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Battery-Swapping Stocks Are Trending: Here’s Why U Power Is On The List

Benzinga

By Meg Flippin, Benzinga Electric vehicle (EV) battery-swapping services are taking off as the industry seeks ways to overcome barriers to widespread adoption. Getting stuck because of a dead battery is a big one. The time it takes to get charged up is another. Battery swapping fixes that, enabling drivers to have a full charge in minutes. It also makes owning an EV cheaper. The customer has to purchase the vehicle body and lease the battery pack. According to some estimates, that could save drivers thousands of dollars. All of this is driving this burgeoning industry and its players. U Power Ltd (NASDAQ: UCAR), the Chinese EV power solution company, is one of them. It is going after the market with its advanced UOTTA technology that enables consumers and fleet operators to replace dead EV batteries with fully charged ones in under five minutes. That alone is a big deal, but U Power also offers a battery-swapping ecosystem which includes building the infrastructure through to managing it. U Power Takes On The Competition U Power has some impressive competitors including Nio (NYSE: NIO) the Chinese EV maker, CATL, the leading Chinese EV battery producer and Ample, a San Francisco battery-swapping station start-up. But this isn't stopping U Power from seeing double-digit growth. The company credits that with its ecosystem of services, which it says its competitors don’t have. U Power is also differentiating itself with the customers it is courting. Last year, U Power's UOTTA ecosystem achieved industry-leading full product coverage for commercial vehicles. This coverage spans a wide range of vehicles from long-haul buses to light passenger vehicles, and container tractors to small trucks. U Power offers customized solutions tailored to customer needs. Setting The Standards Then there’s U Power’s partnerships, which will be key to the growth of this market. Battery-swapping is in its infancy and in the beginning the government will play a role in helping develop the market, but eventually the private sector will take over. Companies with broad partnerships with vehicle manufacturers and operators will have a seat at the table when it comes to setting battery-swapping technology standards. That will give them a lead in the market and they could emerge as the company others look to. U Power is among those standard-setting companies, spearheading the initiative. The company’s strong network of partnerships puts U Power in a position to expand the market. Those partnerships include a deal with Dutch electric vehicle company UNEX to provide battery-swapping vehicles and swapping station services to Associação Nacional dos Transportes Rodoviários em Automóveis Ligeiros (ANTRAL), a partnership with Cornerstone Technologies Holdings Limited, a leading EV charging solution provider and charge point operator based in Hong Kong, to jointly explore and develop a strategic business relationship and an agreement with a Peruvian miner to evaluate electric heavy-duty vehicles on an established haulage route. U Power also has a partnership with a major taxi company in China and is forging partnerships with Chinese automobile manufacturers to jointly develop commercial-use UOTTA-powered EVs, such as ride-hailing passenger EVs, small logistics EVs and light electric trucks. At last check, U Power has already sold eleven battery swapping stations, and has 14 patents and 24 pending patent applications in China. All of that is leading to impressive revenue growth. For 2023, revenue increased by 153.5% while gross profit margins reached 61.6%, up from 34.1%. Is U Power Undervalued? But you wouldn’t know it from its stock price. U Power’s valuation pales in comparison to some of its rivals, including Ample, which designs EV battery-swapping stations specifically for Uber drivers. Its stations are optimized for urban settings, and take up a small footprint equivalent to two parking spaces. Like U Power, Ample is forming partnerships within the industry. Back in 2021, Ample reached unicorn status, and while its valuation has come down a bit since then, it's still a highly valued player. U Power could follow a similar trajectory, as it is sporting a market cap of only $17.4 million, despite high growth, key partnerships and strong gross margins. The EV battery-swapping services market is just taking off as the EV market itself grows. Last year the US sold a record 1.2 million EVs. Meanwhile, China forecasts an estimated 20 million EVs will be on the road as of the start of this year. U Power is positioning itself to be a big player in the market and stand out from its rivals focused on battery swapping stations alone. With a broad portfolio of services, strong partnerships and a focus on the commercial market, U Power could be the next breakout stock in the evolving EV battery-swapping marketplace. Featured photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash Benzinga is a leading financial media and data provider, known for delivering accurate, timely, and actionable financial information to empower investors and traders. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

July 25, 2024 08:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Over 25,000 Individuals Demand FCC Hearing on Petition to Deny FOX Affiliate Broadcast License

Media and Democracy Project

Today, the Media and Democracy Project (MAD) was backed by 25,532 concerned individuals demanding that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) hold a hearing to investigate whether FOX and its leadership violated long-standing FCC rules on the character required for broadcast licensees. The 611-page filing includes signatories from all fifty states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. It marks the one-year anniversary of MAD’s Petition to Deny the broadcast license renewal application for FOX Corporation-owned television station FOX 29 Philadelphia (WTXF). “Rarely does an FCC proceeding generate such a groundswell of public engagement, and we’re thrilled to have so many supporters joining our effort,” said Milo Vassallo, the executive director of MAD. “While FOX has peppered this proceeding with politicians and sports teams, we have dedicated our efforts to educating everyday Americans about the FCC’s role in determining whether FOX's leadership meets the character expected of a broadcast licensee.” The filing represents the views of concerned citizens joining MAD in demanding a hearing and according to the filing, “petitioning their government to investigate FOX, a greedy corporation that did incalculable harm when it actively sought to undermine the 2020 presidential election for the sake of its corporate profits.” They join a growing bipartisan chorus of former FCC officials, media veterans, and a noted First Amendment scholar supporting MAD’s petition. MAD’s Petition to Deny documents serious character and rule violations relating to WTXF’s parent corporation’s egregious conduct—spreading dangerous misinformation about the 2020 election all to protect the FOX media empire’s profits. The intentional distortion of news, authorized at the highest levels of FOX’s corporate structure, and fabricated by management and on-air personalities, represents a severe breach of the FCC’s policy on licensee character qualifications. Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch’s actions outlined in the court decision in Dominion v. FOX “shock the conscience.” The people deserve to know the full truth about FOX’s decisions, which showed discord in the 2020 election and contributed to the attack on our nation’s Capitol on January 6, 2021. In light of serious allegations of rule violations and concerns regarding character, on October 9, 2023, MAD filed a motion requesting the FCC to compel FOX to produce key nonpublic discovery from its various lawsuits to ensure full transparency and accountability for its actions. “Never in the history of the Commission has the agency been confronted with a license renewal applicant whose parent company was found by a court of law to have repeatedly presented false news,” said former FOX Broadcasting executive Preston Padden. “We are proud to be joined by so many in calling for a hearing and urge the Media Bureau to compel FOX to produce key discovery that has been withheld from the public.” It’s been nine months since the motion for discovery was filed, and outside opening the petition for Public Comment, the FCC has been silent. Today’s filing says this of the 25,532 individuals: “Petitioners have each volunteered their names in support of this effort because they believe that owning a broadcast station is more than a business—it is a public trust.” Now, it is more important than ever for the Commission to move swiftly to investigate and designate this matter for a hearing. To join this effort, visit foxpetition.com. The Media and Democracy Project: MAD is a non-partisan, all-volunteer, grassroots organization focused on strengthening a free and independent media in the public interest. MAD aims to improve our national discourse so that American voters can engage in informed decision-making. As part of that goal, MAD has an interest in the responsibility of journalists and media to report fully, accurately, and fairly on the electoral process and the outcome of elections. Additional information is available at www.MediaAndDemocracyProject.Org. To sign up for more information from The Media and Democracy Project, click here. Contact Details Raynor Ave. Aaron Alberico +1 202-744-0786 aalberico@raynoravenue.com Company Website https://www.mediaanddemocracyproject.org/

July 25, 2024 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

News Release

Emerging Telemedicine Leaders: Stocks Shaping Healthcare's Digital Future

MGRX, HIMS, GDRX, TDOC

The telemedicine market is not just growing; it's booming. Valued at USD 97.48 billion in 2022 and projected to surge to USD 430.72 billion by 2031, with a robust CAGR of 17.95%, telemedicine is revolutionizing healthcare delivery worldwide. This industry uses telecommunications technology to provide remote patient consultations, diagnostics, and treatment, effectively bridging geographical barriers and lowering healthcare costs. Investors are increasingly drawn to this dynamic and transformative segment as demand for telemedicine grows, owing to its proven benefits in terms of accessibility and efficiency. Now, let's explore four stocks poised to capitalize on the potential growth in telemedicine. Mangoceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: MGRX), also known as MangoRx, is a pioneering force in men’s health and wellness, leveraging a secure telemedicine platform to offer a diverse array of products. The company's focus spans from hair growth solutions to hormone replacement therapies, with recent strides into the nutraceutical market marking a transformative expansion. Highlighting its commitment to innovation, MangoRx recently acquired a global patent portfolio aimed at preventing infections such as the common cold and HPV. This strategic move underscores MangoRx's pivot towards non-prescription, nutraceutical-based products featuring proprietary ingredients like GALALCOOL and zinc protoporphyrin IX. These components synergistically combat oral and respiratory infections, showcasing MangoRx’s dedication to preventive healthcare solutions. Financially, MangoRx reported a remarkable 108% revenue growth in the first quarter of 2024, reaching $214,000 compared to $100,000 in the same period last year. This substantial increase reflects successful customer acquisition strategies and early market penetration initiatives. Notably, the introduction of a direct-to-clinic sales division has further solidified recurring revenue streams by enabling healthcare professionals to prescribe MangoRx products directly. Securing DEA authorization for its HIPAA-compliant telemedicine platform through Surescripts marks a significant regulatory milestone for MGRX. This authorization allows the company to expand its product offerings to include controlled medications such as hormone replacement therapies, positioning MGRX at the forefront of telemedicine innovation. Amanda Hammer, COO of MangoRx, emphasized the transformative impact of this milestone, stating, “This authorization through Surescripts propels MangoRx into a new phase of growth, empowering us to introduce innovative products while maintaining rigorous regulatory compliance.” Internationally, MGRX has forged a strategic partnership with the International Society of Frontier Life Sciences and Technology (ISFLST), aimed at distributing its products in key markets including China, the Asia Pacific region, and Latin America (excluding Mexico). This collaboration leverages ISFLST’s extensive network to introduce MangoRx’s advanced health solutions to burgeoning markets, aligning with the company’s global expansion strategy. Innovation remains a cornerstone of MGRX's approach, highlighted by the initiation of efficacy studies on its patented respiratory illness prevention technology. These studies, announced on July 24, are conducted in collaboration with Vipragen Biosciences and IntraMont Technologies, Inc. They aim to validate the technology’s ability to prevent various viral infections, including H1N1 variants, Avian Flu, the common cold, and Coronavirus. James Intrator, CEO of IntraMont Technologies, expressed confidence in the technology’s potential, highlighting its unique mechanism of binding to viral proteins and acting as a barrier against respiratory viruses. The composition being tested contains a select tannin (enhanced polyphenol) and zinc gluconate. Previous research at Moscow State University showed a 93% decrease in active virus compared to the control group. The product is anticipated to be available as a lozenge or toothpaste, targeting the global influenza market valued at $8.28 billion in 2023. Mangoceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: MGRX) continues to lead in men’s health and wellness through strategic acquisitions, innovative product development, and expansive international outreach. Jacob Cohen, co-founder and CEO of MangoRx, reiterated the company’s mission, stating, “We are dedicated to advancing global health through innovative solutions. Our ongoing efforts in research, strategic partnerships, and product diversification position MangoRx to address critical healthcare needs worldwide.” Hims & Hers Health, Inc. (NYSE: HIMS) is a leading health and wellness platform committed to helping individuals feel great through better health. The company believes that how you feel in your body and mind transforms how you show up in life, driving its mission to build a future where nothing stands in the way of harnessing this power. By normalizing health and wellness challenges and innovating solutions, Hims & Hers makes feeling happy and healthy accessible. The company offers personalized care designed for effective results, acknowledging that no two people are the same. HIMS shares have shown remarkable growth potential, with shares up 150% year to date. This impressive performance positions Hims & Hers as an attractive option for investors, thanks to its rapid expansion, vast addressable market, and reasonable valuation. In the first quarter, the company reported a 46% year-over-year revenue increase, reaching $278.2 million. This growth was driven by a 41% increase in subscribers. With an impressive gross margin of 82%, Hims & Hers has the financial leeway to invest significantly in marketing, spending $130.6 million in the latest period. The company's long-term growth is supported by its early mover advantage, which allows it to capitalize on economies of scale and potential network effects by monetizing anonymized user data. In May, Hims & Hers launched a compounded GLP-1 weight loss injection at $199 per month, which is 85% less than brand-name versions like Ozempic and Wegovy sold by Novo Nordisk. Hims & Hers recently strengthened its leadership by appointing Kare Schultz to its Board of Directors. Schultz brings decades of leadership experience in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries from organizations like Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Lundbeck, and Novo Nordisk. His experience is expected to be invaluable, as Hims & Hers aims to redefine health and wellness for its customers. Andrew Dudum, CEO and co-founder of HIMS, expressed excitement about Schultz joining the board, stating, "We are in a transformative moment for healthcare with the opportunity to make life-changing treatments accessible to all who need them. Kare's experience gives us an incredible wealth of expertise." Schultz also shared his enthusiasm, saying, "Hims & Hers is on a trajectory to upend the healthcare industry. In my long career, this is the first company I have seen leveraging modern tools to break down barriers and change the status quo." With a combination of rapid growth, strategic leadership appointments, and innovative product offerings, Hims & Hers is certainly a telehealth stock to watch this year. GoodRx Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: GDRX) is the top prescription savings platform in the U.S., helping over 25 million consumers and 750,000 healthcare professionals each year. Since its inception in 2011, the company has facilitated nearly $75 billion in savings on medications. GoodRx offers affordable options for both generic and brand-name drugs at over 70,000 pharmacies nationwide and provides valuable healthcare information. Recently, analysts at TD Cowen reaffirmed their positive outlook on GRX by maintaining a buy rating and a $16.00 price target. This confidence follows GoodRx’s announcement of a new biosimilar to Humira, an anti-inflammatory drug. The biosimilar, produced by Boehringer Ingelheim, will be available exclusively on GoodRx’s platform at $550 per two-pack—a 92% discount compared to Humira’s list price. This strategic move enhances GoodRx’s platform, positioning it as a key player in affordable medication options. The discount on Humira, a top-selling prescription drug globally, is expected to attract more users to GoodRx, potentially boosting its revenue and market position. Analysts view this as a significant growth opportunity within GoodRx’s business model. In addition to the Humira biosimilar, GDRX has partnered with Boehringer Ingelheim to provide the low-cost Adalimumab-adbm, now available at over 70,000 pharmacies. The company's upcoming quarterly report is anticipated to show 9% year-over-year growth in Monthly Active Consumers (MACs), supporting a positive revenue trajectory. GDRX has also made strides by appointing tech veteran Simon Patterson to its Board of Directors and setting ambitious financial targets, including over $1 billion in revenue and an adjusted EBITDA margin of 35%+ by 2026. With ongoing initiatives and a robust market presence, GoodRx continues to enhance its value proposition and growth potential. Teladoc Health (NYSE: TDOC) is at the forefront of virtual care, committed to enhancing the healthcare experience through personalized and comprehensive virtual services. Leveraging over two decades of expertise, Teladoc Health aims to support individuals throughout their entire health journey with advanced technology and data-driven insights. Despite its leadership in whole-person virtual care, Teladoc Health has faced significant challenges this year. The stock has dropped 56% due to disappointing quarterly earnings and mixed guidance. For Q1 2024, the company reported a net loss of $81.9 million, or 49 cents per share, slightly worse than the anticipated 47-cent loss. Revenue for the quarter reached $646.13 million, up 2.7% from the previous year. However, the company is grappling with high marketing and operating costs. On a brighter note, Teladoc is expanding its virtual nursing program, a strategic move to address the national nurse shortage. Additionally, its apps, which focus on managing diabetes, hypertension, and weight loss, are making strides in improving health outcomes by integrating physical and mental health activities. Looking ahead, analysts are optimistic about Teladoc’s recovery, projecting a 73% upside with a target price of $16.28. The recent appointment of Chuck Divita as CEO brings renewed hope. With his extensive experience in the healthcare sector, Divita is expected to steer Teladoc toward realizing its growth potential. Teladoc Health will report its Q2 2024 results on July 31, 2024, after market close, with a conference call scheduled at 4:30 p.m. E.T. to discuss the outcomes. Disclaimers: RazorPitch Inc. "RazorPitch" is not operated by a licensed broker, a dealer, or a registered investment adviser. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investment advice. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides investors a safe harbor in regard to forward-looking statements. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, goals, assumptions, or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact may be forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are based on expectations, estimates, and projections at the time the statements are made that involve a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those presently anticipated. Forward looking statements in this action may be identified through use of words such as projects, foresee, expects, will, anticipates, estimates, believes, understands, or that by statements indicating certain actions & quote; may, could, or might occur. Understand there is no guarantee past performance will be indicative of future results. Investing in micro-cap and growth securities is highly speculative and carries an extremely high degree of risk. It is possible that an investors investment may be lost or impaired due to the speculative nature of the companies profiled. RazorPitch has been retained and compensated by Cambridge Consulting to assist in the production and distribution of content related to MGRX. RazorPitch is responsible for the production and distribution of this content. It should be expressly understood that under no circumstances does any information published herein represent a recommendation to buy or sell a security. This content is for informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Nothing contained in this article constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer by RazorPitch or any third party service provider to buy or sell any securities or other financial instruments. All content in this article is information of a general nature and does not address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Nothing in this article constitutes professional and/or financial advice, nor does any information in the article constitute a comprehensive or complete statement of the matters discussed or the law relating thereto. RazorPitch is not a fiduciary by virtue of any persons use of or access to this content. Contact Details Mark McKelvie +1 585-301-7700 mark@razorpitch.com

July 25, 2024 06:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Digital and Real World Assets trading platform tanX hits billion dollar quarterly trading volume milestone

tanX

Trading platform tanX recently processed a billion dollars in quarterly spot trading volume across 3 million transactions (Q2, 2024), marking a 70% increase from the previous quarter. This milestone underscores the growing confidence and trust in decentralized trading platforms. Several factors are attributed to tanX's growth in 2024. The platform has implemented various product upgrades, including strategic partnerships with numerous Layer 2 scaling solutions. This expands the range of networks users can import their assets from to trade on tanX while maintaining fast order execution and low fees. Additionally, tanX has leveraged strategic initiatives like trading competitions and the recent launch of their loyalty program, SALT points, to incentivize user participation. The new spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have been a resounding success. As a group, they have now attracted more than $30 billion in assets under management. In Q2, these spot Bitcoin ETFs set a record with more than $64 billion in average monthly traded volume. However, amid this growth, the institutional need for a decentralized, secure, compliant, and transparent trading infrastructure remains paramount. In the wake of FTX's collapse, crypto traders have increasingly sought decentralized, non-custodial, and safer ways to execute orders and store their assets. This trend underscores the rising investor interest in decentralized crypto exchanges (DEXs). TanX, an orderbook spot DEX on Ethereum, is at the forefront of this transformation, offering a robust platform that ensures compliance, regulation, and transparency of assets to institutional clients through their institutional liquidity lines. Bhavesh Praveen, co-founder and CTO at tanX commented: “ TanX solves some of the critical problems faced by both institutions and users in DeFi. I'm incredibly proud of what we've accomplished, but I'm even more excited about what the future holds. We are working on a lot of exciting new features that will help traders and institutions make yield while trading & having full custody of their funds preventing any FTX like scenarios. We're shaping the future of finance with our hybridized exchange engines, and I couldn't ask for a better team to be on this journey with.” The debate over the merits of DEXs compared to CEXs is well-rehearsed. CEXs offer a familiar feel for investors, particularly those accustomed to dealing with assets like equities on stock exchanges, and often provide a more user-friendly customer interface. However, DEXs offer self-custody and help you retain full ownership of your crypto. tanX acts as a bridge between the two worlds and has been pioneering a hybrid operational model where CEXs can integrate tanX’s solution and provide their customers non-custodial trading while retaining the existing user experience. Vikram, founder at Giottus Exchange commented “tanX brings in a new perspective in bridging the centralized and decentralized space by delivering high performance trade throughput and security, especially for institutions who are worried about KYC complaint trades, it can't get better than tanX in the decentralized exchange space” In the current climate, where many exchanges face increasing regulatory scrutiny over their operations in the U.S. and allegations of canvassing breaches and money laundering in France, the importance of compliance cannot be overstated. DEXs also face risks of misuse since they are not required to adhere to Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations. The founder suggested that tanX addresses this issue by offering institutions geo-fencing and KYC-routed orders, ensuring that trades are executed only with known counterparties. Shaaran Lakshminarayanan, co-founder and CEO at tanX commented: “At tanX our goal is to catalyze the institutional adoption in the digital asset space and onboard the next 100 billion dollar institutional crypto in-flow into the market.” tanX is a venture-backed trading platform that raised a $16.5m (at a $100mn valuation) from Pantera Capital, Elevation Capital, Starkware Ltd, Spartan Group, Goodwater Capital, Upsparks Ventures, Protofund Ventures and angel investors. About tanX tanX is the world’s leading decentralized exchange for institutions and high frequency traders. Presently ranked as one of the top 10 decentralized exchanges in the world by trading volume backed by Pantera Capital, Elevation Capital, Starkware Ltd, Spartan Group, Goodwater Capital, Upsparks Ventures, Protofund and Marquee angel investors. For more information please visit https://tanx.fi/ or follow via LinkedIn, X, YouTube or Discord. Contact Details tanX Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://tanx.fi/

July 25, 2024 06:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Stairhopper Movers Recognized as Boston's Top Moving Company

Rev Up Marketers

Stairhopper Movers, a leading moving company based in Boston, has earned top honors from various prestigious publications, including Forbes, Google, Yelp, and Boston.com. This recognition follows decades of proud service and customer satisfaction, and it underscores their dedication to providing exceptional moving services to clients across Boston and New Hampshire. Founded by Adrian Iorga, who moved to the United States from Romania in 2001, Stairhoppers has built a sterling reputation for reliability and quality care for personal belongings. Further evidence of their reputation for their work lies in the fact that over 80% of their new clients come from word-of-mouth recommendations from previous satisfied clients. The company also holds a perfect 5-star rating on Google, based on over 6,000 reviews. Stairhopper Movers offers a comprehensive range of services, including residential and commercial moves, both local and interstate. They also provide storage solutions to cater to diverse client needs. Additionally, they offer packing services and a variety of moving resources on their website, such as a moving-day checklist, FAQ section about the company and moving in general, and a blog with useful tips and recommendations for the Boston area to inspire potential residents to join their community. Adrian Iorga, a dedicated entrepreneur and community advocate, leads Stairhoppers with a commitment to giving back. The company actively participates in local initiatives, reinforcing its mission to create value and trust within the community. Iorga and his team have revolutionized the moving industry by establishing a trusted name that treats clients and their belongings with the utmost respect. Reflecting on the company’s success, Iorga says, “We aim to exceed your expectations with our moving services, providing affordability and value. Moving can be stressful, but we strive to make your experience smooth, efficient, and successful.” “I invite you to experience the exceptional service, affordability, and value that Stairhopper Movers offers. Moving can be challenging, and our goal is to eliminate the stress and ensure your move is fast, efficient, and successful.” - Adrian Iorga, founder and CEO of Stairhoppers. About Stairhopper Movers Stairhoppers Movers is a moving company based in Boston, MA, serving both residential and commercial clients in Boston and New Hampshire. Founded by Adrian Iorga, the company is renowned for its reliability, comprehensive services, and strong community involvement. Contact Details Stairhopper Movers Adrian Iorga +1 857-928-0876 move@stairhoppers.com Company Website https://stairhoppers.com/

July 25, 2024 05:13 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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HTX Ventures's EthCC 2024 Insights: Infrastructures are Strong, Applications Need Innovation

HTX Ventures

Singapore / July 24, 2024 – 2024 marked the 10th year anniversary of Ethereum ICO. To learn from front-end developers and connect with like-minded VCs and ecosystem users, several investment analysts from HTX Ventures have attended the largest annual European Ethereum event EthCC last week. This article outlines some of our observations about the current market situation. Optimize Ethereum Vitalik Buterin delivered a keynote speech in Brussels on "Hardening the L1: Optimizing Ethereum as a Highly Robust, Dependable and Permissionless Base Layer for L2s." In his speech, Vitalik reaffirmed Ethereum's roadmap to provide the most decentralized and secure settlement Layer 1 for various Layer 2s, with five main improvement directions for Ethereum outlined: Decentralized DeFi: To maintain the decentralized nature of the Ethereum network, encouraging solo staking is essential. This can be achieved by lowering its barriers to entry through things like easing node operation and reducing the staking monetary threshold. Other risks that need to be considered include the risk of liquidity staking and the related risk of MEV (Miner Extractable Value). Layer 2 Solution: To achieve Ethereum’s roadmap, efforts need to be focused on increasing the data availability bandwidth for Layer 2 storage and lowering the cost of storage on Ethereum. Security and Privacy Protection: Vitalik encourages validators to prepare for 51% attacks by providing automatic coordination on the same minority fork when an attack occurs. He also suggests potential solutions for future quantum attacks. Light Clients: Promoting the adoption of light clients like Helios for Layer 1s, and developing similar solutions for Layer 2s, user's secure blockchain interactions can be ensured without relying on centralized servers. Protocol Simplification: To ensure Ethereum remains a robust base layer, its technical debt needs to be reduced. 2. Investment Slowdown The pace of investment for VCs across the market is temporarily slowing down due to three main reasons: the ambiguity of market liquidity, listing trends/macro situation, and high FDV (Fully Diluted Valuation) VC rounds. As the market makes some value corrections and the political and economic situation clarifies in the latter half of 2024, VCs are expected to resume a more active investment pace. 3. Misaligned Invest Direction The consensus agrees that having strong consumer applications is crucial to getting more people to use blockchain technology. However, VCs’ funding is telling a different story. Currently, a large part of funding is still going towards infrastructure, especially AI, security, privacy, and blockchains. This investment trend is even more significant within the Ethereum ecosystem. The current misalignment of investment direction is partly due to the lack of innovative narratives among consumer applications. 4. Alternative Ecosystem Focus: Outside of the main Ethereum ecosystem discussion, three other main types of blockchain are at the center of attention: Community-Driven Blockchains: Blockchains like Ton focus on creating good user experiences and consumer applications that can be used by millions of non-crypto users. Parallel EVM Blockchains and Modular Solutions: Solutions such as Monad and Avail leverage Ethereum while offering improved functionalities. BTC Ecosystem: The Bitcoin ecosystem is also exploring user applications. 5. Macro Expectation Due to the release of blockchain ETFs, the crypto market is becoming more in sync with the traditional financial system. The upcoming US presidential election and the expected Fed rate cut will affect crypto regulations, economic direction, and the liquidity of the U.S. dollar and related pegged currencies. Currently, as the probability of Trump winning the election is increasing, the market holds an optimistic view toward the future of the crypto market post the end of 2024. HTX Ventures' Engagement Alongside attending the main event, HTX Ventures sponsored and spoke at several side events, such as the LSDFI Summit and VC<> Start-Up Connect. Our researchers and Managing Partner shared insights on "Restaking Development'' and "How to Successfully Launch a Web3 Ecosystem." This year's EthCC conference showcased an unshakeable status of the Ethereum ecosystem and provided forward-looking technical discussions and application explorations. HTX Ventures is committed to supporting the long-term development of the Ethereum ecosystem and continually seeking technologies and projects that will advance the crypto user experience. == About HTX Ventures HTX Ventures, the global investment division of HTX, integrates investment, incubation, and research to identify the best and brightest teams worldwide. With a decade-long history as an industry pioneer, HTX Ventures excels at identifying cutting-edge technologies and emerging business models within the sector. To foster growth within the blockchain ecosystem, we provide comprehensive support to projects, including financing, resources, and strategic advice. HTX Ventures currently backs over 300 projects spanning multiple blockchain sectors, with select high-quality initiatives already trading on the HTX exchange. Furthermore, as one of the most active Fund of Funds (FOF) investors, HTX Ventures collaboratively forges the blockchain ecosystem alongside premier global blockchain funds, including Dragonfly, Bankless, Gitcoin, Figment, and Animoca. Feel free to contact us for investment and collaboration at VC@htx-inc.com. About HTX Ventures HTX Ventures, the global investment division of HTX, integrates investment, incubation, and research to identify the best and brightest teams worldwide. With a decade-long history as an industry pioneer, HTX Ventures excels at identifying cutting-edge technologies and emerging business models within the sector. To foster growth within the blockchain ecosystem, we provide comprehensive support to projects, including financing, resources, and strategic advice. HTX Ventures presently backs over 200 projects spanning multiple blockchain sectors, with select high-quality initiatives already trading on the HTX exchange. Furthermore, as one of the most vigorous Fund of Funds (FOF) investors, HTX Ventures collaboratively forges the blockchain ecosystem alongside premier global blockchain funds, including IVC, Shima, and Animoca. Contact Details EE glo-media@htx-inc.com Company Website https://www.htx.com/en-us/ventures

July 24, 2024 12:42 PM Eastern Daylight Time

News Release

Golden Shield Resources Announces Acquisition of Tucano Gold

Golden Shield Resources

Golden Shield Resources Executive Chairman Leo Hathaway joined Steve Darling from Proactive to announce a strategic move for the company. Golden Shield Resources has entered into a non-binding letter of intent with Tucano Gold to acquire all issued and outstanding securities of Tucano Gold in exchange for securities in Golden Shield Resources. This acquisition positions Golden Shield Resources to benefit from continued exposure to exploration opportunities at Marudi and the potential of Tucano Gold to unlock the value of a near-producing, high-grade gold asset in Brazil. Both Marudi and Tucano Gold are situated in the same geologically rich but poorly understood gold belt, providing the resultant company with significant geological knowledge, operational synergies, and strategic advantages for future discoveries. Tucano Gold's primary asset, Mina Tucano, is an open-pit operation with substantial underground development potential. It is fully equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure capable of processing up to 3.5 million tonnes of ore per year. Currently on care and maintenance, Mina Tucano is scheduled for a production restart in Q4 2024. This acquisition is expected to enhance Golden Shield Resources' operational capabilities and expedite its path to production, thereby delivering significant value to its shareholders. Contact Details Proactive North America +1 604-688-8158 na-editorial@proactiveinvestors.com

July 24, 2024 11:51 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Video

Hive Digital Technologies to Establish Major 100MW Digital Asset Mining Operation in Paraguay

HIVE Digital Technologies

Hive Digital Technologies Executive Chairman Frank Holmes joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share exciting news about the company's ambitious plans to build a 100-megawatt digital asset mining operation in Paraguay. Following a comprehensive tour of the country and meetings with President Santiago Peña and his senior cabinet ministers, the company has identified Paraguay as a business-friendly environment that aligns with its vision. Holmes highlighted that this potential project is expected to significantly boost Hive's Bitcoin mining operations, potentially adding up to an additional 6.5 Exahash per second (EH/s). This increase would raise Hive's global mining capacity to 12.1 EH/s, marking a substantial milestone in the company's diversified growth strategy. This expansion supports Hive's commitment to broadening its global footprint, which already includes data center operations in Canada, Sweden, Iceland, and now Paraguay. In Paraguay, Hive Digital Technologies plans to leverage its extensive experience and expertise in grid balancing and demand response to support ongoing industrial development. By monetizing surplus or under-utilized power assets, the company aims to provide significant economic benefits. Additionally, with energy bills being paid in U.S. dollars, Hive's operations in Paraguay present a unique opportunity for the government. This arrangement ensures stable monthly U.S. dollar income, acting as a strategic currency hedge and contributing to financial stability in the face of a volatile global currency market. In 2023, electricity exports accounted for approximately 13.2% of Paraguay's total exports. Hive's new operation is poised to enhance this figure further, underscoring the country's growing importance in the global energy and digital asset sectors. The company's commitment to sustainable and innovative energy solutions positions it as a key player in Paraguay's industrial and economic development. Contact Details Proactive North America +1 604-688-8158 NA-editorial@proactiveinvestors.com

July 24, 2024 11:27 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Direxion to Change Name of QQQU and QQQD

Direxion

Direxion, a leading provider of tradeable and thematic ETFs, announced the name change of QQQU and QQQD. Effective August 16, 2024, the new fund names will be the Direxion Daily Magnificent 7 Bull 2X Shares (Ticker: QQQU ) and the Direxion Daily Magnificent 7 Bear 1X Shares (Ticker: QQQD ). Coinciding with the name changes, QQQU and QQQD will seek to achieve 200%, or 100% of the inverse (opposite), respectively, of the daily performance of the Indxx Magnificent 7 Index. The Index will continue to track to track the performance of the seven largest Nasdaq 100-listed companies, all of which are household names, including Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL), Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN), Apple Inc. (AAPL), Meta Platforms, Inc. (META), Microsoft Corporation (MSFT), Nvidia Corporation (NVDA) and Tesla, Inc. (TSLA). “QQQU and QQQD capitalize on key market drivers, to include artificial intelligence, cloud computing and semiconductors," said Direxion Managing Director and Head of Sales and Alternatives, Edward Egilinsky. “The new fund names better align with the opportunities traders have expressed with their short-term convictions on the Magnificent 7.” All Direxion leveraged and inverse ETFs are intended only for investors with an in-depth understanding of the risks associated with seeking leveraged investment results, and who plan to actively monitor and manage their positions. There is no guarantee these ETFs will meet their objective. Please visit the Direxion Leveraged and Inverse ETF Education Center, where you will find educational brochures, videos, and a self-paced online course to help you understand if leveraged ETFs are right for you. About Direxion: Direxion equips investors who are driven by conviction with ETF solutions built for purpose and fine-tuned for precision. These solutions are available for a broad spectrum of investors, whether executing short-term tactical trades, or investing in thematic strategies. Direxion’s reputation is founded on developing products that precisely express market perspectives and allow investors to manage their risk exposure. Founded in 1997, the company has approximately $42.9 billion in assets under management as of June 30, 2024. For more information, please visit www.direxion.com. There is no guarantee that the Funds will achieve their investment objectives. For more information on all Direxion Shares ETFs, go to www.direxion.com, or call us at 866.301.9214. An investor should carefully consider a Fund’s investment objective, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. A Fund’s prospectus and summary prospectus contain this and other information about the Direxion Shares. To obtain a prospectus and summary prospectus call 866-476-7523 or visit our website at direxion.com. A Fund’s prospectus and summary prospectus should be read carefully before investing. Leveraged and Inverse ETFs pursue daily leveraged investment objectives which means they are riskier than alternatives which do not use leverage. They seek daily goals and should not be expected to track the underlying index over periods longer than one day. They are not suitable for all investors and should be utilized only by sophisticated investors who understand leverage risk and who actively manage their investments. Direxion Shares Risks – An investment in each Fund involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Each Fund is non-diversified and includes risks associated with the Funds’ concentrating their investments in a particular industry, sector, or geographic region which can result in increased volatility. The use of derivatives such as futures contracts and swaps are subject to market risks that may cause their price to fluctuate over time. Risks of each Fund include Effects of Compounding and Market Volatility Risk, Counterparty Risk, Market Risk, Rebalancing Risk, Intra-Day Investment Risk, Other Investment Companies (including ETFs) Risk, Passive Investment and Index Performance Risk, Cash Transaction Risk and risks specific to the information technology sector. The value of stocks of information technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles. Additional risks include, for the Direxion Daily Concentrated Qs Bull 2X Shares, Daily Index Correlation Risk and Leverage Risk, and for the Direxion Daily Concentrated Qs Bear 1X Shares, Shorting or Inverse Risk and Daily Inverse Index Correlation Risk. Please see the summary and full prospectuses for a more complete description of these and other risks of each Fund. Distributor: Foreside Fund Services, LLC. Contact Details Ditto Public Relations Danielle Black, SAE direxion@dittopr.co Company Website https://www.direxion.com/

July 24, 2024 10:32 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Hive Digital Technologies to Establish Major 100MW Digital Asset Mining Operation in Paraguay

Direxion to Change Name of QQQU and QQQD