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Xujialou Subdistrict, Taishan District, Tai’an City, Shandong Province: Spring Ushers in a New Journey, Exploring “Daguan Garden”

JINAN, China, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A report from Qilu Yidian: As spring’s warm sunlight blankets the earth, Daguanzhuang Village in Xujialou Subdistrict, Taishan District, radiates vibrant energy. Intangible cultural heritage inheritance, pastoral picking, cultural experiences, and innovative economy interweave here into a moving symphony of rural revitalization. In Daguanzhuang, the distinctive development model of “civilization practice + agricultural-tourism integration” is showcasing unique charm, attracting more and more urban visitors to experience an idyllic life that “leaves the hustle but stays close to the city.”

Cultural Practices Nourish the Homeland, Vitalizing Cultural Spaces

In the Dandelion Cinema on the first floor of Daguanzhuang Village’s New Era Civilization Practice Station, villagers are watching the documentary Beautiful Countryside, My Home, which records the village’s development and changes. Seeing familiar faces and scenes of the old village and new buildings on screen, they can’t help but start discussing. In the historical and cultural exhibition room, weathered farm tools and yellowed photos tell the story of the village’s vicissitudes. In stark contrast, young people focus on reading in the study lounge, and laughter echoes in the digital cinema. Visitors can sense the village’s transformation in the “perception zone” while enjoying tranquility away from the hustle and bustle; in the “creation zone,” they can learn calligraphy and painting in the art studio, turning nostalgic feelings into landscapes and flowers on paper to experience cultural charm; in the “display zone,” they can learn about the village’s rich cultural activities and leave their impressions after the visit.

Urban Farm Awakens Nostalgia, Colorful Fields Draw Visitors

Stepping into the Colorful Fields Orchard in Daguanzhuang Village’s rural revitalization park, the sweet scent of strawberries mingles with the fragrance of soil. In the picking greenhouses of this urban farm, tourists bend to pick strawberries, savoring the joy of farming. The most eye-catching feature is the newly painted Nezha-themed murals on the exterior walls of the greenhouses. Lifelike anime images of Nezha, Ao Bing, Taiyi Zhenren, and the Dragon King have turned these “internet-famous walls” into new landmark photo spots. Members of a motorcycle club recently visited the renovated orchard, taking pictures in front of the murals to embrace the spring surprise. The “internet-famous walls” are now mostly complete, attracting many tourists—especially children—to 打卡 (visit and take photos).

Intangible Cultural Heritage Workshop Fills the Air with Wheat Aroma: Small Pancakes “Cook Up” a Big Industry

It is reported that Daguanzhuang pancakes are a municipal-level intangible cultural heritage. The pancake production base includes an intangible cultural heritage display area, processing workshop, experience and creation zone, and e-commerce live-streaming area. In the display area, visitors can learn about the history of Daguanzhuang pancakes; in the processing workshop, they can observe every step from raw materials to finished products and learn production techniques; in the experience and creation zone, they can make their own flavored pancakes on-site using the skills they’ve learned, even turning pancakes into artistic works to enjoy hands-on fun. Today, in Daguanzhuang Village, the humble pancake has grown into a characteristic industry integrating production, processing, sales, and cultural transmission. Elders and women in the village can find suitable jobs in the cooperative, achieving employment just steps from their homes.

(Note: “打卡” is translated as “visit and take photos” to convey the modern social media context of checking in at popular spots.)

1 Billion People, Trillions in Growth: Why LATAM & SEA Are The Next Economic Powerhouses by Leading Digital Finance Revolution

Developed by Valor Capital and Credit Saison, study points to a massive $1.67 trillion financing gap for SMEs and MSMEs in both regions, which can be unlocked by digital finance, cross-border collaboration and blockchain.

SAO PAULO and SINGAPORE, April 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Latin America and Southeast Asia, home to over one billion people, are emerging as global economic powerhouses — driven by investments in infrastructure, middle-class expansion, and digital transformation. This is according to a report by Valor Capital Group and Credit Saison, which highlights that despite their readiness for growth, both regions continue to face financial inefficiencies and regulatory barriers.

The first-of-its-kind comparative study calls for increased investments in digital finance, cross-border collaboration, and blockchain to unlock their full potential, emphasizing how these regions are reshaping global trade and finance. While economic expansion is evident, countries in LATAM and SEA remain financially fragmented — limiting access to credit and hindering commercial integration.

“Latin America and Southeast Asia are no longer just emerging markets; they are defining the future of digital finance, trade, and economic collaboration,” says Bruno Batavia, Director of Emerging Tech at Valor Capital. According to him, unlocking their full potential will require regulatory modernization, regional partnerships, and financial innovation to be central to the agenda. “The next decade will be crucial in determining whether these regions can overcome their historical financial limitations and emerge as fully integrated players in the global economy.”

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of these economies, but 87% of their financing needs in Latin America remain unmet, resulting in a $1.4 trillion financing gap. In Southeast Asia, 51% of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) face difficulties accessing financial services, creating a $272 billion deficit. Traditional banking systems, still reliant on outdated credit assessment models and manual processes, are unable to keep up with growing demand, stifling the growth of millions of businesses.

“This report serves as a critical blueprint for stakeholders seeking to harness the immense potential these regions offer. Credit Saison has been in Brazil since 2023, and has been present in Southeast Asia for over ten years, with the unique ability to deploy investments via private credit and venture capital to support the growth of fintechs and founders in both debt and equity. Through our experiences as an operator in global markets with steep Japanese heritage, partnerships and knowledge exchange are critical to navigating and adapting to local nuances and forming successful strategies in the market. For Credit Saison, it’s always about winning together with our partners. We look forward to deepening our engagement in both regions to collaboratively unlock pathways to sustainable growth,”  said Qin En Looi, Partner at Saison Capital, the corporate venture capital arm of Credit Saison.

Cross-border payments represent another significant challenge. Remittance fees in both regions average 6.1% — more than double the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of 3%. This translates to an annual cost of $7 billion for consumers, reducing disposable income and limiting financial mobility. Additionally, international payments can take up to five business days to settle, undermining the efficiency of global trade networks.

Venture Capital and Fintechs Driving Change

In response to these challenges, innovation in the fintech sector and the rise of venture capital investments are transforming the financial landscape. Southeast Asia created 151 new venture capital funds in 2021, while Latin America peaked at 69 funds in 2019, indicating strong investor confidence. The total number of funding rounds nearly doubled in Southeast Asia, while in Latin America, the total volume of investments grew 8.7 times, underscoring the rapid evolution of the financial ecosystem.

This influx of capital has led to significant acquisitions in the fintech sector, expanding the region’s appeal to global investors. Notable examples include Visa’s $1 billion acquisition of Brazilian fintech Pismo, TikTok’s $1.5 billion investment in Indonesia’s Tokopedia, and PropertyGuru’s $1.1 billion acquisition in Southeast Asia. These transactions highlight the increasing volume of investments in financial infrastructure.

“In Brazil, although we lead in fintech innovation, we have one of the world’s most complex currency exchange systems, requiring over 100 transaction codes for financial operations, which creates operational inefficiencies. In Mexico, the lack of local debt funds forces fintech startups to rely on equity financing, which hinders their scalability,” explains Bruno Batavia, Director of Emerging Tech at Valor Capital.

About Valor Capital Group

Founded in 2011 and with a presence in New York, Silicon Valley, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Mexico City, Valor Capital is a pioneering Venture Capital and Growth Equity fund manager with a “cross-border” strategy, aiming to act as a bridge between the technology markets of the United States and Latin America. Its funds invest in transformative businesses, from early-stage startups to expansion-stage companies. Valor is committed to the success of its portfolio companies, offering capital, operational support, and global connections. Learn more at valorcapitalgroup.com.

About Credit Saison Brazil

Established in 2023, Credit Saison Brazil (CSBR) is a financial company with a mission to bring people, partners and technology together, creating resilient and innovative financial solutions for positive impact.

CSBR provides a comprehensive offering of both credit and equity investment opportunities to support the innovators and builders of Brazil, and is committed to being a transformative partner in creating opportunities and enabling dreams.

The company is part of Credit Saison Co. Ltd. from Japan, and Saison International as its international headquarters in Singapore with core businesses in lending and corporate venture capital. Founded in 1951, Credit Saison Co. Ltd is one of Japan’s largest non-bank financial companies with over 70 years of history and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The Company has evolved from a credit-card issuer to a diversified financial services provider across payments, leasing, finance, real estate and entertainment.

Over 1,500 employees work across the company’s markets (ex-Japan) of Brazil, Mexico, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore.

About Saison Capital

Saison Capital (saisoncapital.com) is an early-stage venture capital fund (pre-seed to Series B) with a focus on emerging markets. The firm backs ambitious founders at the pre-seed or seed stage and focuses on web3, fintech and commerce.

Operating from the Asia Pacific region but deploying capital on a global scale, Saison Capital harnesses Credit Saison’s extensive financial services operating background and resources across key markets, including Singapore, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Cambodia, Japan, Brazil and Mexico. Saison Capital is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Credit Saison.

ICANN DNS Forum in Hanoi: Leaders Convene to Shape the Multilingual Internet

Fourth Asia Pacific DNS Forum runs from 8 to 9 May 2025

HANOI, Vietnam, April 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) will hold the fourth Domain Name System (DNS) Forum in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region at the InterContinental Hanoi Landmark 72 in Hanoi, Viet Nam, from 8 to 9 May 2025. ICANN is an international, nonprofit organization that coordinates the DNS and plays a key role in ensuring a global, interoperable, and secure Internet. Viet Nam Internet Network Information Center (VNNIC), the national Internet registry in Viet Nam, is the local host.

The APAC DNS Forum 2025 in Hanoi will bring together regional and international experts to discuss paths toward a more multilingual Internet. An important area of focus will be how language and script diversity can help achieve this. Enabling the use of additional scripts and languages in the DNS is essential in making the Internet more available to hundreds of millions of users around the world.

Highlights of the event include the opening plenary where panelists will discuss the future of the Internet and the domain name space, and the current and future initiatives to bring the next billion Internet users online. Another key session will explore the 20-year review of the World Summit on the Information Society outcomes (WSIS+20) and its potential implications for the APAC region.

ICANN Board Chair Tripti Sinha, ICANN President and CEO Kurtis Lindqvist, and several ICANN Board members, along with representatives from VNNIC, business and technical industries, and civil society will attend the APAC DNS Forum 2025 in Hanoi.

“This is the fourth year that we’re hosting the DNS Forum for our APAC community and we are excited to be in Hanoi, known for its rich history and vibrant culture,” said Samiran Gupta, Vice President and Managing Director of ICANN APAC. “We look forward to hearing the voices from the region on key topics concerning the future of the Internet.”

“VNNIC is very honored to be selected as the local host of APAC DNS Forum, a major event for experts and communities working in the domain name industry in the Asia Pacific region,” said Nguyen Hong Thang, Director General, VNNIC. “We hope that the community will have a great time meeting in Hanoi and discussing the safe, secure, and reliable development of domain names, the DNS, and the role of ccTLDs in promoting the development of the Internet for everyone with the key message ‘Internet for all’.”

ICANN, along with regional stakeholders, has held DNS Forums in Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East, all with the same goal – for ICANN and the global DNS community to gather and collaborate, network, and exchange ideas about the domain name industry and the future of the Internet.

For the first time, the APAC DNS Forum 2025 is co-located with the 2025 Contracted Parties (CP) Summit and Universal Acceptance (UA) Day 2025. The CP Summit will be held 5 to 7 May while UA Day will be held as part of the Forum, on 8 May. A networking session on the evening of 7 May will start the Forum.

One-time registration will provide access to all sessions, including the APAC DNS Forum, CP Summit, and UA Day. To register for in-person or virtual participation for the events, please visit this link.

About ICANN

ICANN’s mission is to help ensure a stable, secure, and unified global Internet. To reach another person on the Internet, you need to type an address – a name or a number – into your computer or other device. That address must be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN helps coordinate and support these unique identifiers across the world. ICANN was formed in 1998 as a nonprofit public benefit corporation with a community of participants from all over the world.

SMU wins prestigious THE Awards Asia 2025 – Teaching & Learning Strategy of the Year

SINGAPORE, April 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Singapore Management University (SMU) is proud to announce that it has been named Winner in the ‘Teaching and Learning Strategy of the Year’ category at the prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) Awards Asia 2025. The accolade was awarded in recognition of SMU-X, the University’s flagship industry project-based experiential learning framework that integrates academic knowledge with real-world industry projects.

SMU wins Times Higher Education Awards Asia 2025 (photo credit - THE)
SMU wins Times Higher Education Awards Asia 2025 (photo credit – THE)

Held annually, the THE Awards Asia celebrate innovation and excellence across higher education institutions in Asia. Often dubbed the ‘Oscars of higher education’, the awards recognise outstanding leadership, impactful initiatives, and transformative educational practices across the region.

The accolade marks a significant milestone for SMU-X, pioneered 10 years ago as a differentiating pedagogy, underscoring the University’s longstanding commitment to redefining learning through interdisciplinary, collaborative, and experiential approaches.

SMU Provost, Professor Alan Chan, said, “We are deeply honoured to receive this recognition from THE Awards Asia, which is particularly meaningful this year as the University celebrates its 25th anniversary. SMU-X has evolved over the past decade into a distinctive hallmark of our undergraduate and postgraduate education; it exemplifies our belief that learning should not only be rigorous but also relevant, connected, and transformative.”

“As we look ahead to the next chapter of SMU-X, we will continue to innovate and scale its impact. We aim to further integrate technology, expand global project opportunities, and deepen partnerships that deliver meaningful and impactful multi-disciplinary solutions. This prestigious award is both a celebration and a call to action,” he added.

In the citation, THE Award Asia judges noted that situating learning in the real world is an effective way to prepare students for success beyond university, and lauded SMU for having overcome the challenging practicalities of extending teaching outside the classroom. “SMU fosters a sustainable ecosystem of learning and collaboration that strengthens university-industry synergy and drives continuous pedagogical improvement,” noted the judging panel.

SMU-X – an innovative pedagogy that has gained global recognition

Launched in 2015, SMU-X was designed to bridge the gap between classroom theory and industry practice. The framework, which spans undergraduate, postgraduate, and continuing education programmes, integrates academic coursework with experiential learning, enabling students to apply knowledge in practical settings. Students work in teams alongside industry professionals from corporations, non-profit organisations, government agencies and community partners to develop insights and recommendations, to tackle specific challenges that reflect evolving industry needs. Meanwhile, faculty members serve as academic mentors, guiding students through research, analysis, and solution development while embedding academic rigour into every project.

By allowing students to work with peers across different disciplines, SMU encourages collaboration and cultivates the teamwork and communication skills inherent to interdisciplinarity. By exposing students to diverse sectors, perspectives and real-world challenges, SMU also prepares them to be effective global citizens beyond Singapore and the region.

From a pilot of 58 students in two courses in 2015, SMU-X has grown to 40,000 enrolments in 170 courses a decade later. SMU-X has facilitated over 6,600 projects with more than 1,200 partners. In the current Academic Year 2024-2025, 78 SMU-X modules are being offered, with about 5,000 students partnering with organisations across all sectors, in Singapore and overseas. 

In addition to its local success, SMU-X has inspired global interest and institutional collaborations. The experiential learning model has been featured in global higher education forums as a best-practice case study in applied learning, and won multiple accolades on the global stage. These include the Green Gown Award 2024 – Next Generational Learning and Skills’ category; and the 2024 QS Reimagine Education Awards – Gold award and Innovation in Business Education Award

– End –

About Singapore Management University

Established in 2000, Singapore Management University (SMU) is recognised for its disciplinary and multi-disciplinary research that address issues of global relevance, impacting business, government, and society. Its distinctive education incorporating innovative experiential learning, aims to nurture global citizens, entrepreneurs and change agents. Home to over 13,000 students, SMU offers a wide range of bachelor’s, master’s and PhD degree programmes in the disciplinary areas of Accountancy, Business, Economics, Computing, Law and Social Sciences, as well as in multi-disciplinary combinations of these areas. It also offers a growing number of executive development and continuing education programmes. Through its city campus, SMU focuses on making meaningful impact on Singapore and beyond through its partnerships with industry, policy makers and academic institutions. www.smu.edu.sg

Aice Strengthens Regional Leadership and Accelerates International Expansion

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 April 2025 – In early 2025, Aice, a leading ice cream brand in Southeast Asia, attracted significant attention from global investors following a new round of investment from major shareholders, including China Mengniu Dairy Group – its controlling shareholder. This capital injection is widely viewed as providing both financial and strategic support for Aice’s rapid expansion across Southeast Asia and other new international markets.

Strategic Market Positioning: From Indonesian Launch to Regional Leadership

Since its overseas launch in 2015, Aice has rapidly established itself as a pioneer in Southeast Asia’s ice cream industry. With annual revenues exceeding RMB3 billion, Aice now holds the leading market share in Indonesia, ranks second in the Philippines, and continues to strengthen its position in Vietnam.

Aice’s success is rooted in its precise regional market strategy. Following extensive market research, Aice identified Indonesia as its initial overseas market, targeting local demand for affordable, high-quality products. To address cross-border logistics challenges and offer its products at competitive prices, Aice established three local factories to ensure it can flexibly and rapidly adapt to local market preferences, optimize costs, and build a robust local distribution network.

Within just three years of entering Indonesia, Aice’s annual sales soared from RMB20 million to RMB1.2 billion. The Company has since expanded successfully into the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Timor-Leste, making it one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing companies and a benchmark for Chinese F&B brands going global. In 2024, its factory in the Philippines officially began operations, further enhancing its regional manufacturing footprint and enabling broader distribution across Southeast Asian and beyond.

Innovating Products, Channels, and Marketing: Building Differentiated Competitive Advantages

Aice has established strong competitive barriers and captured consumer mindshare through innovation in product development, distribution channels, and marketing.

Guided by its philosophy of delivering “healthy, innovative, quality products with value,” Aice conducts in-depth research into consumer habits and local dietary preferences, driving continuous innovation in product formats and flavours. Each year, it has launched multiple best-selling products, generating sales of over RMB100 million. Upon initial launch in Indonesia, Aice strategically focused on small and medium-sized retailers, providing free ice cabinets to communities in more than 100 cities. This approach secured extensive retail coverage of its products, activated previously untapped market demand, and differentiating Aice from international competitors, resulting in rapid market share gains. Through storefront branding and sponsorships of major sporting events, Aice consistently increased brand awareness and visibility throughout the region.

Capital-Driven Acceleration for Global Expansion

Following this round of financing, Aice plans to deepen its presence in existing Southeast Asian markets, further strengthening its supply chain and brand competitiveness, while actively expanding into new international markets.

As a key pillar of Mengniu’s “One Core, Two Wings” strategy, Aice has served as Mengniu’s strategic bridgehead in Southeast Asia, achieving significant milestones. This investment from Mengniu underscores its strong confidence in Aice’s in international growth potential and reflects its commitment to supporting it with additional resources and capital.

According to industry sources, while maintaining robust organic growth, Aice recently engaged with global investors to diversify its funding channels and accelerate its international expansion. Backed by a proven overseas track record and new capital, Aice is poised for a new phase of accelerated growth, leveraging Southeast Asia as a strategic steppingstone to broader international opportunities.Hashtag: #Aice

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Sinch Named a Leader in the 2025 Omdia Universe CPaaS Report

STOCKHOLM, April 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Sinch (Sinch AB (publ)) (XSTO: SINCH), which is pioneering the way the world communicates through its Digital Customer Communications Cloud, has once again been named a Leader in the newly released Omdia Universe: CPaaS Platform Providers 2025 report.

This recognition underscores Sinch’s continued leadership as a global innovator in orchestrating intelligent, AI-powered customer interactions and conversational experiences. With strategic investments in advanced conversational AI, RCS messaging, and secure, trusted communications backed by robust fraud prevention, Sinch delivers unmatched performance, local regulatory expertise, and customer-centric support across 60+ countries. Sinch’s sustained excellence in strategy, market momentum, and execution empowers enterprises worldwide to orchestrate seamless, personalized digital experiences at scale.

Sinch’s leadership in RCS and AI-enabled conversational messaging was a standout in this year’s report, reflecting the company’s long-standing commitment to innovating the next generation of customer engagement. As more enterprises turn to mobile-first interactions, Sinch continues to lead the way in helping businesses deliver real-time, two-way conversations that keep customers engaged, informed, safe, and happy.

With a robust API-first architecture and unmatched global reach, Sinch orchestrates 900 billion interactions annually across messaging, voice, email, and conversational channels. 175,000 businesses around the world trust Sinch’s enterprise-grade infrastructure, intelligent orchestration, and conversational capabilities backed by AI to seamlessly connect and reliably automate personalized experiences at scale.

“We’re proud of being recognized by Omdia for our continued progress toward a leadership position in RCS and AI-enabled customer communications, “said Laurinda Pang, CEO of Sinch. “This recognition reinforces our commitment to providing a secure, trusted platform that helps enterprises confidently deliver personalized, automated conversations across every digital communications channel.”

Sinch stood out as a Leader in the CPaaS Universe, scoring well above average in 11 of the 12 evaluation categories, with its highest marks in innovation (95%), go-to-market strategy (91%), and non-functional requirements (91%).

As organizations future-proof their communications strategies, Sinch remains at the forefront of Digital Customer Communications innovation-advancing AI-powered solutions, expanding its conversational commerce capabilities, and delivering seamless, omnichannel experiences all across the globe.

For more information about Sinch and its industry-leading CPaaS solutions, visit www.sinch.com.

 For more information, please contact:

Janet Lennon, Director of Global PR & Communications
janet.lennon@sinch.com 

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

HTX Research Latest Report | Sonic: A Model for the New DeFi Paradigm

SINGAPORE, April 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — As Layer 2 scaling solutions remain a focal point of industry discourse, Sonic presents a fundamental shift in blockchain architecture. HTX Research has announced the release of its latest report, “Sonic: A Model for the New DeFi Paradigm” The report dives into the details of the Sonic public chain.

Sonic’s Evolution: 2000+ TPS, 0.7s Confirmation, Near-Zero Fees

The Fantom Opera blockchain, initially recognized for its speed and throughput as a high-performance aDAG-based Layer 1 solution, encountered scalability limitations as its ecosystem expanded. Its traditional EVM architecture struggled with bloated state storage, slow node synchronization, and execution bottlenecks. To overcome these challenges without resorting to sharding or Layer 2 solutions, Fantom developed Sonic — a fundamental redesign engineered to deliver a significant performance leap.

Sonic Labs, a new team led by CEO Michael Kong, CTO Andre Cronje (founder of Yearn Finance), and Chief Research Officer Bernhard Scholz, dedicated two and a half years to the redesign of Fantom’s virtual machine, storage, and consensus. They built Sonic, a new, independent EVM-compatible chain capable of processing over 2,000 TPS, achieving 0.7-second finality, and executing transactions at a cost of $0.0001. It also improves storage efficiency by 90% and reduces node synchronization time from weeks to under two days.

Technical Innovations Driving Sonic’s Performance

Sonic’s enhanced performance is underpinned by three core technological advancements: 

  • SonicVM: A newly developed virtual machine fully compatible with the EVM, SonicVM optimizes computationally intensive operations like SHA3 hashing, pre-analyzes jump instructions, delivers significantly faster execution, and supports high throughput.
  • SonicDB: Achieving nearly 90% data compression, SonicDB uses a layered storage strategy that splits the blockchain state into two databases: LiveDB for the current global state and ArchiveDB for historical blocks and states. This reduces node requirements and enhances network resilience through greater decentralization.
  • Sonic Gateway: Functioning like an “L2-like” bridging solution to Ethereum, it uses a batch processing mechanism that strikes a balance between security and efficiency, enabling seamless two-way asset transfers and ecosystem access.

Stablecoin Ecosystem: Nested Yield and Resilient Growth

Defying market trends in 2025, Sonic’s on-chain Total Value Locked (TVL) surged by over 500%, with the total stablecoin supply surpassing $260 million. This growth is driven by sophisticated high-leverage yield mechanisms.

  • Silo v2 Loop Lending: Use staked S tokens to borrow stablecoins, achieving up to 20x exposure to capture combined incentives alongside stable yield spreads.
  • Euler + Rings Protocol Combo: Deposit USDC to mint scUSD, then use leverage to potentially achieve up to 10x yield, along with Sonic points and protocol rewards.
  • Shadow DEX Liquidity Provision for Rewards: By facilitating trading activity, particularly with the S/stS pair on Shadow, users can earn up to 169% APY and a share of trading fees.

Looking ahead, the ecosystem will incorporate Real World Asset (RWA) yields and off-chain payment solutions to create a sustainable and widely used stablecoin ecosystem backed by compliant assets and real-world applications.

Conclusion: Sonic – Leading the Charge in DeFi 2.0

Sonic’s high performance, nested yields, and accessibility position it for rapid growth, with the potential to exceed $2B TVL and a multi-billion $S token market cap within a year. More importantly, Sonic is championing an “efficiency revolution” in blockchain design—prioritizing performance and capital efficiency to attract liquidity.

The report identifies technical challenges, including the adaptive AMM’s reliance on external oracles, which introduces potential vulnerabilities. Furthermore, the inherent risks of high-leverage strategies in volatile markets necessitate the use of hedging instruments, such as short perpetual futures, to mitigate potential liquidations.

From a broader view, Sonic is well-positioned to lead the expected 2025 DeFi resurgence. Its thriving stablecoin ecosystem boosts the value of both the $S token and the network. Even in a bear market, Sonic demonstrates the potential for DeFi to establish resilient “yield havens” through innovation and performance. With its nested yields, developer-focused incentives, and efficient infrastructure, Sonic provides a model for the industry. The integration of RWAs and payment tools could place Sonic as a critical bridge between on-chain yields and real-world utility, driving DeFi toward mass adoption

For full report, please visit: https://square.htx.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/HTX-Research-Latest-Report-1-1.pdf

About HTX Research

HTX Research is the dedicated research arm of HTX Group, responsible for conducting in-depth analyses, producing comprehensive reports, and delivering expert evaluations across a broad spectrum of topics, including cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and emerging market trends.

 

Meituan Black Pearl Restaurant Guide Makes Overseas Debut in Singapore: Record-High Southeast Asian Listings, Connecting Global Chinese Communities with World Cuisine

SINGAPORE, April 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Meituan, China’s leading technology-driven retail company, hosted the first-ever overseas ceremony of its renowned “Black Pearl Restaurant Guide” (the “Black Pearl”) at Marina Bay in Singapore on April 25. As it expands globally and embraces cutting-edge AI technologies, Meituan not only seeks to help users worldwide eat better and live better, but also to unlock new business opportunities for culinary brands across the globe.

As the first international food guide rooted in Chinese dining standards, the “Black Pearl” has served approximately 130 million users since its inception. This year, the Guide shines a spotlight on 55 overseas restaurants, marking the fifth consecutive year of growth in international listings. Tokyo leads the way with 30 restaurants, while Singapore and Bangkok each achieved record highs since the guide’s debut in 2018. Notably, two Singaporean restaurants earned the highest honor—the prestigious 3-Diamond rating this year.

Wei Wei, Vice President of Meituan and the company’s head of the in-store dining division, described the ceremony as a major milestone in the global expansion of Meituan’s ranking products. He highlighted the platform’s use of advanced AI technologies to streamline user decision-making. Moving forward, Meituan aims to integrate AI and expertly curated recommendations to seamlessly connect users with quality restaurants, hotels, and attractions, enabling efficient connections between consumers and premium businesses.

Over Half of Chinese Tourists Show Strong Preference for Fine Dining When Travelling Abroad; Southeast Asia’s “Black Pearl” Listings Hit a Record High

In recent years, Chinese tourists have demonstrated a rising preference for premium dining experiences while travelling abroad. According to Meituan data, more than half of Chinese tourists opted for fine dining experiences during cross-border journeys in 2024. During the 2025 Spring Festival holiday, over 85% of Chinese domestic users browsed or searched for information on overseas Black Pearl restaurants ahead of their travels.

Chinese tourists’ growing appetite for elevated dining experiences highlights the increasing importance of the Black Pearl Restaurant Guide as a trusted reference for cross-border culinary exploration. For instance, daily average online visits to Bangkok’s Black Pearl listings surged by 27% week-on-week in the lead-up to the May Day holiday.

Southeast Asian restaurants featured in the Black Pearl have flourished amid rising demand. Le Du, a celebrated modern Thai fine dining establishment, has proudly retained its 1-Diamond rating in the Black Pearl Guide for two consecutive years. Chef Thitid “Ton” Tassanakajohn shared that Chinese guests now make up 20% of the restaurant’s clientele, with this figure continuing to grow. Similarly, Potong, a Thai-Chinese fusion restaurant nestled in the heart of Bangkok’s Chinatown, earned its first 1-Diamond rating this year. Chef and founder Pichaya “Pam” Soontornyanakij described the accolade as a significant milestone for cross-cultural cuisine and shared her excitement for welcoming more Chinese diners to experience Potong’s unique offerings.

A Powerful Catalyst for Global Culinary and Cultural Exchange

The Black Pearl has evolved beyond a ranking system into a platform for fostering global culinary and cultural exchange. Its annual “Food Vision Summit”—a global culinary exchange platform held every summer—aims to promote collaboration and dialogue between Chinese and international chefs. Chef Ton described the summit as a window into China’s increasingly globalized and open-minded culinary market, where innovative techniques are warmly embraced. “Chinese cuisine is one of the world’s finest, yet globally, awareness of high-end, refined Chinese restaurants remains limited. However, I believe this is changing,” he remarked.

Les Amis, one of Singapore’s most established French fine dining restaurants, has been awarded 3-Diamond rating in the 2025 Black Pearl Restaurant Guide. “Over the years, we’ve grown to really respect the guide — not just for its credibility, but for the cultural perspective it brings to the dining world. We love that it continues to grow its reach and push culinary standards, not just in China, but globally. It’s also given us new ideas in how we run things — like hiring team members who speak Chinese.” shared Chef Sébastien Lepinoy.

Data-Driven Insights and Culinary Expertise Propel the Black Pearl’s Global Ascent

The Black Pearl Restaurant Guide follows a rigorous selection process that combines expert evaluations, anonymous visits by judges, and big data from Meituan and Dianping to ensure fairness and accuracy. Over 77% of the judging panel is made up of gourmand enthusiasts, with annual rotations to maintain fresh perspectives. Looking ahead, the guide plans to integrate AI technology with committee nominations, blending human expertise with intelligent systems to make the discovery of exceptional restaurants around the world even more effortless.

After 15 years of remarkable growth, Meituan today connects merchants across over 170 countries and nearly 1,000 cities worldwide, offering a comprehensive ranking system spanning food, hotel, transportation, and travel. Wei Wei emphasized that as Meituan continues to expand its global footprint and as more Chinese culinary brands earn growing recognition among international audiences, the company’s ranking products are gaining increasing prestige in new markets. This growing momentum underscores Meituan’s broader vision to bridge global food cultures through innovation and champion the digital transformation of the dining industry, both within China and across the world.

To explore more international restaurants featured in the Black Pearl Restaurant Guide 2025, please click the link below to view the full list: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jE9VapAvuM_loFkxgR_FHO6FWd5GJzY7/view?usp=sharing

About Meituan

Meituan (HKG: 3690) is a leading technology-driven retail company in China. With the mission of “We help people eat better, live better,” the Company uses technology to connect consumers and merchants. Service offerings on its platform address people’s daily needs for food and retail goods and extend further to broad lifestyle and travel services. Meituan is the world’s leading on-demand food delivery service provider and China’s leading e-commerce platform for in-store dining services. Meituan helps consumers discover merchant information, make informed decisions, complete online and offline transactions and enjoy on-demand delivery.

About Black Pearl Restaurant Guide

The Black Pearl Restaurant Guide is a prestigious dining guide selected by food enthusiasts, culinary experts, and gastronomy researchers. Anonymous judges evaluate based on culinary presentation,service and environment, and heritage and innovation. Restaurants are ranked into three diamond levels, with three diamonds being the highest. The guide celebrates exquisite cuisine through the “Chinese palate,” reflecting Meituan’s mission: “We help people eat better, live better.”