Author: Asianet Pakistan

Bitget Launches Starlink Program to Bridge the Digital Divide in Philippine Island Communities

SIARGAO, Philippines, May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has launched its Starlink Program, bringing high-speed satellite internet to remote islands in the Philippines in a bold move to tackle digital inequality. The initiative, which kicked off in Siargao’s Espoir School of Life and Barangay Pitogo, addresses chronic connectivity gaps that have long hindered education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. By deploying Starlink’s cutting-edge technology, Bitget aims to empower these communities with reliable internet access, laying the groundwork for future blockchain education and financial inclusion.

For years, Siargao’s residents have relied on fragile microwave radio connections, leaving them vulnerable to frequent outages, slow speeds, and exclusion from the digital economy. Schools like Espoir, which serves underprivileged children, struggle with offline-only learning, while villages like Barangay Pitogo face isolation due to unreliable communication networks.

“Without stable internet, entire communities are locked out of modern education, remote work, and even basic services like telemedicine. This isn’t just about connectivity, it’s about equity. Internet access shouldn’t be a privilege, it’s the foundation for everything from education to decentralized finance. We’re building doors to the digital world one island at a time,” said Vugar Usi Zade, COO at Bitget.

The program’s first phase includes a Starlink hardware installation at Espoir School and Barangay Pitogo’s public school. This will provide six months of high-speed satellite internet, enabling access to online curricula, teacher training, and e-governance tools. With this, Bitget plans to provide long-term support through $10M Blockchain 4 Youth and $10M Blockchain 4 Her initiatives, which will introduce blockchain literacy and digital finance skills to students and women-led cooperatives. The total investment of 155,400 Philippine pesos, which covers hardware, subscriptions, and logistics. A modest cost for transformative impact.

Bitget’s initiative shows a growing recognition in the crypto industry: Adoption starts with access. By addressing infrastructure barriers first, the exchange is creating a replicable model for other underserved regions. Future phases could expand to neighboring islands, leveraging partnerships with local NGOs and government units.

The Starlink kits will go live in May, with Bitget documenting the rollout through impact reports and community stories. For Espoir’s students, the change will be immediate: interactive lessons, global collaborations, and soon blockchain workshops. For Barangay Pitogo, it’s a leap toward resilient communication during typhoon seasons.

As Bitget scales this program, the message is clear: crypto’s future isn’t just about markets, it’s about people. And sometimes, changing lives starts with something as simple as an internet signal.

About Bitget

Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 100 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, token swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more.

Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a78ae617-7c0a-42a6-8d66-fc3393c512ca

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1001096222

First Institutional Trade Successfully Executed

The New UK Trading Venue Brings Institutional-Grade Market Infrastructure, Central Clearing, and Deep Liquidity to Digital Asset Derivatives

LONDON, May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GFO-X today announced the successful launch of its UK FCA regulated trading venue for centrally cleared digital asset derivatives. The venue is designed to meet the increasing institutional demand for secure, transparent, and compliant digital asset futures and options. GFO-X brings together best-in-class market infrastructure, deep liquidity, and central clearing to solve for credit and significantly reduce counterparty risk.

As part of its successful debut, the first institutional trade between two leading financial institutions, Virtu Financial and IMC, was executed on GFO-X and centrally cleared through LCH DigitalAssetClear, marking a milestone in the evolution of institutional-grade digital asset markets. The new venue brings additional depth, breadth, and diversification to the limited choices in centrally cleared digital asset index derivatives.

GFO-X CEO, Arnab Sen, said, “The launch of GFO-X is a further foundational step toward increased institutional digital asset derivatives trading, providing the infrastructure, central clearing, robust risk mitigation, and liquidity. With our first trade executed between two leading financial institutions providing deep liquidity, we are expanding the market for centrally cleared digital asset derivatives.”

Addressing the Institutional Surge in Digital Asset Derivatives Demand

The global market for digital asset derivatives has seen explosive growth, with options and futures trading volumes growing exponentially. Institutional investors, including hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, and asset managers, increasingly turn to structured products underpinned by derivatives to hedge risk, enhance yield strategies, and gain exposure to crypto markets with greater regulatory clarity.

GFO-X has been purpose-built to bridge the gap between traditional finance and digital assets by offering:

• Regulated Trading & Transparency – Operating under UK FCA authorisation, ensuring compliance with global financial standards.
• Institutional-Grade Liquidity – Deep order books supported by industry leading market makers and participants, including IMC, Laser Digital and Virtu Financial.
• Leading Clearing Bank integrations at launch – including ABN AMRO Clearing, Nomura and Standard Chartered.
• Central Clearing for Counterparty Risk Mitigation by LCH DigitalAssetClear ensures secure margining, collateral management, and default protections.
• Advanced Market Infrastructure – A high-speed matching engine designed for low-latency execution and high-frequency trading.

With institutional adoption accelerating, GFO-X will continue expanding its product suite, initially offering Bitcoin index futures and options.

Market participants can now onboard and begin trading, with several additional leading financial institutions already lined up for integration. As institutions increasingly seek regulated, scalable solutions for digital asset derivatives trading, GFO-X is positioned to become a premier venue in the evolving landscape of institutional crypto derivative markets.

For more information about GFO-X and its upcoming developments, please visit www.gfo-x.com or contact [email protected]. For press enquiries, contact Serra Balls, Eterna Partners [email protected].

Marcus Robinson, Head of DigitalAssetClear and CDSClear, LCH, said, “We are delighted to partner with GFO-X to launch this highly anticipated service from LCH SA. The regulated clearing infrastructure within LSEG’s post trade ecosystem has allowed us to build something meaningful for our participants and address the availability of options for a rapidly growing asset class. It is essential that we find ways to offer regulated, segregated and trusted routes to provide customers with a diverse breadth of services and we are excited to continue working with GFO-X to offer a regulated marketplace for this asset class.” 

Barry Polak, Lead Product Commerce, ABN AMRO Clearing, said, “We are excited to partner with GFO-X, the UK’s first regulated and centrally cleared trading venue dedicated to digital asset derivatives. This strategic collaboration underscores our shared commitment to advancing the institutional digital asset futures and options market. By leveraging LCH DigitalAssetClear’s clearing services, we enhance transaction security and minimise counterparty risk, offering our clients unparalleled confidence in trading Bitcoin futures and options. A logical step to continue to lead the way to safe and transparent markets.”

Osi Lilian, IMC Strategic Investments Co-Lead, said, “IMC was proud to be one of the earliest investors in GFO-X in 2021. We aligned with their vision of establishing the UK’s first regulated and centrally cleared trading venue for digital asset derivatives, built on secure, high-performance technology and robust risk management. As a market maker, our strategic connection with GFO-X underscores our commitment to the institutional digital asset futures and options market – a rapidly evolving space we believe holds significant potential for continued growth and opportunity.”

Olivier Dang, Head of Ventures at Laser Digital, said, “We are thrilled to partner with GFO-X as they launch the UK’s first regulated and centrally cleared trading venue dedicated to digital asset derivatives. This collaboration aligns perfectly with our vision to drive innovation and growth in the digital asset market.”

Andy Ross, Global Head, Prime & Financing, Financing & Securities Service, Standard Chartered, said, “We’re delighted to support the launch of GFO-X derivatives and to join LCH SA as a general clearing member to enable our clients to trade and clear. We continue to invest in servicing our clients broadly across the crypto space in coin, token and derivative form.

“Virtu makes markets globally and is excited to support new and innovative platforms for digital assets in this role. We see broadening adoption and increasing demand as the crypto markets continue to mature and embrace the risk management benefits and capital efficiencies of centralised clearing.”

About GFO-X
GFO-X is the UK’s first regulated and centrally cleared trading venue dedicated to digital asset derivatives.

GFO-X provides comprehensive risk management with clearing provided by the London Stock Exchange Group’s (LSEG) LCH SA DigitalAssetClear.

Combining proprietary high-performance technology with industry-leading partnerships and infrastructure, GFO-X delivers the requirements necessary to grow the institutional digital asset derivatives market.

Backed by M&G Investments and authorised by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in 2022, GFO-X’s regulation-first approach has enabled it to partner with some of the largest financial institutions in the world.

GFO-X believes the digital asset futures and options markets will grow exponentially over the coming years as the asset class matures and more sophisticated investors begin to participate in greater size. By solving market constraints such as counterparty risks and technology challenges, GFO-X has been established to deliver a robust market structure and innovative products to propel the next leg of growth of the digital asset ecosystem.

Contact:

[email protected]
+44 7762943498

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1001096243

Trackinsight, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Asset Management and S&P Dow Jones Indices, is proud to announce the launch of its sixth annual global ETF survey report: ETF Industry on Overdrive: Shifting Gears, Breaking New Barriers.

Hong Kong, May 13, 2025 – Trackinsight, a global leader in ETF research and analytics, today announced the release of its Global ETF Survey 2025 Report, ETF Industry on Overdrive: Shifting Gears, Breaking New Barriers, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Asset Management and S&P Dow Jones Indices.

The global ETF engine is accelerating—and this year’s report captures every twist, turn, and acceleration along the way.

Drawing on insights from over 600 professional investors managing more than $1.1 trillion in ETF assets globally, and powered by Trackinsight’s extensive database of over 12,000 ETPs, the report delivers a comprehensive and forward-looking analysis of the ETF landscape.

What’s inside?

• Regional analysis covering major developments in Europe, Asia, and North America.
• Key trends across active management, fixed income, thematic investing, ESG strategies, cryptocurrencies, and the accelerating rise of income- and options-based ETFs.
• Over 80 bold predictions for ETF market for 2025 and beyond from influential industry leaders.

“ETFs didn’t just make investing easier—they sparked a global revolution. Today, they are powering a new era of clarity, innovation, and opportunity for investors everywhere. ETF Industry on Overdrive captures this extraordinary acceleration—and offers a glimpse into the future of our industry,” said Philippe Malaise, CEO of Trackinsight.

Key Survey Respondents’ Insights:

• ETF Adoption: Respondents primarily turn to ETFs for diversification, cost efficiency, and ease of trading. When selecting products, they prioritize performance, fees, liquidity, and the reputation of the provider, while ESG considerations tend to be secondary.
• Active Management: Use of active ETFs is rising, driven by lower fees compared to mutual funds, greater transparency, and the potential for outperformance, particularly in equities and fixed income. While concerns about track records and consistent performance remain, nearly 70% of respondents plan to increase their allocations to active ETFs over the next six months.
• Fixed Income: Corporate and government bond ETFs are the top choices, with respondents showing a balanced preference between active and passive strategies. 80% of respondents also plan to boost their exposure to actively managed fixed income ETFs in the coming months.
• Thematic: Respondents use thematic ETFs mainly for diversification and to make long-term strategic investments, particularly in disruptive technology and digital infrastructure. Liquidity, cost, and risk-return profiles are the key selection factors, and more than half of respondents intend to increase their allocations to thematic ETFs.
• ESG: Investments in ESG ETFs are largely driven by personal convictions and environmental priorities. However, greenwashing and transparency concerns remain major challenges. There is a strong preference for active ESG strategies, with more than half of respondents planning to increase their ESG ETF allocations — especially among European investors.
• Cryptocurrency: Crypto ETFs generally represent a small portion of portfolios, used mainly for diversification and long-term value appreciation. Respondents cite ease of access, regulatory protection, and security as key reasons for favoring ETFs over direct ownership, and nearly 60% plan to increase their allocations.
• Income and Options-Based Strategies: Dividend and fixed income ETFs continue to be primary tools for generating income, with growing interest in options-based strategies like covered calls and buffered products. Around 60% of respondents expect to increase investments in options ETFs alongside broader income-focused allocations.

“2025 is the year of active ETFs,” said Travis Spence, Global Head of ETFs at J.P. Morgan Asset Management. “In an environment defined by persistent market uncertainty, our newest Trackinsight Survey shows a decisive shift toward active strategies. Investors are seeking greater precision, adaptability, and risk-aware performance—and active ETFs are meeting that demand in core equities and fixed income. Over 90% of investors surveyed are planning to increase or maintain allocations to active ETFs.

“The role of financial indices within the ETF industry continues to evolve and are increasingly used as a powerful tool of innovation for institutional investors.” said Robert Ross, Chief Commercial Officer at S&P Dow Jones Indices.

In addition to the full study, Trackinsight have released a condensed digest summarizing key insights from the 2025 Global ETF Survey—also available at trackinsight.com.

About Trackinsight

Trackinsight, a subsidiary of Kepler Cheuvreux, is a global platform for professional ETF investors, delivering top-tier data, tools, research, and expertise for advanced fund selection and portfolio optimization.

Media Inquiries

Trackinsight
Please contact Rony Abboud, at [email protected]

J.P. Morgan Asset Management
For media inquiries in APAC, please contact Kathleen Wang at [email protected].

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1001096134

BANGKOK, May 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has mobilized relief efforts for vulnerable communities in Myanmar following the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck the Sagaing region on March 28. The disaster, which sent tremors as far as Bangkok, compounded existing hardships in an area already grappling with civil unrest and economic instability.

In coordination with local partners, Bitget delivered 150 Emergency Resilience Kits to high-risk families, including those who lost homes, were caring for infants or elderly relatives, or had received minimal aid. Each kit provided comprehensive support: hygiene essentials to prevent disease, sleeping mats and blankets for displaced families, cooking tools to restore daily routines, water filters for safe drinking water, and basic medicines to address urgent health needs.

Volunteer giving out aid boxes

The operation was not without its challenges. Navigating security risks, logistical hurdles, and the potential for aid diversion in a conflict zone required meticulous planning and deep community trust. Bitget’s partners on the ground leveraged their local expertise to ensure equitable distribution, reaching families whose needs might otherwise have been invisible in the chaos of crisis response.

“True humanitarian action isn’t just about meeting urgent needs—it’s about seeing the unseen,” said Bitget CEO Gracy Chen. “As the second-largest crypto exchange ecosystem, we believe that real growth in our industry must be matched by real responsibility. Crypto was built on the ideals of empowerment and global connection. In times of crisis, these ideals must be translated into action. Our support for Myanmar’s affected communities is a reminder that innovation must go hand-in-hand with human impact. As we help build the future of finance, we are equally committed to building a future where no one is left behind,” she added.

Bitget’s Aid Boxes

The impact extended beyond material relief. For displaced families living in overcrowded temporary shelters, the kits alleviated pressure on shared resources. For others, they represented the first semblance of stability since the disaster struck, a signal that they had not been forgotten.

As recovery efforts continue in Sagaing, Bitget’s initiative serves as a small reminder that effective crisis response begins with listening and learning. By combining swift action with deep local understanding, we were able to offer support where it was needed most—one family, one community at a time.

About Bitget

Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 120 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, token swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more.

Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2e78ebbf-6ded-4cce-b3d3-8a04e4476fc3

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/903331f2-0e74-497a-be44-64186ea543cb

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e4296f30-257b-43fd-9c40-b19e38a3f3b7

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1001096011

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – Media OutReach newswire – 12 May 2025 – Sahm App, the premier all-in-one trading platform trusted by over one million users, has launched Version 2.0, marking its most significant upgrade to date. The release introduces an array of powerful features, led by the highly requested Dark Mode.

Designed in response to community feedback, Dark Mode offers improved visibility in low-light settings while reducing eye strain—delivering a smoother, more comfortable trading experience. With vibrant, high-contrast interactive elements, users can now enjoy a bold new interface. The feature can be enabled in Sahm App Version 2.0 via Settings > General, where users can choose Light, Dark, or follow their device’s system settings.

But Version 2.0 goes far beyond aesthetics. With over 250 upgrades, the update transforms Sahm App into a smarter, faster, and more connected trading platform. Key enhancements include:

• Concept Stocks: Themed investment ideas to help users track trends and sector movements in U.S. markets at a glance.
• Smart Search: A redesigned search experience offering faster, more accurate results based on trading behavior.
• Real-Time Stock Comments: Live discussion threads where over a million investors exchange ideas, market insights, and strategies.
• Refreshed News Layout: An improved interface for browsing financial news—clearer, more structured, and easier to navigate.

Hadeel Bedeeri, General Manager of Sahm Capital, shared: “At Sahm, we put our users at the center of everything we do. Version 2.0 is not just an update—it’s our statement of intent. We’re giving every investor smarter tools, faster access, and a better way to trade with confidence.”

With a refined design and community-driven features, Sahm App 2.0 reinforces its mission to be the most intuitive and trusted trading platform in the region. The app is now available on the iOS App Store, Google Play Store, and Huawei AppGallery. New users can also enjoy a lifetime 70% discount on Saudi market commissions, capped at a maximum of SAR 3 per trade. For more information, visit: https://www.sahmcapital.com

About Sahm App:
Developed by Sahm Capital, licensed by the Capital Market Authority (CMA), the Sahm App is a trading platform tailored for investors in Saudi Arabia. It provides seamless access to both the Saudi and U.S. markets within a secure, regulated environment. With its intuitive interface and advanced investment tools, the app has quickly become one of the top three in the Free Finance category on Google Play, with more than one million users.

Sahm Capital

Sahm Capital, registered in Riyadh, holds full regulatory licenses from the Capital Market Authority (CMA) to provide Dealing, Advising, Custody, Arranging, and Managing Investments and Operating Funds Activities in the Securities Business services (license no. 22251-25). As the first fintech-driven financial company to achieve full CMA licensing, Sahm Capital has established itself as the fastest-growing member of the Saudi Exchange, leveraging proprietary technology and innovative financial solutions to deliver seamless, one-stop financial services. For more information, visit: www.sahmcapital.com