Optimisus

PWC has become the first non-custodial crypto payment wallet ever officially recognised by both ASEAN Records and Asia Records.

This is not just news.
This is the beginning of a new era.
And everyone knows it—This is not the end.
This is the moment PayWithCrypto was truly written into history.
Because on this night, we witnessed a turning point:
PWC is now the first ever non-custodial crypto payment wallet officially recorded and recognised across both ASEAN and Asia.
PWC ONE was not simply an annual dinner.

It was an industry confirmation.
ASEAN & Asia Records Have Officially Written PWC Into History
In a crypto world full of noise and speculation, records are never self-proclaimed.
True milestones are validated only through official recognition. And on this night…
PWC achieved exactly that.
The PayWithCrypto Super App has been officially recognised by:

ASEAN Records

Asia Records
For one reason:
PWC has delivered the first true breakthrough in payment-grade crypto infrastructure:
Non-custodial wallet architectureA payment wallet built beyond exchangesMulti-country national QR scan-to-pay integrationInstant crypto-to-fiat settlement across borders
This is not a concept.
This is a record.
This is history.

ASEAN Records Official Coverage:
Asia Records Official Coverage:
This moment means one thing:
PWC is no longer just a project.
PWC is now infrastructure.
Founder & CEO Vincent Tse Recognised by Forbes — A True Pioneer of the Digital Economy

That same night, we witnessed another defining milestone.
PWC Founder & CEO Vincent Tse was recognised by Forbes for his leadership and impact in the digital economy.
Forbes feature:
https://www.forbesuruguay.com/innovacion/estos-son-40-lideres-tech-estan-revolucionando-futuro-digital-vale-pena-conocer-n82019
This is proof that the world is no longer watching short-term price movements.
The world is watching the builders of long-term infrastructure.
History remembers only two kinds of people:
Those who define the era— and those who miss it.
Co-Founder & CMO Jackson Neo Unveils 2026: From Payments to National-Scale Expansion

If 2025 marked the first phase of adoption:
B2C — Crypto payments reaching everyday users

Then 2026 will be the next explosion of scale:
B2B — Opening the Energy Trading & Global Logistics Settlement Layer
In 2026, PWC will officially integrate with energy companies and energy trading systems.
Payments will move into the core of:
EnergyLogisticsGlobal trade
Because the largest market of the future is not only products.
It is energy.
And PWC will become the payment rail that settles it.
B2G — Entering Government-Level Payment Infrastructure

Even more importantly…
This year, PWC will connect with Abu Dhabi’s government fine payment systems.
Formally opening:
B2G — Enterprise-to-Government Payment Infrastructure
This means PWC is not only serving users.
PWC is entering national-scale use cases.

And our global community will travel with us to Abu Dhabi—to witness the next chapter of growth together.
After PWC ONE, The World Will No Longer Ask: “Is PWC Real?”
The world will no longer ask: “Is PayWithCrypto real?”
The world will ask only one thing:
How early were you?
Because PWC ONE has never been just an annual dinner.
It stands for:
One Platform.
One App.
One Mission.
One Vision.
It stands for: One for All. All in One.
PWC ONE was not an ending.

It was the ignition of the future.
And the next chapter—
will not wait for anyone.

Enjin, the pioneer in metaverse experiences and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), today unveiled Essence of the Elements, a Multiverse initiative built around true player ownership with in-game items that can be used, progressed, and expanded across multiple games. Rather than a single in-game event, Essence of the Elements builds upon the model where players genuinely own their items, carry them between different worlds, and grow their value through cross-game play.
Through Enjin’s Multiverse Dashboard, players link their gaming wallet to access a shared progression system spanning multiple titles. By completing quests and challenges across different games, players earn Essence and unlock new items that evolve beyond any one game, creating a growing set of Multiverse collectibles. Each season—Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth—adds new opportunities to expand an item’s utility and unlock additional Multiverse items through play in diverse game environments.
Essence of the Elements expands the original prize pool of past Multiverse chapters. Each season in this event introduces prizes that evolve as players gain Essence. These NFT rewards are infused with Enjin Coin (ENJ), with 50,000 ENJ allocated per season across rewards. At the end of each season, eligible players enter a draw to receive a new seasonal Multiverse item. Each season also features a prize of an exclusive, element-themed Degen NFT with a staking pool capacity of 1 million.
Rene Stefancic, COO of Enjin commented, “Essence of the Elements shows what’s possible when players truly own their items. Using NFTs, Enjin enables items that belong to players, not games, and can move, evolve, and unlock new value across multiple worlds. This is about ownership that persists beyond any single title, where progress in one game creates opportunity in another, and players stay in control of what they earn.” 
Essence of the Elements is a free-to-play campaign to all gamers from Web3 newcomers to veteran players. Games in the first season include ENJ Excavators, Etherscape, Into the Multiverse, Lost Relics, and The Six Dragons. Additional games may join in future seasons.
Enjin is dedicated to delivering a cross-game journey that continuously evolves and improves, with a fair-play and sustainable structure that can grow over time.
The Essence of the Elements Multiverse Chapter is now live on multiverse.nft.io.
Rene Stefancic, COO at Enjin, available for interview
About Enjin
Enjin is the leading ecosystem for non-fungible tokens (NFTs), offering a comprehensive suite of products for creating, trading, distributing, and integrating NFTs into virtual worlds. As a scalable, accessible platform, Enjin’s technology has seen wide application in blockchain games, apps, enterprise programs, and innovative marketing campaigns. The Enjin ecosystem is fueled by Enjin Coin (ENJ), a utility token used to back the value of blockchain assets. To date, over one billion Enjin-powered assets have been created. For more information, visit enjin.io.
For Media Enquiries
Enjin
Glhaiza Pacheco
E: contact@enjin.io

Check Point Research revealed that the North Korean advanced persistent threat (APT) group, KONNI, has been targeting blockchain developers in Japan, Australia, and India. The hackers are using AI-generated PowerShell backdoors.
According to reports released on January 21, 2026, the attack starts when KONNI uses Discord to offer a link that prompts developers to download a ZIP file. This archive contains elements that start a multi-stage infection process on the victim’s computer.
The ZIP file includes a Windows shortcut and an apparently authentic PDF file. The Windows shortcut initiates scripts that launch a PowerShell script in memory, generate scheduled tasks, and unpack other files. This script then connects to servers under the attackers’ control, creating a permanent backdoor on the compromised system.
Check Point Research reveals that the PowerShell backdoor possesses unique features linked to the development of large language model (LLM) code. Additionally, the script is renowned for its modular design, excellent English documentation, and educational placeholders.
Also, it includes a comment that indicates where to put a unique project identification (UUID). Every 13 minutes, while waiting for more instructions from the attackers, the backdoor transmits system information to a remote server using this UUID to identify the project instance on each compromised device.

Since at least 2014, KONNI has been active. Previous efforts have targeted South Korean governmental and diplomatic institutions as well as organizations associated with the Korean Peninsula.
The organization’s attention has recently switched to the cryptocurrency industry, namely targeting blockchain developers who oversee the infrastructure and code for initiatives using digital currencies.

The Tezos protocol has been successfully upgraded, following an on-chain governance process with broad participation from bakers (validators) and community members. 
Developed by Nomadic Labs, Trilitech, and Functori, Tallinn is the 20th protocol upgrade, marking 20 evolutions of the Tezos blockchain, proposed, adopted, and seamlessly activated by the protocol itself.
“Adapting to market demand 20 times over 7 years without network disruptions, and in a fully decentralized way, is undeniable proof of Tezos’ reliability and future-proof design,” said Yann Régis-Gianas, Head of Engineering at Nomadic Labs. ”
The Tallinn upgrade shortens Tezos Layer-1 block time to 6 seconds, reducing latency and speeding up finality on the network’s censorship-resistant settlement layer. This pairs naturally with Etherlink, Tezos’ EVM-compatible Layer-2, which already confirms transactions in under 50 milliseconds, now backed by Layer-1 finality in two blocks, or 12 seconds.
Tallinn also enables all bakers (network validators) to attest to every block, instead of a subset of bakers, which brings stronger security and more predictable staking rewards. This is achieved through the use of BLS cryptographic signatures, which aggregate hundreds of signatures into just one per block. By lightening the load on nodes, it also opens the door to further block time reductions.
Finally, Tallinn introduces an ‘Address Indexing Registry’ that can improve storage efficiency by up to 100x for apps using the Michelson runtime. It is done by eliminating redundant address data, and apps adopting this feature will benefit from lower costs and higher potential throughput. 
“Based on inputs from Tezos builders, our development team is excited to be able to offer such drastic improvements for enterprise-scale apps, large NFT ledgers, and other setups storing many addresses,” said Yann Régis-Gianas, Head of Engineering at Nomadic Labs. 
Since launching in 2018, the Tezos blockchain has continued to evolve seamlessly through protocol upgrades, with each activation introducing a series of features designed to improve the overall experience of using and building on the network. Tallinn is another forkless step forward in making Tezos faster, more secure, and optimized for enterprise use, with no compromise on decentralization, and further proof of the network’s ability to quickly adapt to user needs and ensure longevity through continuous innovation and optimization. 
About Tezos
Tezos is an open-source and energy-efficient blockchain designed to empower institutions, developers, and businesses and facilitate value transfer in a digital environment. It is designed for the scalable deployment of decentralized applications. As one of the first Proof of Stake blockchains, Tezos is globally supported and valued for its strong governance, long-term upgradability, and smart contract capabilities. For more information about Tezos, visit http://www.tezos.com. 

As payments, finance, and blockchain infrastructure continue to converge a new paradigm of value circulation is taking shape.

1. From DeFi to PayFi: The Inevitable Evolution of Blockchain Applications
In the early stages of blockchain development, industry focus was largely centered on asset transfers and financial derivatives.
DeFi (Decentralized Finance) proved that blockchain could build financial systems without intermediaries.
However, it did not solve a more fundamental problem: everyday payments and settlement.
No matter how advanced technology becomes, the real economy ultimately revolves around one core activity:
Payment.
PayFi (Payment Finance) emerged precisely in this context.
It is not a rejection of DeFi, but a natural extension toward the real economy.
2. What Is PayFi? It Solves Payment Problems, Not Speculative Finance
PayFi = Blockchain × Payments × Financial Infrastructure
Unlike DeFi, which focuses on how capital is lent, traded, or structured into derivatives, PayFi addresses far more fundamental and high-frequency use cases:
Digital Currency PaymentCrypto PaymentUSDT Payment / Stablecoin PaymentDigital Currency SettlementDigital Currency Online AcquiringCross-Border Payment
PayFi does not aim to create new speculative financial instruments.
Its purpose is to make digital currencies scalable tools for real-world payment and settlement.

3. The Real Foundation of PayFi in 2025: Data Is Driving the Shift
PayFi is widely discussed in 2025 not because of hype, but because of data.
Key Industry Indicators in 2025 (Aggregated Market Trends)
Global annual stablecoin settlement volume has reached multiple trillions of USD, with more than half used for payments, remittances, and settlement, not speculation.Emerging markets — Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa —are experiencing the fastest growth in stablecoin payments, with annual growth rates commonly exceeding 40%–60%.The cross-border payment market continues to expand, while traditional systems still charge 3%–6% average fees, compared to sub-1% total costs for stablecoin-based settlement.In multiple countries, USDT has effectively become a cross-border unit of account, especially in tourism, freelancing, international trade, and e-commerce settlement.
These data points make one thing clear:
The question is no longer whether PayFi will happen —but who will be able to absorb and scale this demand.
4. Why Stablecoins (USDT) Became the Core Carrier of PayFi
PayFi depends on one essential condition: stability.
Historically, cryptocurrencies struggled as payment tools due to price volatility.
The maturity of stablecoins fundamentally changed this assumption.
Stablecoins such as USDT and USDC offer:
Stable value anchoringNear-instant on-chain transfersGlobal accessibilityDeep liquidity and market depth
This allows USDT payments to gradually take on monetary characteristics in the real world,
forming the settlement foundation of the PayFi ecosystem.

5. PWC’s Role in the PayFi Framework:
The Real-World Payment Connectivity Layer within the PayFi ecosystem, not every participant directly faces users or merchants.
What truly determines real-world adoption is the intermediate layer connecting on-chain systems to real-world commerce.
PWC (PayWithCrypto) is one of the representative players in this layer.
What Is PWC?
Functionally, PWC is neither an exchange nor a simple wallet.
It is a payment network and settlement system connecting crypto payments with real-world merchants.
It solves a critical mismatch:
Users want to pay with digital currency while merchants want to receive local fiat currency.
How PWC Operates (PayFi in Practice)
User side:
Users complete crypto payments using USDT and other stablecoins
System layer:
On-chain settlement and clearing mechanisms handle digital currency settlement
Merchant side:
Merchants receive local fiat currency without bearing volatility risk. This structure allows Digital Currency Online Acquiring to scale in a manner similar to traditional online acquiring systems.
As of 2025, PWC has completed large-scale deployment across multiple Southeast Asian markets, covering tens of millions of merchants, making it one of the most tangible real-world PayFi implementations.
6. PayFi Is Changing More Than Just Payment Methods
From a long-term perspective, PayFi’s significance extends far beyond “faster and cheaper payments.”
As payments and settlement move fully on-chain, several structural shifts emerge:
Payment equals settlement, dramatically improving capital efficiencyTransparent, verifiable transaction data, enabling new credit systemsLower cross-border barriers, allowing SMEs to directly participate in global commerceFinancial services built around real transactions, rather than speculative activity
PayFi is becoming a core infrastructure layer connecting the real economy with blockchain-based systems.
7. Conclusion: PayFi Changes the World Through Adoption, Not Disruption
PayFi will not replace banks or traditional payment systems overnight.
It resembles the early TCP/IP protocols of the internet — initially a supplement, eventually one of the default standards.
When people become accustomed to paying with USDT, merchants routinely accept digital currency payments, and businesses settle cross-border transactions using stablecoins, PayFi will have fulfilled its most important mission.
PayFi is not a slogan.
It is a payment infrastructure already being adopted by the real world.

River, the first chain-abstraction stablecoin system designed to connect assets, liquidity, and yield across ecosystems, today announced $8 million in strategic investment from TRON DAO Ventures.
River will deploy its chain-abstraction stablecoin infrastructure and expand its integration across the TRON ecosystem, strengthening TRON’s position as a leading blockchain network for stablecoin activity.

River will enable cross-ecosystem assets and liquidity to enter the TRON ecosystem through its chain-abstraction stablecoin infrastructure. The integration will further accelerate the flow of cross-ecosystem liquidity into TRON, extending access to one of the world’s largest blockchain networks.
By abstracting underlying network complexity, users will be able to move assets across blockchain ecosystems without navigating individual chains, simplifying cross-chain participation and settlement.
The initiative aims to build a more unified and interoperable infrastructure to support activity across the TRON network.
As part of the initiative, satUSD will be introduced across several core protocols within the TRON ecosystem. It will be deployed in stablecoin liquidity pools alongside USDT and USDD on SUN, with price feeds provided by WinkLink, and will be made available on JustLend for lending and borrowing.
The integration will extend across a range of assets and dApps across the TRON ecosystem, including TRX, USDT, wBTC, BTT, JST, SUN, WIN, and select NFT use cases. River also plans to introduce a Smart Vault and an institutional-grade Prime Vault.
TRON is one of the most actively used public blockchain networks globally, processing approximately 56 percent of all retail-sized USDT transfers in the fourth quarter of 2025, the highest share among major blockchains.
According to Tether’s latest transparency report, the network currently hosts approximately $83.4 billion in USDT liquidity, reflecting its role as a primary blockchain infrastructure supporting stablecoin activity worldwide.
By combining River’s cross-ecosystem connectivity with TRON’s scalable blockchain infrastructure, the collaboration aims to support the development of a more integrated network for liquidity, yield, and asset deployment.
The initiative reflects a shared focus on strengthening blockchain infrastructure to support scalable settlement, cross-ecosystem liquidity, and institutional participation.
About River
River is building the first chain-abstraction stablecoin system that connects assets, liquidity, and yield across ecosystems.
Website: https://app.river.incX: https://x.com/RiverdotIncTelegram: https://t.me/river_incDiscord: https://discord.com/invite/river-inc

Disclaimer: Any information written in this press release does not constitute investment advice. Optimisus does not, and will not endorse any information about any company or individual on this page. Readers are encouraged to do their own research and base any actions on their own findings, not on any content written in this press release. Optimisus is and will not be responsible for any damage or loss caused directly or indirectly by the use of any content, product, or service mentioned in this press release.