JUNIPER RESEARCH: BUY NOW PAY LATER USERS TO REACH OVER 900 MILLION GLOBALLY BY 2027, DRIVEN BY LOW COST OF CREDIT

 

BASINGSTOKE, England, Aug 8 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- A new study from Juniper Research has predicted that the number of BNPL (Buy Now Pay Later) users will surpass 900 million globally by 2027; increasing from 360 million in 2022. This substantial growth of 157% will be driven by the anticipated economic downturn, which will increase the demand for low-cost credit solutions.

BNPL schemes enable consumers to spread the cost of their purchases without interest charges; making them a highly attractive alternative to credit cards. Additionally, BNPL services do not require hard credit checks and an increasing number of merchants are accepting this payment method; making it easier to access for consumers than traditional credit.

• To find out more, see the new report: Buy Now Pay Later: Regulatory Frameworks, Competitor Leaderboard & Market Forecasts 2022-2027

• Download the free whitepaper: Buy Now Pay Later: Reshaping the Payments Market

India to Experience High User Growth

The research identified India as having potential for rapid growth in BNPL, with users predicted to grow from 25 million in 2022 to 116 million by 2027. This is due to rising eCommerce usage and growing interest in international goods available through online retailers. In turn, it recommends that vendors build strategic partnerships with vendors in developing markets with established consumer bases, to successfully capitalise on this user growth and associated revenue.

Virtual Cards to Further Boost Usage

The research predicts that the adoption of virtual cards, where digital only cards are used for purchases, will increase the usage of BNPL solutions, as they only require merchants to accept card payments - overcoming previous limitations on growth. The advancement of virtual cards allows BNPL schemes to compete with credit cards; particularly in-store, where single use BNPL cards can be used within a digital wallet to complete contactless transactions.

Juniper Research recommends that in order to compete in this highly competitive landscape, BNPL vendors must differentiate their services: including offering virtual cards, browser extensions that automatically facilitate BNPL payment services, and digital loyalty schemes.

Buy Now Pay Later market research: https://www.juniperresearch.com/researchstore/fintech-payments/buy-now-pay-later-research-report

Download the whitepaper: https://www.juniperresearch.com/whitepapers/bnpl-reshaping-the-payments-landscape

Juniper Research provides research and analytical services to the global hi-tech communications sector, providing consultancy, analyst reports and industry commentary.

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Contact

For further details contact Sam Smith, Press Relations
T: +44(0)1256 830002
E: sam.smith@juniperresearch.com

Source : Juniper Research

INVNT.ATOM, Automobili Lamborghini release new Lamborghini NFTs collection

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 8 (Bernama) -- Following the two successful non-fungible tokens (NFTs) project, Automobili Lamborghini, in collaboration with NFT PRO and INVNT.ATOM, has commenced the eight-month “The Epic Road Trip” virtual journey to collect new Lamborghini NFTs.

The global digital innovation division of [INVNT GROUP], INVNT.ATOM led the creative, strategy, design, content and marketing communications, it said in a statement.

President and chief executive officer of [INVNT GROUP] Scott Cullather said: “Our previous collaboration with Lamborghini - auctioning off a 1:1 NFT attached to the last physical Aventador Coupé super sportscar – was a testament to how impactful storytelling at the digital frontier cultivates community and consumer engagement. We’re honoured to grow our relationship with Lamborghini and to be partnering with NFT PRO to celebrate innovation and Lamborghini’s 1963 heritage.”

In this new adventure, Lamborghini super sports cars will be the unmissable protagonists of places that the traveller can visit and discover, collecting new NFTs every month for eight months until March 2023.

The collection consists of four NFTs released each month for four days consecutively and will be available to purchase for 24 hours only.

The fourth NFT will be available in a limited edition of just 63 units and at the end of the campaign, only those who have acquired all the monthly NFTs issued, will receive a special NFT.

The first series of four NFTs will be released starting from Aug 8, 2022.

-- BERNAMA

S-GAME ANNOUNCES ACTION GAME SECOND CLOSED BETA TEST

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5 (Bernama) -- Hong Kong independent game developer, S-GAME has announced that the second Closed Beta test (CBT2) of its creation, ‘Phantom Blade: Executioners (PBEX)’ will commence on Aug 18, 2022.

PBEX is an action game that highlights noir fantasy, skill-driven combat, and an art style inspired by traditional Chinese painting.

According to a statement, the sign-up window for the tester access will be open from July 29 to Aug 11, 2022, and 50,000 testers are needed for CBT2.

CBT2 would be enabled on personal computers (PC), Android, and iOS (through TestFlight) with cross-platform play enabled, and Android users will have access to microtransactions.

“All in-game currencies purchased and spent during closed beta tests will be refunded upon the game’s final release with twice the amount,” the statement said.

In CBT2, players will find four story chapters unfolding in over a hundred stages of diverse level design, it said, adding that the PBEX offers three playable characters, each representing a different play style.

-- BERNAMA

OKX MAKES PEER-TO-PEER TRADING SAFE, ACCESSIBLE AND FEE-FREE

 ·  In addition to expanding payment methods to make P2P Trading more accessible, OKX acts as an intermediary to offer risk management to traders

· OKX also does not charge any fees for P2P Trading
 
VICTORIA, Seychelles, Aug 3 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- World-leading cryptocurrency platform OKX has today introduced its new-and-improved P2P (peer-to-peer) Trading platform. The service not only allows users to trade seamlessly between one another, but makes safe, reliable P2P trading available to a far broader range of users.

P2P Trading on OKX empowers users to become their own marketplace by issuing “advertisements” in order to trade with one another and better control the price they buy and sell at. This includes users in unbanked markets who may lack access to conventional banking infrastructure. OKX’s P2P Trading platform not only offers more than 900 payment methods from across 40 different currencies, but is offered to users free of fees.

Lennix Lai, Director of Financial Markets, OKX, said: “P2P Trading on OKX empowers users to trade on their own terms. But more importantly, it makes secure person-to-person trading accessible to far more people, including those around the world who lack access to traditional banking services. This is one of the ways in which OKX is empowering users the world over to liberate themselves from traditional financial systems and strive to attain financial independence.”

The OKX platform plays a facilitation and risk management role in P2P trades. After a deal is struck between users, OKX holds the funds in escrow until the buyer’s payment is confirmed. This allows the exchange to manage the risks faced by users and ensure safe and stable trading between them. 

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DIGITALBRIDGE, COLUMBIA CAPITAL FORM XENITH IG FIBRE PLATFORM IN ASIA PACIFIC

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 3 (Bernama) -- DigitalBridge Investment Management, the investment management arm of DigitalBridge Group Inc, and funds affiliated with Columbia Capital have formed Xenith Infrastructure Group (Xenith IG).

Xenith IG is a new fibre platform serving hyperscalers, data centre operators, carriers and enterprises in the Asia-Pacific region. 

According to a statement, Xenith IG’s initial assets comprise conduit and fibre assets in Singapore and Hong Kong, which it acquired from Superloop.

Xenith IG will be led by Clement Goh, who was appointed chief executive officer (CEO) effective Aug 1, 2022.

Goh brings more than 20 years of digital infrastructure and technology sector experience in the Asia-Pacific market to Xenith IG.

“We believe Xenith IG is ideally positioned to capitalise on the significant growth of network demand observed in Asia Pacific,” said managing director and head of Asia at DigitalBridge, Justin Chang. 

“We are also thrilled to welcome Clement in his role as CEO. Clement brings a deep understanding of the connectivity and data centre businesses in this region, and we look forward to working with him to grow the Xenith IG platform into a premier fibre infrastructure provider in this region.”

Meanwhile, Goh said: “I am honoured to serve as Xenith IG’s CEO and look forward to working with the entire team to address the increased demand for reliable and high-performance fibre connectivity as digitalisation continues to grow in this region.”

Over the course of his career, Goh has held senior executive and operational positions at several digital infrastructure and technology firms in the Asia-Pacific markets. He joins Xenith IG from ST Telemedia Global Data Centres, where he served as the CEO for Southeast Asia.

-- BERNAMA

BLACK & VEATCH JOINS AUSTRALIAN HYDROGEN COUNCIL, DEEPENS DECARBONIZATION COMMITMENT TO AUSTRALIA

Global infrastructure solutions leader joins leading Australian industry as country advances $1.4 billion plan to build a hydrogen industry


MELBOURNE, Australia, Aug 4 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Black & Veatch has joined the Australian Hydrogen Council (AHC) as part of its efforts to accelerate the global shift to zero emission energy and speed the development of a global hydrogen energy economy.

CEO of the AHC, Dr Fiona Simon, said one of the strengths of the AHC was the breadth and depth of its membership which included global firms like Black & Veatch.

“As a leading advocate in countries across the globe of decarbonisation through transitioning to hydrogen, Black & Veatch brings further knowledge and experience to our membership and we are delighted to have it onboard,” Dr Simon said.

“Hydrogen and ammonia will be critical factors in decarbonizing the world’s energy systems, supply chains and heavy industries. Robust collaboration between engineering leaders, such as Black & Veatch, and industry organizations, such as the Australian Hydrogen Council, will help realize Australia’s ambitions to supply green ammonia to the Asian and domestic markets,” said Mick Scrivens, Vice President, Director, Australia Pacific, Black & Veatch.

Hydrogen has the potential to reduce and replace reliance on fossil fuels for electricity generation as well as long duration energy storage, heating, transport, production of green chemicals and fertilizer. Additionally, hydrogen can be turned into green ammonia, which is produced using 100-percent carbon-free renewable energy.

Ammonia, a liquid chemical consisting of nitrogen and hydrogen, is more energy dense than pure hydrogen, incredibly stable and easily liquified for storage and shipment around the globe in the same fashion as LNG.

Ammonia then can be used in multiple energy-intensive industries to produce low-carbon electricity. It can also serve as an energy storage medium, be burned directly as a carbon-free, emissions-free energy source, or “cracked” to convert it back into hydrogen as an energy carrier.

Converting the world’s extensive LNG infrastructure – its LNG receiving terminals and storage facilities – will help facilitate the safe, efficient shipping of ammonia.

According to Black & Veatch’s 2022 Asia Electric Report, 73 percent of respondents believe that hydrogen will help meet carbon emissions goals beyond 10 years from now – more than any other technology.

Industry analysts anticipate that Australia will account for more than 10 percent of global carbon-free ammonia supply by 2035.

“Black & Veatch has an 80-year history working with hydrogen and ammonia production in multiple industries. With expertise in all stages of hydrogen infrastructure projects – from technical advisory services and design through operations – we continue to support global decarbonization programs, including those in Australia,” said Scrivens.

The AHC is the peak body for the hydrogen industry in Australia, with members from across the hydrogen value chain, including vehicle manufacturers, energy companies, infrastructure providers, research organisations and governments.

Editor’s Notes:

• Black & Veatch is a member of the Hydrogen Council, Center for Hydrogen Safety, the Fuel Cell Hydrogen & Energy Association, California Hydrogen Business Council and the Ammonia Energy Association.
• The Green Solutions (TGS) has appointed Black & Veatch to study the production and storage of green hydrogen in Vietnam utilizing solar or wind power supplied through the grid.
• Black & Veatch has been selected by Ireland’s Mercury Renewables to develop an outline design for its co-located onshore wind farm and hydrogen electrolysis plants.
• Black & Veatch was selected by Mitsubishi Power Americas and Magnum Development, co-developers of what will be the world’s largest industrial green hydrogen production and storage facility, to provide engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for the Advanced Clean Energy Storage project in Delta, Utah

About Black & Veatch
Black & Veatch is a 100-percent employee-owned global engineering, procurement, consulting and construction company with a more than 100-year track record of innovation in sustainable infrastructure. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people around the world by addressing the resilience and reliability of our most important infrastructure assets. Our revenues in 2021 exceeded US$3.3 billion. Follow us on www.bv.com and on social media.

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Contact

Media Contact Information:
EMILY CHIA | +65 6335 6623 P | +65 9875 8907 M | Chialp@bv.com
24-HOUR MEDIA HOTLINE | +1 855-999-5991

Source : Black & Veatch

HAINAN LI BROCADE FASHION SHOW GRABS ATTENTION AT CHINA INTERNATIONAL CONSUMER PRODUCTS EXPO

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 3 (Bernama) -- A fashion show with the theme of “Li Brocade Weaving Mountains and Seas” held by Changjiang Li Autonomous County, Hainan, brought a refreshing experience to Chinese and foreign guests, according to Changjiang Converged Media Center.

According to a statement, the show – curated by the young designer brand INSULAiRE– was held on July 30 at the China International Consumer Products Expo 2022 in Hainan, China.

The brand was founded in Paris in 2017 and means ‘incidents of the island’ or ‘islanders’. INSULAiRE’s founder and designer Yang Zhikai was born and raised in Hainan. 

He draws inspiration from traditional local culture and delivers it through a modern and international mindset.

He has integrated the traditional Li brocade with Hainanese elements such as Tanka culture and the ocean to design sophisticated stylish clothing that presents the distinctive traditional Li ethnic group’s cultural identity.

This show was not only held to inherit and protect the culture of the Li brocade, but also to promote their commercialisation and the development of all-season tourism in Changjiang.

In recent years, Hainan Changjiang has tapped local tourism and cultural resources, put forward the goal of building a first-class tourism destination in western Hainan, and vigorously cultivated sports, ecology, culture, rural tourism and other formats. 

-- BERNAMA