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Scientology Celebrates 50 Years in the capital of Europe and 15 Years on Boulevard de Waterloo

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3 months ago

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Representatives from other religious traditions and civil society organizations joined the Scientology community in marking these anniversaries. With a look at the past challenges and achievements, they also looked to the future and potential of collaboration and community projects. Among the attendees there were also Ambassadors and personnel of the European institutions.

Scientologists from Belgium and from abroad celebrated two anniversaries on January 23, 2025: 50 years of the Church of Scientology in Belgium and 15 years of the organization’s headquarters on the Boulevard de Waterloo in Brussels. The night started with a light and healthy dinner. Right after, the master of ceremonies Ivan Arjona-Pelado, Scientology’s representative to the European institutions and the United Nations, introduced violinist Ilona Raasch for a live musical performance, played through classical violin pieces that set an intimate and warm atmosphere for the evening. 

The impact of Scientology’s journey in Belgium was reflected on by attendees, including prominent figures from religious and civil society groups.

Tracing Five Decades of Religious Commitment

Arjona-Pelado, European representative since 2017, took the audience through the history of Scientology in Belgium. It originated in the 1950s and 1960s when believers of the faith found the teachings of L. Ron Hubbard abroad and began to share them in small home groups in Belgium. The initial establishment of the first official Scientology mission at the end of 1974 provided the foundation for a rapidly reinforced religious community and structured religious activities and public engagement, who attended lectures, workshops and seminars, often improvised by the veteran yet new members.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Scientology continued to grow internationally, and Belgium was an important country in its European growth. In 1980 incorporated the Church of Scientology of Belgium, and the establishment of the first European Scientology human rights office in Brussels took place in 1990-1991 marking a significant step on the role of the Church to promote and ensure human rights for everyone in alignment with European and International covenants. Thus, Brussels was not only the political capital of Europe but also the moral and ethical capital, where Scientology further increased its dialogue with other religions and social organizations. This period saw the church’s growing role in social outreach programmes, going beyond the provision of religious services to include advocacy and education.

Challenges and A Long Legal Battle that ended in Victory

However, all this was not without distractions for Scientology, as there were certain attacks in Belgium. In 1997, a Belgian parliamentary report classified 189 religious groups in a black-list which led to the public stigma and an increase of discrimination. In 1999 brought about a police raid, in which 120 officers entered the Church of Scientology, while Scientologists were hosting a religious freedom marathon through the city. The unjustified raids led to an 18-year-long legal battle, disrupting the lives of Scientologists and relatives. However, “with a strong belief that the truth will always prevail” as Arjona explained during his presentation, the Scientologists continued with their social activities such as the war on drugs and human rights education. 

It was only in 2016 when the major milestone was reached in Brussels, when the court acquitted the church and Scientologists of all suspicions and attacks in a 173-page verdict, which pointed out serious violations of the defense’s rights and the presumption of guilt based only on “religious prejudice of a prosecutor and some policemen who had taken the power of the state to carry out their personal witch hunt” states Arjona. This verdict was not only a victory for Scientology but also for religious freedom in Belgium. It also reinforced the position that religious minorities should not be subjected to unjustified discrimination, and therefore paved the way for the church’s vindication of religious freedom victory in the Belgium society.

The European Headquarters in Brussels

Another significant progress in this journey was the establishment of the new church called “Churches of Scientology for the European Communities” on the Boulevard de Waterloo 15 years ago, which was gifted by the International Association of Scientologists. The facility, which surpasses 8,000 square meters, is used for religious services, study, seminars and interfaith events. “Our Chapel has seen ceremonies and lectures held by Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox, Hindus, Jewish, Sikhs, Freemasons and others,” says Ivan Arjona, “as a true religion of religions”. The building is an architectural marvel and at the same time a warm welcome for all Scientologists and indeed visitors of all faiths and none. Arjona further reminded, during the celebration of the 50th Anniversary, that the building is an open and welcoming place for all religious and community groups to come together. It is an interreligious meeting place, and it hosts conferences and discussions with the aim of establishing good relations “that help to work together for a world in peace,” explained Arjona.

Besides the religious functions, the headquarters has also a role to play in humanitarian and educational work. Many events and actions of drug prevention, improving literacy and promoting human rights are coordinated from this central hub, thus showing the social responsibility of Scientology and its many friends. The facility, “one of the most beautiful buildings in Brussels” says Arjona, has been a venue for many workshops, meetings, and community activities that reinforce its position as a positive contributor in Brussels.

Social Initiatives and Educational Campaigns

The event also featured some of the social campaigns of Scientology. Its drug prevention campaign channelled through “Foundation for a Drug Free World” is aimed at young people and is designed to ensure that they have clear information about substances and their effects to make informed decisions. The organization’s human rights education program “United for Human Rights” is based on the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the group works to ensure that these rights are actualized in people’s lives and not just theoretical concepts. Also, there is The Way to Happiness, a non-religious moral code written by L. Ron Hubbard and which deals with universal values like honesty and respect. These materials are provided free of charge to schools, municipalities and community groups to reach the general population.

In addition, the programs of Scientology have tangible results; thousands of educational booklets of are annually distributed, and many workshops are held for students and professionals. Thus, the church combines advocacy with practical tools to guarantee that its social initiatives result in positive change and better ethical and social behaviour of the community.

 

Acknowledging the Efforts of Volunteers and Civil Society

A particular part of the evening was the appreciation of the volunteers and the staff who make the church and its programs possible. Several people were called forward and applauded for their great contribution. Their contribution was recognized as an important determinant of the church’s progress in the recent past. The dedication and resilience of these volunteers have enabled Scientology to remain strong in Belgium, and have shown that individuals can make a big difference in the improvement of the community. Arjona also recognized some of those Civil Society activists that have been working alongside the Church, be it on human rights, drug prevention, promoting culture and peace and as well as helping the needy in the streets.

The 50th anniversary of Scientology in Belgium was not just the celebration of the past, it was a proclamation of the future. To finalize the event, the public was taken through the church’s informational exhibition to see the various outreach programs and materials that the church has, and were invited to champagne and a birthday cake cut with a replica of the Excalibur sword.

Media Contact

Organization: European Office Church of Scientology for Public Affairs and Human Rights

Contact Person: Ivan Arjona

Website: https://www.europeanaffairs.eu

Email: Send Email

Address: Boulevard de Waterloo 103

City: Brussels

State: Brussels

Country: Belgium

Release Id: 30012523184

The post Scientology Celebrates 50 Years in the capital of Europe and 15 Years on Boulevard de Waterloo appeared on King Newswire. It is provided by a third-party content provider. King Newswire makes no warranties or representations in connection with it.

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Press Release

GoRich Officially Launches: Zero-Barrier On-Chain Trading
Perfect for beginners — discover and trade 100x meme coins with ease!

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4 minutes ago

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April 30, 2025

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On-Chain PVP: The New Market Trend, with Meme Coins Reigning Supreme

As we enter April 2025, the crypto market has cooled from its previous surge, but the on-chain ecosystem remains hotter than ever.
Meme coins continue to dominate trending charts, with fresh “100x coins” emerging regularly to fuel market excitement.

On-chain PVP trading has become the new frontier: it’s a battle of information, speed, and precision. The true traders are already at the cutting edge of the blockchain, competing for opportunities.

Yet, wallet management complexities, gas fees, and cross-chain transactions still pose challenges for many everyday users.
While centralized exchanges (CEXs) are user-friendly, their slow listing processes often cause users to miss out on the earliest and most explosive opportunities.

So, how can more users participate in on-chain trading at lightning speed?
GoRich is the solution.

GoRich: Trade Across Multiple Chains with Just One Account – No Wallet Needed

GoRich, integrated within the bit.com app, allows users to trade multiple blockchain assets with a single account, offering the perfect blend of “No Wallet Required” and CEX-level experience.

Incubated by bit.com (formerly BIT) Exchange, GoRich lets users transfer USDT from their bit.com accounts to GoRich, accessing on-chain markets directly without the need for wallet creation, seed phrase management, or holding native tokens.

With GoRich, buying and selling popular meme coins is both seamless and efficient.
GoRich simplifies the complexities of DEXs by executing transactions on-chain through a broker model, preserving the decentralization of on-chain assets while enhancing the overall trading experience.

Key Features:

  • Gas fees automatically deducted in USDT, no need for extra tokens
  • Supports limit orders, enabling precise buy and sell strategies
  • One-click profit-taking, MEV protection, adjustable slippage, and secure fund custody

Whether you’re looking to capture the next 100x meme coin or just starting with on-chain trading, GoRich is the tool you don’t want to miss.

Five Core Advantages of GoRich — Truly Lowering the Barriers to On-Chain Trading

Multi-Chain Access
Trade across multiple chains directly via the BIT.com App with just one account.

No Wallet Needed
Use your bit.com account funds directly—no wallet setup or private key management.

One Token for All – USDT
No need for native tokens—USDT covers both token purchases and gas fees.

Flexible Trading
Supports limit orders, one-tap profit-taking, and anti-mev & auto Slippage

Secure Custody
Assets are securely held by Cactus Custody, ensuring transparency and compliance.

To celebrate the official launch of GoRich, the platform is launching a limited-time promotional event. From April 30 to May 12, new users can try out GoRich and receive $Trump tokens, and compete in the trading volume leaderboard for a chance to win up to 3 SOL in rewards!

Real User Feedback: The On-Chain Experience Enters the “Battle of User Experience” Era

Thousands of users participated in GoRich’s beta testing, and their feedback is clear: the on-chain trading landscape is shifting.

User @wanfan shared on X (formerly Twitter):
“On-chain trading is evolving from the wallet phase to a new era where user experience is key. GoRich and similar platforms are simplifying the process, improving functionality, and optimizing information presentation, successfully replicating the seamless CEX experience on-chain. This allows beginners to fully engage in the PVP arena.”

He also highlighted that compared to other platforms, GoRich stands out by offering a broader feature set while preserving the true openness of on-chain assets. Unlike other platforms that limit trading to curated lists, GoRich enables trading of all on-chain assets, giving users greater freedom and more opportunities to capture emerging market trends.

Bit.com CEO: Empowering More Users to Enter the On-Chain World

On the occasion of bit.com’s fifth anniversary, CEO Zingho Chan shared:

“We are thrilled to launch our on-chain trading platform, GoRich. Our mission is to eliminate the technical barriers of Web3 trading and make it easy for more users to access the on-chain world in the most familiar and intuitive way possible. The launch of GoRich marks a significant milestone in on-chain trading innovation. Moving forward, we are committed to delivering more convenient and efficient solutions to drive the widespread adoption and growth of the on-chain ecosystem.”

Getting Started with GoRich

1.Download and open the bit.com app

2.Tap the “GoRich” menuat the bottom

3.Transfer USDTto your GoRich account

4.Search for tokens or contract addresses, confirm the price, and trade with one click

Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities.

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Press Release

Cambridge Research Reveals the Centralization of Bitcoin Leveraged Computing Power XBIT Exchange Reveals Hegemony or Risk?

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19 minutes ago

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April 30, 2025

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The latest research from the Cambridge Center for Alternative Finance (CCAF) shows that the United States currently controls 75.4% of the hash power of the global Bitcoin network, which is more concentrated than the period when China dominated in 2021 (65-75%). This data comes from a survey of 49 leading mining companies, whose combined computing power accounts for nearly 50% of the entire Bitcoin network. XBIT said that as the United States has become the world’s largest mining center, the controversy over the possibility that computing power monopoly may threaten the principle of network decentralization continues to heat up.

Twitter : @XBITDEX

The CCAF report pointed out that the current computing power scale of the United States is 600 EH/s (accounting for 75.4% of the global total of 796 EH/s), far exceeding other regions. The formation of this pattern is closely related to policy orientation-the Trump administration regards Bitcoin as “digital gold” and simplifies the energy approval process for mines through the “Acceleration Plan” of the Ministry of Commerce, attracting a large number of mining companies to move in. However, the trend of centralization has caused XBIT (dex Exchange) analysts to worry: If the US government adjusts its position in the future, will it be possible to use the computing power advantage to implement regulatory intervention?

History provides a warning case. After China banned mining in 2021, computing power was dispersed around the world in the short term, but it was eventually concentrated in the United States. Although there were no network abuse incidents during the period of China’s dominance, the current US computing power monopoly may give the federal government greater intervention capabilities. For example, through sanctions or executive orders to review transactions, or even require miners to implement specific block screening rules. XBIT (dex Exchange) researcher admitted: “The concentration of computing power may put Bitcoin at risk of ‘politicization’, which runs counter to the anti-censorship vision designed by Satoshi Nakamoto.”

US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick’s recent statement highlights policy tendencies. He defined Bitcoin as a “commodity with a fixed supply” and promoted the reduction of mining costs through off-grid power generation facilities. “Imagine that your data center is next to a power plant – this will completely change the combination of energy and computing power.” His remarks reflect the federal government’s strategic intention to attract computing power investment.

Twitter : @XBITDEX

However, the checks and balances of the federal system may form a natural barrier. Officials in major mining states such as Texas have publicly opposed excessive intervention, believing that “damaging the value of Bitcoin will shake investor confidence.” In addition, the weakening trend of the US monetary sanctions system (such as shifting to tariffs rather than financial blockades) may reduce the government’s motivation to directly control the Bitcoin network. However, analysts at XBIT (dex Exchange) pointed out: “The risk has not been eliminated. If the concentration of computing power is superimposed on policy shifts, the struggle for network governance rights may trigger a chain reaction.”

The Bitcoin community’s experience in dealing with the concentration of computing power may be the key. The Chinese ban in 2021 caused the computing power to plummet by 50%, but miners migrated to North America, Central Asia and other places, ultimately driving the network computing power to rebound by 130% at the end of the year. This history shows that the distribution of computing power is dynamically adaptable, but under the current US-dominated pattern, the difficulty of decentralization has increased significantly.

Even if the current US computing power share is reduced to 50%, it is still far beyond the historical warning line. XBIT (dex Exchange) analysts pointed out: “The centralization of computing power is not irreversible, but it requires systematic efforts. Global miners need to find a balance between compliance and censorship resistance. XBIT (dex Exchange) crypto asset custody is not only an asset protection tool for high net worth investors, but also a core service that allows them to focus on strategic investment and optimize asset allocation.”

Twitter : @XBITDEX

The industry is facing a critical choice: to rely on US energy and policy dividends to maintain growth, or to accelerate the diversification of computing power in terms of geography and technology? The answer may lie in a combination of the two – through legislation to protect miners’ rights, develop anti-censorship mining protocols, and establish a cross-border computing power alliance, a more resilient network ecosystem may be built. As an early advocate of Bitcoin said: “The real enemy of decentralization is not centralization, but the habit of centralization.”

Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities.

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Press Release

Foundation Capital Announces Strategic Investment in Arkon to Advance CeDeFi Innovation

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19 minutes ago

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April 30, 2025

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PALO ALTO, CA — April 30, 2025 — Foundation Capital, a leading Silicon Valley venture capital firm, today announced a strategic investment in Arkon, a next-generation CeDeFi incubation platform. This partnership underscores Foundation Capital’s long-term commitment to supporting pioneering blockchain innovations and visionary entrepreneurs, jointly building a sustainable future for decentralized finance and accelerating global adoption.

Leading Financial Innovation and Empowering Web3 Ecosystem

Arkon positions itself at the cutting edge of financial technology, uniquely integrating the compliance strengths of centralized finance (CeFi) with the autonomy and innovation of decentralized finance (DeFi). The platform aims to become an essential resource hub, providing blockchain startups comprehensive tools—from multi-chain asset management, regulatory-compliant governance frameworks, technical incubation, to strategic market access—earning its reputation as the indispensable “Swiss Army knife” for Web3 entrepreneurs globally.

With this strategic investment, Foundation Capital will further empower Arkon by bolstering its technical capabilities, attracting top talent, enhancing brand presence, and expanding the global ecosystem, enabling startups to scale rapidly and sustainably.

Rodolfo Gonzalez, Head of Crypto Investments at Foundation Capital, stated:“Arkon exemplifies the type of innovative integration and market potential Foundation Capital seeks. By effectively bridging CeFi and DeFi, Arkon fosters industry innovation while maintaining robust global regulatory compliance, laying a solid foundation for sustainable growth in decentralized finance.”

With Rodolfo Gonzalez, Eric, Anand, Kumar, and Carolyn at Foundation Capital’s Palo Alto office in January 2025.

Building a Compliant and Robust Global Financial Ecosystem

This strategic partnership represents a shared vision between Foundation Capital and Arkon: to establish a technologically advanced, regulatory-compliant, and user-centric decentralized financial ecosystem on a global scale. Leveraging Arkon’s advanced cross-chain interoperability and unified account systems, users and institutions worldwide will benefit from seamless, secure, and efficient digital asset management across diverse blockchain environments.

Additionally, both parties will collaboratively explore innovative blockchain governance models, balancing decentralized community autonomy with stringent global regulatory requirements, ensuring transparent and efficient on-chain governance.

Foundation Capital will utilize its extensive global resources across North America, Europe, and Asia, enabling Arkon to cultivate a broader international partnership network and accelerate market penetration for incubated projects.

Exploring Future Opportunities to Accelerate Mainstream Adoption

Looking ahead, Foundation Capital and Arkon will work closely to identify and nurture the most promising Web3 innovations, driving healthy ecosystem growth and global adoption. This collaboration will further bridge innovation with regulatory compliance, strengthening Arkon’s global market presence and accelerating the mainstream acceptance of blockchain technology and decentralized finance solutions.

This strategic alliance heralds the advent of a transformative era in digital finance, positioning Arkon as a pivotal force leading the evolution and adoption of future financial technology.

About Foundation Capital

Founded in 1995, Foundation Capital has a longstanding history of investing in groundbreaking technologies. With over $6 billion in assets under management, the firm has backed more than 400 companies, including notable names like Netflix, Solana, and OpenSea. Foundation Capital continues to support early-stage ventures that are poised to make significant impacts across various industries.​

About Arkon

Arkon is a pioneering CeDeFi incubation platform that offers end-to-end support for blockchain startups. By combining the regulatory compliance of CeFi with the innovative spirit of DeFi, Arkon provides a unique environment for the development and growth of decentralized financial applications.​

For more information, please visit Foundation Capital and Arkon.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities.

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Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Digi Observer journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.

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