Core Insights - Visa is expanding its stablecoin settlement capabilities in the CEMEA region through a partnership with Aquanow, a digital assets platform [1][2] - The integration aims to enable issuers and acquirers to settle transactions using approved stablecoins like USDC, reducing operational costs and accelerating settlement cycles [2][5] - The demand for efficient cross-border payments is driving the adoption of stablecoins to address issues like weekend limitations and unpredictable clearing times [3] Visa's Stablecoin Infrastructure - Visa's engagement with stablecoin technology began in 2023 with a pilot initiative allowing clients to settle in USDC, which has since scaled to a monthly volume exceeding a $2.5 billion annualized run rate [4][7] - The partnership with Aquanow is seen as a significant step in modernizing payment systems and reducing reliance on traditional intermediaries [5][6] Aquanow's Role - Aquanow provides institutional-grade digital asset services and will be a key infrastructure partner for Visa, processing billions in monthly crypto transactions [6][7] - The collaboration aims to unlock new opportunities for institutions in the digital economy by leveraging stablecoin technology for faster and more transparent settlements [6][7]

Core Viewpoint - The Conference of the International Trade and Investment Advisory Council for Shandong Province 2025 focused on enhancing Shandong's role as a hub for high-standard international cooperation through discussions on green, low-carbon, and high-quality development [4]. Group 1: Conference Overview - The conference was held on November 24, 2025, in Jinan, Shandong Province, and was organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Shandong Sub-council [4]. - Over 50 international advisors and delegates from more than 10 countries participated, including representatives from the United States, Germany, Britain, Italy, Mexico, Malaysia, Singapore, and Kenya [4]. Group 2: Advisory Mechanism and Reports - Seven new advisors were appointed during the conference, expanding Shandong's international think tank [5]. - A total of 18 advisory reports were submitted, covering areas such as green and low-carbon initiatives, biopharmaceuticals, digital economy, and cross-border economic cooperation [7]. - The advisory mechanism has engaged prominent figures from the global business community since its launch in December 2021 [8]. Group 3: Policy Recommendations and Implementation - Advisors have submitted over 50 policy recommendations addressing Shandong's key development priorities, contributing to energy consumption reductions and the growth of green industries [10]. - The mechanism has facilitated trade and investment projects, with significant investments including 10 billion yuan from Singapore RGE Group for a Lyocell fiber production base and 3.5 billion yuan projected from ERGO International for insurance sector partnerships [11].

Core Viewpoint - SMX has developed a technology that embeds a molecular identity into precious metals, addressing the authentication challenges that have historically limited gold's integration into modern financial systems [2][4][11] Group 1: Company Overview - SMX is presenting its innovative model at the 2025 DMCC Precious Metals Conference, which aims to revolutionize the global precious metals market by providing a reliable method for verifying the identity of gold [2][11] - The company’s technology allows for a seamless transition from physical to digital ownership of gold, enhancing transparency and trust in the asset [4][9] Group 2: Industry Context - The DMCC has established Dubai as a central hub for global commodities, emphasizing the need for clarity and integrity in transactions, moving away from traditional paper-based systems [3][8] - The gold market is evolving, with increasing demand for assets that maintain their identity throughout various transformations, such as melting and recasting [6][7] Group 3: Technological Impact - SMX's embedded identity system ensures that each piece of gold retains its unique signature throughout its lifecycle, significantly reducing the risk of confusion or manipulation [6][7] - This technology enhances the efficiency of custody and audit processes, allowing institutions to verify the identity of gold at any time, thus fostering greater accountability in the market [7][10] Group 4: Market Transformation - The introduction of verified identity in gold ownership is expected to create new investment products that prioritize clarity and stability, moving away from speculative frameworks [9][10] - SMX's approach aligns with the growing expectations from regulators and global buyers for responsible sourcing and sustainability in the gold supply chain [8][12]

Core Viewpoint - The three major economic regions of China—Yangtze River Delta, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei—have achieved impressive foreign trade results in a complex international economic environment, leveraging their unique industrial endowments and regional characteristics to enhance national competitiveness [1][2]. Group 1: Regional Development Paths - The Yangtze River Delta relies on a strong industrial base, complete supporting facilities, and a vibrant private economy, leading in high-end manufacturing and technological innovation, forming a cluster advantage in high-tech products [1]. - The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area capitalizes on its internationalized and market-oriented nature, utilizing Hong Kong's status as a global financial and trade center to enhance cross-border logistics and integrate resources, solidifying its position in the global supply chain [2]. - The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region benefits from Beijing's strong radiating power and the advantages of free trade zones, promoting innovation and industrial collaboration among the three areas, with exports in automobiles and pharmaceuticals driving foreign trade growth [2]. Group 2: Challenges in Regional Cooperation - There are discrepancies in marketization, openness, and governance among the three regions, leading to challenges in unifying rules and standards, particularly in areas like commercial systems and data flow regulations [2][3]. - High-end factors such as talent, capital, and technology face "soft" barriers to free movement across regions, limiting the full realization of regional synergies [3]. - The absence of a reasonable cross-regional benefit compensation mechanism poses challenges in coordinating interests during regional collaboration, as industrial transfers can alter tax revenue and development opportunities [3]. - The need for optimizing supply chain layouts amidst global value chain restructuring requires a national strategic approach to avoid homogenized competition and ensure risk-sharing in supply chain optimization [3].

India is preparing to launch ARC, a regulated rupee-backed stablecoin designed to work with its CBDC and curb reliance on USDT and USDC. | Credit: Getty Images. Key Takeaways India is preparing to launch ARC, a rupee-backed, fully regulated private stablecoin. ARC is designed to coexist with the RBI’s digital rupee (CBDC), not compete with it. The initiative aims to curb reliance on foreign stablecoins and keep liquidity onshore. The ARC rollout is expected as early as Q1 2026. After years of c ...

Core Insights - The article highlights the significant role of AI search ranking, GEO optimization, and multi-platform SEO optimization in the thriving digital economy of Shanghai's Fengxian district, impacting local businesses and users profoundly [1][2]. Market Development Prospects - The diverse economic growth in Fengxian has led to a strong demand for precise online promotion across various industries, with AI search ranking optimization enabling better understanding of user intent and matching local business information to target customers [1]. - GEO optimization leverages geographical advantages, significantly benefiting local physical stores, tourist attractions, and service industries by enhancing visibility in local search results [1]. - Multi-platform SEO optimization addresses the trend of dispersed traffic, with Baidu enhancing exposure on both PC and mobile platforms, Douyin attracting young users through video content, and Xiaohongshu providing targeted promotion for beauty, fashion, and lifestyle businesses [1]. User Benefits - Users experience tangible benefits from these optimizations, such as quicker access to desired information, saving time when searching for local attractions, food, and accommodations in Fengxian [2]. - GEO optimization improves convenience for local residents by presenting nearby, well-reviewed service providers [2]. Role of Shanghai Ruocang Technology - Shanghai Ruocang Technology plays a crucial role in this landscape by leveraging expertise in platform algorithms to create data that is easily captured by AI, offering comprehensive optimization solutions for local businesses [2]. - The company focuses on precise keyword strategies and content creation tailored to platform characteristics, aiming to enhance search rankings for Fengxian enterprises and promote local economic development [2].

Core Insights - VCI Global Limited's Group Executive Chairman and CEO, Mr. Victor Hoo, has significantly increased his ownership in the company through open-market purchases, indicating strong confidence in the company's future [1][2] - The company's recent share repurchase program, alongside Mr. Hoo's purchases, reflects a belief that the market undervalues VCI Global's growth potential and strategic direction [2] Company Strategy - VCI Global is focused on expanding across multiple sectors, including technology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, financial services, and digital asset infrastructure, aiming for substantial value creation [2][3] - The company emphasizes aggressive execution, capital efficiency, and maximizing long-term shareholder returns as part of its strategic initiatives [3] Business Model - VCI Global operates as a cross-sector platform builder, integrating technology innovation with financial ecosystems to capture opportunities in the digital economy [4] - The company's strategy involves developing scalable platforms that provide resilience, efficiency, and long-term value across high-growth sectors [4]

Core Insights - Sea Limited is a technology conglomerate based in Singapore, often referred to as the "Amazon of Asia" due to its diverse operations in e-commerce, digital financial services, and digital entertainment [1][2] E-commerce Segment - Sea's e-commerce platform, Shopee, is the largest in Southeast Asia, processing 10 billion orders worth $90.6 billion through Q3 2025 [3] - The e-commerce segment generated $4.3 billion in revenue during Q3 2025, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 34.9% [8] Digital Financial Services - Sea's digital financial services platform, Monee, has synergies with Shopee, providing loans to merchants and consumers, and reached a record 34 million users, growing 45% year over year [4] - This segment generated $989.9 million in revenue during Q3 2025, with a year-over-year growth of 60.8% [8] Digital Entertainment - The digital entertainment segment, led by Garena, includes popular games like Call of Duty: Mobile and Free Fire, with 670.8 million quarterly active users, the highest in four years [6][7] - This segment generated $653 million in revenue during Q3 2025, with a year-over-year growth of 31.2% [8] Financial Performance - Sea Limited's total revenue for Q3 2025 was $6 billion, a 38.3% increase from the previous year, marking the second consecutive quarter of accelerating growth [8] - The total adjusted EBITDA was $874.3 million, representing a 67.7% increase year over year, highlighting the benefits of a diversified business model [10] Analyst Sentiment - Wall Street analysts are overwhelmingly bullish on Sea stock, with 26 out of 36 analysts giving it a buy rating and an average price target of $192.51, suggesting a potential 30% upside [11] - Despite a 40% gain in stock price this year, it remains attractively valued with a price-to-sales ratio of 3.9, a 58% discount to its long-term average [12] Financial Position - Sea Limited had $10.5 billion in cash and equivalents at the end of Q3 2025, providing the company with the flexibility to invest in growth initiatives [14]

Core Insights - Grayscale Sui Trust (GSUI) has begun trading on OTCQX, providing investors with exposure to Sui, a Layer 1 blockchain designed for efficient smart-contract deployment [1][2][4] - The Trust aims to facilitate greater investor participation in the evolving crypto ecosystem, emphasizing Sui's speed, scalability, and user experience [3][4] Company Overview - Grayscale is recognized as the largest digital asset-focused investment platform based on assets under management (AUM) as of October 31, 2025 [5] - The company has a decade-long track record in the digital asset space, offering a range of investment products for various investor needs [4][5] Product Details - GSUI was previously available through private placements to accredited investors since August 2024, marking a strategic shift towards public market offerings [4] - The Trust is positioned to support the growth of Sui's technology and its surrounding ecosystem, aligning with Grayscale's mission to champion innovative digital economy technologies [3][4]

Core Insights - Thailand is positioning itself as a leading hub for digital infrastructure in Southeast Asia, with the Board of Investment (BOI) approving four new data center projects valued at THB 100 billion (USD 3.1 billion) to compete with Singapore and Malaysia in the growing demand for AI and cloud services [1][5]. Details on New Projects - NextGen Data Center and Cloud Services plans to build an 84-MW hyperscale data center in Pathum Thani Province, requiring an investment of THB 26.7 billion (USD 826.42 million) [2]. - Zenith Data Center and Cloud Services will invest THB 54.9 billion (USD 1.7 billion) to develop a 200-MW hyperscale facility in the same location [3]. - Telehouse (Thailand) aims to expand its existing facility in Bangkok with a 12-MW data center, funded by THB 7.55 billion (USD 233.64 million) [3]. - Vistas Technology will invest THB 9.9 billion (USD 306.39 million) to construct an 80-MW facility in the Amata City Chonburi Industrial Estate [4]. Thailand's Digital Infrastructure Strategy - The BOI's approval of these projects highlights Thailand's strategy to attract hyperscale operators and enhance its digital infrastructure, with a commitment to facilitating world-class investments [5]. - The BOI has also issued six licenses to restart previously stalled data center projects, collectively valued at USD 9.2 billion, aiming to resolve issues related to power availability and industrial land access [5]. Context and Outlook - Since 2024, Thailand has seen a surge in data center investments, with major companies like AWS, Google, Microsoft, and ByteDance making significant commitments [6]. - In the first half of 2025, the sector attracted THB 521.2 billion (USD 16.13 billion) in approved investments across 28 projects [6]. - The new developments are expected to significantly increase Thailand's data center capacity, meeting the rising domestic and regional demand for AI and cloud services [7]. Impact on Digital Economy - The new data center projects will enhance Thailand's position in Southeast Asia's digital economy by increasing data center capacity and addressing the growing demand for cloud and AI services [10].