Summary of VersaBank Conference Call Company Overview - **Company Name**: VersaBank - **Ticker Symbols**: VBNK (Nasdaq and TSX) - **Established**: 30 years in operation, recognized as a fully digital bank in North America [2][3] Core Business Highlights - **Growth Rate**: Achieved a compounded average growth rate of 27% over the past three years, reaching nearly CAD 6 billion in assets [4] - **Profitability**: Generated nearly CAD 36 million in ordinary income in 2025, with expectations for increased efficiency and profitability as operations expand in the U.S. [4] - **Business Model**: Operates a cloud-based, branchless business-to-business model, benefiting from significant operating leverage [3] Digital Asset Strategy - **Digital Asset Leadership**: Positioned as a leader in the digital asset space, with a focus on tokenized deposits and stablecoins [5][6] - **Market Trends**: Approximately 70% of generational wealth is expected to transfer to non-bank entities, creating challenges for traditional banks [6] - **Stablecoin Market**: The total value of the stablecoin market has surpassed $300 billion, reflecting a growth of over one-third in the last year [8] Tokenized Deposits - **Definition**: Tokenized deposits are digital representations of actual bank deposits on the blockchain, eligible for deposit insurance and capable of paying interest [7][8] - **Market Opportunity**: Anticipated to provide low-cost funding for financing and lending activities, with billions in potential deposits from cross-border trade between the U.S. and Canada [12] - **Regulatory Environment**: No new legislation is expected to be required for the launch of tokenized deposits, as they are real bank deposits reflected on a blockchain [19][20] Community Bank Engagement - **Licensing Opportunities**: Plans to license deposit token technology to community banks, allowing them to issue their own tokens [22][23] - **Community Bank Support**: Received positive feedback from community banks eager for regulatory clarity to adopt deposit tokens [22] Cybersecurity Business Update - **Divestiture**: Currently in the process of selling the cybersecurity services business, which is unrelated to the digital asset operations [33][34] - **Bids Received**: Expecting to receive bids for the cybersecurity business within the next month [35] Future Outlook - **Growth in U.S. Market**: Anticipates continued strong growth in the U.S. market, with a focus on enhancing product offerings and leveraging AI for receivable purchases [30][32] - **Deposit Insurance Expectation**: Expects that tokenized deposits will be covered by deposit insurance, crucial for maintaining depositor confidence [36][39] Conclusion - **Investment Proposition**: VersaBank presents a low-risk, high-growth digital banking opportunity with significant upside potential in the digital asset space, particularly through tokenized deposits and stablecoin custody [14][15]

NEW YORK, Jan. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BNB Plus Corp. (Nasdaq: BNBX) ("BNBX" or the "Company"), today announced that Chief Investment Officer Patrick Horsman, CFA and Chairman of the Board Joshua Kruger will present live at the Digital Asset Virtual Investor Conference hosted by Virtual InvestorConferences.com, on January 27th, 2026 at 1:00PM EST. DATE: January 27th, 2026 TIME: 1:00PM EST Register here Mr. Horsman and Mr. Kruger will be available for 1x1 meetings on January 27-29. Participants may sche ...

Circle launched StableFX, an initiative to transform the $10 trillion daily foreign exchange (FX) market by enabling 24/7 on-chain currency conversion using stablecoins. The platform, unveiled in November 2025 on Circle’s Arc blockchain, promises to eliminate long-standing FX bottlenecks, such as prefunding requirements, delayed settlement, and fragmented trading venues. Circle Launches StableFX to Modernize Global FX Circle’s StableFX allows institutions to trade stablecoin pairs like USDC/EURC via Req ...

Leadership Transition - DeepMarkit Corp. has appointed Johnny Chen as the new CEO effective February 9, 2026, while Steve Vanry will transition to CFO and continue as Corporate Secretary [1][4] - This leadership change aligns with the company's strategic focus on prediction markets and the development of its Prospect Markets platform [2][5] Executive Background - Johnny Chen, the new CEO, is the founder of Prospect Prediction Markets Inc. and has over a decade of experience in capital markets, having held senior roles at major investment banks [3] - Chen's background includes expertise in equity sales, trading, and a strong foundation in technology and digital assets, having co-founded a blockchain-based fantasy sports company [3] Company Vision and Strategy - Chen expressed excitement about leading DeepMarkit and emphasized the mission to engage sports leagues with fans through prediction markets, aiming to be a leader in this evolving space [4] - The transition is seen as a natural evolution from strategic positioning to execution, with a focus on financial discipline and long-term growth objectives [5] Company Overview - DeepMarkit Corp. is a technology company focused on digital experiences in prediction markets, blockchain, AI, and tokenization, developing a sports prediction market platform on the Avalanche blockchain [6]

Road Town, British Virgin Islands--(Newsfile Corp. - January 27, 2026) - LBank Exchange is pleased to announce the listing of apM (APM). Trading for the APM/USDT pair will open at 09:00 UTC on January 29, 2026.Users will be able to access the trading pair at: https://www.lbank.com/trade/apm_usdtAPM Listing BannerTo view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8831/281768_c643f39bf467ba28_001full.jpgAbout apM (APM)Operating under the slogan "AI-Powered Innovat ...

Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ:COIN)  CEO Brian Armstrong announced on Monday the formation of an advisory board to assess the implications of quantum computing for the blockchain industry and prepare for “future threats.”Coinbase Moves Against Quantum ThreatsIn an X post, Armstrong said the group will comprise “distinguished” researchers in quantum computing, cryptography and blockchain systems to ensure quantum threats are properly considered.“Security is our highest priority at Coinbase. Preparing for futu ...

Individual Level - Ordinary households are using crypto-exchanges as a "financial VPN" to move money and protect savings from unpredictable political actions [1] - Cryptocurrency has become a practical infrastructure for families to maintain purchasing power amid economic instability and hyperinflation [36][39] - In countries like Venezuela and Iran, crypto serves as a lifeline for families facing financial turmoil, allowing them to bypass local economic failures [38][39] Corporate Level - Corporations in developed markets are increasingly adopting cryptocurrency to bypass traditional banking systems and enhance financial resilience [26] - Retail businesses are experiencing higher conversion rates and average order values through crypto transactions, with significant growth in luxury sectors [27][28] - Companies like Sony Honda are integrating blockchain technology into their products, creating decentralized ecosystems that enhance user experience and financial independence [30][32] Sovereign Level - Nations are rethinking financial security in light of "strategic instability," where traditional financial systems are weaponized for geopolitical control [2][7] - Venezuela's economic isolation serves as a case study for how dependence on foreign-controlled infrastructure undermines national resilience [11][13] - Iran has developed a parallel financial system using cryptocurrency to support imports and trade, demonstrating a more systemic integration compared to Venezuela [21][24] Financial Neutrality - The concept of "financial neutrality" is emerging, allowing states, corporations, and individuals to store and transfer value independently of politically controlled financial infrastructure [5] - The rise of financial neutrality marks a shift towards viewing digital assets as strategic hedges against asset freezes and sanctions [19] - The ability to transact freely is increasingly recognized as a fundamental human right, essential for financial autonomy and freedom [40][42]

Davos 2026 did put crypto back in the global spotlight. It may not have dominated the WEF agenda but it was a part of enough speeches and conversations to move markets and set narratives for 2026. What was the big takeaway? Politics is still navigating through short-term price action. But traditional finance, Wall Street and more are increasingly treating crypto and tokenization as inevitable. In an exclusive chat with 99Bitcoins, Dea Markova, Policy Director for Fireblocks, weighed in. “As geopolitical ...

Core Insights - BLAQclouds, Inc. is expanding its Web3 infrastructure with the launch of ApolloCASH, which introduces transaction-bound APUSD settlement, single-use liquidity pools, and enhanced user features aimed at modernizing digital payments [4][21]. Group 1: ApolloCASH Features - ApolloCASH enables cross-platform fiat payments with blockchain-based, transaction-specific settlement, allowing users to send and receive funds across various payment applications [3][6]. - The platform utilizes Apollo USD (APUSD), a transaction-specific settlement smart contract that minimizes systemic risk through a mint-and-burn model, where APUSD is created and destroyed per transaction [7][8]. - Each transaction is supported by a Single-Use Liquidity Pool (SULP), which is created specifically for that transfer and destroyed after redemption, ensuring isolated transaction risk [10][16]. Group 2: User Functionality Enhancements - ApolloCASH includes a new address book feature that supports both individual contacts and bulk user import functionality, streamlining the payment process for users [11][17]. - The platform introduces a Refer & Earn program that rewards users with 20% of fees generated by referred users, with real-time smart contract payouts ensuring transparency and efficiency [19][25]. Group 3: Strategic Goals and Launch - The launch of ApolloCASH is scheduled for February 1, 2026, with early registration available, aiming to provide a flexible and scalable solution for digital payments [21]. - BLAQclouds, Inc. aims to bridge traditional finance and decentralized ecosystems, making crypto spending as easy and trusted as traditional currency [22].

Core Insights - Bitmine has staked a total of 2,009,267 ETH, representing 3.52% of the total ETH supply, and aims to reach 5% within the next six months [1][2][8] - The company has a total asset value of $12.8 billion, which includes 4.243 million ETH tokens, $682 million in cash, and other crypto holdings [1][2] - Bitmine has made a significant investment of $200 million into Beast Industries, which is part of its strategy to diversify its holdings [3] Company Holdings - As of January 25, 2026, Bitmine's crypto holdings consist of 4,243,338 ETH valued at $2,839 per ETH, 193 Bitcoin, and stakes in Beast Industries and Eightco Holdings [2] - The total cash holdings amount to $682 million, contributing to the overall asset value of $12.8 billion [1][2] Staking and Future Plans - Bitmine's staked ETH has increased by 171,264 in the past week, with a current staking rate of 2.81% [8] - The company is developing the Made in America Validator Network (MAVAN), which is expected to launch in Q1 2026, aimed at providing secure staking infrastructure [9][14] Market Position - Bitmine is recognized as the largest ETH treasury globally and ranks as the second-largest treasury in the world, following Strategy Inc. [10] - The company is one of the most actively traded stocks in the US, with an average daily trading volume of $1.2 billion, ranking 91st among US-listed stocks [11] Industry Context - Recent discussions at the World Economic Forum in Davos highlighted the growing acceptance of digital assets and the convergence of traditional and digital finance [4][5] - Industry leaders, including Larry Fink of BlackRock and David Sacks from the White House, emphasized the importance of tokenization and the integration of banking and crypto [5][6]