's infrastructure. 'Last year, our pioneering AAA CLO strategy attracted the most inflows among all actively managed fixed income ETFs, underscoring the growing investor appetite for innovative fixed-income solutions. When Grove approached us to bring this strategy onchain, we were impressed by their clear vision for building the onchain economy,' said Nick Cherney, Head of Innovation at Janus Henderson Investors. 'Our innovation strategy is focused on preparing for the possibility that blockchain technology will transform traditional finance in the long term. We are excited to partner with Grove and Centrifuge who share that vision, and are leaders in making it a reality. Bringing this actively managed credit strategy fully onchain is a huge leap forward in the integration of RWAs into DeFi. We look forward to a long-term partnership.' 'The Sky Ecosystem has a long history of bringing tokenized RWAs online to increase the stability and efficacy of the DAI and USDS stablecoins. As active community participants, the team behind Grove has played a critical role in unlocking the power of RWAs for DeFi,' said Rune Christensen, co-founder of Sky. 'With the move to embrace CLOs, Grove, as a Star operating in the Sky Ecosystem, is showcasing their expertise and innovation in helping protocols and organizations modernize and diversify their portfolios of RWAs.' 'While tokenized treasuries have paved the way, there's a growing demand for more diversified, high-quality assets onchain,' said Anil Sood, Chief Strategy and Growth Officer of Centrifuge. 'Instead of simply wrapping an offchain ETF, together with Janus Henderson we've brought JAAA fully onchain, unlocking operational efficiencies, reducing intermediary costs, and expanding access to a broader, global base of capital allocators.' To learn more about integrating the Grove protocol and allocation system, contact us at X, or LinkedIn. About Grove Grove is an institutional-grade credit infrastructure DeFi protocol designed to serve as the liquidity engine of Decentralized Finance. Incubated by Grove Labs as a Star within the decentralized Sky Ecosystem governance framework, Grove enables protocols, crypto-native organizations, and individual users to access institutional-grade yield. To learn more, visit X, and LinkedIn. About Grove Labs Grove Labs, a subsidiary of Steakhouse Financial, is a blockchain research and development organization dedicated to architecting the next generation of decentralized credit infrastructure. Co-founded by Mark Phillips, Kevin Chan, and Sam Paderewski, the team has facilitated over $5 billion of onchain capital allocations and brings deep expertise from both traditional and decentralized finance. Grove Labs builds open-source, non-custodial protocols and liquidity solutions that bridge institutional strategies with the DeFi world. Committed to fostering TradFi-DeFi convergence, Grove Labs advances financial innovation through rigorous research, collaborative partnerships, and production-ready software solutions. About Janus Henderson Janus Henderson Group is a leading global active asset manager dedicated to helping clients define and achieve superior financial outcomes through differentiated insights, disciplined investments, and world-class service. As of March 31, 2025, Janus Henderson had approximately US$373 billion in assets under management, more than 2,000 employees, and offices in 25 cities worldwide. The firm helps millions of people globally invest in a brighter future together. Headquartered in London, Janus Henderson is listed on the NYSE. About Centrifuge Centrifuge empowers asset managers to tokenize, manage, and distribute their funds onchain, while providing investors access to a diversified portfolio of high-quality tokenized assets. Founded in 2017 and backed by leading VCs, Centrifuge has been a driving force in the institutional adoption of tokenized assets and has championed industry initiatives including the Tokenized Asset Coalition, the Real-World Asset Summit, and the creation of widely recognized token standards. About the Sky Ecosystem Sky, formerly known as MakerDAO, is a decentralized protocol with the stablecoin USDS at its core. The protocol features Sky tokens (USDS, SKY), the Sky Savings Rate (SSR), Sky Token Rewards (STRs), SKY Staking, and more. Sky Protocol is governed by a decentralized community and structured around two foundational frameworks: the Sky Agent Framework, which enables autonomous on-chain agents and allows founders to create Sky Stars, independent protocol units designed to foster fast-moving innovation at the margins of the ecosystem; and the Sky Atlas, a living, comprehensive set of governance rules developed through proposals and decentralized voting. For more information about Sky Protocol, visit Discord, Forum, or Twitter. Sky and Grove are decentralized infrastructure. This communication does not constitute an offer to purchase or sell securities. No single entity controls user funds, makes investment decisions and deploys capital on its own. Users maintain full custody and control of their assets. This communication does not constitute investment advice.
