Connect with us

Press Release

Cross-Chain Money Market Governance Token, HARD, to be Co-Listed on BitMax.io

Published

on

BitMax.io (BTMX.com), an industry-leading digital asset trading platform built by Wall Street quant trading veterans, has announced the primary co-listing of HARD Protocol’s HARD token (HARD) under the trading pair of HARD/USDT on November 6th at 10:00 a.m. EST.

HARD Protocol (previously Harvest.io) is a cross-chain money market that enables users to lend, borrow, and earn with their digital assets. HARD, the native governance token for the protocol, launched with the mainnet upgrade that took place on October 15th, 2020. The token can be used as collateral in the HARD Protocol supply and borrowing markets, as well as for voting on the management and evolution of the platform.

In contrast to other money markets, HARD opens DeFi to the larger cryptocurrency market, taking token holders beyond ETH access products like lending and borrowing. As an application built on multi-asset DeFi platform Kava, HARD is set to capitalize on the Kava-4 Mainnet upgrade which will introduce support for BTC, BUSD, XRP, and other digital assets. New digital assets will be also supported within the HARD Protocol money market alongside Kava native assets like KAVA, HARD, and USDX.

The HARD Protocol money market is the first project of its kind launched on the Kava blockchain. Kava gives the platform access to cross-chain assets, Chainlink oracles, and other key infrastructure. To support platform security and stability within this relatively new design paradigm, compared to Ethereum, HARD code is being audited by CERTIK, peer reviewed, and tested prior to listing.

“The primary co-listing of HARD on BitMax.io will be beneficial for both BitMax.io users and users of the Kava DeFi ecosystem,” said Shane Molidor, Global Head of Business Development at BitMax.io, “HARD offers investors a cross-blockchain money market to lend and borrow assets in a new way. This listing collaboration gives BitMax.io users exposure to HARD Protocol through the HARD token, and at the same time, allows HARD users to further invest in the platform’s governance.”

About BitMax.io 

Launched in August 2018, BitMax.io is a leading digital asset trading platform with a broad range of financial products and services for both retail and institutional clients, with robust design ranging from innovative volatility products to margin trading, derivatives trading, staking products, and other investment solutions.

For more information and updates, please visit:

Website: https://bitmax.io/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BitMax_Official

Telegram: https://t.me/BitMaxioEnglishOfficial

Medium: https://medium.com/bitmax-io

About HARD Protocol

HARD Protocol is the world’s first cross-chain money market that enables users to lend, borrow, and earn with their digital assets. Leveraging Kava’s blockchain security for DeFi products, the HARD Protocol will be expanded to support BTC, XRP, BUSD in HARD money markets along with native Kava assets like KAVA, HARD and USDX.

For more information and updates, please visit:

Website: https://harvest.io 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/harvest_io 

Telegram: https://t.me/harvest_io  

Medium: https://medium.com/kava-labs/tagged/harvest 

.

About Author

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.

Continue Reading

Press Release

Bybit Expands Beyond Crypto as CEO Outlines Next Phase of Financial Platform

Published

on

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, October 13th, 2026, Chainwire

Bybit Co-founder and CEO Ben Zhou has outlined the latest stage of the company’s expansion from a crypto exchange into The New Financial Platform, highlighting new products and collaborations across traditional and digital markets. 

The updates were presented during Bybit’s latest biannual “Keynote with Ben” session titled “Make Your Move”, where Ben discussed the convergence of financial markets and the company’s approach to building for that shift. Held outside the usual studio format, in a gathering with a live audience, the keynote brought Ben together with selected guests to discuss changes in the financial landscape, new technologies and the products shaping Bybit’s next phase.

Four Years of TradFi Expansion, With Stocks Now Live and mStocks Ahead

Four years after entering traditional finance with contracts for difference (CFDs) in 2022, Bybit has established itself as the largest crypto CFD platform, with trading volume reaching as much as $100 billion at its peak. On Oct. 12, the company expanded further into traditional markets with the launch of stock trading for eligible users, providing access to more than 1,000 U.S. stocks and ETFs. Users can trade using USDC, with fractional shares and 24/5 access covering U.S. pre-market, regular and after-hours sessions.

Bybit is also developing mStocks in collaboration with Mantle, with a targeted launch in November. The tokenized stock product is designed to be backed 1:1 by real stocks, with plans to support round-the-clock conversion between eligible stocks and mStocks on Bybit, as well as decentralized exchange trading through automated market maker (AMM) liquidity pools on Mantle. Converted mStocks are also expected to be transferable into Bybit’s Unified Trading Account (UTA) for use as trading collateral, subject to applicable terms and conditions.

Bybit launched IPO Express in June, giving eligible users access to selected IPO opportunities at the offering price through tokenized representations of the underlying securities. The service launched with SpaceX and is designed to extend Bybit’s access beyond secondary-market trading into selected primary-market opportunities.

The latest developments build on Bybit’s expansion into perpetuals, pre-market products, foreign exchange and options. Its TradFi offering now spans more than 600 products across equities, ETFs, indices, commodities and FX. TradFi perpetuals have recorded more than $180 billion in trading volume, while recent additions include Forex Perps and Perp Options, an industry-first options product built on TradFi perpetuals.

Bybit is continuing to develop new perpetual products linked to AI computing and commodities, extending its range of instruments beyond conventional crypto markets.

Extending the Platform into Payments

Beyond trading and investing, Bybit has expanded its payments infrastructure to help customers move funds with greater flexibility. Bybit Pay and Bybit Card support crypto and fiat transfers, merchant payments and everyday spending. The service now connects users with more than 5,000 merchants across 15+ countries and supports transfers to bank accounts and e-wallets, alongside QR payments and other payment services. Bybit has issued more than 4 million Bybit Cards, extending the platform’s use beyond financial markets into payments and spending.

Security and Regulatory Infrastructure

The expansion has been accompanied by investment in security, compliance and technology infrastructure.

In the first half of 2026, Bybit said it intercepted more than 30,000 suspicious withdrawal requests, protecting users from more than $700 million in potential losses.

Bybit also secured five new licenses and regulatory approvals across European Union, the Cayman Islands, Indonesia, South Africa and El Salvador during 2026. These regulatory developments support the company’s efforts to expand its presence across different markets, subject to local requirements.

The company launched Bybit AI in September as a conversational assistant across trading, account management and customer support, with further development planned around the platform’s wider financial services.

“Bybit is all about giving you the speed and scale you need when you Make Your Move. We have brought trading, investing, payments and AI together, and we are continuing to add more markets and more ways to use them. We built the platform. Now it is about giving people the financial freedom to make their own move,” said Ben Zhou, Co-founder and CEO of Bybit.

Building Beyond the Exchange

Four years after entering TradFi, Bybit now combines crypto markets with stocks and ETFs, derivatives, commodities, FX, selected pre-IPO access, payments and AI-powered services. The company’s focus is increasingly on bringing these capabilities together within a single platform while continuing to expand market access, product depth and the infrastructure supporting them.

For Bybit, the development of The New Financial Platform represents the next stage of its growth beyond crypto and into a broader role across global financial markets.

Watch the full keynote here: https://www.bybit.com/en/press/live/keynote-with-ben-h2-2026

#Bybit / #NewFinancialPlatform  

About Bybit

Bybit is The New Financial Platform.

We believe every person should have access to every financial opportunity on earth. That’s why we’re building the first intelligent platform that connects anyone, anywhere to the world’s finance.

Trusted by more than 80 million users worldwide, Bybit brings together investing, trading, payments, and wealth-building in a single secure and intelligent ecosystem. Through the combination of AI-powered technology, deep global liquidity, robust security, and transparent operations, Bybit makes global finance more accessible, efficient, and empowering for everyone.

Built for everyone. Powered by intelligence. Open to the world.

Learn more at Bybit.com

For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press

For media inquiries, please contact: media@bybit.com

For updates, please follow: Bybit’s Communities and Social Media

Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube

Contact

Head of PR
Tony Au
Bybit
tony.au@bybit.com

About Author

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.

Continue Reading

Press Release

Meet A7 International, an Innovative Global Platform Designed to Reinvent the International Payments Market

Published

on

Moscow, Russia, October 13th, 2026, Chainwire

A7 International enables businesses and individuals to pay invoices with digital assets, while recipients receive a regular bank transfer, reflecting A7’s international positioning and expanding the geography of settlements available to foreign clients.

In two years of operation, A7 has become one of the key players in the international settlements market. Founded in 2024 to serve the foreign economic activity of Russian businesses, it currently serves around 15,000 companies, processing 10+ trillion roubles in 2025 alone. The services A7 offered domestically sparked interest among businesses from other countries, prompting the company to come up with a new product for foreign clients.

The launch of A7 International marks a new stage in A7’s journey. In response to requests from foreign entrepreneurs, the company is expanding its positioning and creating an export offering for businesses in various countries. It is a remote service compliant with local legislation on digital assets and available only in those jurisdictions where cryptocurrency circulation is permitted.

“We are presenting not just a new product in the lineup, but a new image of A7. We have adapted our service so that it can be used remotely from anywhere in the world. This is precisely the key demand of market participants today. They want to be able to transfer money around the world in a few clicks in the shortest possible time – directly from your smartphone, without lengthy paperwork, hidden fees, or unjustified holds on funds. And we are packaging this demand into a convenient and competitive form,” said Chairman of Bank PSB Petr Fradkov.

The mechanics of the service are simple: the client transfers USDT, and A7 arranges a bank transfer via SWIFT using the counterparty details specified in the invoice. The recipient does not need to accept cryptocurrency or open a crypto wallet: the funds arrive in their bank account.

To submit an application, you need to register in your personal account on the website a7.biz. Individuals undergo identity verification (KYC), and companies undergo corporate data verification (KYB). Then the client uploads the invoice and the necessary documents. The built-in algorithm automatically recognizes the invoice data and helps fill out the application.

“The system operates as follows. AI analyzes the sender and beneficiary, jurisdictions, and key risk factors of the transaction. Based on the verification results, a risk profile of the payment is formed and the available options for processing it are determined. The system compares compliance requirements with the capabilities of the existing payment infrastructure. After that, it recommends the optimal payment route taking into account its cost, speed, reliability, and applicable restrictions. Routing dynamically adapts to changes in conditions and the availability of payment channels. Data accumulated over the years makes it possible to continuously improve the quality of decisions made by the system,” noted A7 CEO Ilan Shor.

At launch, A7 International accepts USDT on the TRON network. Bank transfers are available in US dollars, euros, Chinese yuan, and UAE dirhams. Other currencies are available by prior agreement. The commission is 0.3% for both businesses and individuals. After uploading the invoice, the client sees the final cost of the payment, including commission, in advance.

Payment execution time is from one business day. After the operation is completed, the client receives a SWIFT message or another confirming document. For currency and customs control, the service also provides closing documents.

The presentation of the service took place on a symbolic date and time — October 13 at 13:13.

Video of the official presentation and Customer journey here.

About A7

A7 is a global financial technology company specializing in international payments and settlement solutions for international trade. It was established in 2024 with the involvement of PSB Bank.

A7 is developing an independent global payment infrastructure across more than 100 countries, combining global financial expertise, advanced technology and regulatory compliance. The company’s products include international payments, digital financial assets and promissory notes.

A7 Group works with 15,000 clients, with around 2,000 transactions processed through the system every day. In 2025, approximately 19% of Russian companies’ cross-border trade settlements were processed through A7. In October 2025, A7 received an AA(RU) credit rating with a Stable outlook from ACRA.

Contact

CMO
Alex Fedorov
A7
info@a7.biz

About Author

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.

Continue Reading

Press Release

Meet A7 International, an Innovative Global Platform Designed to Reinvent the International Payments Market

Published

on

Moscow, Russia, October 13th, 2026, FinanceWire

A7 International enables businesses and individuals to pay invoices with digital assets, while recipients receive a regular bank transfer, reflecting A7’s international positioning and expanding the geography of settlements available to foreign clients.

In two years of operation, A7 has become one of the key players in the international settlements market. Founded in 2024 to serve the foreign economic activity of Russian businesses, it currently serves around 15,000 companies, processing 10+ trillion roubles in 2025 alone. The services A7 offered domestically sparked interest among businesses from other countries, prompting the company to come up with a new product for foreign clients.

The launch of A7 International marks a new stage in A7’s journey. In response to requests from foreign entrepreneurs, the company is expanding its positioning and creating an export offering for businesses in various countries. It is a remote service compliant with local legislation on digital assets and available only in those jurisdictions where cryptocurrency circulation is permitted.

“We are presenting not just a new product in the lineup, but a new image of A7. We have adapted our service so that it can be used remotely from anywhere in the world. This is precisely the key demand of market participants today. They want to be able to transfer money around the world in a few clicks in the shortest possible time – directly from your smartphone, without lengthy paperwork, hidden fees, or unjustified holds on funds. And we are packaging this demand into a convenient and competitive form,” said Chairman of Bank PSB Petr Fradkov.

The mechanics of the service are simple: the client transfers USDT, and A7 arranges a bank transfer via SWIFT using the counterparty details specified in the invoice. The recipient does not need to accept cryptocurrency or open a crypto wallet: the funds arrive in their bank account.

To submit an application, you need to register in your personal account on the website a7.biz. Individuals undergo identity verification (KYC), and companies undergo corporate data verification (KYB). Then the client uploads the invoice and the necessary documents. The built-in algorithm automatically recognizes the invoice data and helps fill out the application.

“The system operates as follows. AI analyzes the sender and beneficiary, jurisdictions, and key risk factors of the transaction. Based on the verification results, a risk profile of the payment is formed and the available options for processing it are determined. The system compares compliance requirements with the capabilities of the existing payment infrastructure. After that, it recommends the optimal payment route taking into account its cost, speed, reliability, and applicable restrictions. Routing dynamically adapts to changes in conditions and the availability of payment channels. Data accumulated over the years makes it possible to continuously improve the quality of decisions made by the system,” noted A7 CEO Ilan Shor.

At launch, A7 International accepts USDT on the TRON network. Bank transfers are available in US dollars, euros, Chinese yuan, and UAE dirhams. Other currencies are available by prior agreement. The commission is 0.3% for both businesses and individuals. After uploading the invoice, the client sees the final cost of the payment, including commission, in advance.

Payment execution time is from one business day. After the operation is completed, the client receives a SWIFT message or another confirming document. For currency and customs control, the service also provides closing documents.

The presentation of the service took place on a symbolic date and time — October 13 at 13:13.

Video of the official presentation and Customer journey here.

About A7

A7 is a global financial technology company specializing in international payments and settlement solutions for international trade. It was established in 2024 with the involvement of PSB Bank.

A7 is developing an independent global payment infrastructure across more than 100 countries, combining global financial expertise, advanced technology and regulatory compliance. The company’s products include international payments, digital financial assets and promissory notes.

A7 Group works with 15,000 clients, with around 2,000 transactions processed through the system every day. In 2025, approximately 19% of Russian companies’ cross-border trade settlements were processed through A7. In October 2025, A7 received an AA(RU) credit rating with a Stable outlook from ACRA.

Contact

CMO
Alex Fedorov
A7
info@a7.biz

About Author

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.

Continue Reading

LATEST POST