FOSHAN, China, Dec. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Kastar, a Chinese high-tech sealant manufacturer and contributor to the country’s silane-modified polymer (MS Polymer) sealant standards, has introduced high-tack MS Polymer sealants to address tightening environmental and performance requirements in global construction markets.

These days, low-emission materials and real staying power aren’t nice-to-haves anymore—they’re must-haves. Sealants are under the microscope more than ever when it comes to worker safety and how well they hold up over decades. In places like the U.S., UK, Australia and New Zealand, contractors and specifiers are ditching old-school solvent-based or polyurethane sealants for cleaner options that still deliver serious bonding strength without the health or compliance headaches.

The high-tack MS Polymer sealant is formulated without solvents or isocyanates and cures through moisture, combining early holding strength with long-term elastic performance. It bonds effectively with a broad range of commonly used construction substrates: concrete, metals, brickwork, even tricky coated surfaces. That makes it handy for new construction or fixing up older buildings.

From Standards Development to On-Site Performance

Kastar didn’t just read the standards, but helped write them. Sitting at the table for several of China’s national MS polymer sealant standards gave the team an inside look at exactly where products usually fail the tests and fall apart on site.

That firsthand standards experience shapes everything they do in the lab. Instead of chasing one standout spec, they build high-tack MS Polymer sealants that simply work reliably—no matter the weather, the surface, or the job site conditions.

“Being involved in standards work gives us a clearer view of where sealant failures tend to occur in real-world use,” said Tom Zhou, Chief Engineer at Kastar. “That experience allows us to focus product development on stability, compatibility, and long-term reliability, not just short-term adhesion.”

Addressing Real Construction Trade-Offs

On real job sites, sealants are rarely judged on one factor alone. Contractors need products that grab quickly, apply smoothly, and still hold up years down the line. Push too hard for speed, and long-term durability can suffer. Focus only on longevity, and installation efficiency often takes a hit.

Kastar’s high-tack MS Polymer sealant is designed with this balance in mind. It offers strong early adhesion to keep work moving, while maintaining the flexibility needed to handle joint movement and day-to-day exposure once cured. This helps contractors stay on schedule without having to compromise on performance later.

Once cured, the sealant can be painted over using many commonly used architectural coatings, making it easier to integrate into finished surfaces—particularly in interior spaces and renovation work where appearance and efficiency matter.

Quality Control Backed by Scale and Testing

Getting the same performance batch after batch is everything in this business, especially when product is shipping halfway around the world. Kastar runs a 50,000 m² modern plant with its own CMA-certified lab that puts every run through rigorous checks. They keep samples from each batch on file and test across more than 100 parameters, supporting consistent product quality across production batches.

Kastar doesn’t rest on yesterday’s formula either. Three in-house R&D labs focus specifically on silicone sealants, MS polymer materials, and specialty functional sealants. It also works closely with Tsinghua University to tweak recipes and develop versions that handle everything from freezing winters to scorching summers.

Positioning for Global Markets

Backed by 27 years of experience specializing in construction adhesive sealants and strict quality control systems, Kastar supplies products across North America, Europe, Oceania, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. The company offers OEM and ODM services, allowing partners to customize formulation characteristics, packaging, and branding to align with local regulations and market expectations.

As construction standards continue to evolve across regions, Kastar sees its MS polymer sealant portfolio as a practical response to growing demands for environmental compliance, performance reliability, and dependable supply.

About Kastar

Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Foshan, China, Kastar is a core brand of Kater Adhesive Industrial Co., Ltd., a national high-tech manufacturer specializing in construction sealants and adhesives, with a focus on MS polymer technologies. The brand offers a broad portfolio of solutions, including hybrid MS sealants, polyether sealants, silicone sealants, fireproof sealants, and nail-free sealants, serving both standard and customized construction applications.

As a contributor to industry standards and an experienced global exporter, Kater Adhesive Industrial Co., Ltd., through its Kastar brand, is committed to delivering environmentally responsible, performance-driven sealing solutions for safer and more reliable building projects worldwide.

Media Contact:
Email：sales@kastarsealant.com 
Website：https://www.kastargrout.com/ 

• Secured consecutive contracts from Exynos 2500 to the next-generation Exynos 2600, proving the superior optimization capabilities
• Advancing the next-generation version of ‘Exynos AI Studio’ and strengthening support for the latest Generative AI models

SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Nota AI (CEO Myungsu Chae), a company specializing in AI model compression and optimization, announced that it has signed an agreement to supply its proprietary AI model optimization platform for Samsung Electronics’ next-generation mobile Application Processor (AP), the Exynos 2600.

This agreement marks a significant consecutive win following the previous contract for the Exynos 2500, serving as a testament to the industry-leading technical prowess of Nota AI’s platform. Nota AI offers the NetsPresso® platform, which enables the efficient optimization and deployment of AI models across diverse hardware environments by reducing model sizes by over 90% while maintaining high accuracy.

Through this collaboration, Nota AI will participate in the development of the next-generation version of Exynos AI Studio, Samsung’s AI model optimization toolchain. Specifically, Nota AI aims to support large-scale Generative AI models to run seamlessly on the Exynos 2600 while maintaining precision. The company also plans to drastically improve the implementation process for developers by automating optimization pipelines for the latest AI models. This will enable users to enjoy a faster and more powerful on-device Generative AI experience directly on their devices without the need for a cloud connection.

“This ongoing collaboration, which has continued since the Exynos 2400, proves that Nota AI’s technology creates tangible value when combined with Samsung’s hardware,” said Myungsu Chae, CEO of Nota AI. “We are committed to establishing our technology as an indispensable pillar of the on-device AI era through continuous cooperation with global partners and proactive commercialization.”

Leveraging a decade of unparalleled expertise in AI model lightweighting and optimization, Nota AI provides specialized on-device AI solutions across a wide range of sectors, including mobile, robotics, home appliances, autonomous driving, healthcare, education, and smart cities. In particular, the increasing number of cases where Nota AI’s technology is integrated into the products of global manufacturers—leading directly to revenue growth and successful commercialization—serves to validate not only the company’s technical excellence but also its formidable business competitiveness in the global market.

The dual “thermal + membrane” technology leads green water treatment solutions, sets global benchmark for project implementation

SHANGHAI, Dec. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Shanghai Electric (SEHK: 2727, SSE: 601727) now ranks 5th globally for the capacity of newly built seawater desalination projects from 2024 to 2025, a jump of four places from the previous ranking, according to the recently released statistics by the International Desalination and Reuse Association (IDRA) and Global Water Intelligence (GWI).

In terms of cumulative project capacity over the past 10 years (2016-2025), Shanghai Electric ranks 8th globally, up three places from the previous ranking. IDRA is a global non-profit organization that has connected the desalination and water reuse community since 1973, and GWI is the leading market intelligence provider for the global water sector over the last 20 years.

A Shanghai Electric spokesperson attributed the improved ranking to strong international endorsement of Shanghai Electric’s desalination expertise and project execution, highlighting that this achievement is built on more than 10 years of dedicated development in both thermal and membrane-based technologies. In the future, Shanghai Electric remains committed to delivering environmentally friendly, high-performance, and cost-effective desalination solutions to address global water scarcity challenges.

Shanghai Electric stands as one of the few global enterprises to have mastered the two major core desalination technologies: thermal-based multi-effect distillation (MED) and membrane-based reverse osmosis (RO), providing complete dual-technology solutions. Its seawater desalination expertise now extends beyond standalone water supply and enables diversified industrial applications.

By innovatively integrating waste heat recovery and resource utilization, the company delivers comprehensive, energy-efficient, and high-yield desalination solutions. The tailored systems ensure a stable supply of high-quality freshwater for critical coastal industries such as power generation, steel, and chemical manufacturing.

Over the years, Shanghai Electric has been recognized globally for technical reliability, project execution capability, and international brand presence. The significant rise in ranking is supported by the group’s comprehensive technological solutions across the entire desalination spectrum and its proven track record in successfully delivering major projects both domestically and overseas:

• The Hengyi PMB petrochemical project in Brunei is a benchmark project with a capacity of 3×12,500 tons per day, and it adopts the world’s first combined low-temperature multi-effect distillation (LT-MED) and hot water flash evaporation technology and possesses fully independent intellectual property rights.
• The Waste-Heat Desalination Project of Zhejiang Petroleum & Chemical Co., Ltd. as the largest thermal desalination EPC project undertaken by Shanghai Electric in China has a combined capacity of 305,000 tons per day across its first and second phases, utilizing forward multi-effect distillation (F-MED) technology powered by industrial waste heat.
• The Yulong Petrochemical Thermal-Membrane Hybrid Desalination Project in Yantai, with a capacity of 160,000 tons per day, employs a novel F-MED-RO hybrid technology that integrates thermal and membrane processes. By leveraging a “cascaded use” approach to recover and utilize low-temperature industrial waste heat, it achieves green, low-carbon, and resource-efficient water production. It stands as the world’s largest thermal-membrane hybrid seawater desalination project.

Looking ahead, Shanghai Electric will continue to leverage its comprehensive technological portfolio and extensive global project experience to provide greener, more economical, and more reliable sustainable water solutions for clients worldwide. The group remains dedicated to addressing the global challenge of water scarcity, consistently contributing the “Chinese wisdom” and the “Shanghai Electric solution.”

For more information, please visit https://www.shanghai-electric.com/group_en/.

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, Dec. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Vietnam’s newest cultural superclub launches with two global headliners, marking a defining moment for Saigon’s rising electronic music movement. APLUS SAIGON officially opens its doors with a landmark Soft Opening Weekends event series, positioning the venue as Southeast Asia’s next essential nightlife destination. The two-week celebration features headline performances by genre-defining artists Dombresky (January 17, 2026) and Argy (January 23, 2026), setting the tone for APLUS SAIGON’s world-standard programming.

DOMBRESKY @ APLUS SAIGON: An 80s Glamour Celebration – January 17, 2026

Dombresky, a globally recognized house music tastemaker celebrated for radiant, euphoric production and his cultural influence within contemporary nightlife, brings his signature uplifting energy to APLUS SAIGON’s debut night.

Known for crafting emotionally resonant sets that balance underground credibility with infectious joy, Dombresky has become synonymous with modern house music’s most vibrant expressions.

Dombresky’s journey into house music has led to milestones that few artists can achieve, including performances at Lollapalooza, Coachella, and EDC Mexico, headlining major festivals such as Snowglobe and Countdown NYC, and selling out iconic venues like the Hollywood Palladium. 

Experience Design:
The night channels an 80s glamour fever dream – mirrored surfaces, crystalline lighting, and a shimmering visual world that feels like stepping into a glittering music-video atmosphere.

Show Moment:
At the climax of Dombresky’s set:

• Dancers descend from six aerial points
• Bubble-rain drifts through the crowd
• Crystal-sharp lighting and visuals converge into a dreamlike house crescendo

ARGY @ APLUS SAIGON: Indoor Festival – January 23, 2026

Argy, a powerhouse in melodic techno and a fixture of the world’s most prestigious festival stages, brings his signature dramatic intensity to the second headline night.

Known for cinematic production and hypnotic technical mastery, Argy’s sets unfold as immersive journeys into the darker, surreal landscapes of electronic music.

He has appeared at many of the world’s most influential club venues and festivals, including Exit, Tomorrowland, and EDC Vegas, among them, as well as his latest iconic performance at Ultra: closing the festival in a torrential downpour, making it a highly talked-about experience for 2024 attendees.

A High-Production Indoor Festival

APLUS SAIGON transforms into a full-scale indoor festival, with expansive, surreal visuals and high-definition sound enveloping over 1,000 guests in a world far beyond traditional clubbing.

Show Moment — “Voices In My Head“

During Argy’s defining track, the venue architecture becomes part of the performance:

• LED ceiling panels cascade downward in a coordinated descent
• Thousands of animated eyes open and close in synchronized waves. This haunting, cinematic sequence is engineered as a viral cultural moment for the night.

ABOUT APLUS SAIGON

APLUS SAIGON is the newest cultural superclub under the APLUS brand, an ecosystem dedicated to elevating Vietnam’s nightlife to a world-standard level. Designed as an indoor festival environment, the club fuses advanced sound innovation, immersive visual technology, and culturally driven storytelling to create a uniquely Vietnamese clubbing identity with global ambition. Powered by L-ACOUSTICS L2, the same next-generation sound technology used in global festivals and arena tours, APLUS SAIGON transforms music into a fully immersive physical experience. With capacity for over thousands of guests and a venue-wide LED system that envelops the entire space, the club feels less like a nightclub and more like a purpose-built indoor festival.

Its vision is to become Asia’s benchmark superclub — a place where Vietnamese nightlife earns international recognition for creativity, scale, and sound innovation. Positioned at the intersection of local culture, cutting-edge electronic music, and global club standards, APLUS SAIGON aims to reshape how audiences experience nightlife and how the world sees Vietnam. The venue builds upon the success of APLUS HANOI, ranked #67 worldwide in DJ Mag’s Top 100 Clubs 2025 and crowned #1 in Vietnam – a recognized destination for leading global EDM acts including Maddix, DubVision, Plastik Funk, Le Twins, and Agents of Time. At the same time, APLUS is committed to nurturing Vietnamese talent and elevating them onto the international stage through signature event series like ACONIC+, cementing its reputation as one of Asia’s fastest-rising club brands.

“We built APLUS on two core values: Connection and Innovation. Our aim is to place Vietnamese nightlife on the global stage by delivering a standard that is not only ‘A’ — Excellent — but ‘Plus,’ meaning exceptional, elevated, and always one step further. APLUS is more than a name; it is a formula — a belief that everything can be pushed to the next level: in sound, in light, in service, and in experience.”

EVENT DETAILS

DOMBRESKY: AN 80S GLAMOUR CELEBRATION

• Date: Saturday – January 17, 2026
• Theme: Glamour | House Music

ARGY: INDOOR FESTIVAL

• Date: Friday – January 23, 2026
• Theme: Indoor Festival | Melodic Techno

EVENT ASSETS

• Press kit: Dombresky
• Press kit: Argy

KEY ASSETS

• APLUS SAIGON Press kit
• APLUS SAIGON Photos
• APLUS SAIGON Virtual Tour
• APLUS SAIGON Logo
• APLUS SAIGON Venue Rider Photo
• APLUS SAIGON Lighting Design

CONTACT

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aplus.saigon/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aplussaigon/

Email: partnership@aplussaigon.com 
Hotline/Booking table: +84 97 792 22 22 (WhatsApp)

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Cypherpunk Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: CYPH) (“Cypherpunk”), the privacy-focused technology company, today announced a significant expansion of its corporate treasury. The company has acquired an additional 56,418.09 ZEC for approximately $29 million at an average price of $514.02 per ZEC.

This latest acquisition follows a series of strategic purchases over the preceding months. With this transaction, Cypherpunk’s total Zcash holdings now stand at 290,062.67 ZEC, representing an estimated 1.76% of the total circulating network supply. The company’s total ZEC position was acquired at a cumulative average price of $334.41 per ZEC.

“We continue to execute on our goal of accumulating 5% of the Zcash network.” said Will McEvoy, CIO of Cypherpunk. “As our Zcash position grows, we are well positioned for a market that is repricing the societal importance of privacy. We are excited to continue executing on our Zcash strategy while expanding our work across a broader set of privacy-preserving technologies and initiatives.”

About Cypherpunk

Cypherpunk Technologies Inc. is a privacy technology company implementing a digital asset treasury strategy anchored by Zcash and, through its subsidiary Leap Therapeutics, Inc., is developing novel therapies for patients with cancer. The Company is aiming to build long-term shareholder value by acquiring ZEC, participating in the development of Zcash, and continuing the development of sirexatamab and FL-501 to treat patients with cancer. For more information about the Company, visit our websites at http://www.cypherpunk.com and http://www.leaptx.com or view our public filings with the SEC that are available via EDGAR at http://www.sec.gov or via https://investors.leaptx.com/.

About Winklevoss Capital

Winklevoss Capital is an investment firm founded in 2012 by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss that invests in frontier technologies.

Channels for Disclosure of Information
Going forward, we intend to announce material information to the public through filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the investor relations page on our website, press releases, public conference calls, public webcasts, our X account (@cypherpunk), and our LinkedIn page. The information disclosed in the foregoing channels could be deemed to be material information. As such, we encourage investors, the media, and others to follow the channels listed above and to review the information disclosed through such channels. Any updates to the list of disclosure channels through which we will announce information will be posted on the investor relations page on our website.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “plan,” “could,” “may,” “will,” “believe,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “goal,” “project,” and other words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements address various matters including statements relating to ZEC or digital assets held or to be held by the Company, the expected future market, price and liquidity of ZEC or other digital assets the Company acquires, the macro and political conditions surrounding Zcash or digital assets, the Company’s plan for value creation and strategic advantages, market size and growth opportunities, regulatory conditions, competitive position and the interest of other corporations in similar business strategies, technological and market trends, and future financial condition and performance. Risks and uncertainties of the digital asset treasury strategy include, among others: (a) the risk that the Company will fail to realize the anticipated benefits of the digital asset treasury strategy; (b) changes in business, market, financial, political and regulatory conditions; (c) risks relating to the Company’s operations and business, including the highly volatile nature of the price of cryptocurrencies, including ZEC; (d) the risk that the price of the Company’s Common Stock may be highly correlated to the price of ZEC or other digital assets that it holds; (e) risks related to increased competition in the industries in which the Company does and will operate; (f) risks relating to significant legal, commercial, regulatory and technical uncertainty regarding digital assets generally; and (g) risks relating to the treatment of crypto assets for U.S. and foreign tax purposes. New risks and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all risks and uncertainties. No representations or warranties (expressed or implied) are made about the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements. The Company may not actually achieve the forecasts disclosed in such forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of material risks and uncertainties including but not limited to those set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC, or as may be included in other reports or information we file with the SEC, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in its subsequent filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it was made. Neither the Company, nor any of its affiliates, advisors or representatives, undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any date subsequent to the date hereof.

CONTACT:

Douglas E. Onsi
President & Chief Executive Officer
Cypherpunk Technologies Inc.
617-714-0360
ir@cypherpunk.com 

For Investors:
Matthew DeYoung
Investor Relations
Argot Partners
212-600-1902
leap@argotpartners.com

For Media:
Jacqueline Ortiz Ramsay
It Factor Strategies
954-294-3249
jacqueline@itfactorstrategies.com