Latest news with #Allium
Business Times
10-08-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Stablecoin growth is hampered by nagging foreign exchange costs
[MUMBAI] Even as stablecoins enter a period of peak expectations, veterans in wider fintech circles see limitations to the tokens as an emerging payments tool. Stablecoin transaction volumes have already hit US$5 trillion across one billion payments so far in 2025, not far shy of the 2024 total of US$5.7 trillion, according to data from Visa and Allium. The combined value of these cryptocurrencies – designed to closely track the price of established currencies like the US dollar – has grown 47 per cent to US$255 billion since US President's Donald Trump's election win in November 2024. The promise of stablecoins is a faster, cheaper and more efficient future for payments, in particular those crisscrossing international borders. Based on the numbers, that potential is beginning to be realised, but doubts remain over whether the technology can resolve the same issues that have for decades plagued the business of foreign exchange (FX). Using stablecoins to exchange one fiat currency for another – euros to Hong Kong dollars, for instance – incurs many of the same costs as a normal conversion. 'In crypto, there's a belief that code and tech will solve everything. That's naive when it comes to FX,' said Mike Robertson, chief executive of FX infrastructure firm AbbeyCross. 'Each currency has its own dynamics. And most banks and payment providers make money on FX, not fees.' FX costs typically cover bid-ask spreads, conversion fees, intermediary charges and slippage. They apply even in cross-border crypto transactions and can be especially acute during on and off-ramping, undermining the low-cost claims of stablecoin evangelists. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Much of the growth in stablecoin payment volumes can be attributed to two use cases: simplifying transactions spanning countries that aren't well-connected by incumbent players and payouts in emerging markets. BVNK, a startup specialising in stablecoin payments infrastructure, pays little mind to corridors involving the pound and the US dollar. Instead, it's focusing on 'exotic' corridors, such as Sri Lanka to Cambodia, according to Sagar Sarbhai, managing director for Asia-Pacific at BVNK. 'That route would usually require multiple intermediaries. It's expensive and slow. Stablecoins simplify it. They may not be cheap yet, but they're faster and more capital-efficient,' he said. Today, BVNK handles about US$15 billion in annual volume. And it isn't the only startup focused on helping corporates to deal in stablecoins. Conduit pivoted into stablecoin payments after a gruelling period for the crypto industry in 2022. The startup began using stablecoins to allow users to send money via local systems like Brazil's Pix and receive it through Single Euro Payments Area, an equivalent system in Europe. Today, it's processing US$10 billion annually, according to CEO Kirill Gertman. Singapore-based Thunes and Canada's Aquanow are also trying to work with stablecoin issuers and corporates to streamline payments. 'The rise of stablecoins is a commercial opportunity,' said Floris de Kort, CEO of Thunes, which raised US$150 million in April. 'The infrastructure might change, but people still need last-mile delivery in local currencies and wallets.' All this may seem modest compared with the scale of established payments operators. Visa alone processed US$13.2 trillion in payments volume in 2024, according to its latest annual report. That's more than double total stablecoin-denominated volumes in the same period. But the rapid growth of the market has put payments giants on high alert. They are exploring so-called 'stablecoin sandwich' models: using stablecoins between two fiat currencies to bypass traditional banking networks – such as Swift – and settle transactions in minutes, with a focus on markets where dollar liquidity is scarce and legacy systems are slow. Visa in October 2024 unveiled a platform that would allow banks to mint, burn and transfer fiat-backed tokens, including tokenised deposits and stablecoins. The recent passage of the Genius Act in the US brings regulatory clarity in the world's biggest stablecoin market, paving the way for banks and payment providers to enter the space with more confidence. That in turn has sparked a scramble among global regulators to forge ahead with comparable regimes for stablecoin issuers. 'We're just starting to see the hockey-stick growth,' said BVNK's Sarbhai. 'What took five years to build may explode in the next 12 months.' BLOOMBERG
Bloomberg
08-08-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Stablecoin Growth is Hampered by Nagging Foreign Exchange Costs
Even as stablecoins enter a period of peak expectations, veterans in wider fintech circles see limitations to the tokens as an emerging payments tool. Stablecoin transaction volumes have already hit $5 trillion across one billion payments so far in 2025, not far shy of the 2024 total of $5.7 trillion, according to data from Visa and Allium. The combined value of these cryptocurrencies — designed to closely track the price of established currencies like the US dollar — has grown 47% to $255 billion since US President's Donald Trump's election win in Nov. 2024.
Techday NZ
31-07-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
Confluent invests USD $200 million to boost global data partners
Confluent has confirmed a commitment to invest USD $200 million over the next three years to expand and enhance its global partner ecosystem. The initiative is set to drive increased collaboration with technology partners, cloud service providers, system integrators, managed service providers, and independent software vendors. The funding aims to help these partners develop new products and services leveraging data streaming, foster joint go-to-market solutions, and create deeper technical integrations. Responding to AI demand Businesses are undergoing rapid change as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly central to corporate strategy and operations. Confluent's investment comes in response to growing demand for real-time, AI-ready data solutions. The intention is to enable partners to position data streaming as a strategic part of their offerings, unlocking new revenue streams and potential use cases in a market estimated to exceed USD $100 billion. According to the July 2025 IDC Perspective, the preparedness of organisational data infrastructure is fundamental to the successful adoption of AI at scale. The report states, "for organisations to fully realise the potential of artificial intelligence, they must first ensure they have 'AI-ready' data. This readiness is not solely about adopting AI tools but more about building the foundational infrastructure, processes, and culture required to support AI initiatives at scale." Partner perspectives "We're on a mission to drive trust and transparency in blockchain, and that is only achievable with quick, easy access to real-time, reliable data," said Ethan Chan, CEO and Co-Founder of Allium. "Confluent enables us to seamlessly connect diverse data sources, from blockchains and core financial systems to cloud-based analytics platforms. With the technology and expertise provided by Confluent and its partners, we've built a high-performance data backbone that enables us to grow rapidly and deliver trusted blockchain insights to more customers faster." The role of partners in enabling customer innovation and operational improvements through data streaming was further underscored by Kamal Brar, Senior Vice President, Worldwide ISV and APAC at Confluent. He said, "Data streaming is the lifeblood of AI and the foundation for the next wave of transformative applications. The opportunity ahead is massive, and we believe it will be defined by those who can move and build together. We invite technology leaders, integrators, and domain experts to join us in helping organisations harness real-time data to innovate faster, operate smarter, and stay ahead of the curve." Collaboration opportunities The investment from Confluent will enable the co-development of new data streaming products and services. Partner organisations will have greater support to build on the Confluent data streaming platform, introducing integrated solutions into their existing offerings. Such cooperation promises to make it easier for businesses to access and benefit from real-time data workflows and modernised IT architectures. Confluent has outlined several focus areas for the investment, including: Launching new data streaming products and services with partner support to embed the Confluent platform into partner solutions. Developing joint real-time use cases and go-to-market strategies with partners to better address the demand for data streaming solutions. Building deeper native platform integrations to help businesses work with real-time data across multiple parts of the enterprise ecosystem. This investment follows a period of high partner activity for Confluent, including expanded collaborations with Infosys, alliances with EY, Databricks, and Jio Platforms, as well as the OEM Program partnership with sccc by stc. The company has also made targeted investments in regional system integrators such as Onibex and Psyncopate. Partner ecosystem Confluent's approach to its partner programme prioritises close collaboration, aiming to unify enterprise data in real time. The strategy reflects the company's belief that partners play a critical role in helping organisations modernise their operations, support real-time innovation, and manage the transition to cloud-based data infrastructure.
Globe and Mail
30-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Confluent Announces $200 Million Investment Across Its Global Partner Ecosystem
Confluent, Inc. (Nasdaq:CFLT), the data streaming pioneer, today announced a $200 million investment over the next three years to fuel the growth, reach, and impact of its global partner ecosystem. This commitment will expand opportunities for Confluent partners to make data streaming a strategic part of their businesses, opening new revenue streams and use cases. Helping customers navigate an increasingly real-time, AI-driven world is only possible with a strong, global partner ecosystem, which includes cloud service providers, independent software vendors, system integrators, and managed service providers. 'We're on a mission to drive trust and transparency in blockchain, and that is only achievable with quick, easy access to real-time, reliable data,' said Ethan Chan, CEO and Co-Founder of Allium. 'Confluent enables us to seamlessly connect diverse data sources, from blockchains and core financial systems to cloud-based analytics platforms. With the technology and expertise provided by Confluent and its partners, we've built a high-performance data backbone that enables us to grow rapidly and deliver trusted blockchain insights to more customers faster.' To Realize AI's Promise, Business Must Start with ' AI-Ready' Data AI is set to fundamentally transform how businesses operate. However, delivering on that promise is only possible if organizations have the technology and expertise to properly manage, govern, and connect real-time data. According to the July 2025 IDC Perspective 1, 'for organizations to fully realize the potential of artificial intelligence, they must first ensure they have 'AI-ready' data. This readiness is not solely about adopting AI tools but more about building the foundational infrastructure, processes, and culture required to support AI initiatives at scale.' 'Data streaming is the lifeblood of AI and the foundation for the next wave of transformative applications,' said Kamal Brar, Senior Vice President, Worldwide ISV and APAC at Confluent. 'The opportunity ahead is massive, and we believe it will be defined by those who can move and build together. We invite technology leaders, integrators, and domain experts to join us in helping organizations harness real-time data to innovate faster, operate smarter, and stay ahead of the curve.' Confluent Partners Power the Next Wave of AI and Real-Time Innovation Confluent works hand in hand with its partners to deliver the technology, domain expertise, and scale needed for businesses to integrate all their data systems, modernize their infrastructures, and scale real-time applications. The new investment opens more doors for collaboration between Confluent and its partners, including: New data streaming products and services – Launching new, revenue-generating solutions is faster than ever with support from Confluent to embed its leading data streaming platform into partners' offerings. Joint solutions and go-to-market plans – Co-developing real-time use cases with partners helps meet the high demand for data streaming and reach the right customers with the right solutions. Deeper integrations – Confluent works with partners to build native platform integrations that provide businesses a seamless experience working with real-time data across the entire streaming ecosystem. This builds on the strong partner momentum Confluent has generated over the past year—from an expanded collaboration with Infosys and strategic alliances with EY, Databricks, and Jio Platforms to the OEM Program partnership with sccc by stc and targeted investments in regional system integrators Onibex and Psyncopate. Confluent is doubling down on partner collaboration to unlock new value and put the world's data in motion. Join the Confluent Partner Ecosystem Confluent's partner programs stand apart by putting deep collaboration at the center. Data streaming is all about unifying data across every corner of a business in real time, and partners are essential to making that a reality. Join Confluent's dynamic ecosystem of system integrators, cloud providers, and technology partners to help organizations modernize, innovate, and thrive in real time. Visit this page for more information on how to join or contact partners@ You can also learn more about Confluent's partner program in the announcement blog post. About Confluent Confluent is the data streaming platform that is pioneering a fundamentally new category of data infrastructure that sets data in motion. Confluent's cloud-native offering is the foundational platform for data in motion—designed to be the intelligent connective tissue enabling real-time data from multiple sources to constantly stream across an organization. With Confluent, organizations can meet the new business imperative of delivering rich, digital frontend customer experiences and transitioning to sophisticated, real-time, software-driven backend operations. To learn more, please visit Forward-Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact could be deemed forward-looking, including, without limitation, statements regarding Confluent's plans with respect to future partner collaborations. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that may cause actual results or outcomes to be materially different from any future results or outcomes expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including those described from time to time in Confluent's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Confluent undertakes no obligation, and does not intend, to update these forward-looking statements.
The Sun
17-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
All the Middle of Lidl plants being sold in supermarkets this week with prices starting at £1.99
WITH summer now in full swing, many people will be getting their gardening gloves on and looking to spruce up their outdoor spaces. For those looking to give their garden a glow-up on a budget, Lidl has launched a new range of outdoor plants, with prices starting from just £1.99. Starting from this week, shoppers can get their hands on British bedding plants and assorted flowering plants, which are perfect for brightening up flowerbeds this summer. A £4.99 pot of French Lavender, perfect for attracting bees and butterflies, is among the plants hitting the Middle of Lidl from this Thursday, June 19. Those looking for something brighter can pick up the Bougainvillea plant for £7.99, featuring "vibrant tropical-like pink flowers". Gardeners will also be able to find a beautiful light pink Fuschia plant for £6.99, and an Allium plant, which features feathery white flowers, for £5.99. The cheapest finds in the new range are the Assorted Flowering Plants and the British Bedding Plants, both at £1.99. Not only are the assorted flowers budget friendly, but you can also expect them to bloom every week until October. More flowers will be hitting the Middle of Lidl from June 22, including a garden staple, the Hydrangea, for £8.99. Garden Roses, which are perfect for patios, will also be available for £9.99, as well as assorted Calla Lillies, which can be grown indoors or outdoors, for £5.99. More dramatic Oriental Lillies will also be hitting shelves for £8.99, which the supermarket says will add a "wonderful frangrance to your garden". To help you look after your new plants, Lidl is also offering a range of plant food and compost. Five Lidl rosés you need this summer, according to a wine expert - a £6.99 buy is as light & crispy as £22 Whispering Angel The Levington Tomorite Concentrated Tomato Food is being sold for £3.99, while the Miracle-Gro Pour & Feed Ready To Use Liquid is also £3.99. A 20l pack of compost is selling for £1.99, while decorative bark chips are available for £3.49. Lidl's plants are some of the cheapest available right now, with Sainsbury's selling a garden lavender basket for £20, and Wilko selling a similar Fuschia plant for £7.99. The flowers are available in the 'middle aisle' of Lidl across stores nationwide, although you'll want to be quick as they're expected to fly off shelves. You can also call up your local store in advance to check if they have the products you're looking for in stock. Other Lidl summer deals Also in the 'Middle of Lidl' from this week, shoppers will be able to get their hands on some budget cycling gear, perfect for those planning on spending the longer summer evenings and weekends outdoors on their bike. The CRIVIT Adult's Cycle Helmet with Rear Light is selling for £12.99, while the retailer is also offering a Premium Cordless Compressed Air Pump for £24.99. A dual power carpet cleaner is also going on sale for £79.99, and a handheld garment steamer for £19.99. The supermarket is even offering a dupe of the trendy Stanley Cup for just £5.99, available in a range of colours including green, pink, black and beige. How to bag a bargain SUN Savers Editor Lana Clements explains how to find a cut-price item and bag a bargain… Sign up to loyalty schemes of the brands that you regularly shop with. Big names regularly offer discounts or special lower prices for members, among other perks. Sales are when you can pick up a real steal. Retailers usually have periodic promotions that tie into payday at the end of the month or Bank Holiday weekends, so keep a lookout and shop when these deals are on. Sign up to mailing lists and you'll also be first to know of special offers. It can be worth following retailers on social media too. When buying online, always do a search for money off codes or vouchers that you can use and are just two sites that round up promotions by retailer. Scanner apps are useful to have on your phone. app has a scanner that you can use to compare prices on branded items when out shopping. Bargain hunters can also use B&M's scanner in the app to find discounts in-store before staff have marked them out. And always check if you can get cashback before paying which in effect means you'll get some of your money back or a discount on the item.
