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Tencent Cloud Once Again Recognized as a Representative Vendor for Video Platform Services in the Gartner® Market Guide

Continuously leveraging AIGC technology to drive innovation in the cloud industry

HONG KONG, April 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Tencent Cloud, the cloud business of global technology company Tencent, today announced that it is once again recognized as a Representative Vendor in the newly published Gartner® Market Guide for Video Platform Services report.

Tencent Cloud Once Again Recognized as a Representative Vendor for Video Platform Services in the Gartner® Market Guide
Tencent Cloud Once Again Recognized as a Representative Vendor for Video Platform Services in the Gartner® Market Guide

Recently, it was also named as a Representative Vendor in the Gartner® report titled “Competitive Landscape: Video Platform Services”. This repeated recognition underscores Tencent Cloud’s leadership in audio and video technology, its robust product portfolio, and its global service experience, solidifying its strong competitiveness in the global market.

Tencent Cloud leverages its cutting-edge audio and video technology capabilities to help clients overcome their challenges, alongside its highly established and influential hybrid cloud deployment capabilities. Based on AI technologies such as large language models (LLMs) and digital image processing, Tencent Cloud enables the generation and enhancement of audio and video content, covering the entire production chain and multiple scenarios of audio and video content creation.

Tencent Cloud’s MPaaS offers a comprehensive suite of capabilities, including Media Processing Service (MPS), Cloud Streaming Services (CSS), Video on Demand (VOD), and Live Event Broadcasting (LEB), continuously driving digital transformation for industries worldwide.

Deep Integration of AIGC Technology for Smarter Audio and Video Experiences

With rapid advancements in large AI models, Tencent Cloud has actively integrated AIGC technologies—such as large language models (LLMs), audio and video generation, and multimodal understanding—into its media intelligence products.

These innovations are now widely applied across scenarios like short drama globalization, education, live streaming, sports events, and entertainment. Tencent Cloud also integrates media intelligence capabilities into AI model training and generation workflows to enhance model performance.

For example, in short drama globalization, Tencent Cloud’s one-stop solution offers smart subtitle extraction, translation, original subtitle removal, translated subtitle embedding, voice cloning, and video synthesis to enable cost-effective global distribution.

In educational, news, and speech-related video scenarios, Tencent Cloud leverages its Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) and AI technologies to extract and summarize video content, allowing users to grasp key points without manual scrubbing. The solution also supports offline and live segmentation, auto-generating section summaries and keywords to help users quickly locate desired clips, improving efficiency.

For live streaming, Tencent Cloud’s media intelligence products provide real-time subtitles and translation in over 100 languages, breaking language barriers for global audiences—even allowing non-Chinese speakers to understand phrases such as “123, link up!”

In sports, variety shows, and film/TV production, Tencent Cloud’s Region-Of-Interest (ROI) intelligent recognition technology identifies visual content and key elements (e.g., faces, game characters, hosts) in real time, transmitting region-of-interest (ROI) data alongside encoded video to playback devices. This enables precise highlight clipping, smart anti-blocking for bullet chats, background blurring, and adaptive vertical cropping of horizontal videos for multi-device compatibility.

Notably, Tencent Cloud’s audio and video expertise also enhances large model training and generation. During the data cleaning phase of model training, the quality of training data directly affects the clarity and stability of the generated videos. Tencent Cloud’s media quality inspection capabilities can automatically remove training materials with format errors or image quality defects, improving the overall quality of training videos.

In video generation, outputting high-resolution and high-frame-rate video content has long faced technical challenges such as high computational power consumption and decreased model stability. Tencent Cloud’s MPS (Media Processing Service) image quality enhancement capability, based on an improved Stable Diffusion architecture, optimizes the performance of distillation algorithms. It supports enhancing videos from 480P@30fps to 4K@120fps, significantly reducing the cost of generating ultra-high-definition videos while improving their clarity and stability. Currently, this capability has been implemented in several large model generation products, providing stronger technical support for AI content creation and helping various enterprises optimize video content efficiently. 

Continuous Innovation to Drive Global Digital Transformation

Beyond AIGC, Tencent Cloud pushes the boundaries of audio and video technology, excelling in encoding, quality enhancement, and media inspection. It also prioritizes open media processing frameworks and industry collaboration.

Tencent Cloud’s MPS possesses leading encoding capabilities in the audio and video industry. It can save over 50% of the bitrate without compromising quality, significantly reducing operational costs for enterprises. Its mainstream encoding formats support the most comprehensive standards, including H.264/H.265/H.266/VP9/AV1, as well as the Chinese standards AVS2/AVS3. In the MSU World Video Coding Contest held at Moscow State University in 2024, Tencent’s encoder took first place in all 15 indicators, once again achieving the best performance overall. Additionally, it supports the most comprehensive audio and video encoding standards, including VP8, H.264, VP9, H.265, AV1, AVS3, and H.266.

Audio and video quality is one of the industry’s major concerns. In this regard, for needs such as upgrading old video sources and enhancing image quality, MPS, based on the DiT (Diffusion Transformer) model that combines the advantages of diffusion models and Transformer architectures, provides over ten enhancement capabilities, including detail enhancement, color enhancement, SDR to HDR conversion, super-resolution, intelligent frame interpolation, and more. This can effectively help enterprises and users address various audio and video quality issues and bring a brand-new audiovisual experience.

In addition to its leading technology research and development capabilities, Tencent Cloud has actively participated in the development of the H.266/VVC standard, becoming the world’s first cloud provider to support H.266/VVC. Tencent Cloud holds key positions in the standardization organization, including as the joint chief editor and co-chair of the H.266/VVC standard, and is a significant technical contributor. Moreover, Tencent Cloud is the only founding member of AV1 in China and actively participates in the development of the AV2 standard, as well as the engineering of the H.267 standard.

MPS collaborates with overseas ecosystem partners in areas such as audio and video processing and transmission. It supports technologies like Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, Nielsen, Nagra digital watermarks, and transmission standards such as SRT, SMPTE2022-07, SMPTE ST2110 with JPEG-XS, and NDI. This ensures that audio and video can be transmitted with low latency, stability, and smoothness.

The Tencent Cloud audio and video team actively leads or participates in the development of many open-source audio and video projects such as SRS, SRT, VLC, fostering a mutually beneficial relationship between the cloud and the open-source community.

Empowering Global Industries

Powered by globally leading technology, Tencent Cloud Media Processing Service (MPS) offers a comprehensive, one-stop solution tailored for industries such as M&E and e-commerce, accelerating digital transformation across global markets.

Through the continuous accumulation of technology and experience, Tencent Cloud has established close partnerships and provides stable technical support to overseas enterprises in the Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and North Africa regions, including Japan’s karaoke app Pokekara, Singapore’s streaming platform BeLive, Thailand’s digital content platform Ookbee, and Pakistan’s network TV service ARY ZAP. By these collaborations, Tencent Cloud expands its global footprint and provide a digital support and business innovation path for enterprise internationalization.

Looking ahead, as AI and other technologies evolve, Tencent Cloud will persist in constructing an international business landscape from a global perspective. Leveraging its deep accumulation in the audio and video domain, Tencent Cloud will continue to increase its technological investment in audio and video, exploring innovative applications and business models to deliver superior, efficient, and personalized services that fuel high-quality growth across industries.

Gartner, Market Guide for Video Platform Services, 19 March 2025

Gartner, Competitive Landscape: Video Platform Services, 18 December 2024

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartners research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved.

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About Tencent Cloud:

Tencent Cloud, one of the world’s leading cloud companies, is committed to creating innovative solutions to resolve real-world issues and enabling digital transformation for smart industries. Through our extensive global infrastructure, Tencent Cloud provides businesses across the globe with stable and secure industry-leading cloud products and services, leveraging technological advancements such as cloud computing, Big Data analytics, AI, IoT, and network security. It is our constant mission to meet the needs of industries across the board, including the fields of gaming, media and entertainment, finance, healthcare, property, retail, travel, and transportation.

The Nature Conservancy Appoints Tamara Singh as Managing Director, Singapore, to Drive Regional Climate and Conservation Impact

SINGAPORE, April 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms Tamara Singh as its new Managing Director, Singapore and Senior Advisor, Regional Programs, effective 1 April 2025. She succeeds Mr. Thomas Brzostowski, who was Interim Singapore Country Director.

Tamara Singh, Managing Director, Singapore and Senior Advisor, Regional Programs, The Nature Conservancy
Tamara Singh, Managing Director, Singapore and Senior Advisor, Regional Programs, The Nature Conservancy

In this role, Ms Singh will lead TNC’s efforts to drive climate action and conservation impact from Singapore, leveraging its strategic position as a hub for innovation, partnerships, science, and fundraising to accelerate climate and Nature-based Solutions (NbS) across Asia-Pacific and globally.

Ms Singh brings over two decades of experience in energy, finance, and sustainability, having worked at Centrica, BP, Deutsche Bank, and Macquarie Bank in London, New York, and Asia-Pacific. Since returning to Singapore in 2012, she has led digital transformation initiatives and sustainable finance initiatives in various capacities. She also advises on corporate transition towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a Sherpa for APEC’s Asia-Pacific Financial Forum Sustainable Finance Development Network and is a member of the Global Finance & Technology Network.

Will McGoldrick, Regional Managing Director, Asia-Pacific at TNC, commented, “Tamara’s appointment strengthens TNC’s ability to drive tangible climate action and conservation impact across Asia-Pacific. As we scale solutions to address the world’s most pressing environmental challenges, her deep expertise in sustainable finance and proven ability to bridge the private and public sectors will be invaluable. Tamara’s leadership will be crucial in accelerating our 2030 goals while reinforcing Singapore’s position as a global conservation and climate finance hub.”

Tamara Singh, Managing Director, Singapore and Senior Advisor, Regional Programs at TNC, added, “Joining one of the world’s most respected conservation organizations at a time when the need for bold, science-driven climate action has never been more urgent is both an honor and a responsibility. TNC’s collaborative approach, grounded in science and innovation, has made a tangible difference in tackling some of the planet’s most pressing environmental challenges. I look forward to working alongside our partners to drive nature-positive solutions that protect our planet and its people.”

TNC established its program in Singapore in late 2022 as a global center for innovation, partnerships, and science to scale up conservation and climate impact across the region and support Singapore in achieving its 2030 Green Plan. The program focuses on four key priorities: catalyzing NbS and carbon markets, fostering research collaborations, innovating impact finance solutions, and supporting regional corporate partnerships. In addition, TNC collaborates with other environmental non-profits in Singapore to pool resources, share knowledge, and build partnerships. Notably, in 2023, TNC joined seven other NGOs to form the Southeast Asia Climate and Nature-based Solutions (SCeNe) Coalition, accelerating high-quality, triple-benefit NbS projects across the region. For more information on its work in Singapore, read its Asia Pacific Annual Report.

For more information on Ms Singh, please refer to the Annex below.

About The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping to make cities more livable. Working in more than 81 countries and territories, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. TNC has been in Asia Pacific for almost 30 years, with projects in Australia, mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Mongolia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.

To learn more, visit www.nature.org or follow @nature_org on X.

Annex: Biography of Ms Tamara Singh

Ms Tamara Singh earned her stripes at Centrica Plc, BP Oil International, Deutsche Bank and Macquarie Bank, before returning home to Singapore,having led teams across energy and financial services, governing trading floors in London, New York and the Asia Pacific.

On home ground, Ms Singh served Westpac Banking Corporation and then her country. Whilst supporting GIC’s mandate for the nation, she contributed to digital transformation, innovation and sustainability initiatives, building relationships across the financial ecosystem worldwide. This ignited her to structure a career centred on enabling sustainable organisations to scale, while championing impactful change. 

Ms Singh also works across industries to better the finance ecosystem and further enterprises through sustainable business practices. Appointed Sherpa to APEC’s APFF Sustainable Finance Development Network, and the Global Finance & Technology Network, Tamara champions Corporate Transition towards attainment of the SDGs. 

Outside of these commitments, Tamara holds Board positions with commercial entities, and non-profits including Advancement for Rural Kids, a US 501 (c) (3).  She coaches leaders of organisations and advises start-ups navigating sustainability and scale. In academia, she is a Fellow of ESSEC’s iMagination Center and a leadership coach at INSEAD. She graduated with degrees in Law and Applied Accounting from University of Nottingham and Oxford Brookes University respectively and holds an Executive Masters in Business Administration from INSEAD.

Lumary Solar Watering Timer Assists Water-Scarce Regions with More Efficient Irrigation Planning

HONG KONG, April 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Lumary, a leader in sustainable smart home solutions, is excited to announce that its Solar Watering Timer has surpassed its funding goal within just one week of its launch on Kickstarter. The campaign has received enthusiastic feedback, particularly from backers in water-scarce regions where every drop of water is valuable. These customers highlighted the need for a reliable tool to help them create more effective and sustainable irrigation plans for their gardens.

Lumary 4-Zone Solar Wi-Fi Watering Timer
Lumary 4-Zone Solar Wi-Fi Watering Timer

The Lumary Solar Watering Timer is designed to address the challenges faced by gardeners in areas with limited water resources. Equipped with a Hall sensor, the timer monitors the water flow of each zone precisely, ensuring accurate water delivery tailored to the needs of each plant. This innovation not only helps prevent over-watering but also ensures that no water is wasted—delivering the exact amount plants need for healthy growth.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the positive response from our backers, many of whom are in regions where water is precious,” said a spokesperson for Lumary. “They’ve expressed how crucial it is for them to use every drop efficiently, and that’s exactly why we created this product—to give them more control over their watering systems and contribute to sustainable gardening practices.”

To meet the diverse needs of backers, Lumary has expanded the Kickstarter campaign with the addition of soil temperature and humidity sensors. These sensors work seamlessly with the Solar Watering Timer, triggering irrigation based on real-time soil conditions, thus offering an even more precise, data-driven irrigation experience.

Moreover, some backers with limited electrical infrastructure have been exploring innovative solutions using the Lumary Solar Watering Timer. These users are combining the device with their existing solar panels, storage batteries, and on-demand water pumps to build fully solar-powered, off-grid irrigation systems. This setup allows for autonomous, eco-friendly watering without the need for an external power supply, making it ideal for regions where electricity supply is unstable or unavailable.

Availability

The Lumary Solar Watering Timer Kickstarter campaign is still ongoing, with backers enjoying exclusive early-bird discounts and the opportunity to be among the first to receive the product. Interested customers can visit the Kickstarter campaign page for more information and to secure their backing.

About Lumary

Lumary is committed to developing smart, sustainable, and user-friendly home solutions. By combining innovation with automation, Lumary continues to enhance convenience while promoting environmental responsibility.

Contact

Lumary Team
influencer@lumary.tech 
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lumary/lumary-smart-wi-fi-solar-4-zone-watering-timer?ref=6w6hck

Fujitsu and Macquarie University partner to help address critical shortage of machine learning engineers

New micro credentials course will give students access to Fujitsu’s AutoML technology, allowing them to generate AI models more rapidly

KAWASAKI, Japan, April 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Faster and highly accurate AI models will be available and accessible to students through a strategic partnership between global digital transformation leader, Fujitsu, and Macquarie University.

The collaboration, formed through an established strategic partnership, will offer university-developed AI micro credentials via Macquarie University’s online learning platforms as well as popular platforms including LinkedIn Learning and Udemy, allowing students, researchers and industry professionals around the world access to Fujitsu’s proprietary AutoML technology while developing valuable knowledge and skills in automated machine learning.

The new four-week online course, “Fujitsu AutoML: Mastering Automated Machine Learning” will open for registrations. The course is tailored to bridge the gap in AI education and will teach basic theory with practical exercises on topics including automated machine learning, models and algorithms using the Fujitsu AutoML tool.

Accelerating AI implementation process with Fujitsu AutoML technology

The Fujitsu AutoML technology speeds up analysis by evaluating the most promising machine learning pipelines, rather than all combinations of possible outcomes. The technology also enhances transparency for data-driven decision-making by showing users how the AI model is built.

Fujitsu AutoML is an integral component of Fujitsu’s cloud-based AI Platform, Fujitsu Kozuchi, which enables rapid development, testing, and implementation of AI across seven areas: Generative AI, AutoML, predictive analytics, text, vision, AI trust, explainable AI.

For full release click here

ZNShine Solar Delivers High-Performance Bifacial Modules for 67MW Signal Ranch Solar Project in Texas

QUINLAN, Texas, April 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — ZNShine Solar, a globally recognized Tier 1 photovoltaic manufacturer, today announced its contribution of 54.648 MW of high-efficiency bifacial modules to the 67 MW Signal Ranch Solar Project. Located at BT Signal Ranch, 427 Signal Road, Quinlan, TX 75474, the project achieved financial closure on December 15, 2023, through non-recourse financing arranged by EastWest Bank.

Project Highlights:

  • Total Capacity: 67 MW (54.648 MW supplied by ZNShine Solar)
  • Technology: 550W bifacial double-glass monocrystalline PERC modules
  • Key Features: Multi-busbar technology for enhanced efficiency, superior PID resistance, and proven durability in extreme conditions
  • Development: Adapture Renewables & Belltown Power (co-developers), SOLV Energy (EPC)

ZNShine’s bifacial modules employ an innovative dual-glass design that replaces traditional backsheets, delivering:

  • 30-year operational lifespan with <0.5% annual degradation
  • 15-25% higher energy yield versus monofacial alternatives
  • Certified resistance to high humidity (85% RH), high temperatures (85°C), and sandstorms

Financial & Operational Details:

With commissioning beginning in November 2024, the project will generate sufficient clean energy to power approximately 9,335 Texas homes annually. EastWest Bank’s non-recourse financing package demonstrates strong confidence in both the project’s viability and ZNShine’s bankable module technology.

About ZNShine Solar
As a BNEF Tier 1 PV Manufacturer and PVEL Top Performer, ZNShine Solar (founded 2006) operates 10GW+ of global production capacity across facilities in China and international markets. The company’s vertically integrated R&D and manufacturing processes ensure industry-leading module reliability, with products deployed across 60+ countries.

 

The Secret of the Vietnamese Restaurant Chain Loved by Koreans

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, April 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — With over 15 years of experience in the F&B industry, Quán Bụi Group has become a well-known culinary brand among both Vietnamese and international diners.

A diner shared their experience after visiting Quán Bụi: “My family and I visited the restaurant in the evening. Although it was quite crowded, the staff remained very attentive. The food matched our taste, and the ambiance was comfortable. This is truly an ideal place for gatherings with family and friends.”


These values have become the hallmark of Quán Bụi Group and the quality standard they continuously strive for. No matter which of their restaurants you visit, you can experience the completeness in every dish, the professionalism in service, and the warm, inviting ambiance—a place where culture and cuisine come together, touching your emotions.

Founded by CEO Danh Trần, who has a deep passion for Vietnamese cuisine and a strong desire to preserve and elevate its flavors to premium standards, Quán Bụi Group has grown from a small restaurant into a diverse culinary ecosystem with 14 branches, including:

  • Quán Bụi – Specializing in Vietnamese cuisine, recreating traditional flavors in a rustic and cozy setting.
  • Laang Saigon – A modern take on Vietnamese cuisine, blending Asian culinary excellence.
  • Sticky Rice – Authentic Thai flavors with bold spiciness and distinctive aromas.
  • Café’In – A modern café space, perfect for work or relaxation.

Quán Bụi is set to open a new branch in Phú Mỹ Hưng, District 7— an area known as the “Korean Town”, home to a large Korean community in Ho Chi Minh City. With a spacious setting and high capacity, Quán Bụi Phú Mỹ Hưng will be an ideal destination for parties, gatherings, or meetings with friends.

Quán Bụi offers Vietnamese dishes that are beloved by Korean diners, such as Vietnamese Fried Pancake (Bánh xèo) with Seafood, Grilled Squid with Spicy Chili Salt, Vietnamese Clam Soup with Dill, Tofu with Salted Egg Sauce, Beef Salad with White Eggplant and Kumquat, Hanoi Grilled Pork with Rice Noodles – Bún Chả, and Sautéed Fillet Chicken with Tamarind Sauce. Each dish is thoughtfully prepared to preserve the authentic essence of Vietnamese cuisine while maintaining a harmonious balance of flavors.

Sharing his vision for development, CEO Danh Trần emphasized: “Cuisine is the easiest way to explore and understand a culture. With continuous efforts to enhance quality and service, Quán Bụi Group’s restaurant brands take pride in being the top choice for the Korean community in Vietnam—a place where flavors touch the heart, and food becomes a universal language of connection.”

Why Are There No New Users in the Crypto Market? How Multi-Asset Trading Wallet BiyaPay Is Finding New Solutions Amidst Fierce Competition and User Confusion ?

SINGAPORE, April 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ —

Introduction 

In recent years, the cryptocurrency market has undergone a dramatic shift from euphoria to calm. At one point, Bitcoin and Ethereum prices hit new highs, and concepts like NFTs and the Metaverse rapidly gained traction, attracting a flood of new users. However, as the market cooled down, the growth of new users slowed significantly, even showing signs of stagnation. This phenomenon has caused concern within the industry: why is the crypto market struggling to attract new participants? Despite continuous technological innovation and an abundance of new projects, public interest has not kept pace. The challenges faced by the crypto market are rooted in increasing competition and a more complex ecosystem, which has left new users confused. This article will explore why the crypto market is experiencing a lack of significant new user growth and discuss how, in the midst of intense competition and user confusion, companies like BiyaPay, a leading multi-asset trading wallet, are finding new ways to drive growth in the crypto industry.

Market Situation Analysis

The competition in the crypto market has intensified, and the ecosystem has become increasingly saturated. From public chains to sidechains, to Layer 2 networks and various decentralized applications (dApps), the number of projects has exploded. According to statistics, over 350 active blockchain networks exist worldwide, and the number of new tokens issued each day reaches tens of thousands. The fragmentation of the market has intensified, and users are now faced with an overwhelming number of choices. However, despite the continuous increase in projects, user growth has not followed suit. Indicators like Total Value Locked (TVL) show that the current cycle has not surpassed previous market highs. The decline in search interest for the term “crypto” on Google Trends also reflects the cyclical decrease in public interest. For beginners, entering the crypto world is far from simple: hundreds of blockchains, wallets, and various protocols and applications make the decision process overwhelming, and the sheer number of options raises the cognitive and usability barriers.

The stagnation in new user growth is driven by multiple factors. First, the user experience of crypto products is significantly more complex than that of traditional internet applications. New users must not only install digital wallets, back up recovery phrases, purchase digital currencies, and pay miner fees but also switch between different blockchain networks, which is particularly daunting for those with no prior exposure to crypto technology. Second, market fragmentation is severe. The ecosystems of various public chains are isolated, making asset interoperability a challenge. This means users need to switch between platforms, for example, dApps on Ethereum have high transaction fees, and users seeking cheaper alternatives often have to learn new wallets and operational logic. The lack of unified standards and interoperability creates friction in user experiences. Lastly, information overload exacerbates user confusion. With thousands of token projects, new users often struggle to distinguish valuable projects from fraudulent ones. The complexity of the experience and the overload of information discourage potential users from entering the market.

Beyond the complexity of the user experience, external factors also contribute to the hesitation of new users entering the crypto market. One significant challenge is regulatory uncertainty. Different countries have vastly differing attitudes toward cryptocurrencies, and their regulations are subject to frequent changes. Some countries have welcomed crypto innovation only to suddenly impose strict regulations, while others have yet to define clear regulations. This uncertainty makes it difficult for crypto companies to operate compliantly, and users feel uneasy about investing in crypto due to the risk of sudden regulatory crackdowns. Another challenge is the frequent occurrence of security incidents, which has damaged the public image of the industry. Events such as exchange bankruptcies, project founders running off with funds, and hacking incidents have shaken user confidence in the safety of crypto platforms. The media’s coverage of crypto scams, money laundering, and other criminal activities has further exacerbated the industry’s reputation crisis. These events make ordinary users wary of entering the crypto space, as they fear losing their funds or getting caught up in illegal activities. Trust issues have become the most significant psychological barrier preventing new users from entering the market.

Core Barriers to User Growth

The target audience for the crypto industry is not homogeneous but highly diversified. Developers, ordinary users, investors, and institutions all have different needs, contributing to the fragmentation of the market. For example, public chain projects primarily target developers, as only developers can build applications that attract end users and grow the ecosystem. Therefore, public chains need to focus on “developer marketing” and technical documentation to encourage developers to adopt their chains. However, these efforts may not directly translate into growth for the average user base. For dApp applications, which should ideally focus on end users, many instead focus on attracting token holders and speculative funds. Sometimes token holders are not actual users of the product but engage in speculative arbitrage, which does not contribute to real user growth. Venture capitalists and institutional investors are primarily focused on return on investment (ROI), and they invest in projects with the expectation that token prices will appreciate. This often leads projects to prioritize token price management and exchange partnerships over improving the product’s appeal to everyday users. Meanwhile, retail speculators are more concerned with short-term price fluctuations and lack patience for long-term value, which makes it difficult to cultivate a loyal user base. Technical partners, such as cross-chain bridges and wallet plugins, form another isolated group. The diverse interests of these stakeholders contribute to the fragmentation of the market, making it harder to target and grow a unified user base.

The high technical complexity of crypto technology is another significant barrier to user adoption. Many ordinary people have heard of Bitcoin but find it difficult to understand blockchain principles, private key signing, or how to manage a string of characters on their own. The high technical threshold leads to mistakes or discomfort when users first experience the technology. For example, a user might accidentally enter the wrong address during a transaction, resulting in the loss of their assets. The high transaction fees, especially during Ethereum’s peak, also discourage small investors and beginners from participating in the market. These issues highlight that blockchain infrastructure is still far from being ready for large-scale commercial adoption. At the same time, the lack of trust has worsened the problem. The 2021 bull market attracted a wave of mainstream users, especially with celebrities endorsing NFTs, but many new users withdrew after the market crash in 2022. Exchange collapses and project failures have left people with negative perceptions of the industry. When the media frequently reports on Bitcoin’s “death” or the collapse of major crypto projects, it reinforces this negative view. Therefore, when technical complexity and trust issues are combined, convincing new users to enter the market becomes an uphill battle. They are either discouraged by the high barriers to entry or deterred by security concerns.

The high cost and complex entry process are additional hurdles for new users. For many newcomers, buying cryptocurrencies is already a significant barrier. Fiat-to-crypto channels are limited, and transaction fees can be high. Through third-party payment methods, users might face additional fees of 2-5%, discouraging small-scale users. Additionally, the volatility of crypto asset prices often causes new users to fear that they will “get stuck” as soon as they enter the market, adding to the psychological cost. Transaction costs are also significant, including high fees for blockchain Gas and additional charges for withdrawal and exchange transactions. Furthermore, the onboarding process is complex. Traditional financial account opening may only require identification documents, but in the crypto world, new users often face multiple steps: registering on exchanges, completing KYC (Know Your Customer) verification, linking bank accounts or wallets, depositing fiat currency to purchase USDT or BTC, and finally transferring funds to personal wallets. This process involves several platforms, and each step introduces new concepts (KYC, wallet addresses, private keys) that users need to understand. Some users may abandon the process midway or fall victim to phishing sites that steal recovery phrases. In comparison, Web2 applications have far simpler onboarding processes. The cumbersome entry process further reduces the attractiveness of crypto products to new users.

Where Is the Breakthrough?

To overcome these barriers, the crypto industry must focus on lowering entry barriers, building trust, and enhancing practical functionality. One company leading the way in this regard is BiyaPay, a global multi-asset trading wallet that offers potential solutions through its product features and service model.

BiyaPay’s standout feature is its multi-asset trading function, which allows users to manage various financial assets, including digital currencies, U.S. stocks, Hong Kong stocks, and more, all within a single platform. This “one-stop” design significantly reduces the entry barrier for new users. Firstly, new users no longer need to download multiple apps or switch between platforms. Traditionally, users needed to open a securities account to trade stocks and register with a crypto exchange for digital currencies. With BiyaPay, users can trade both stocks and crypto assets in one wallet, greatly simplifying the process. For traditional investors, they can now access digital currencies through a familiar stock trading platform, while crypto users can easily engage in traditional asset trading. Secondly, this multi-asset integration makes cross-market operations much more convenient. Users can exchange stablecoins for U.S. dollars and trade U.S. or Hong Kong stocks without the need for complex cross-border transfers or opening offshore accounts. BiyaPay supports converting USDT or other digital assets into fiat currencies and then using them to buy and sell U.S. or Hong Kong stocks, all without the hassle of opening offshore bank accounts. The platform allows for rapid account opening in just five minutes and seamless asset exchange, making global financial markets easily accessible. This simplified experience greatly reduces the psychological barriers for new users, making them more likely to engage with different features.

Another breakthrough offered by BiyaPay is its global payment and remittance services, which solve the difficulties associated with cross-border transactions. The platform supports real-time exchange and remittance for over twenty fiat currencies and more than ten major cryptocurrencies at very low costs. For example, a user working overseas can easily send funds to their family by exchanging digital assets into the local fiat currency on BiyaPay and transferring the funds to a recipient’s account. The low fees (around 0.5%) and the elimination of complex intermediary steps provide a significant advantage over traditional remittance services, which can take days to process and have high fees. This service meets real-world financial needs, attracting users who may not be interested in crypto technology itself but need a convenient cross-border payment solution. For instance, in countries experiencing high inflation, residents can use BiyaPay to convert their local currency into stablecoins for value preservation and then exchange them back into fiat currency when needed. This new use case for crypto is a major breakthrough for the industry, as it shifts the focus from speculative trading to practical financial solutions, making the crypto world more accessible.

BiyaPay also builds user trust by operating in a fully compliant and secure manner. It is headquartered in Singapore, with subsidiaries in the U.S., Canada, and Hong Kong, holding comprehensive financial licenses to ensure legal and compliant operations. BiyaPay emphasizes its “complete licensing, safe and reliable” credentials, which help build trust, especially during times of regulatory uncertainty. Users are more likely to trust a regulated platform with legitimate licenses rather than an anonymous underground exchange. In addition to regulatory compliance, BiyaPay also focuses on security, using bank-grade encryption and multi-factor authentication mechanisms to safeguard user assets and data. This focus on security and risk management ensures that users can make secure transactions without worrying about their funds being frozen or confiscated, a common concern among crypto users.

BiyaPay’s multi-asset strategy not only lowers entry barriers but also broadens its potential user base. By offering both traditional financial assets and cryptocurrencies on the same platform, BiyaPay appeals to a diverse range of investors. Traditional investors who are interested in global markets can use BiyaPay to access cryptocurrency markets easily, while crypto investors can use the platform to diversify their portfolios into traditional assets. This cross-pollination between the “stock” and “crypto” communities significantly expands BiyaPay’s user base.

Future Trends and Outlook

Looking ahead, the emergence of Web3 technologies offers new growth opportunities for the crypto market. Social finance, NFTs, and the Metaverse are emerging fields that could drive the next wave of user growth. BiyaPay can tap into these trends by supporting features such as NFT asset management and Metaverse payment solutions, which would cater to users’ needs in these new areas.

In addition to technological innovation, the crypto industry needs to invest in branding and user education to truly reach new audiences. Clear marketing messages and user education efforts can break down existing barriers to entry. By promoting simple, relatable messages such as “blockchain makes cross-border payments as easy as texting,” crypto platforms like BiyaPay can resonate with mainstream users and reduce the cognitive hurdles new users face.

Conclusion

The slowdown in new user growth in the crypto market is due to a combination of factors, including technological complexity, market fragmentation, and trust issues. However, by improving the user experience, strengthening compliance and security, and expanding practical use cases, the market can overcome these barriers. BiyaPay, as a leading multi-asset trading wallet, demonstrates a successful approach by offering integrated services, global payment solutions, and strong regulatory compliance. The future of the crypto industry looks promising, with the potential to attract new users through innovative products and improved user experiences.

About BiyaPay

BiyaPay is a global multi-asset trading wallet that supports instant exchange of more than 30 fiat currencies and more than 200 digital currencies, and provides USDT direct advertising US stocks, Hong Kong stocks and digital currency spot and contract trading services. Its compliance withdrawal channel and one-stop financial ecosystem are trusted by users around the world.

Learn more information

BiyaPay official website: www.biyapay.com 

Customer service email: service@biyapay.com 

Telegram supports: https://t.me/biyapay001 

The Smoothest Beer Creates the Smoothest Skin Cream? Heineken® Silver Blurs Boundaries with The Heineken® Smootheriser

  • Heineken® Silver is taking its smoothness beyond beer with the launch of The Heineken® Smootheriser; a skin cream as silky as its brew
  • This new, limited-edition drop blurs the lines between beer and beauty, taking the signature ultra-smooth taste of Heineken® Silver and turning it into an unexpected creation
  • The Heineken® Smootheriser will launch in Cambodia and Taiwan region, bringing a refreshing twist to skincare and redefining what smoothness means

SINGAPORE, April 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Heineken® Silver, the beer renowned for its ultra-refreshing smoothness, today unveils The Heineken®  Smootheriser, a “skin-smoothing” beauty cream. Blurring the boundaries between beer and beauty, the cream draws inspiration from Heineken® Silver’s crisp, easy-drinking formula, taking its smoothness beyond just beer.

The smoothest beer creates the smoothest skin cream_ Heineken® Silver blurs boundaries with the Heineken® Smootheriser
The smoothest beer creates the smoothest skin cream_ Heineken® Silver blurs boundaries with the Heineken® Smootheriser

At a time when consumers are engaging with brands in more unexpected ways, Heineken® Silver is leaning into cultural trends, stepping beyond traditional marketing to create something playful and disruptive. Launched in Asia, this unexpected creation taps into skincare’s popularity surge and the rise of self-care to engage a broader audience with something playful and disruptive.

Disrupting Expectations, One Smooth Move at a Time

Pushing category boundaries is in Heineken® Silver’s DNA. Brewed at -1°C for a refreshingly crisp taste, the beer has always redefined smoothness. Now, in true Heineken® Silver fashion, the brand is making waves with its unconventional approach to brand engagement and sparking curiosity and conversation.

What started as a joke was just too smooth not to make real.

The Heineken® Smootheriser is not just about jumping on the latest trends. It’s about Heineken®’s move to blend humour, innovation and cultural relevance to create a memorable crossover that gets people talking whether they’re into beer, skincare, or both. After all, when something is as smooth as Heineken® Silver, why stop at beer?” says Nabil Nasser, Global Head of the Heineken® Brand.

A Cultural Conversation in the Making

While it makes its debut on April 1, The Heineken® Smootheriser is no April Fool’s joke. The product actually exists, blurring the line between parody and possibility. Infused with the same quality barley and hops that give Heineken® Silver its signature crisp taste, The Heineken® Smootheriser is exquisitely packaged with a premium formulation that’s designed to hydrate and nourish the skin. Over 1,000 limited-edition boxes are now available exclusively through select activations and giveaways.

The Heineken® Smootheriser will launch in Taiwan region and Cambodia, coinciding with Heineken® Silver’s official launch in the latter market.

Fans eager to witness the exciting blend of beer and beauty can follow @heineken_tw and @heineken_kh on Instagram for more updates on The Heineken® Smootheriser.

About HEINEKEN

HEINEKEN is the world’s most international brewer. It is the leading developer and marketer of premium and non-alcoholic beer and cider brands. Led by the Heineken® brand, the Group has a portfolio of more than 340 international, regional, local and specialty beers and ciders. With HEINEKEN’s over 85,000 employees, we brew the joy of true togetherness to inspire a better world. Our dream is to shape the future of beer and beyond to win the hearts of consumers. We are committed to innovation, long-term brand investment, disciplined sales execution and focused cost management. Through “Brew a Better World”, sustainability is embedded in the business. HEINEKEN has a well-balanced geographic footprint with leadership positions in both developed and developing markets. We operate breweries, malteries, cider plants and other production facilities in more than 70 countries. Most recent information is available on our Company’s website and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram