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APEX Privacy Payment Project Secures Strategic Investments from Aztec Foundation, Paradigm, and Jump Trading

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The Aztec Foundation has recently announced the launch of an independent privacy-focused payment protocol called APEX (Advanced Privacy Exchange), aimed at addressing the longstanding privacy-versus-compliance dilemma in the stablecoin payments market. Global crypto venture capital firm Paradigm and quantitative trading giant Jump Trading have also joined as strategic investors, providing significant funding and resources to support APEX’s future growth.

In recent years, as crypto assets and stablecoins have rapidly risen in the global payments ecosystem, transaction privacy issues have increasingly come to light. Public blockchains like Ethereum and Tron are fully transparent, meaning user transaction data is completely open for all to see. As a result, individuals — and especially corporate users — leveraging stablecoins for payments cannot effectively protect their financial privacy. Corporate finance departments, in particular, are highly sensitive about commercial data being exposed to competitors or the public. This creates an urgent demand for a solution that safeguards privacy while still adhering to regulatory requirements.

Aztec Labs, a leading team in Ethereum privacy technology, has long been recognized for its cutting-edge zero-knowledge proof (ZK) innovations. Core technologies developed by Aztec — such as the PLONK zero-knowledge proof system and the Noir programming language — are widely used in developing private smart contracts on Ethereum.

APEX was born out of this technological and market backdrop, leveraging Aztec Labs’ advanced privacy tech and focusing on the stablecoin payments sector (like USDT and USDC). It aims to provide businesses and individuals with a payment solution that offers both bank-grade privacy protection and regulatory auditability. Aztec Labs co-founder and CEO Zac Williamson said, “My original intention in incubating APEX was to help move zero-knowledge privacy technology from the proof-of-concept stage into mainstream commercial payment applications. We hope APEX can serve as a bridge between traditional financial institutions and crypto payment networks, allowing enterprises to enjoy blockchain efficiency while still ensuring both privacy and compliance.”

A partner at Paradigm also expressed strong support for the initiative, stating, “We are very bullish on the potential of zero-knowledge proof technology in the payments and financial sectors. Aztec’s deep expertise in privacy tech was a primary reason we supported Aztec Network previously. Now, by backing APEX, we are particularly impressed with its targeted focus on the stablecoin payments market and its clear technological roadmap.”

Jump Trading’s crypto arm, Jump Crypto, has likewise been investing heavily in cross-chain technology and crypto financial infrastructure. Its own Wormhole project, for instance, has become an important conduit for transferring assets across multiple blockchains. The head of Jump Crypto emphasized, “In the Web3 era, cross-chain payments and privacy protection are two financial infrastructure trends that cannot be overlooked. APEX, with its innovative ZK OmniRouter technology, not only efficiently aggregates multi-chain stablecoin liquidity but also effectively conceals transaction details. This capability meets the stringent privacy demands of enterprises and institutions and is one of the key reasons we invested.”

On the technical side, APEX uses zero-knowledge proof technology to construct a cross-chain privacy payment protocol. Its ZK OmniRouter cross-chain aggregation engine supports Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain (BSC), Tron, Polygon, Solana, and Layer-2 networks such as zkSync, Arbitrum, and Optimism. Users can anonymously bring stablecoin assets from different chains into APEX’s unified privacy pool. All cross-chain transactions are aggregated and mixed through the zero-knowledge router before being output, so on-chain fund flows and account links are effectively concealed — external observers cannot trace the path of funds. This design provides strong protection for user privacy and security.

Unlike purely anonymous coin-mixing protocols (such as Tornado Cash), APEX goes a step further by reinforcing compliance and audit capabilities alongside privacy protection. In its smart contract design, APEX draws on features from mainstream compliant stablecoins (like USDC), embedding compliance mechanisms such as mint-and-burn permissions, address blacklisting, an emergency transaction pause function, and audit logging. This setup allows APEX to selectively disclose transaction data under lawful regulatory requests. Such measures ensure that APEX can protect user privacy without becoming a hotbed for money laundering or illicit funds, thus earning greater acceptance from regulators.

APEX is currently pursuing an ecosystem partnership program aimed at attracting more stablecoin issuers, payment companies, and financial institutions to join its network. The Aztec Foundation will continue to provide strong technical support and community resources to help APEX gradually expand into global markets. Aztec Labs also stated that it will continue to support more application-level projects like APEX within its ecosystem, further broadening the use of privacy technology in real-world business scenarios.

The strategic investments from Paradigm and Jump Trading provide APEX with ample capital and strategic guidance for future expansion and global outreach. This backing by industry-leading institutions signals their recognition of the privacy payments market’s potential and represents a proactive bet on its growth. It further boosts confidence in APEX’s future development.

The launch of APEX not only marks a technological advancement in the stablecoin privacy payments arena, but also offers a new approach to privacy protection in the financial industry. As more enterprises and institutions join the APEX network, stablecoin payments may well enter a new era that balances efficiency, privacy, and compliance.

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

The Campaigns That Stick: Suha Atiyeh’s Case for Emotionally Intelligent Marketing Strategies

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Birmingham, Alabama, 12th January 2026, ZEX PR WIRE, In a digital environment saturated with ads, automation, and algorithmic decision making, many brands struggle to create campaigns that truly resonate. Clicks are easier to buy than trust, and impressions are no longer a reliable indicator of impact. Suha Atiyeh, a marketing strategist based in Birmingham, Alabama, believes this disconnect stems from a missing ingredient: emotional intelligence. Her work argues that lasting campaigns are not built solely on data or creativity in isolation, but on a deep understanding of human motivation supported by insight and empathy.

With more than a decade of experience guiding brands through periods of growth and transformation, Suha has developed a reputation for designing strategies that feel personal while delivering measurable results. Her approach challenges the idea that performance marketing and emotional resonance are opposing forces. Instead, she positions them as complementary disciplines that, when aligned, create campaigns that stick.

Moving Beyond Metrics Without Ignoring Them

Data remains central to Suha’s methodology, but she is careful to define its role. Numbers, in her view, explain what people do, not why they do it. Campaigns that rely only on dashboards and attribution models often optimize for short term gains while missing the emotional signals that shape long term loyalty. Suha encourages brands to use data as a starting point rather than a final answer.

In practice, this means pairing quantitative insights with qualitative research, customer interviews, behavioral patterns, and cultural context. By examining how audiences feel at different stages of the customer journey, Suha helps brands design messaging that aligns with real emotional needs. The result is marketing that feels intuitive to the audience while remaining accountable to performance goals.

Building Brand Narratives That Feel Human

Storytelling is a cornerstone of Suha Atiyeh’s work, but not in the abstract sense often associated with branding. She focuses on narratives that reflect the lived experiences, frustrations, and aspirations of the audience. For Suha, effective brand stories are not about self-promotion, they are about recognition. When customers see themselves in a campaign, engagement becomes a natural response rather than a forced outcome.

Her experience spans fast growing SaaS companies and established consumer brands, giving her insight into how storytelling must adapt across industries. In each case, she emphasizes clarity over cleverness and sincerity over spectacle. Campaigns succeed, she notes, when brands communicate with audiences rather than at them.

Emotionally Intelligent Campaign Design

Emotionally intelligent marketing requires intention at every stage of campaign development. Suha begins by defining not just the business objective, but the emotional outcome a brand wants to achieve. Whether the goal is confidence, reassurance, curiosity, or belonging, that emotional target shapes creative direction, channel selection, and performance benchmarks.

This framework allows campaigns to maintain consistency across platforms without becoming repetitive. Messaging adapts to context while preserving emotional coherence. According to Suha, this alignment is what transforms multi-channel efforts into unified brand experiences. Customers may encounter a brand through different touchpoints, but the emotional impression remains intact.

Balancing Performance Marketing With Long Term Trust

One of the challenges many brands face is the pressure to demonstrate immediate returns. Suha acknowledges this reality while cautioning against strategies that sacrifice trust for speed. Emotionally intelligent campaigns are designed to perform, but they are also built to age well. They leave room for relationship building rather than treating every interaction as a transaction.

By integrating brand positioning with performance marketing, Suha helps clients avoid the cycle of constant reinvention driven by short term metrics. Instead, campaigns evolve organically, guided by audience feedback and market signals. This balance has enabled her clients to achieve consistent growth in engagement and market share without eroding brand equity.

Lessons From Digital Transformation Projects

Throughout her career, Suha Atiyeh has guided organizations through complex digital transformations. These projects often involve more than new tools or platforms, they require shifts in mindset. Teams accustomed to siloed execution must learn to collaborate around shared emotional and strategic goals.

Suha’s role in these transformations extends beyond campaign strategy. She works closely with leadership to align marketing efforts with broader business values. This alignment ensures that emotionally intelligent marketing is not a one off initiative, but a sustainable practice embedded in the organization’s culture.

Advocacy for Authentic Connection in Marketing

At the core of Suha’s philosophy is a belief that authenticity cannot be manufactured. Audiences are increasingly adept at recognizing performative messaging, especially in digital spaces. Emotionally intelligent marketing demands honesty, even when it requires brands to acknowledge limitations or challenges.

Suha advises brands to view vulnerability as a strategic asset rather than a liability. Transparent communication fosters credibility, and credibility creates the conditions for loyalty. Campaigns rooted in authenticity may not always generate viral moments, but they build the kind of trust that supports long term growth.

Investing in the Next Generation of Marketers

Beyond her client work, Suha is deeply engaged in mentoring emerging marketing professionals in Birmingham’s growing tech and creative ecosystem. Through her involvement with Innovation Depot and a local arts non-profit, she contributes to shaping a new generation of marketers who value empathy alongside expertise.

She encourages young professionals to develop both analytical rigor and emotional awareness. In her view, the future of marketing belongs to those who can interpret data without losing sight of the people behind it. This commitment to education and community reflects her broader belief that emotionally intelligent marketing starts with emotionally intelligent leaders.

Birmingham as a Creative and Strategic Hub

Suha Atiyeh’s work is closely tied to Birmingham, a city she views as an emerging hub for innovation and creativity. The collaborative spirit of the local business community has influenced her approach to strategy and partnership. She believes regional markets offer valuable lessons in authenticity and connection that global brands can learn from.

By remaining rooted in Birmingham while working with clients across industries, Suha demonstrates that impactful marketing leadership is not confined to traditional coastal centers. Her success highlights the role of diverse perspectives in shaping more inclusive and emotionally aware marketing practices.

Redefining What Makes Campaigns Stick

As marketing continues to evolve, Suha Atiyeh’s case for emotionally intelligent strategies offers a compelling framework for the future. Campaigns that stick are not defined by novelty alone, but by relevance, resonance, and respect for the audience. They acknowledge emotion as a driver of decision making and treat data as a tool for understanding rather than manipulation.

Through her work, Suha shows that emotionally intelligent marketing is both principled and practical. It delivers results while honoring the human experience behind every metric. In a crowded digital landscape, this balance may be what ultimately separates campaigns that are seen from those that are remembered. For Suha Atiyeh, this philosophy is not a trend but a long term commitment to building brands that understand people before persuading them.

About Suha Atiyeh

Suha Atiyeh is a Birmingham, Alabama based marketing strategist with more than a decade of experience helping brands translate insight into impact. Known for blending data driven strategy with emotionally intelligent storytelling, Suha Atiyeh has worked with a wide range of organizations, from fast growing SaaS companies to established consumer brands, guiding them through periods of growth, repositioning, and digital transformation. A graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a B.S. in Marketing, Suha Atiyeh is also an active mentor within the local tech and creative community and serves on the board of a nonprofit arts organization.

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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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Press Release

Gem Soft Introduces Gem Team: A Secure, AI-Enhanced Unified Communications Platform for Enterprises

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Doha, Qatar, 12th Jan 2026 – Gem Soft, a provider of messaging infrastructure, announces its all-in-one B2B platform Gem Team, addressing fragmented and insecure communication issues. Backed by Gem Soft’s expertise, Gem Team offers unified chat, voice, video, file sharing, and collaboration, secured with ISO 27001 compliance, multi-layer encryption, and data sovereignty via on-premise or cloud deployment.

Amid rising data breaches and regulations, Gem Team includes resilience features: air-gap deployment, granular controls, audit trails, and auto-deletion. Video supports up to 300 participants with screen sharing, call recording, and moderation tools. The user experience includes editable messages, real-time status, unlimited storage, and 24/7 support, depending on the package option.

Standout AI tools: embedded assistants, multi-agent systems, RAG pipelines, fine-tuned LLMs for enterprise tasks. Developed under an SSDLC with penetration testing, Gem Team serves GCC sectors like government, finance, healthcare, and Qatar Vision 2030 initiatives.

Gem Team provides security features and customizable AI for enterprise operations. It enables data sovereignty and innovation.

About the Company

Gem Team is an all-in-one B2B platform by Gem Soft that unifies chat, voice, video, file sharing, and collaboration, with strong security (ISO 27001, multi-layer encryption) and flexible deployment for data sovereignty (on-premise or cloud), plus built-in AI tools like assistants, RAG pipelines, and fine-tuned LLMs for enterprise tasks.

Gem Team Site.

Media Contact

Organization: Gem Soft

Contact Person: Michael Jordan, CEO

Website: https://gem.team/

Email: Send Email

Contact Number: +97470135965

Address:Address: Office No. 226-02, Floor No. 2 Regus Business Centre, No. 65

City: Doha

Country:Qatar

Release id:40097

The post Gem Soft Introduces Gem Team: A Secure, AI-Enhanced Unified Communications Platform for Enterprises appeared first on King Newswire. This content is provided by a third-party source.. King Newswire makes no warranties or representations in connection with it. King Newswire is a press release distribution agency and does not endorse or verify the claims made in this release. If you have any complaints or copyright concerns related to this article, please contact the company listed in the ‘Media Contact’ section

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Press Release

Isilumko Staffing Strengthens Finance and Insurance Recruitment Capabilities for 2026

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Johannesburg, South Africa – As South Africa’s finance and insurance sectors move into 2026, one reality is becoming increasingly clear: recruitment is no longer a support function. It is a material business risk.

In industries shaped by strict regulation, heightened performance pressure and reputational exposure, the cost of hiring mistakes has never been higher. For finance and insurance businesses, people are not only operational assets — they are the frontline of compliance, customer trust and brand credibility.

From contact centres and claims departments to sales, administration and support functions, the quality and reliability of talent directly underpin operational stability. In this environment, partnering with the right recruitment provider is no longer a “nice to have”; it is a strategic safeguard.

The Cost of Hiring Mistakes in High-Risk Environments

Unlike many other sectors, poor hiring decisions in finance and insurance carry layered and far-reaching consequences. A single underqualified or poorly vetted employee can trigger compliance breaches, customer complaints, financial losses and reputational damage that extends well beyond one role or department.

In 2026, these risks are amplified by:

  • Increased regulatory scrutiny and governance expectations
  • More informed consumers with lower tolerance for service failures
  • Intensifying pressure on contact centres to resolve issues faster and at scale
  • Persistently high turnover in entry-level, claims and sales roles

When turnover is high and roles are business-critical, rushed recruitment processes and overstretched internal teams create vulnerability. Hiring becomes reactive, screening quality declines and performance suffers.

Talent Shortages and Turnover Remain Ongoing Challenges

Finance and insurance organisations continue to compete for a limited pool of skilled, dependable talent, particularly in customer-facing and operational roles. Burnout, aggressive poaching and performance pressure have made retention as challenging as attraction.

Internal HR teams are often required to manage compliance, employee relations, performance management and recruitment simultaneously. This frequently results in delayed hiring, reduced screening depth and increased exposure to risk.

This is where a specialist recruitment partner delivers measurable value.

Why Internal Hiring Alone Is No Longer Enough

While internal recruitment teams remain essential, they are rarely structured for high-volume hiring, rapid turnaround or sustained talent pipelining — particularly in high-pressure, regulated environments.

A specialist recruitment agency provides:

  • Dedicated sourcing capacity
  • Pre-screened, role-ready talent pools
  • Industry-specific vetting and compliance processes
  • Speed without compromising on quality

Most importantly, a recruitment partner introduces accountability. Outcomes are measured, delivery is tracked and performance matters.

The Strategic Value of a Specialist Recruitment Partner

In finance and insurance, recruitment should actively reduce risk — not introduce it. A recruitment partner with deep sector expertise can anticipate challenges before they become operational issues.

The right partner does more than fill vacancies. They:

  • Understand compliance and governance requirements
  • Assess candidates beyond CVs, prioritising reliability, integrity and performance
  • Enable scalable hiring during peak demand periods
  • Offer staffing flexibility through contract, temporary and permanent placements

How Isilumko Staffing Supports Finance and Insurance Businesses

Isilumko Staffing partners with finance and insurance organisations to deliver recruitment solutions that prioritise quality, compliance and business continuity.

With proven experience in high-volume, regulated environments, Isilumko Staffing provides:

  • Comprehensive screening and vetting aligned with industry standards
  • Access to pre-qualified talent pools across contact centre, administration, claims and support roles
  • Flexible staffing models that adapt to changing business needs
  • Clear accountability and performance-driven delivery

Guided by values of ownership, integrity and exceptional performance, Isilumko Staffing operates as an extension of its clients’ businesses — not merely a supplier.

Recruitment as Risk Management in 2026

In 2026, finance and insurance organisations can no longer afford recruitment shortcuts. Talent decisions have a direct impact on compliance, customer trust and bottom-line performance.

Choosing a recruitment partner such as Isilumko Staffing is not about outsourcing hiring — it is about strengthening it. With the right partner in place, recruitment becomes a protective layer, enabling organisations to operate with confidence in an increasingly complex landscape.

For more information or to discuss your 2026 recruitment needs, please contact:

Virgilene Moodley
Sales Director – Isilumko Staffing
Phone: 011 267 2920
Mobile: 082 300 7590
Website: www.isilumko.co.za

Media Contact

Organization: Isilumko Staffing

Contact Person: Virgilene Moodley

Website: https://isilumko.co.za/

Email: Send Email

Contact Number: +27113166640

Address:Unit C5, Mount Royal, 657 James Crescent, Halfway House, Midrand, 1685

Address 2: Unit G, La Rocca, 321 Main Road, Bryanston, Johannesburg, 2195

City: Johannesburg

State: Gauteng

Country:South Africa

Release id:39961

The post Isilumko Staffing Strengthens Finance and Insurance Recruitment Capabilities for 2026 appeared first on King Newswire. This content is provided by a third-party source.. King Newswire makes no warranties or representations in connection with it. King Newswire is a press release distribution agency and does not endorse or verify the claims made in this release. If you have any complaints or copyright concerns related to this article, please contact the company listed in the ‘Media Contact’ section

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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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