SINGAPORE, Oct. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In a significant move to bridge traditional and digital finance, MetaComp Pte Ltd (MetaComp),  a leading licensed cross-border payment and digital assets infrastructure provider headquartered in Singapore and licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS),  has entered into a Memorandum of Strategic Cooperation with First Digital Group Limited (First Digital), a Gibraltar-registered company specializing in the issuance of the fiat-backed stablecoin First Digital USD (FDUSD) and trust and custody services. This collaboration aims to accelerate FDUSD adoption for cross-border payments, digital wealth management, and Web3 trading applications.

This partnership reflects the shared vision of both companies to create a seamless, blockchain-powered infrastructure that supports multi-jurisdictional value transfer, expands accessibility across traditional and crypto assets, and drives the real-world use of stablecoins in global commerce for payments and wealth management.

Under this collaboration, MetaComp will integrate FDUSD into its programmable FX and cross-border infrastructure platform, StableX, providing institutional access for over-the-counter (OTC) solution and compliant cross-border payment across key corridors, including Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, and South America. These high-growth regions are seeing increasing demand for blockchain-enabled payment infrastructure for trade, remittances and digital finance. 

This integration will allow clients to convert non-USD fiat currencies to and from FDUSD seamlessly, broadening access for individual and institutional users seeking secure and efficient cross-border fund movements, with compliance as its core.

Beyond payments, the partnership will strengthen compliance efforts around anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) for stablecoin transactions through MetaComp’s VisionX Engine  – an institutional-grade KYC & KYT tool that integrates multiple on-chain Web 3.0 KYT analysis tools with enhanced risk measurement algorithms and leading Web2.0 KYC tools to deliver a secure and reliable Web 2.5 transaction monitoring. It will also collaborate on treasury management and block-chain enabled FX trades with non-USD stablecoins, supported by MetaComp’s affiliated company, Alpha Ladder Finance Pte Ltd.

“This collaboration is a step forward in unleashing the potential of stablecoins in the real economy,” said Tin Pei Ling, Co-President of MetaComp. “By integrating FDUSD into our ecosystem, we are unlocking greater ability to move value across borders faster, more affordably and interoperably, while in compliance with regulatory standards.”

“We are proud to partner with MetaComp to bring FDUSD to life in high-impact markets,” said Vincent Chok, Founder and Group CEO, First Digital. “Our shared goal is to build an inclusive financial bridge that supports real-world payments and asset management for users navigating both traditional and decentralised economies.”

The rollout of FDUSD integration into StableX will begin with corridors across Southeast Asia and Africa, where the partners have strong existing ecosystem, before expanding to additional markets. Both firms remain committed to regulatory engagement, operational integrity, and user-centric innovation in delivering compliant and scalable digital asset solutions for the global market.

About First Digital

First Digital’s mission is to empower financial fluidity in a digital-first world. This is achieved through open finance solutions with a compliance-first, high-transparency approach, enabling the creation of world-class Fintech and Regtech products and services.

FDUSD is a stablecoin redeemable for the US dollar, designed to support diverse trading access, and payment use cases in decentralised finance, extending beyond on-exchange trading to real-world applications.

FDUSD is not intended for use by U.S. individuals or entities. Minting and redemption services are not offered to persons located in the United States or acting on behalf of U.S. persons. To learn more about FDUSD, visit www.firstdigitallabs.com

About MetaComp

MetaComp is a leading licensed cross-border FX and digital assets infrastructure provider headquartered in Singapore and licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) under the Payment Services Act 2019. Operating on a P2B2C (platform-to-business/partners-to-clients) model, MetaComp empowers institutions, payment service providers, fintechs, and global enterprises to navigate the evolving cross-border payments and the digital asset economy with confidence.

With a strong emphasis on compliance, security, and institutional-grade infrastructure, MetaComp delivers an end-to-end suite of digital finance solutions — including OTC and exchange trading, fiat payment rails, regulated digital asset custody, and prime brokerage services. MetaComp is a subsidiary of Alpha Ladder Finance Pte. Ltd., a MAS-licensed Capital Markets Services (CMS) licensee and Recognised Market Operator (RMO).

Through its proprietary Client Asset Management Platform (CAMP), MetaComp provides a secure, integrated environment that bridges traditional finance with digital assets.

MetaComp’s latest innovation, StableX, is a next-generation cross-border FX and liquidity routing infrastructure designed to simplify and accelerate global fund flows. Powered by stablecoins and USD, StableX intelligently optimises multi-currency conversions and settlements, enabling faster, more cost-effective, and highly competitive cross-border transactions. As the FX layer within CAMP, StableX combines the programmability of digital assets with the reliability of regulated infrastructure, delivering a scalable, compliant and seamless ecosystem for the future of global finance.

To learn more about MetaComp and its regulated infrastructure and solutions, visit www.mce.sg

• Otis solutions help establish new airport’s role as a major transport hub 
• Phase 1 will accommodate 13 million passengers a year

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia, Oct. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Otis elevators and escalators are helping move passengers safely and seamlessly through Cambodia’s new international airport which was officially inaugurated this week. Otis Worldwide Corporation  (NYSE: OTIS) is the world’s leading elevator and escalator manufacturing, installation and service company.

“Otis is honored to support Cambodia in expanding its aviation infrastructure to boost global connectivity and economic growth,” said Nicolas Lopez, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Southeast Asia, Otis. “This world-class airport has been designed to deliver a superior passenger experience, with safe, reliable and efficient mobility solutions provided by Otis to complement the building’s traditional aesthetics.”

With world-class project management expertise and advanced solutions, Otis is a partner in many of the world’s most significant airport projects, including the newly extended Terminal 2 at Incheon International Airport in Korea, which included designing and installing the longest continuous walkways in Asia.

What Otis elevators and escalators are used at Techo International Airport?

Otis has provided 118 units in total:

• 52 Gen2™ elevator systems, which feature machine room-less and gearless technology, powered by Otis ReGen™ regenerative drive systems that enable elevators to convert excess energy into electricity 
• 36 515NPE escalators and 30 moving walkways which are heavy-duty units designed for high-traffic areas

Techo International Airport is being developed in three phases by the Royal Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia and Overseas Cambodian Investment Corporation (OCIC). The airport will manage up to 13 million passengers in Phase 1, 30 million passengers in Phase 2 and 50 million passengers in Phase 3.

About Otis

Otis gives people freedom to connect and thrive in a taller, faster, smarter world. The global leader in the manufacture, installation and servicing of elevators and escalators, we move 2.4 billion people a day and maintain approximately 2.4 million customer units worldwide – the industry’s largest Service portfolio. You’ll find us in the world’s most iconic structures, as well as residential and commercial buildings, transportation hubs and everywhere people are on the move. Headquartered in Connecticut, USA, Otis is 72,000 people strong, including 44,000 field professionals, all committed to manufacturing, installing and maintaining products to meet the diverse needs of our customers and passengers in more than 200 countries and territories. To learn more, visit www.otis.com and follow us on LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook @OtisElevatorCo.

DUBAI, UAE, Oct. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Bybit, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, has released its latest Bybit x Block Scholes September Volatility Report: “Volatility Awakens with the First Term Structure Inversion in Months.” The report analyzes the reemergence of volatility in the crypto market, led by Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), following months of calm and subdued price action.

Key Highlights:

• BTC’s implied volatility surged sharply in mid-October following a $19 billion liquidation cascade — the largest in crypto history.
• The event marked BTC’s first term structure inversion since April 2025, as short-term volatility spiked amid renewed U.S.–China trade tensions.
• BTC and ETH prices briefly fell to $105,000 and $3,700, respectively, before partially recovering.
• Options traders displayed heightened bearish sentiment, with short-dated BTC puts trading at a 13% volatility premium over calls.
• Perpetual futures open interest collapsed, signaling broad market deleveraging.

The report attributes the resurgence in volatility to macroeconomic developments — specifically, the re-escalation of trade hostilities between the United States and China. Following Beijing’s new export controls on rare earth minerals, U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans for a 100% tariff on Chinese imports. The announcement made after traditional markets had closed, contributed to a sharp weekend sell-off in crypto assets.

Bybit and Block Scholes observed that the term structure of BTC volatility inverted for the first time since April 2025, reflecting increased near-term uncertainty. Realized volatility spiked alongside implied measures, while the options market revealed strong demand for downside protection.

The study also noted that while volatility had been declining since April 2025, macro uncertainty persisted throughout the period. Despite this, BTC’s implied volatility had fallen to as low as 25% on Sept. 19, 2025 — one of its lowest readings of the year — before the October breakout.

In comparing the 2025 volatility awakening to a similar event in October 2023, the report finds shared patterns of prolonged calm followed by an abrupt spike. However, the drivers differ significantly: the 2023 volatility breakout was fueled by optimism over Spot Bitcoin ETFs, while the 2025 resurgence was triggered by macroeconomic stress and risk aversion.

Bybit’s latest report concludes that volatility remains an intrinsic feature of crypto markets, capable of resurfacing abruptly after long periods of stability. It further notes that volatility-driven strategies, such as straddles, can provide traders with potential opportunities to benefit from sharp market movements regardless of direction.

The full analysis is available in the Bybit x Block Scholes September 2025 Volatility Report.

#Bybit / #CryptoArk /#BybitResearch / #BybitLearn

About Bybit

Bybit is the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving a global community of over 70 million users. Founded in 2018, Bybit is redefining openness in the decentralized world by creating a simpler, open and equal ecosystem for everyone. With a strong focus on Web3, Bybit partners strategically with leading blockchain protocols to provide robust infrastructure and drive on-chain innovation. Renowned for its secure custody, diverse marketplaces, intuitive user experience, and advanced blockchain tools, Bybit bridges the gap between TradFi and DeFi, empowering builders, creators, and enthusiasts to unlock the full potential of Web3. Discover the future of decentralized finance 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

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HONG KONG, Oct. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Many companies and investors rely on greenhouse gas (GHG) disclosure of a company to assess its climate performance, but how can one tell whether those numbers are truly credible?

GreenCo, an ESG consulting firm specializing in sustainability advisory since 2016, is calling on stakeholders, analysts, and professionals to look beyond simple compliance claims, and apply critical thinking and professional judgment to evaluate what’s inside the disclosure: scope, boundaries, justifications, and year-over-year improvement.

According to GreenCo, the growing use of “AI-based” or “automated” carbon calculators has made it easier to generate emission numbers, but not necessarily more reliable.

“Today, we see more companies relying on AI-based tools to generate carbon figures and presenting them as highly accurate,” said Max Tsang, the Director of GreenCo. “But carbon accounting is not a one-click process. Behind every credible number is a professional who understands context, boundaries, and data integrity.”

Encouraging Credible and Responsible Disclosure

Through its advisory work, GreenCo has observed a trend of “formulaic” GHG reporting and is reminding the market that ESG disclosure should be grounded in accountability and transparency, not automation.

“ESG disclosure should reflect responsibility, not convenience,” said Charlie Yang, the Director of GreenCo. “We encourage companies to treat Scope 3 reporting as part of their long-term climate strategy, not just a data exercise.”

GreenCo’s Key Recommendations

1. Understand the Limitations of Technology, Apply Human Judgment Wisely

Automated or AI-driven calculators can improve efficiency, but they often include disclaimers stating that AI “may make errors” and should be “used with caution.” Such disclaimers remind users that automation does not equal accuracy — professional review and contextual understanding remain essential.

2. “Prepared in Accordance with the GHG Protocol” — What It Really Means

It is common for companies, whether performing internal calculations or hiring external consultants, to state that their GHG inventory was “prepared with reference to” or “in accordance with the GHG Protocol.” However, , this claim alone does not automatically guarantee reliability or completeness. The real quality depends on how comprehensively the methodology has been applied, how transparent the assumptions are, and how robust the underlying data is.

3. Evaluating Completeness and Relevance: How Many Scope 3 Categories Are Covered?

There are 15 categories of Scope 3 emissions — 8 upstream and 7 downstream. A credible disclosure should explain which categories are included or excluded, along with the rationale for those decisions.

Companies should assess the relevance of each category using multiple criteria as in the GHG Protocol, such as the potential magnitude of emissions, the company’s influence over the source, exposure to related risks, and the level of stakeholder interest.

If significant categories appear to be missing without clear justification, this should raise a red flag, and professionals should question whether the inventory truly reflects the company’s value chain impact.

In other words, completeness is not about covering all 15 categories, but about demonstrating a well-reasoned and transparent boundary-setting process.

4. Assessing the Validity of Exclusions

When companies justify exclusions, reviewers should consider whether those decisions are supported by a screening analysis. If categories are excluded due to limited operational resources, assess whether this is truly a capacity issue or a management choice.

Exclusions based purely on convenience or resource limitation may indicate a lack of prioritization rather than a legitimate constraint. If a company has strong financial capacity but continues to cite “limited resources” as a reason for partial coverage, it may signal a lack of sustainability commitment or insufficient integration of sustainability into core operations.

5. Recognize the Challenges — but Expect Progress

For companies with complex supply chains and multiple business operations across regions, calculating a full GHG inventory is undoubtedly challenging. Yet, responsible reporters acknowledge data limitations and outline plans for continuous improvement.

“Scope 3 disclosure should be viewed as a journey of refinement,” said Stephanie Chan, Co-owner and Principal Consultant of GreenCo. “The real value lies not in producing a perfect dataset overnight, but in showing genuine effort to improve data coverage and accuracy year after year. Companies may decide to account for selected sites or limited shares of suppliers first, but this should be viewed as a starting point, not the end goal.”

Driving Professional Standards in ESG Practice

“Responsible ESG disclosure starts with asking the right questions, not accepting the easiest answers,” said Max, “Our mission is to help companies move from convenience to credibility.”

GreenCo continues to advance ESG professionalism through consulting, training, and tools that help organizations strengthen internal sustainability management.

Co-authors:

Max Tsang, Director of GreenCo in Hong Kong

Charlie Yang, Director of GreenCo in Singapore

Stephanie Chan, Co-owner and Principal Consultant of GreenCo

To view the full article, download our iOS or Android application – GreenCo ESG Action Toolkit+ AI:

• Apple App Store
• Google Play

You can also explore our ESG toolkits and checklists designed to share practical knowledge on ESG and sustainability management. 

SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Sendbird, the leading communication platform for modern apps, today announced its AI Agent System has earned ISO/IEC 42001 certification, the world’s first international standard for Artificial Intelligence Management Systems (AIMS). This achievement underscores Sendbird’s commitment to developing and deploying AI responsibly—embedding governance, transparency and risk-management into every stage of its AI agent lifecycle.

The ISO/IEC 42001 standard provides a comprehensive framework for ethical and accountable AI practices. By attaining certification, Sendbird validates that its AI systems meet stringent global requirements for managing risks related to bias, fairness, privacy and security.

“Earning ISO 42001 certification reinforces our promise to build AI products that are safe, transparent and trustworthy,” said John S. Kim, CEO of Sendbird. “Responsible AI has always been integral to our innovation, and this recognition affirms our commitment to operational excellence and governance at scale.”

This milestone builds upon Sendbird’s internal Trust OS framework—a foundation designed to ensure consistent AI governance through structured policies, continuous model monitoring, and full visibility into decision-making processes. By aligning Trust OS with the ISO/IEC 42001 framework, Sendbird ensures its AI agents are tested, evaluated, and refined to meet enterprise-grade standards of security, compliance, and accountability.

By meeting this standard, Sendbird demonstrates that responsible AI is more than a principle—it’s a practice embedded across development, deployment and lifecycle operations. The company maintains rigorous oversight, actively manages AI risks and stays ahead of emerging global compliance requirements.

“This certification is not the finish line—it’s the beginning of a new standard for responsible AI,” Kim added. “We’ll continue to set the benchmark for transparency and trust as AI becomes essential to every digital experience. As one of the early movers in operationalizing responsible AI at scale, we’re proud to help define what trustworthy AI means in practice.”

About Sendbird

Sendbird is the leading omnichannel AI-agent and communications platform that empowers global enterprises to deliver seamless, personalized customer experiences through chat, voice, video and business messaging. Trusted by thousands of brands, Sendbird powers billions of conversations each month with enterprise-grade reliability, security and compliance. Headquartered in California, with offices in Seoul and San Mateo, Sendbird is backed by ICONIQ, SoftBank, Tiger Global, Y Combinator and other leading investors.

FACO 2025 presentation highlights HCB101’s favorable safety, strong receptor occupancy, and confirmed responses in patients with advanced cancers.

TAIPEI, SHANGHAI, and SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — HanchorBio Inc. (TPEx: 7827), a global clinical-stage biotechnology company advancing next-generation immunotherapies, today presented new results from its ongoing Phase 1 study of HCB101, a novel SIRPα-engineered Fc fusion protein, at the 13^th International Conference of the Federation of Asian Clinical Oncology (FACO 2025), held October 24-25, 2025, in Shanghai, Mainland China.

Dr. Fangling Ning, an investigator at the Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, stated, “HCB101 is showing early promise as a differentiated therapy targeting the CD47-SIRPα axis, with encouraging signals of efficacy in both solid tumors and lymphomas. Importantly, the novel design (engineered with the help of AI) effectively mitigated anemia and cytopenias, which have been challenges with prior agents in this class. These findings provide a strong foundation for further clinical development.”

The poster, titled “Phase 1 Study of HCB101, a Novel Fc-engineered CD47-SIRPα Fusion Protein, Demonstrates Favorable Safety and Confirmed Responses in Solid and Hematologic Malignancies“, reported updated results from the multinational, first-in-human trial (NCT05892718). Key highlights from the study as of July 10, 2025, include:

• Favorable safety profile: Among 49 patients enrolled across 10 dose levels (0.08-18.00 mg/kg, QW), only one dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was observed, a transient Grade 3 thrombocytopenia at the 2.56 mg/kg dose level.
• Consistent receptor occupancy (RO): >90% CD47 RO achieved at doses ≥1.28 mg/kg.
• Encouraging antitumor activity: Two confirmed partial responses (PRs) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, alongside durable disease control in multiple patients.

“The presentation of HCB101 data at FACO 2025 underscores both the scientific innovation of our FBDB™ platform and our commitment to developing next-generation immunotherapies with global impact,” said Scott Liu, Ph.D., Chairman, CEO, and Founder of HanchorBio. “We are encouraged by the excellent safety profile and initial responses observed in heavily pretreated patients. These monotherapy data establish safety, PK/PD, and early activity, providing the foundation for our ongoing combination trials testing HCB101 layered onto standard backbones in multiple tumor types. This marks an important step toward realizing our vision of bringing transformative, differentiated treatments to patients facing cancers with high unmet need.”

About HCB101: A Differentiated CD47-SIRPα Blockade
HCB101 is a 3.5^th-generation, affinity-optimized SIRPα-Fc fusion protein with an intact IgG4 Fc backbone, developed using HanchorBio’s proprietary FBDB™ platform. It is engineered for selective CD47 targeting with low red blood cell (RBC) binding, thereby avoiding the anemia and thrombocytopenia commonly associated with earlier anti-CD47 monoclonal antibodies, while preserving strong antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) and innate-to-adaptive immune bridging. Key differentiators of HCB101:

• Enhanced safety: Cytopenia-sparing profile, with no DLTs observed up to 24 mg/kg and >90% RO at ≥1.28 mg/kg, supporting a broad therapeutic window.
• Robust immune activation: Engineered to enhance ADCP and bridge innate-to-adaptive immunity, with evidence of durable immune-mediated tumor control in monotherapy.
• Broad tumor applicability: Demonstrated activity across >80 PDX and CDX preclinical models, with early clinical signals in gastric cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and ovarian cancer.
• Clinical translation: Shows durable disease control as monotherapy and a 100% confirmed partial response rate (6/6) in second-line gastric cancer when combined with ramucirumab and paclitaxel, with additional confirmed responses in first-line TNBC and second-line HNSCC, substantially exceeding historical benchmarks.

About HCB101 Monotherapy Clinical Trial (HCB101-101; NCT05892718)
HCB101-101 is an ongoing multi-national, multi-center, open-label, dose-finding Phase 1 study evaluating HCB101 in adults with advanced solid tumors or relapsed/refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Conducted across sites in Taiwan, the United States, and Mainland China, the study uses a stepwise accelerated flat-dosing adjustment strategy to optimize safety and dosing. The primary objectives are to assess safety and tolerability, while secondary endpoints include pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and antitumor activity. Early data demonstrate a favorable safety profile, dose-proportional pharmacokinetics, high-level CD47 receptor occupancy, and confirmed partial responses in heavily pretreated solid tumor and lymphoma patients. These findings support the continued development of HCB101 in expansion cohorts and future combination studies.

About HanchorBio
Based in Taipei, Shanghai, and the San Francisco Bay Area, HanchorBio (TPEx: 7827) is a global biotechnology company specializing in immuno-oncology. It is led by an experienced team of pharmaceutical industry veterans with a proven track record in biologics discovery and global development, aiming to rewrite cancer therapies. Committed to reactivating the immune system to fight diseases, the proprietary Fc-based designer biologics (FBDB™) platform enables the development of unique biologics with diverse multi-targeting modalities, unleashing both innate and adaptive immunity to overcome the current challenges of anti-PD1/L1 therapies. The FBDB™ platform has successfully delivered proof-of-concept data in several in vivo tumor animal models. By making breakthroughs in multi-functional innovative molecular configurations in R&D and improving the manufacturing process in CMC, HanchorBio develops transformative medicines to address unmet medical needs. For more information, please visit: www.HanchorBio.com