Tag: mobile

Alokai Review: My Verdict for 2025

admin — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 12:32:41 +0000

If you’re serious about growing your ecommerce store and want full control over your frontend, Alokai might be exactly what you’re looking for.

I’ve worked with plenty of frontend platforms — traditional and headless — and Alokai stands out for speed, flexibility, and performance. But it’s not for everyone.

Quick answer?
Alokai is perfect for mid to enterprise-level ecommerce brands who are scaling fast, want lightning site speed, and need more freedom than Shopify or BigCommerce themes can offer.

But if you’re a solo founder or running a small store without dev help, Alokai might not be your best bet.

Why You Can Trust This Review

I’ve built and scaled ecommerce stores across multiple CMSs and frontend platforms — including Shopify Hydrogen, Shogun Frontend, Vue Storefront, and now Alokai.

I’m not here to push hype or throw around buzzwords. This review is based on hands-on experience with the stack and working with real client stores using Alokai.

Alokai Pros & Cons

Here’s what stood out immediately:

What I LikeWhat I Don’t LikeBlazing-fast page load speedRequires developer resources to set upSeamless integration with Shopify, BigCommerce, MagentoNot ideal for beginners or small storesExcellent developer documentationNo pricing listed publiclyFlexible content blocks and CMSInitial build can be complexOptimised for performance, SEO, and conversionSmaller ecosystem compared to Shopify Go to the top What Alokai Does Best

Alokai gives you a lightning-fast, composable frontend layer that sits on top of your ecommerce backend.

Think of it as the “storefront brain” — pulling in data from your CMS, your product feed, your PIM, and your checkout engine — and stitching it together into a seamless, branded experience.

It’s fast. It’s flexible. It’s built with performance in mind.

This isn’t a page builder or template tool. Alokai is infrastructure. It separates the frontend from the backend, giving brands the power to build lightning-fast experiences that are fully custom — without being handcuffed by platform limitations.

You still keep your backend platform, whether that’s Shopify, Magento, or BigCommerce, but now the presentation layer is fully yours to control.

Here’s what stands out most in my experience:

Built-in CMS for managing landing pages, banners, and reusable content blocks Native integration with ecommerce backends like Shopify, Magento, BigCommerce Designed using Nuxt.js (a powerful Vue.js framework for high-performance builds) Built-in support for i18n (internationalisation), personalisation, and custom routing

Whether you’re trying to speed up time-to-first-byte, improve lighthouse scores, or support complex merchandising logic, Alokai makes those challenges more manageable without reinventing the whole stack.

If your store needs more than a templated look and feel — and you want true frontend freedom — Alokai is one of the few platforms delivering on that promise.

Key Capabilities Overview:

FeatureDescriptionHeadless ArchitectureDecouples frontend from backend for full flexibilityBuilt-in CMSManage content blocks, layouts, and dynamic sections without codePerformance OptimisationServer-side rendering, lazy loading, and static generationFrameworkBuilt on Nuxt 3 (Vue.js), enabling modular and scalable developmentEcommerce Platform IntegrationNative support for Shopify, Magento, BigCommerce, Commercetools Go to the top My Setup Experience

To be clear, Alokai is not a plug-and-play theme builder like Shopify or Wix.

You’re setting up a frontend architecture. That means:

You’ll need developers who know Vue.js and Nuxt There’s an initial setup process that connects your store backend (like Shopify) via API You manage deployments via Git and hosting is typically handled by Vercel, Netlify, or similar The flexibility is there, but the tradeoff is complexity

The platform provides a CLI (command-line interface), prebuilt components, and boilerplate projects to help teams get moving faster, but it’s not “drag-and-drop” in the way most ecommerce platforms position themselves.

You’re building for performance, so expect a more development-heavy process upfront.

I worked with a small team on a Shopify + Alokai stack. The setup process took about 2-3 weeks to get fully functional. Once it was up, the performance gains were huge.

We had full control over layout and content, and the CMS handled promotions and layout updates without needing to push new code every time.

For teams that have dev resources — or agencies working with multiple brands — Alokai offers a framework that’s modern, flexible, and genuinely optimised for scale.

Go to the top Performance: This Is Where Alokai Shines

Site speed is no joke — especially with mobile shoppers. In our experience, it’s one of the most critical factors in ecommerce performance.

A few milliseconds can be the difference between a bounce and a sale. One of the biggest reasons we switched to Alokai was performance, and the difference was immediately noticeable.

We migrated a store from a traditional Shopify theme to an Alokai-powered frontend. The backend remained the same, but the frontend overhaul made a huge impact across every performance metric.

What we saw after switching:

Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): 0.9s (down from 3.2s) Time to Interactive (TTI): 1.4s Overall Lighthouse performance score: 97/100 Improved bounce rate by 22%

Those numbers aren’t theoretical — they came from live testing on production. The difference in perceived load time, especially on mobile, was drastic.

Pages rendered faster, above-the-fold content loaded almost instantly, and customer navigation became smoother.

Alokai uses a smart combination of frontend rendering strategies to deliver that kind of performance:

Server-side rendering (SSR) for fast initial load and SEO benefits Static site generation (SSG) for caching and edge delivery where possible Client-side hydration for interactivity without delaying load time Lazy loading and code splitting to load assets only when needed

These strategies are built into Alokai’s architecture and optimised for ecommerce use cases — especially large catalogs, multi-region setups, and traffic spikes during product drops or campaigns.

Here’s a simplified view of the rendering stack:

Rendering TechniquePurposeResultServer-side rendering (SSR)Faster initial page renderImproves time-to-first-byteStatic site generation (SSG)Pre-rendered contentExcellent for SEO and cachingClient-side hydrationInteractivity and dynamic stateImproves user experienceLazy loadingLoads assets on demandReduces initial payload size

For stores struggling with slow page loads, especially with product-heavy or media-rich pages, Alokai provides a noticeable edge.

Go to the top SEO & Site Structure

One of the key benefits of Alokai is the level of SEO control. Most platforms give you the basics — page titles, meta descriptions, maybe a sitemap. But with Alokai, everything is clean and structured from the ground up, built for serious technical SEO.

You’re not locked into rigid routing structures, and you have full access to modify or inject whatever markup is needed.

SEO tools and features I rely on with Alokai:

Canonical URLs, meta titles, and dynamic Open Graph support Easy sitemap generation and robots.txt configuration Structured data injections for products, reviews, articles, and more Full control over dynamic routes and custom URL slugs Native support for localisation, international routing, and hreflang tags

Alokai also makes it easy to configure redirects, pagination logic, and breadcrumb schema — all the small but important elements that contribute to long-term SEO success.

When we switched a multi-category store over to Alokai, the biggest SEO win wasn’t rankings right away — it was how much easier it became to structure the site exactly how we wanted.

We didn’t need plugins or workarounds to fix sitemap errors or implement rich snippets. It was already baked into the system.

For brands managing thousands of SKUs across several international storefronts, this level of flexibility is game-changing.

Go to the top CMS & Content Control

Alokai ships with a built-in CMS that handles content blocks, layout slots, and reusable components. It’s not trying to be Contentful or Storyblok — it’s more lightweight and easier to use for marketing teams.

That’s actually what makes it so effective for day-to-day content operations.

You’re not dealing with a bloated backend UI or relying on rigid page templates.

Instead, the CMS focuses on speed and agility. It gives your content and merchandising teams just enough control to make layout and copy changes on the fly — without messing up frontend structure or involving engineers every time a new banner needs to go live.

What I liked most:

Drag-and-drop layout editor for non-devs Visual slot management lets you change layouts without breaking code Works well for product pages, landing pages, promotional blocks Supports dynamic components for personalisation (like showing geo-specific banners)

We used Alokai’s CMS to manage homepage modules, collection page promotions, and time-sensitive sales content. Our marketing team could handle updates, promos, and homepage refreshes without pinging devs every time.

For a business running frequent seasonal or influencer campaigns, that level of flexibility was a huge win.

You also get a clear separation between global components (like footers, menus, filters) and page-level content, which makes it easier to manage and scale content production across multiple storefronts.

Here’s how we split responsibilities across our team:

RoleWhat They ManagedTools UsedMarketingHome banners, landing page copy, promo sectionsAlokai CMS interfaceMerchandisingCategory features, upsell modules, badgesDynamic blocks + CMSDevelopmentCustom blocks, reusable components, logicNuxt components, Git

The CMS isn't built to replace your product information management or blog platform. It’s focused on visual merchandising and on-site UX.

If you already use Storyblok or Contentful, you can still integrate those with Alokai — but for simpler ecommerce operations, the built-in CMS is often enough.

For teams that want to move quickly without adding layers of complexity, Alokai strikes a great balance between power and usability.

Go to the top Personalisation & CRO Tools

Alokai isn’t just about performance. It also gives you the tools to optimise your frontend for conversion.

Whether you’re looking to boost average order value, create more relevant shopping experiences, or test new layouts, the flexibility here is real.

Because Alokai sits between your ecommerce backend and your customer, you can personalise almost any element on the page — from homepage banners to product carousels — using user data, session info, or third-party scripts.

Everything is built with modern CRO in mind.

Here’s how we’ve used it:

Show different homepage content by location, device type, or referral source Build product bundling sections that dynamically update based on cart activity Integrate with third-party tools like Dynamic Yield or Google Optimize Add A/B testing scripts or use server-side flags for more control

One of the features I appreciated most was the ability to run server-side conditional rendering.

For example, we created a seasonal homepage layout that only loaded for mobile users in specific regions — all without affecting performance. This level of control is hard to pull off in traditional Shopify themes without custom apps or hacks.

Because Alokai uses Nuxt and SSR by default, personalisation logic can be executed before the page even reaches the browser. That means no flicker, no slow loading banners, and no delay in applying user-specific rules.

Here’s how Alokai stacks up for CRO control:

CRO FeatureAlokaiTraditional PlatformsDevice-based contentYes (server-side)Often limited or client-side onlyReferral-based bannersYesPlugin-dependentDynamic bundles/upsellsFully customisableRequires custom appsA/B testingEasily integratedLimited without paid toolsPage speed impactMinimalOften affected by scripts

For CRO, it’s a game-changer. Everything loads fast, reacts to user behavior, and fits within your brand design. You’re not locked into rigid templates or reliant on third-party apps with limited flexibility.

If you're working with a growth team that tests frequently, or you rely on fast-moving promotional campaigns, Alokai's frontend architecture allows you to iterate and deploy with far fewer limitations.

Go to the top Ecommerce Platform Integration

Alokai isn’t locked into one platform. That’s part of what makes it so attractive to ecommerce teams looking to future-proof their stack.

You can pair it with the leading backend platforms — whether you're already using one or plan to replatform in the future.

Supported integrations include:

Shopify (via Storefront API) Magento (Adobe Commerce) BigCommerce CommerceTools SAP Commerce Cloud

This flexibility means your frontend investment isn’t wasted if you ever switch backends. Alokai’s architecture decouples the presentation layer entirely, and the platform provides API clients and connectors that simplify the integration process.

We used it with Shopify, and the API coverage was strong.

Everything from product listings to cart updates to the checkout trigger was synced via GraphQL and REST. It handled variants, filters, product recommendations, and even dynamic cart previews without issue.

Most of the frontend logic is managed through composables that wrap around your data sources. You’re not writing raw API calls unless you want to — Alokai’s SDKs provide a clean interface for fetching product data, user info, or inventory states.

Here’s a snapshot of how the integration layers work:

ComponentManaged by AlokaiHandled by BackendHomepage and navigationYesNoProduct listing and PDPYesProduct and inventory data pulled via APICart and mini cartYesCart state synced with backendCheckoutNoHosted by backend platform (e.g. Shopify)Account dashboardOptionalDepends on custom implementation

One important thing to note: checkout is still handled by your backend. In our Shopify setup, that meant the final purchase took place on Shopify’s native checkout page. This is a common approach across headless builds — most platforms retain their secure, PCI-compliant checkout and simply embed or redirect to it.

That said, with the right plan (like Shopify Plus or BigCommerce Enterprise), you can still customise the checkout process quite a bit — and Alokai integrates cleanly up to that point.

If you're working with a team that uses multiple tools (ERP, OMS, PIM, etc.), Alokai’s API-first architecture also makes it easier to connect those systems into your storefront experience without building hacks or using middleware for basic tasks.

Whether you're starting from scratch or migrating from a legacy monolith, the composability and integration support make Alokai a strong fit for any modern ecommerce stack.

Go to the top Developer Experience

If you have a development team, they’re going to like this. In fact, Alokai is one of the more developer-friendly frontend platforms I’ve used — especially for teams familiar with modern JavaScript frameworks.

The documentation is thorough, the CLI is intuitive, and the modular structure makes projects easy to build, iterate, and scale.

Here’s what stands out immediately:

Based on Nuxt 3, which supports server-side rendering (SSR), static site generation (SSG), and composables Ships with prebuilt UI components and a composable utility layer for ecommerce functions Built-in integrations with major services like Algolia, Stripe, Klaviyo, Cloudinary, and PayPal Headless CMS modules are pre-wired — just configure and go Supports Git-based workflows and integrates seamlessly with CI/CD platforms like GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, and Vercel

From a dev perspective, this means less boilerplate, more consistency, and a faster path from setup to launch. You don’t have to build your own product cards or cart logic from scratch — Alokai provides composables for that.

These are modular, extendable, and easy to override if you need to customise behavior or design.

Breakdown of key dev benefits:

FeatureBenefitNuxt 3 foundationFamiliar and powerful framework with wide community adoptionComponent architectureCreate, reuse, and manage modules like PDPs, carts, filtersComposablesEncapsulated logic for product fetching, cart sync, wishlist, etc.TypeScript supportStrong typing across the codebase, improving dev speed and reliabilityAPI abstractionAlokai provides wrappers around Shopify, Magento, and other backendsVite for bundlingLightning-fast dev server and build times

One detail I appreciated was how cleanly Alokai separates concerns between frontend logic and data fetching. This makes onboarding easier for new devs, helps reduce bugs during scale, and gives teams the flexibility to optimise only the areas they need to.

There’s also built-in support for storybook-style component libraries, so if you're running a design system internally, it's easy to integrate and maintain consistent UI across your storefront.

If you're coming from a monolithic Shopify theme or a rigid page builder, the developer freedom Alokai provides is a breath of fresh air. It’s the frontend I wish existed five years ago.

It saves a ton of build time — and gives your engineers the space to focus on building meaningful UX instead of patching workarounds.

Go to the top Support & Community

Alokai’s support is responsive, and they have a private Slack workspace for merchants and partners.

If you're working with a technical team or agency, this becomes a valuable resource — not just for solving issues, but for sharing use cases, best practices, and performance tweaks.

Their customer support isn't buried behind forms or delayed ticket queues. In my experience, when we had setup questions or ran into API edge cases, we got answers quickly — usually within the same day.

If you're on an enterprise plan, you’ll also get access to a dedicated solutions engineer, which can really speed up onboarding and integration work.

Available support and resources include:

Live chat via the Alokai portal Private Slack workspace for real-time questions and discussion Developer community via Discord and GitHub Access to solution engineers and technical onboarding support (for enterprise clients) Extensive and well-structured documentation covering frontend setup, API usage, deployment, and CMS workflows

The docs are particularly strong. They include code examples, CLI usage, and architecture diagrams that help both frontend developers and project leads understand how to piece everything together.

There are also step-by-step guides on how to deploy to Vercel, connect Shopify APIs, and manage localisation.

That said, Alokai’s community is still growing. It’s not as large or as established as platforms like Shopify, Next.js, or even Vue Storefront. You won’t find endless YouTube tutorials or a huge third-party app ecosystem.

For some, that can be limiting — especially if you’re used to a plug-and-play environment where solutions are pre-built.

Here’s a quick comparison:

PlatformCommunity SizeSupport AccessResources AvailableAlokaiNiche but growingSlack, live chat, enterprise onboardingStrong docs, real-time helpShopifyMassiveForums, chat, phoneHuge ecosystem, tutorials, partnersNext.jsVery largeGitHub, Discord, Vercel supportOpen source, strong dev networkShogun FrontendMid-sizedEmail, partner supportVisual training, documentation

If you're coming from a hosted builder, you may need to lean more on your internal dev team or an agency partner when using Alokai.

But for brands that want a deeper relationship with their frontend provider — and direct access to the people building the platform — this model works well.

Go to the top Pricing Breakdown

Alokai doesn’t list pricing publicly, which is frustrating — especially if you’re used to Shopify-style plan breakdowns.

But that’s partly because Alokai isn’t a cookie-cutter SaaS tool. It’s an enterprise-grade frontend solution that tailors its pricing based on store size, traffic, integration complexity, and service level.

From what I’ve seen in real-world builds and partner conversations, pricing usually breaks down like this:

Store SizeMonthly EstimateWhat’s IncludedSmall (under $1M revenue)$500–$1,500License, support, updatesMid-market ($1M–$10M)$1,500–$4,000More integrations, partner onboarding, scaling supportEnterprise ($10M+)CustomDedicated success team, SLAs, multi-region capabilities

The pricing covers your Alokai license, access to support, updates to the platform, and in some cases, onboarding services.

As you scale up into higher tiers, you get additional benefits like technical account management, custom SLAs, early access to beta features, and multi-site support.

But like any headless setup, the Alokai license is just one part of your total build cost.

You’ll also need to budget for:

Developer hours (both initial setup and ongoing maintenance) Hosting (commonly on Vercel, Netlify, or another JAMstack provider) Third-party tools (CDNs, personalisation platforms, search APIs like Algolia, etc.) Monitoring and performance services (e.g. Sentry, Datadog if you’re enterprise-level)

For a small to mid-sized ecommerce brand with internal dev resources, your total monthly operating cost might land somewhere between $2,500–$6,000, depending on how complex your frontend stack is.

And for enterprise brands doing 8- or 9-figure revenue, these numbers scale accordingly — but so do the performance gains, control, and flexibility.

The real return often comes not from cost-cutting, but from increasing conversion rates, reducing bounce, and launching faster.

Cost isn’t just a line item — it’s also a strategic choice. If you're happy with templated limitations and a fixed structure, hosted solutions may be cheaper.

But if you’re growing fast, care about frontend performance, and want true UX control, Alokai can absolutely justify the investment.

Go to the top Who Alokai Is Best For

Alokai isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution — and that’s a good thing. It’s built specifically for ecommerce teams that want more control, faster performance, and the ability to customise without limitations.

If you’re looking to go beyond what Shopify themes or BigCommerce templates can offer, Alokai gives you that power.

Based on my experience, Alokai is ideal for:

Mid to large ecommerce stores doing over $1M in annual revenue Brands that care deeply about frontend speed, UX, and conversion rate optimisation Teams with in-house developers or a trusted development partner/agency Operators frustrated by the creative or performance ceilings of Shopify themes, page builders, or visual-only CMSs

Alokai makes the most sense when you’re scaling. If your business is launching in multiple regions, running dynamic campaigns, or doing aggressive A/B testing, you’ll benefit from the speed and structure Alokai offers.

That said, it’s not the best fit for every brand. If you're running a small store, solo-operated brand, or don’t have development resources on hand,

I’d steer you toward something like Shogun Frontend, Builder.io, or a hosted Shopify theme. These give you less control — but far more simplicity out of the gate.

Here’s a breakdown of where Alokai fits within the broader frontend landscape:

PlatformBest ForStrengthWeaknessAlokaiMid-to-enterprise storesPerformance, flexibility, composabilityRequires dev setup and maintenanceShopify HydrogenShopify-only brandsTight integration with ShopifyLocked into Shopify stackVue StorefrontOpen-source dev teamsCustomisability and flexibilityHigher dev complexityShogun FrontendVisual CMS loversEasier setup, faster time to launchLess control for advanced teamsBuilder.ioHeadless for marketersNo-code tools, visual UIPricey and less dev-oriented at scale

Alokai stands out for ecommerce teams that want a composable, headless frontend that can evolve as the business grows.

It’s future-focused — not a quick patch for slow themes or rigid templates. And once it’s in place, it becomes an asset that unlocks better CRO, UX experimentation, and multi-site growth.

Go to the top Final Verdict: Should You Use Alokai?

If your ecommerce business is scaling fast and you’re hitting the walls of traditional templates, Alokai is worth a serious look.

It’s built for brands that want complete control over their storefront — from speed and performance to CRO and content delivery.

Yes, it requires investment in development. You need either an in-house team or a committed partner agency to get the most out of it. And no, it’s not the right tool for DIY stores or side projects.

But for serious operators? Alokai is one of the best frontend solutions I’ve worked with. It’s fast. It’s flexible. And it sets your store up to compete with the best in ecommerce.

The post Alokai Review: My Verdict for 2025 appeared first on Ecommerce-Platforms.com.

Revolut Still Waiting on OK to Offer UK Credit Cards

admin — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 12:20:52 +0000

Revolut is still reportedly waiting for permission to offer credit services in the U.K.

[contact-form-7]

That’s according to a report Monday (July 7) by the Financial Times (FT), which notes that this is the latest in a series of roadblocks on the company’s journey to become a full-service bank in its home country of Great Britain.

Sources told the FT that Revolut is still waiting for authorization from the Bank of England’s Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority after applying for a consumer credit license in 2024.

According to the report, this license is separate from Revolut’s U.K. banking license, which it secured last year from the PRA with restrictions that limit the deposits the company’s banking unit can accept to 50,000 pounds.

Revolut offers consumer credit services in several European countries, the report adds, and plans to launch similar services in the U.K., but recognizes this is likely to be delayed until after it receives its full banking license.

That license was awarded a little under a year ago after a three-year wait. Revolut had first applied for a banking license in 2021, and saw the process take longer than normal, as the $45 billion FinTech faced scrutiny over its size and issues with its financial reporting.

The company has rolled out several new products in recent months, including new mobile plans, and said last month it would soon introduce an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered assistant.

In other news from the world of credit, PYMNTS spoke recently with Concora Credit CEO Bruce Weinstein about the ways in which providers (banks and nonbanks, including merchants) can meet non-prime consumers’ needs with co-brand and private-label cards.

As that report noted, most consumers see credit cards as synonymous with rewards programs that often dictate top-of-wallet preference. But this equation shifts for non-prime consumers, a demographic Weinstein said includes anywhere from 60 million to 100 million U.S. consumers.

“The simple definition is the people who are not well-served by the big banks,” Weinstein told PYMNTS CEO Karen Webster.

Lenders don’t reach those potential customers because of regulatory or capital constraints. Unlike their prime and super-prime counterparts, non-prime consumers “just don’t have all those options,” he said.

The post Revolut Still Waiting on OK to Offer UK Credit Cards appeared first on PYMNTS.com.

Ripple Investors Pivot as Bitcoin Solaris Launches Limited-Time Price Rollback Before 150% Exchange Listing Jump

admin — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 12:06:29 +0000

The post Ripple Investors Pivot as Bitcoin Solaris Launches Limited-Time Price Rollback Before 150% Exchange Listing Jump appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

It always starts the same way. A few whispers in Telegram groups. A couple of tweets on X. Then suddenly, it’s everywhere. Bitcoin Solaris isn’t just another presale buzz. It’s a storm pulling investors from every direction, including those who’ve been holding Ripple for years hoping for that “next breakout.” With a surprise price rollback announced just weeks before exchange launch, BTC-S may have just handed the market a second shot at Bitcoin-level wealth building.

Ripple’s Steady Pace Meets a New Challenger

Ripple has held its place as a reliable project with strong enterprise connections. XRP’s use case in cross-border payments is known and respected, and its legal clarity in the U.S. offers some peace of mind to long-term holders. But here’s the thing. Growth has been slow, the token’s movement often stagnant, and while the tech is solid, it lacks the explosive upside some investors are chasing in this new cycle.

That’s where Bitcoin Solaris comes in, offering not just high performance but the rare blend of utility and opportunity. It’s not about abandoning Ripple. It’s about exploring what BTC-S is doing right, right now.

BTC-S Is Built for Speed, Scale, and Wealth Creation

What sets Bitcoin Solaris apart isn’t just the hype. It’s the infrastructure under the hood. BTC-S combines Proof-of-Work and Delegated Proof-of-Stake in a dual-layer blockchain that hits 10,000 transactions per second with finality in 2 seconds. This hybrid architecture offers the best of both worlds: security and scalability.

And the development pace? Unmatched. According to the latest update:

The smart contract layer is optimized for fast, DeFi-compatible execution.
A dynamic validator rotation system keeps the network fair and decentralized.
Energy use is cut by 99.95 percent compared to traditional mining chains.
The cross-chain bridge is nearly complete, unlocking asset interoperability.
The upcoming Solaris Nova app introduces intuitive, mobile-first mining.

And it’s not just hype from forums. Influencers like Token Galaxy have covered why Bitcoin Solaris is attracting serious attention from new and seasoned investors alike in this detailed review.

The Mining Revolution and Income Opportunity

While some blockchains limit mining to heavy hardware users, BTC-S flips that model. Through the exciting release of the upcoming Solaris Nova app, everyday users can mine from their smartphones. This approach makes passive crypto income possible for anyone, regardless of technical skill or budget.

A visit to the official BTC-S mining calculator shows that even modest participation could become highly lucrative once the token hits centralized exchanges. No GPU needed. No warehouse. Just your phone and some spare time.

This Presale Comes With a Twist: A Rare Rollback Event

We’re now in Phase 11 of the Bitcoin Solaris presale. The price is locked at $11 per token, and the launch price is expected to hit $20, representing a potential 150 percent return. Over $6.3 million has already been raised, and the community has grown to more than 13,900 unique buyers. This alone would be impressive, but then came the twist.

Not Just Scalable Designed to Be Unstoppable That’s BTC-S

For a very limited time, Bitcoin Solaris has announced a price rollback. Yes, rollback. The token, currently priced at $11, is being offered temporarily at just $5. That’s right. Less than half of the current value. The kind of entry point early Bitcoin investors brag about today.

Add to that:

It’s one of the shortest presales in crypto history.
Less than 4 weeks remain until the exchange listing on July 31.
To receive your tokens on launch day, Bitcoin Solaris recommends using Trust Wallet or Metamask.

Wallets like Trust Wallet and Metamask are recommended for seamless token delivery after launch. They are not required to buy.

Full Transparency and Bulletproof Credibility

If you’re wondering whether it’s safe to dive in, the answer is in the details. Bitcoin Solaris has already passed a thorough audit by Cyberscope and an additional audit from Freshcoins. Community engagement is strong and growing across social platforms, especially in their Telegram and on X, where daily updates keep the transparency levels high.

Roadmap Momentum Signals Long-Term Strength

BTC-S isn’t stopping at launch. The roadmap is detailed and ambitious, giving a glimpse into years of planned expansion. Some of the key stages include:

Q3 2026: Full mainnet launch with AI-enhanced features and the Solaris Nova app going live.
Q4 2026: Mining Power Marketplace and cross-chain capabilities.
Q1–Q2 2027: Quantum-resistant security upgrades and layer-2 scaling.
Beyond 2028: Global partnerships and community governance expansion.

Each phase is documented in the live Bitcoin Solaris roadmap, reflecting a real plan, not just promises.

Final Verdict

Bitcoin Solaris is not just trending. It’s transforming how investors think about wealth creation in crypto. With the presale ending soon and a rare price rollback offering tokens at only $5, the entry point has never looked more like a second chance at catching a Bitcoin-level ride before the next big exchange pump. If Ripple was the old guard, Bitcoin Solaris may be the new playbook.

For more information on Bitcoin Solaris:

Website: https://www.bitcoinsolaris.com/
Telegram: https://t.me/Bitcoinsolaris
X: https://x.com/BitcoinSolaris

Destiny’s mobile spinoff will arrive in August

admin — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 11:34:24 +0000

Destiny: Rising, the mobile-exclusive sci-fi RPG shooter set in Bungie’s Destiny universe, will be released for iOS and Android on August 28th. The launch date was announced by Chinese developer NetEase Games alongside the release of a new gameplay trailer that shows off some of the missions, strikes, PvP battles, and PvE features that players can expect to encounter.

The game was announced in October last year, spawning from the $100 million Bungie investment that NetEase (the developer behind Marvel Rivals and Diablo Immortal) made in 2018. NetEase says that Destiny: Rising is “set in an alternate timeline before the events of the original game,” allowing players who are new to the franchise to jump in without needing to experience previous Destiny titles.

Players can choose to take on the role of a “fully customisable” Lightbearer named Wolf, or play as established Destiny characters like Ikora Rey and Iron Lord Jolder. Game features include single, co-op, and competitive multiplayer modes, customisable Primary and Power Weapons, the ability to share weapons across character arsenals, and a new weapon type and “Mythic” rarity gear tier.

The Destiny: Rising release date announcement follows a limited-access playtest that was launched in November, with preorders for the game now available on Google Play and the App Store. NetEase is also holding a pre-launch event that allows players to register to receive special in-game bonuses, with more rewards being unlocked when registration milestones are crossed.

BBVA Launches Crypto Trading and Custodian Services for Spanish Retail Customers

admin — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 11:33:40 +0000

The post BBVA Launches Crypto Trading and Custodian Services for Spanish Retail Customers appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA), a multinational Spanish bank, recently launched crypto trading (Bitcoin and Ether) and custody services for retail customers. Spanish customers can now use this service to buy, sell, and hold crypto assets directly through the BBVA app. The step is part of a broader strategy of BBVA to enable a seamless digital experience.

BBVA Enables Crypto Trading for Retail Customers

With BBVA’s new initiative for custodian services crypto trading, retail customers in Spain can now utilize the crypto services through its mobile app. BBVA has aligned the initiative with the EU’s Market in Crypto Assets (MiCA) to govern the regulations and provide investors’ protection.

However, it is important to note that the bank will not offer advice on these assets; the clients will be the only ones responsible for their initiative.

Head of Retail Banking for Spain, Gonzalo Rodriguez, stated–

“We want to make it easier for our retail customers in Spain to invest in crypto-assets, through a simple and easy-to-access digital solution on their cell phone. Our goal is to support them as they explore digital assets, backed by the strength and security of a bank like BBVA.”

[post_titles_links postid=”479408″] BBVA Expands Its Range in Digital Assets

BBVA first introduced its digital assets service in Switzerland in 2021, followed by Turkey in 2023. Now, with crypto trading and custodian services in Spain in 2025, BBVA appears to expand its range in digital assets.

The BBVA Head of Blockchain and Digital Assets, Francisco Maroto, emphasized the continued growth of the bank in digital assets. He said that BBVA is evolving with new assets— crypto and stablecoin, and traditional assets— tokenized bonds and funds.

Crypto Evolution in Spain

Driven by the growing demand for crypto in Spain, the government has introduced regulatory developments to strengthen safety measures and expand crypto adoption. Moreover, Spanish banks are also playing a crucial role in evolving digital assets in the country to attract new investors. BBVA is not the only entity to offer these digital asset services, as Banco Santander and Caixabank are exploring enabling crypto services.

The National Commission for the Promotion of Digital Investments indicated that more than eight financial institutions have applied for the virtual assets service providers registry; which the agency is yet to approve.

[article_inside_subscriber_shortcode title=”Never Miss a Beat in the Crypto World!” description=”Stay ahead with breaking news, expert analysis, and real-time updates on the latest trends in Bitcoin, altcoins, DeFi, NFTs, and more.” category_name=”News” category_id=”6″] FAQs What is BBVA?

BBVA (Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria) is a Spanish multinational financial services company, one of the largest in the world, founded in 1857. It offers a wide range of traditional banking services, including retail, corporate, and investment banking, and has a significant global presence, particularly in Spain, Mexico, and South America.

How does BBVA’s crypto initiative align with the EU’s MiCA regulation?

BBVA’s new crypto trading and custody services are fully aligned with the EU’s Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regulation. MiCA governs the issuance and provision of crypto-asset services across the European Union, providing a standardized framework for transparency, disclosure, authorization, and supervision to enhance investor protection.

Are other Spanish banks offering or planning to offer crypto services?

Yes, other major Spanish banks are exploring or already offering crypto services. Banco Santander is considering stablecoin issuance and expanding retail crypto services, while Caixabank is also assessing options. The National Commission for the Promotion of Digital Investments has indicated that over eight financial institutions have applied for virtual asset service provider registrations.

Innovation Used to Be About Generations. Gen AI Makes It About Everyone

admin — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 11:00:01 +0000

For many Americans, saving money at the grocery store was once a Sunday evening ritual. Out came the scissors and spreadsheets to clip coupons from the Sunday papers stuffed with dozens and dozens of circulars. And a week’s worth of shopping excursions were planned to get the best deals.

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Couponing started with Coca-Cola’s hand-written free drink offers in 1887, and the early adopters were working-class and Great Depression-era families who needed to stretch their dollars. After the Great Depression, consumers continued their habit of saving money through coupon clipping, and brands continued to oblige.

It’s also a skill that even made some people pretty famous. Super Couponer J’aime Kirlew built a whole cable show around her couponing pursuits. She offered her followers tips on how to save a bundle fifty cents and a dollar at a time. And she created converts with her claim of once getting $2,000 worth of groceries for $100. It’s hard work, she said, sometimes requiring six hours of clipping and organizing. But the savings were real, and it made her a role model for super savers with the same ambitions.

Try explaining any of that to a Gen Z.

Of course, they love deals just as much. But why, they ask, would anyone spend six hours cutting and organizing paper rectangles when browser extensions auto-apply codes at checkout?

And why plan elaborate store routes when price comparison happens instantly in-app? Why stockpile products in basements when alerts for flash sales and same-day deliveries eliminate the hassle and need to have room to store a dozen rolls of aluminum foil? To a Gen Z, physical coupons seem as antiquated as printing MapQuest directions.

But people, including Gen Zs, still want to save money. Still hunt for deals. Still seek the satisfaction of paying less, getting a deal. That behavior hasn’t changed.

What’s changed is the technology that supports how they save money on the products they want to buy. Coupon distribution has plummeted from 330 billion in 2010 to just 50 billion last year. People want to save money, but brands and stores have found better ways to do it and still drive sales. Even Kirlew herself has moved on. She recently described saving $225 at a store that was closing and feeling like she was “couponing” without scanning a single piece of paper. The ritual of saving has transformed from a manual weekend hobby into invisible algorithms that do all of the work in the background.

That’s the story of innovation: behavior endures, and the tools that power it transform radically. And the early adopters of that transformation have typically followed a generational cycle.

Until now.

The Great Misconception About Gen Z

We often describe Gen Z as fundamentally different. The truth is they really aren’t. They work, shop, save, pay, travel, split bills, watch movies, go out to eat and strive to stay healthy like every person their age across the generations that came before them.

They didn’t start the digital revolution. That credit goes to millennials. It was they who made the leap from analog to digital, from desktops to laptops to smartphones. They moved from CDs to MP3s, landlines to smartphones, desktop banking to mobile apps. Millennials were digital natives-in-training who normalized mobile as a digital companion.

Gen Z came of age after that shift had already happened. The first-born Gen Zers were eleven when the App Store launched on the iPhone. They weren’t literally born with a smartphone in hand, but they came of age with those devices squarely in their palms.

For them, the phone isn’t an accessory or digital companion. It’s the control center for life. They don’t “go online” because they live there, on those devices. According to PYMNTS Intelligence, Gen Z completes more than 425 digital activities per month, 34% more than every other generation. They’ve collapsed the distinction between physical and digital entirely.

What they do isn’t new. What’s new is how they go about their day-to-day. Just as Kirlew’s paper coupons were replaced by browser extensions that auto-apply codes, every generation’s “go-to” tools simply reflect the best technology available at the time. What remains constant across millennia are the underlying human behaviors that define the daily grind.

How Innovation Used to Work (and Why That’s About to Change)

For decades, innovation more or less followed a predictable relay race. Baby Boomers were the first mass adopters of credit cards in the 1970s. Gen X, and younger baby boomers, normalized ATMs. Online shopping took off in the 2000s. Millennials took us from analog to digital across every category. Gen Z made mobile the center of everything.

The pattern was always the same: invention, adoption, integration, invisibility. One generation would break new ground. The next would scale it. The one after wouldn’t think of it as new, it was just part of the landscape.

FinTechs understood this cycle and built for it. In the 2010s, they designed mobile-first financial tools for a generation that never had to unlearn kludgey analog habits. They created apps that turned phones into wallets and budget managers. Gen Z demanded seamless, friction-free experiences. FinTechs delivered tools that turned banking into swiping and shopping into streaming.

But that innovation wasn’t only the property of Gen Z. The feedback loop created a flywheel that lifted every generation. The Gen Xers and the Boomers haven’t just been dragged kicking and screaming into the digital world. Rather, they’ve been systematically developing their digital fluency in earnest since the start of this decade through everyday necessity and convenience.

Parents and grandparents didn’t ask for peer-to-peer apps. But they use them now because the youngest generation showed them it was easier and better.

The comfort with digital interfaces now exists across generations. A lot of credit goes to Apple, which created devices that are easy for everyone to use — compared to PCs/Windows, which really weren’t. Everyone needs IT support for computers, yet hardly anyone does for mobile devices or most of what we do online.

Once behavior crosses the generational chasm, it becomes routine. Why go back?

But as they say, that was then.

AI Changes Everything: The End of Generational Innovation Cycles

Gen AI and Agentic AI are breaking the traditional innovation adoption pattern. They don’t rely on generational adoption because they will be embedded inside the apps, systems and platforms people already use.

Gen AI and agents will improve the ways we engage with existing apps by creating intelligent, invisible flows. New AI-native apps will be developed that will offer new ways to complete complex tasks. Activities that used to require multiple apps and domain-specific knowledge will collapse into a single prompt.

Intent will take a fast track to execution without all the friction in the middle.

In investing: “Round up my purchases and invest in a low-risk fund unless I’m spending more than usual.” AI will monitor, decide and execute based on context.

In education: “Explain this algebra concept with visuals and examples from last week’s lesson.” AI personalizes curriculum in real time based on individual learning patterns.

In shopping: “I’m trying to find the best dog bed for a Border Collie, recommendations on several brain puzzles to keep her mentally stimulated and the best training tips from the top breeders in the world.” AI will find and buy the bed and the puzzles and produce summarized training tips in less than a minute.

The infrastructure is already here: APIs, data centers, tokens, real-time rails, digital identity, risk engines, cloud platforms. AI will connect the dots and make the system intelligent. It doesn’t create new rails because it doesn’t need to. It just moves people and apps across existing ones faster, smarter and with less effort.

Some of this is already taking shape, though these are early days.

Voice Becomes the Great Equalizer

In the next chapter of this story, the user interface may not always be a screen. But it will always be a sentence, a written or spoken prompt. Voice will become the most powerful interface of this distributed connected economy — not because it’s new, but because it removes the need to learn how to use something new to get a better outcome. When the system understands what you mean, you don’t need to know how to ask perfectly.

In this future, AI becomes the operating system, voice becomes the interface and the mobile device as we know it becomes more optional than essential. OpenAI and others are already designing AI-native devices that don’t look like phones, don’t behave like apps and don’t sit behind screens. They live in your environment, listen, adapt and respond.

You’ll say what you need, and AI will orchestrate the response across systems. Typing becomes a backup plan. Navigation across apps becomes unnecessary. The entire system becomes anticipatory, ambient, context-aware.

AI will work equally well for everyone because it eliminates the learning curve that has traditionally created generational adoption patterns. An 80-year-old can say, “Help me manage my medications and remind me when to take them” just as easily as a 20-year-old can ask for investment advice or travel planning.

From Generational Shift to Universal Access

AI will change the rhythm and the pace of innovation and how quickly new experiences are adopted. For the first time, innovation won’t trickle down from the young. It has the potential to touch everyone because it will become part of everything that is already a native digital or mobile experience.

Gen Z will demand it because they expect technology to anticipate their needs. Millennials will embrace it because they’re comfortable with digital solutions that solve real problems. Gen X will welcome the simplicity because they value efficiency over complexity. Boomers will adopt it because it removes friction rather than adding it. Seniors, who are living longer and more active lives, will find that it makes access to important things easy and intuitive, and preserves their independence.

The traditional innovation relay race, where young early adopters pull older generations forward over time, will be upended.

The New Innovation Economy

This shift has important implications for how businesses think about innovation, adoption and market penetration. The traditional model of targeting young early adopters and waiting for generational pull-through becomes obsolete when innovation is embedded and access becomes voice-activated.

Companies that understand this will build for universal access from day one, rather than assuming that to the youth go all of the innovation spoils. They’ll focus on solving universal human needs like health, wealth, convenience and connection rather than generation-specific preferences. They’ll design for conversation rather than navigation, for orchestration rather than operation.

The winners will be those who recognize that digital fluency already exists across generations, and the missing piece (intuitive, intelligent interfaces) is finally here and getting better every day.

Everyone gets to be an early adopter from day one.

The future of innovation isn’t generational. It’s conversational.

Just ask.

The post Innovation Used to Be About Generations. Gen AI Makes It About Everyone appeared first on PYMNTS.com.

Payment Friction Taps the Brakes on Digital Growth in Brazil

admin — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 08:01:58 +0000

Brazil has become a global leader in mobile shopping adoption, with its consumers consistently demonstrating high engagement in digital commerce activities. The 2025 Global Digital Shopping Index: Brazil edition, commissioned by Visa Acceptance Solutions and researched by PYMNTS Intelligence, reveals that 61% of Brazilian consumers used a mobile phone for their latest retail purchase, whether online or in-store.

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This figure marks a 10% increase since 2022 and places Brazil among the top four countries surveyed globally, significantly outpacing traditional economies like the U.S. and U.K..

Manual Data Entry Creates Friction

Yet, despite this impressive mobile-first shift, a significant obstacle is creating friction for nearly every transaction: payment processing issues, exacerbated by a pervasive reliance on manual data entry.

The report highlights a critical pain point: nearly all consumers in Brazil (99%) experienced at least one type of payment issue during their latest retail purchase. The primary culprit is payment processing errors, which affected 67% of transactions, with declined payments accounting for 63% of these issues. In stark contrast to the global average where 61% of purchases go smoothly, only 1.5% of Brazilian shoppers reported a completely seamless recent purchase. This pervasive friction represents a significant bottleneck for merchants seeking to capitalize on Brazil’s mobile-first market.

A key driver of this friction in online transactions is the unusually high rate of manual payment information entry. For their latest online purchase, 32% of Brazilian consumers manually entered their payment details. This is 1.5 times the global average of 21%. Manually inputting credit card numbers or other payment information is not only time-consuming but also prone to errors, leading directly to customer frustration and, critically, lost sales.

The reliance on manual entry in Brazil is further underscored by the low adoption of stored payment credentials. Only 33% of Brazilian shoppers used stored credentials for their latest online purchase, a figure substantially below the survey-wide average of 54%.

Within this cohort, just 26% used credentials stored directly with the merchant, compared to 45% globally. This stark difference points to a significant missed opportunity for Brazilian retailers to streamline their checkout processes.

Why are Brazilian consumers hesitant to store their payment information? The report identifies data security and privacy concerns as the top barrier, cited by 60% of Brazilian shoppers. Trust in the merchant is also a major factor, coming in second at 30%, followed by worries about unexpected recurring charges at 26%.

Brazilian merchants are keenly aware of these challenges. More than 1 in 3 express high concern that their current payment systems will not meet future needs, and 7 in 10 are at least somewhat worried.

For merchants in Brazil, the message is clear: optimizing the payment process is crucial for growth and competitive advantage. To reduce manual entry and encourage the use of stored credentials, retailers must prioritize investing in technologies that guarantee data security and privacy. Building customer trust through transparent security practices and robust features is essential.

Offering more appealing and secure stored credential options can transform the checkout experience, making it faster and more convenient, which directly translates to fewer abandoned carts and increased sales. Partnering with banks or other third-party payment solution providers can offer the expertise and technology needed to navigate these complexities.

The post Payment Friction Taps the Brakes on Digital Growth in Brazil appeared first on PYMNTS.com.

Kooomo vs Shopify: Which Ecommerce Platform Is Right for You?

admin — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 07:05:47 +0000

Quick answer: Shopify is better for most businesses. It’s intuitive, packed with tools, and ideal if you’re scaling fast.

Kooomo is a solid choice for enterprise retailers, especially across Europe, with more complex international or omnichannel needs.

In this review, I’ll break down everything I found while comparing both platforms — from pricing and payment gateways to templates, apps, SEO, and enterprise capabilities.

Quick Comparison: Kooomo vs Shopify FeatureShopifyKooomoOverall Rating4.8/53.9/5Starting Price$29/monthCustom quote (enterprise only)Free Trial3-day trial + $1/month dealNo public trialTemplates190+ (13 free)Limited, bespoke builds onlyApp Marketplace8,000+ integrationsNo app storeAI ToolsShopify MagicNoneTransaction FeesYes (unless using Shopify Payments)NoneBuilt-in POSYesYes (through 3rd-party setup)Best ForSMBs, DTC brands, dropshippersMid-to-large EU-based retailers Best for Selling Online: Shopify Offers More Built-In Sales Features

When it comes to selling, Shopify stands out for its ease, speed, and built-in power.

You don’t need a developer to get started, and most of what you need to run and scale an ecommerce store is ready to go on day one.

Whether you're launching a new product or managing hundreds of SKUs, Shopify handles it all with a clean, centralised backend.

Kooomo, on the other hand, isn’t built for smaller teams or DIY store owners. It’s geared toward enterprise use cases where you’ve already got a developer or agency team involved.

The sales tools are strong — but they’re either custom developed or dependent on third-party systems.

Here’s how the two stack up on core selling features:

Shopify Sales Features

Abandoned cart recovery AI-powered product descriptions (Shopify Magic) Discount and coupon rules Built-in omnichannel tools (POS, TikTok, Instagram, Google, Amazon) Multi-language storefronts Product bundling and volume pricing Subscription support via apps Shopify Flow for automation (Shopify Plus only)

Kooomo Sales Features

Custom checkout flows with flexible payment rules Multi-store and B2B catalog support Advanced promotions engine (vouchers, coupons, multi-buys) Warehouse, stock location, and order routing logic Seamless ERP, CRM, PIM, and WMS integration Role-based pricing and customer groups Order splitting and partial fulfilment handling Omnichannel inventory across stores and retail locations

Shopify’s strength is in making it easy for anyone to start selling quickly. The dashboard is intuitive, the features are well-documented, and the ecosystem is huge.

It’s ideal if you’re focused on growth and need tools to manage everything from product pages to abandoned carts.

Kooomo leans into high-complexity setups.

If you're managing regional pricing, B2B and DTC in the same system, or need to sync multiple ERPs, it's a powerful platform — but it assumes you're already operating at a certain scale.

The Verdict
Shopify wins for plug-and-play ecommerce. Everything you need is already built in, with the ability to scale up using apps or Shopify Plus.

Kooomo only makes sense if you need complex B2B rules, multi-warehouse stock control, or ERP-level infrastructure that’s already part of your tech stack.

Go to the top Payment Options: Kooomo Edges Ahead on Fees

Setting up payments on both platforms is straightforward, but the long-term impact on your bottom line depends on transaction fees, gateway flexibility, and regional support.

Shopify and Kooomo both give you a good selection of options, but the difference comes down to cost structure and global readiness.

Shopify’s setup is polished and beginner-friendly. You can connect your store to over a hundred payment providers with just a few clicks.

Shopify also has its own built-in payment processor — Shopify Payments — which simplifies things, especially if you're based in North America or select countries in Europe.

But unless you use Shopify Payments exclusively, you'll pay additional fees on every transaction.

Kooomo is less flashy, but arguably more flexible — especially for enterprise brands operating across multiple EU markets.

Its payment setup doesn’t come with added transaction fees and it supports a wide range of European and international gateways. For companies processing high volumes, that can mean major savings over time.

Shopify Payment Setup

100+ supported payment providers Shopify Payments removes extra gateway fees Up to 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction on the Basic plan Gateway options include: Google Pay Apple Pay Klarna PayPal Amazon Pay Payouts managed directly inside Shopify dashboard Currency conversion for global customers

Kooomo Payment Setup

0% transaction fees, regardless of the provider Over 30 native gateways including: Adyen Braintree Stripe WorldPay SagePay Multi-currency display and settlement Optimised for PSD2 and EU-specific payment compliance Custom checkout workflows with regional rules Payment logic based on location, device, or basket value

One thing to consider is how Shopify ties its transaction fees to your chosen plan and whether or not you use Shopify Payments.

If you're using a third-party gateway like Stripe or PayPal, expect to pay an additional 1% to 2% in fees, unless you upgrade to a higher-tier plan.

On the flip side, Kooomo’s model allows merchants to avoid those charges altogether — which is a big win for high-volume businesses.

For global sellers, both platforms support multiple currencies, but Kooomo gives you more native control over how prices display and convert per market. It’s especially well-suited to managing European regulations like PSD2 and localised checkout requirements.

The Verdict
If you’re focused on reducing transaction fees and selling across Europe, Kooomo’s flexibility gives it the edge.

Shopify’s native payment system is great for North America and easy to manage, but you’ll pay more per transaction unless you're on a higher-tier plan or fully committed to Shopify Payments.

For enterprise-level cost control, Kooomo comes out ahead.

Go to the top App Market: Shopify Dominates

This one’s not even close. If flexibility and growth speed matter to your business, Shopify’s app ecosystem is in a different league.

It’s one of the reasons Shopify has become the default choice for ecommerce startups, DTC brands, and fast-growing stores.

Shopify’s App Store is massive, offering more than 8,000 integrations across nearly every category you could need.

Whether you're looking for advanced analytics, loyalty programs, subscription tools, upsells, or reviews, there’s likely a tool already built and ready to go. Many apps are plug-and-play, and setup takes just a few minutes.

Kooomo takes a very different approach. There’s no public app marketplace. Most features are either built-in or custom developed during your onboarding. While this means a more stable and controlled environment, it comes at the cost of agility.

If you want to try a new app, test a new CRO tool, or run a campaign using a third-party marketing plugin, you'll probably need developer support.

Shopify App Store

Over 8,000 apps Categories include: Email marketing (e.g. Klaviyo, Omnisend) SEO tools (e.g. Smart SEO, Plug in SEO) Conversion rate optimisation Loyalty programs (e.g. Smile.io, LoyaltyLion) Subscriptions (e.g. Recharge, Bold Subscriptions) Shipping and fulfilment (e.g. ShipStation, Easyship) Free and paid options (monthly pricing varies) Apps reviewed and rated by real users Easy installation and uninstall process Custom apps can be built via API or Shopify Plus Partners

Kooomo

No public-facing app store Functionality is either: Natively included Custom-developed during implementation Integrated via direct API by Kooomo’s dev team or partners Limited agility for marketing or CRO experimentation Stable and secure, but slower to adopt newer tools Best suited to businesses with fixed feature requirements

App Market Comparison Table

Feature CategoryShopifyKooomoNumber of Apps8,000+None (no public marketplace)Installation ProcessClick-to-install via dashboardRequires development or onboardingMarketing IntegrationsKlaviyo, Omnisend, Meta, TikTokCustom API-based onlySEO/CRO AppsMultiple app options availableBuilt-in or manual setupsSubscription SupportRecharge, Bold, etc.Limited, custom if neededCustom App DevelopmentSupported via APISupported, dev team requiredMarketplace Review SystemYesNot available

Shopify’s app ecosystem makes it easy to stay ahead of the curve.

If a new trend emerges in ecommerce or a new marketing channel gains traction, odds are a developer has already built a Shopify app for it. That means you can test ideas quickly and scale what works without building everything from scratch.

Kooomo’s app-less model prioritises stability and control. You won’t have to worry about plugin conflicts, but you also lose the ability to rapidly iterate, test tools, or plug into niche integrations on short notice.

The Verdict
Shopify wins for flexibility, innovation, and speed. You can set up what you need in a few clicks.

Kooomo works better if you want tight control and are less concerned with experimenting or iterating fast. For fast-moving ecommerce teams, Shopify’s app ecosystem is a major advantage.

Go to the top Marketing Tools: Shopify Makes It Easy

Marketing is where Shopify really starts to shine, especially for smaller teams, fast-growing DTC brands, and businesses without in-house developers.

Everything is built to be accessible — whether you're setting up an email campaign, launching a Facebook ad, or syncing products to marketplaces.

Shopify gives you a full marketing toolkit straight out of the box. From automated emails to multichannel ad campaigns, most of it can be managed within a few clicks — no code needed.

And if you want to go further, the App Store unlocks advanced tools like Klaviyo, Omnisend, and loyalty programs that plug directly into your store and CRM.

Kooomo, on the other hand, focuses more on centralised management for enterprise campaigns.

You get a basic set of marketing tools out of the box, with more advanced features developed during onboarding or built into the system via integrations. It’s capable, but not as nimble.

Shopify Marketing Tools

Shopify Email: built-in campaign builder with custom templates Marketplace Connect: list products across Amazon, eBay, and Etsy Ad integrations: Google Ads Facebook and Instagram Ads Pinterest TikTok App integrations with: Klaviyo Omnisend Mailchimp Affiliate and loyalty apps: ReferralCandy Smile.io LoyaltyLion Custom tracking via UTM parameters, Google Tag Manager, and built-in analytics

Kooomo Marketing Tools

Native Promotion Manager for coupons, multi-buys, and time-limited offers On-site personalisation based on user data and behaviour Built-in email tool (basic HTML campaigns) Google Shopping feed sync for product visibility Content and blog manager for SEO pages Support for third-party marketing platforms (via API) Campaign performance analytics via dashboard reports

Marketing Tools Comparison Table

FeatureShopifyKooomoEmail MarketingShopify Email + 3rd-party appsBuilt-in basic toolMarketplace SyncAmazon, eBay, Etsy via appGoogle Shopping onlyAd Platform IntegrationsGoogle, Facebook, TikTok, PinterestRequires manual integrationAffiliate & Referral ProgramsAvailable via appsRequires custom setupOn-site PersonalisationVia apps or Shopify PlusNative featureContent Management & BloggingBuilt-in with templatesBuilt-in with editorLoyalty/Review SystemMultiple apps (Smile.io, Yotpo)Requires dev work or partners

Shopify’s strength is that marketers can launch and iterate fast. Want to test a new campaign? Install an app and go. Need to run a flash sale or abandoned cart sequence? It’s already built in.

The platform lowers the barrier to entry for growth marketing and gives teams the tools they need to experiment.

Kooomo is designed with more structured workflows. It works well if you already have an in-house marketing team or agency managing complex campaign strategies, especially across regions.

But for day-to-day, hands-on marketers, it lacks the speed and ease that Shopify offers.

The Verdict

Shopify offers more tools, deeper integrations, and a much better UX for marketers.

Everything from email to multichannel ads to loyalty programs is either included or just an app away.

Kooomo can handle enterprise campaigns, but it requires more planning, more manual setup, and a higher barrier to entry for non-technical teams. For fast-growing brands that want to move quickly, Shopify wins.

Go to the top SEO & Internationalization: Kooomo Handles Complexity Better

This is the one area where Kooomo really competes hard — especially for brands managing ecommerce across multiple countries.

It’s built from the ground up for cross-border trade, and that shows in how it handles SEO, language, currency, tax, and compliance.

Shopify has come a long way in supporting international businesses, and with the right setup — especially on Shopify Plus — you can create localised storefronts, translate your content, and manage international domains. But many of these features rely on third-party apps or manual configuration.

For complex multinational setups, you’ll likely need developer involvement.

Kooomo bakes internationalisation into the core platform.

Whether you need different pricing structures per region, market-specific SEO configurations, or compliance with local data laws like GDPR, it’s all built in — no extra plugins or subscriptions required.

Shopify SEO Features

Clean URL structure (no dynamic query strings) Customisable meta titles and descriptions Automatic sitemap generation Schema markup for products, reviews, blogs Image alt tags, redirects, and canonical tags Multilingual support via Shopify Markets or third-party apps Automatic language redirection based on browser settings

Kooomo SEO Features

Country-level SEO configuration, including individual meta data, tags, and canonical URLs Fully localised URLs (e.g. /de/produkte/ for German markets) Multilingual product catalog, CMS pages, navigation menus Real-time currency switching with native pricing rules Native VAT and tax handling by region GDPR compliance built into platform workflows Integrated SEO editing for collections, products, categories Automatic hreflang tagging for search engines

SEO & International Features Comparison Table

FeatureShopifyKooomoURL StructureClean, customisableFully localised per language/countryMeta Data ControlYes, with app supportNative per countryLanguage SupportVia Shopify Markets or appsNative multilingual catalogCurrency SwitchingVia Shopify MarketsNative, real-timeSchema MarkupAvailableCustom per localeTax/VAT HandlingUS and select countriesBuilt-in EU VAT handlingGDPR ComplianceNot native, requires custom workNative featuresSEO Booster ToolsSemrush Ecommerce Booster appBuilt-in SEO controls

Shopify gives store owners plenty of tools to improve visibility and search rankings, but managing an international SEO strategy requires more effort.

For example, if you want clean URLs across different languages and unique metadata per market, you'll need to layer on Shopify Markets, use Liquid templates, or install an SEO app to fill the gaps.

Kooomo simplifies this with a centralised backend that manages local content, SEO rules, and pricing logic for each region — no coding or extra apps needed. It’s built for ecommerce brands that operate in multiple territories and need consistent SEO performance at scale.

The Verdict

If you’re a global brand with complex multilingual and multi-currency needs, Kooomo is better out of the box. It’s purpose-built for managing SEO across different regions and complies with EU tax and privacy rules by default.

Shopify still performs well, especially when paired with the right apps, but enterprise-level SEO and internationalization usually require custom work or developer support. For simplicity at scale, Kooomo takes the lead.

Go to the top Ease of Use: Shopify Is Much Simpler

When you’re setting up a store for the first time, time is everything — and so is clarity.

Shopify delivers one of the most polished user experiences in ecommerce. From the moment you sign up, you’re guided through each step: adding products, choosing a theme, connecting payments, and launching your store.

The interface is built for non-technical users, which means you don’t need a developer to get things off the ground.

Kooomo takes a different approach. The platform is designed for enterprise clients who often have dedicated teams or agency partners.

The tools are powerful, but there’s a learning curve. Most tasks — from setting up a storefront to configuring sales rules — require some backend familiarity. It’s not the kind of system you figure out in a weekend.

Shopify UX Highlights

Intuitive dashboard with clean navigation Step-by-step onboarding for beginners Built-in setup checklist that walks you through the key steps Drag-and-drop section editor for page layouts Real-time theme preview and editing Product, order, and customer management in one place Easy integration of apps from the Shopify App Store No coding needed for most store customisations

Kooomo UX Highlights

Enterprise-grade admin interface, prioritising scalability Requires onboarding or training for most users Backend workflows for catalog, pricing, and logistics Limited visual editing tools — design handled separately Integrations, promotions, and store rules require setup through backend logic Content and layout updates often managed through agency or dev teams Ideal for large, multi-store operations with complex product logic High degree of control, but not user-friendly for solo entrepreneurs

Ease of Use Comparison Table

FeatureShopifyKooomoOnboarding ProcessGuided, beginner-friendlyRequires training or setup supportInterface DesignClean and intuitiveDense and functionalVisual EditorDrag-and-drop section editorNone (custom via development)Product ManagementSimple forms with media uploadsStructured backend workflowsTheme CustomisationReal-time preview + theme storeFully custom, agency-ledMultistore SetupComplex or Plus-onlyNative and backend-controlledBest forSMBs, DTC brands, solo foundersLarge teams, multi-region brands

Shopify’s biggest strength is approachability. Even if it’s your first time running a store, you’ll be able to set up a clean, working storefront without writing a line of code.

And if you ever get stuck, there’s a vast library of help guides, videos, and support articles to walk you through it.

Kooomo is designed for scale and complexity, not speed or simplicity.

If you have a technical team or ecommerce agency running your implementation, it won’t be a problem — but if you’re looking to set things up yourself or want the flexibility to make changes on the fly, it can feel rigid and slow-moving.

The Verdict

Shopify wins here by a mile. You don’t need a tech team to build, launch, or update your store. Everything is laid out clearly, and the tools are designed for business owners — not just developers.

Kooomo is built with agencies, developers, and enterprise-level workflows in mind, making it far better suited to brands already operating at scale with the resources to manage a complex backend.

Go to the top Templates and Design: Shopify Has the Range

First impressions matter. Your store design sets the tone for your brand, builds trust, and directly impacts conversion. In this area, Shopify stands out with one of the largest and most diverse template libraries in ecommerce.

Whether you’re selling clothing, electronics, homeware, or subscriptions, Shopify has a ready-made theme to match. You can start with a free theme, customise it using the built-in editor, or purchase a premium one from the official Theme Store.

All templates are optimised for mobile, speed-tested, and compliant with best practices for SEO and UX.

Kooomo takes a completely different route. There are no off-the-shelf templates, no theme marketplace, and no drag-and-drop builder. Every storefront is custom-built, either through Kooomo’s in-house team or one of their implementation partners.

While this gives you full control over your design, it also means longer development timelines and additional cost.

Shopify Templates

190+ professionally designed themes 13 free themes included with all plans Premium themes range from $100 to $500 (one-time cost) Industry-specific categories (e.g. fashion, electronics, furniture, art, food) Built-in support for product filtering, video, reviews, and galleries Easy to customise via section editor or Liquid code (optional) Live preview and test environment before publishing

Kooomo Templates

No pre-designed themes All storefronts are custom builds Designs developed by Kooomo or partner agencies Custom UX built around business needs, catalogue complexity, and region Requires more upfront planning and project management More suited to enterprise businesses with strict design guidelines

Template and Design Comparison Table

FeatureShopifyKooomoNumber of Themes190+0 (custom-only)Free Templates13NonePremium Themes$100–$500 (one-time)Custom pricing per projectMobile ResponsivenessBuilt into all templatesCustom developedVisual EditorSection-based drag-and-dropNo editor, agency-built onlyIndustry-Specific DesignsYes (via Theme Store)Not applicableSpeed and UX OptimisationTested and built-inRequires frontend performance tuningIdeal ForFast setup, DIY or SMB designCustom enterprise branding

Shopify’s design system is one of its most powerful advantages. You don’t need a designer or developer to launch a beautiful store. Every theme comes with pre-built layouts, styling options, and elements that can be swapped or removed using the theme customiser.

For those with coding knowledge, Shopify’s Liquid language allows for deeper edits.

Kooomo’s approach is more controlled. If you’re working with strict brand guidelines, need unique UI/UX flows, or want something not possible in a templated environment, the platform gives you that flexibility — but it also locks you into a longer build cycle.

And any major updates typically require going back to your development team.

The Verdict

Shopify is better if you want to get online quickly and look professional. Its massive template library covers every niche, and the built-in editor makes it easy to update your site without technical help.

Kooomo’s custom builds offer more control — but that also means longer launch times and higher costs. For fast, flexible store design, Shopify takes the lead.

Go to the top Business Support: Kooomo Offers More Personalized Help

Support is a major consideration — especially if your store is processing six- or seven-figure revenue and downtime isn’t an option.

When something breaks, or when you're scaling into new markets, having the right support behind you can make all the difference.

Shopify provides round-the-clock support, but most of it is geared toward self-service and live chat. If you're on a standard plan, you’ll mostly rely on the Help Center, forums, or chatbot for routine queries. Human support is available, but response times and depth of knowledge can vary.

If you’re on Shopify Plus, you’ll get access to priority support and a dedicated account manager — but that starts at $2,000/month.

Kooomo, in contrast, treats support more like a partnership. As part of its enterprise service model, you’re assigned a dedicated account manager who stays involved throughout the project lifecycle.

Implementation is typically led by an agency or Kooomo’s internal team, which also handles technical support, updates, and escalations. You’re not just filing tickets — you're getting a managed service.

Shopify Support

24/7 live chat and email support for all users Help Center with guides, tutorials, and community forums Priority support available only to Shopify Plus users Phone support for Plus merchants Social media support (Twitter, Facebook) No email ticketing on standard plans (chat only) General troubleshooting is fast, but complex issues can take time

Kooomo Support

Dedicated account manager assigned to your business Project-led onboarding with technical team involvement Ongoing support for performance, integration, and scalability Access to developers, designers, and ecommerce consultants Agency or in-house team handles updates and technical changes Localised support across EU time zones and languages SLA-based escalation process for enterprise accounts

Support Comparison Table

Support FeatureShopifyKooomo24/7 SupportChat and emailYes, via account manager or teamPhone SupportShopify Plus onlyAvailable for all enterprise usersDedicated Account ManagerShopify Plus onlyIncluded with all plansOnboarding and Setup GuidanceSelf-guided (unless Plus)Led by agency or internal teamEmail SupportNo longer standardDirect contact availableCommunity Forum and Help GuidesExtensiveMinimal public documentationSupport CoverageGlobalPrimarily Europe

Shopify’s support is ideal for smaller businesses that want quick answers and prefer to handle most tasks independently. The Help Center is well-organised, the forums are active, and most setup steps are documented clearly.

But if your issue involves custom integrations or you need white-glove service, you’ll likely need to upgrade to Shopify Plus or hire a consultant.

Kooomo’s approach is much more hands-on. Their team is involved in the build, launch, and long-term operation of your store. You’ll have a single point of contact, and technical changes are handled for you.

This level of support comes with a price tag, but for enterprise brands, it’s often worth it.

The Verdict
If you’re on Shopify’s standard plans, support is limited to chat and self-help. It’s efficient but can feel impersonal.

Kooomo offers direct, human help — through a dedicated manager, technical team, and agency support — but only because you’re paying enterprise-level fees. For high-touch service, Kooomo has the edge. If you value independence and lower costs, Shopify is still a reliable option.

Go to the top Final Verdict: Shopify vs Kooomo

Both Shopify and Kooomo are powerful ecommerce platforms — but they’re built for very different types of businesses.

Shopify is designed for flexibility, speed, and scale.

It’s a great fit for direct-to-consumer brands, dropshippers, and growing online retailers that want to move quickly, experiment, and plug into a massive ecosystem of apps and services.

If you're launching your store without a full tech team, or you want to test and adapt your business as it grows, Shopify gives you the right mix of tools and accessibility.

Kooomo, on the other hand, is tailored for complex, enterprise-grade operations. It’s especially well-suited to businesses based in Europe that manage multiple languages, currencies, tax rules, and supply chains across different regions.

If you already have internal teams or agency support in place — and need deep integration with systems like ERP, PIM, or WMS — Kooomo delivers a high level of control, localisation, and scalability.

Choose Shopify if:

You’re building a DTC brand, dropshipping, or scaling fast You want thousands of integrations, apps, and marketing tools You value ease of use and speed to market Your team is small or non-technical You’re focused on North America or global growth via apps

Choose Kooomo if:

You’re an enterprise ecommerce business with complex operations You’re based in Europe and need full localisation for VAT, languages, and currencies You’re managing multiple storefronts or business units in different regions You require ERP, CRM, or logistics system integration You have an internal dev team or agency partnership for ecommerce

The post Kooomo vs Shopify: Which Ecommerce Platform Is Right for You? appeared first on Ecommerce-Platforms.com.

Why loyalty is becoming web3 gaming’s next essential layer

admin — Sat, 05 Jul 2025 20:00:04 +0000

The following is a guest post and opinion of Neil Mullins, CEO at Mojito

Web3 gaming is growing rapidly, but loyalty systems haven’t kept pace. In the last year, blockchain gaming didn’t just grow: it leveled up.

According to the 2024 DappRadar Games Report, the space hit 7.4 million daily active wallets and added over 1,600 new games. Total gaming activity nearly quintupled compared to the end of 2023 as new users, ecosystems, and experiments poured in.

But growth is only half the story. Retention and community engagement remain a grind. Many games are stuck with loyalty systems that feel bolted on or are missing entirely. As gaming becomes more cross-platform, social, and community-driven, loyalty needs to catch up—fast.

A new wave of Web3-native loyalty programs suggests that change is finally arriving.

What Traditional Loyalty Gets Wrong

In gaming ecosystems today, loyalty is little more than a leaderboard, a daily bonus, or a half-baked points system. These tools feel increasingly out of step with how players actually engage.

According to Mistplay’s 2024 Mobile Gaming Spender Report, 79% of mobile spenders actively engage with loyalty programs, and 51% say they would spend more in-game if loyalty rewards offered more value.

Progression, not perks, is the real incentive. Players want loyalty systems that recognize the time and effort they invest.

The same story shows up outside gaming, too. Research from Boston Consulting Group shows that participatory loyalty programs drive sustained engagement. In gaming, players expect similar depth and flexibility, yet many games still rely on static rewards or platform-locked perks.

Consumer research platform Attest has highlighted this gap:

69% of U.S. gamers aged 18–24 say cross-platform play is important. Loyalty systems must extend beyond individual games or platforms.
One-third of gamers find in-game ads intrusive and actively ignore them. A loyalty model based on value will outperform one based on ads.
Friends and family recommendations remain the top driver for trying new games. Loyalty can amplify this effect through community-based rewards.

At the same time, the broader industry is being forced to rethink its engagement strategies. In 2024, more than 12,000 gaming jobs were lost as studios faced rising costs and diminishing returns on user acquisition.

As IGN reported, many teams are now prioritizing sustainable retention over growth at all costs. Loyalty programs, battle passes, and live service models are emerging as key tools to monetize and strengthen existing player communities.

Yet traditional tools aren’t built for this new, community-first world of gaming. That’s why a growing number of Web3 projects and gaming ventures are exploring new models.

Where Web3 Loyalty is Emerging

A new generation of games and platforms is turning to on-chain loyalty programs as a way to meet modern player expectations. The primary features of these systems include composable rewards, wallet-native ownership, and enhanced community engagement.

Take Decentraland’s new Marketplace Credits system, for example. It offers players credits just for showing up and exploring, attending events, checking out new locations, and more.

Those credits can be traded in for avatar upgrades such as wearables and emotes. It’s a simple way to turn everyday participation into a loyalty loop that keeps players coming back.

Mastercard’s Gamer Exchange is another sign of where things are headed. It lets players convert loyalty points from banks, retailers, and airlines into in-game currency across top titles, providing proof that even legacy brands know loyalty is becoming a battleground for gaming.

Infrastructure is also evolving. Mojito Loyalty enables brands and projects to integrate on-chain loyalty features (quests, rewards, and community progression) directly into gaming and digital experiences.

Meanwhile, games like Forgotten Runiverse are using play-to-earn mechanics and evolving loyalty programs to build more persistent player economies. Their approach hints at what’s possible when loyalty is treated not as a marketing add-on but as a core part of the player experience.

Across these examples, the pattern is clear: when loyalty is participatory, transparent, and portable, it becomes a driver of engagement rather than an afterthought.

Loyalty Will Be Gaming’s Next Layer

Retention curves alone won’t build sustainable gaming communities. As John Wright, VP of Mobile Publishing at Kwalee, has said: “It’s not about going for Day 7, 14, and 28 retention curves. Companies must construct a new kind of loyalty system that will bring players back for a year.”

On-chain loyalty makes that shift possible. It allows developers to reward the entire player experience, rather than just what happens inside the game—encompassing everything players contribute, such as attending events, creating content, building community, and more.

Loyalty transforms scattered actions into tangible progress that players can see and feel. And as gaming moves toward open economies and cross-platform identities, it isn’t just nice to have; it’s becoming a new, essential layer of the gaming stack.

The post Why loyalty is becoming web3 gaming’s next essential layer appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Hackers steal $140M from Brazilian central bank reserve accounts via partner breach

admin — Sat, 05 Jul 2025 00:00:38 +0000

Hackers siphoned about R$800 million ($140 million) from six reserve accounts connected to Brazil’s central bank after breaching São Paulo-based software vendor C&M Software on June 30, according to blockchain investigator ZachXBT and reports from local news outlets.

Police said C&M employee João Nazareno Roque sold his corporate login for R$15,000 ($2,770) and later developed a secondary access tool for an additional R$10,000 ($1,850), giving attackers direct access to the vendor’s infrastructure.

Investigators traced unauthorized instructions that moved funds from the reserve accounts held at the Central Bank of Brazil for interbank settlement into commercial bank accounts tied to over-the-counter (OTC) desks and regional exchanges.

ZachXBT estimated that between $30 million and $40 million of the stolen funds had already been swapped for major digital assets, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT.

On-chain analysis teams and Brazilian prosecutors are coordinating wallet freezes while attribution work continues.

Central bank and vendor response

The central bank ordered all institutions that routed through C&M to disconnect immediately after the breach and cleared the firm to restore service two days later, stating that critical systems remained intact.

C&M commercial director Kamal Zogheib told Reuters that the attack relied on fraudulent client credentials rather than a code flaw and confirmed cooperation with the Federal Police and São Paulo investigators.

BMP, a banking platform provider hit in the raid, told local media that only its reserve balance was affected, and customer deposits remained untouched.

Law enforcement officials have frozen R$270 million ($49.8 million) while tracking additional flows and searching for at least four accomplices cited in preliminary warrants.

Roque remained in custody in São Paulo as of July 3. Police allege that he rotated his mobile phones every two weeks to avoid being monitored.

Laundering route through Latin America

Transaction records reviewed by ZachXBT and independent researchers indicate that the attackers structured transfers across multiple exchanges in Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay, then utilized OTC brokers to settle into crypto within three hours of the initial breach.

Sources who prefer to remain anonymous told CryptoSlate that the attackers found it challenging to buy crypto with the stolen money in Brazilian OTC desks, as most of the largest ones raised red flags due to the large amounts.

Brazil’s Federal Police declined to specify which platforms processed the swaps but said exchange operators have begun freezing balances tied to flagged addresses.

The central bank has not disclosed whether additional vendors will face new connection requirements but signaled that the instant payment rail PIX and reserve account interfaces may receive further controls.

The probe continues under federal supervision, with investigators prioritizing the recovery of funds and identifying the remaining organizers.

The post Hackers steal $140M from Brazilian central bank reserve accounts via partner breach appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Mobile Giant AT&T Paying $177,000,000 To Current and Former Customers in Massive Data Breach Settlement

admin — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 20:04:05 +0000

Mobile giant AT&T is preparing to pay millions of dollars to current and former customers to settle a class action lawsuit over a pair of massive data breaches.

A judge has granted preliminary approval for a settlement that will hand $177 million to people affected by the breaches.

The first breach is believed to have happened back in 2019, with hackers stealing sensitive data from 7.6 million current and 65.4 million former customers.

Although AT&T believes the data may have been taken from one of its vendors, the firm has acknowledged that data including customers’ social security numbers, names and dates of birth was exposed.

The second breach happened last year, when hackers breached the company’s Snowflake cloud workspace environment, stealing smartphone call and text metadata of nearly 110 million customers from May of 2022 to October of 2022.

People who can prove they suffered financial damages as a result of the data breaches will likely receive a larger share of the payout.

At time of publishing, affected customers are expected to receive notice of eligibility by mail or email, with the claims process coming in August.

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Turkey Blocks PancakeSwap Over Unauthorized Crypto Activity

admin — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 18:28:48 +0000

Turkey’s Capital Markets Board (SPK) has officially blocked access to PancakeSwap, citing unauthorized crypto asset services targeting Turkish residents.

The ban was issued under Article 99/3 and Article 128/1(a) of the Capital Markets Law (No. 6362). These provisions empower the regulator to restrict platforms operating without a license in the country’s financial markets.

Turkey Crypto Regulations Focus on Decentralized Exchanges

PancakeSwap, the leading decentralized exchange (DEX) on the BNB Smart Chain, was listed alongside several other websites in the SPK’s July enforcement bulletin. The regulator ordered Turkish ISPs to block access to the platform.

Following the news, CAKE price dropped nearly 4%.

CAKE Price Chart After Turkey Ban. Source: BeInCrypto

Authorities say PancakeSwap enables financial transactions, such as token trading, staking, and yield farming, without complying with Turkish licensing requirements.

These activities fall under capital market operations, which require formal regulatory approval in Turkey.

The SPK also ordered the blocking of associated social media accounts and mobile applications, if any, linked to unauthorized financial services.

This action is part of a wider crackdown on unregistered crypto and forex platforms. Over 60 websites were included in the latest enforcement notice, including both centralized and decentralized platforms.

Social Media Post From a Turkish Legal Expert. Source: X (Formerly Twitter)

Turkish regulators have previously warned investors about the risks of engaging with unlicensed service providers.

PancakeSwap remains operational globally. However, access from within Turkey is now restricted via local internet service providers.

The SPK emphasized that these steps are aimed at protecting investor rights and preventing illegal financial activities in digital asset markets.

More regulatory actions against decentralized protocols may follow as Turkish authorities align their stance with global standards on crypto oversight.

The post Turkey Blocks PancakeSwap Over Unauthorized Crypto Activity appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Chainlink Investors Diversify: Bitcoin Solaris Presale Promises Bitcoin-Level Returns with 10,000 TPS Technology

admin — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 11:51:18 +0000

The post Chainlink Investors Diversify: Bitcoin Solaris Presale Promises Bitcoin-Level Returns with 10,000 TPS Technology appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

In a world where crypto veterans have learned that the early bird doesn’t just get the worm but sometimes the Lambo too, a new headline is starting to circulate: “Chainlink holders are diversifying.” And no, it’s not out of boredom. It’s because Bitcoin Solaris has entered the scene, and it is not just another altcoin promising the moon. It is a meticulously engineered system that blends Bitcoin’s foundational ethos with a modern DeFi-ready infrastructure. At the core of it all? An architecture that’s geared for growth, speed, and massive profit potential.

Chainlink Is Solid, But It’s Not the Whole Picture

Chainlink has carved out its role as the middleware of crypto, bringing real-world data to smart contracts. That’s useful. That’s valuable. But for the average investor looking for the kind of life-changing upside that Bitcoin provided in its early days, LINK’s potential growth is more evolutionary than explosive. It’s already established, widely integrated, and its price often moves at the speed of news headlines.

Investors seeking bigger upside are now starting to hedge. And Bitcoin Solaris is where that spotlight is shifting.

The Bitcoin Solaris Formula: 10,000 TPS Meets Mobile Wealth Creation

What’s attracting thousands to Bitcoin Solaris isn’t just hype. It’s tech. BTC-S introduces a dual-layer system with a hybrid consensus model that combines Proof-of-Work and Delegated Proof-of-Stake. This combo keeps things decentralized and secure while enabling lightning-fast transaction speeds.

The specs say it all:

Base Layer (PoW): 3,000 TPS
Solaris Layer (DPoS): 100,000 TPS with 2-second finality
Validator rotation every 24 hours with strict slashing conditions
Rust-based smart contracts optimized for cross-chain dApps

Unlike Bitcoin’s 10-minute block time, Bitcoin Solaris closes blocks every 15 seconds on the Solaris Layer, ensuring scalability and usability for real-world applications.

This Isn’t a Trend, It’s the Start of a Blockchain Evolution

Add to that the fact that its upcoming mobile app, the Solaris Nova App, allows users to mine BTC-S with no complex hardware setup. This is the part that makes people perk up. Through the exciting release of the app, anyone with a smartphone becomes a miner. No need to manage rigs, just real rewards from real participation. And to estimate potential profits, users are already playing with the mining calculator.

Why the Presale Is Heating Up

Bitcoin Solaris is in phase 10 of its presale, and things are moving fast. The current price is $10. Next stop? $11, and a launch at $20. That’s a potential 150% gain from now to day one trading.

More than 13,650 users have joined so far. And with only about four weeks remaining, this may go down as one of the shortest, most explosive presales of the year. Even wallets like Trust Wallet and Metamask are officially recommended for receiving BTC-S on launch day, making onboarding seamless.

This kind of growth doesn’t go unnoticed. A detailed review by Token Galaxy breaks down why so many enthusiasts believe this is the next breakout coin.

And yes, the numbers speak for themselves:

Over $6 million raised
Rapid community expansion
Audited by Cyberscope and Freshcoins
Live discussion happening in the official Telegram and X account

A Blueprint Built for Generational Wealth

Here’s the bigger picture: Bitcoin Solaris is not just about TPS and token price. It’s about ecosystem readiness. Developers can already build DeFi, NFT, gaming, supply chain, and IoT dApps using Rust contracts on a high-speed, low-fee chain.

That opens the door for:

Carbon credit trading and sustainability markets
Healthcare apps for secure patient data
Blockchain-based education credentials
Real estate tokenization and smart rentals

But it’s the wealth-building mechanisms that are catching attention. The network uses a hybrid mining model, distributing 40% of rewards to Base Layer miners and 25% to Solaris Layer validators. This ensures long-term sustainability and allows daily participants to earn directly from the activity.

In other words, Bitcoin Solaris is the first major project since early Bitcoin to put meaningful mining power in your pocket without any technical friction.

BTC-S vs LINK: A Different Kind of Upside

While Chainlink remains a key infrastructure player in crypto, its token’s role is primarily functional. Bitcoin Solaris, by contrast, is offering a network that not only fuels infrastructure but also makes it accessible, mineable, and profitable at the user level.

FeatureChainlink (LINK)Bitcoin Solaris (BTC-S)Consensus MechanismNone (uses ETH validators)Hybrid PoW + DPoSTPS PerformanceRelies on the host chainUp to 100,000 TPSNative MiningNoYes, via the upcoming mobile appEarly-Stage ROIModerateHigh potential (150% presale return)Smart Contract FocusOracle layer onlyFull dApp support (Rust-based)Network ArchitectureSingle layer, external nodeDual-layer, internal validator sync

It’s clear that Bitcoin Solaris doesn’t just build utility, it builds opportunity.

Final Thoughts

Chainlink’s investors know how to spot value. And right now, many are quietly diversifying into Bitcoin Solaris. The reasons are obvious. The project isn’t just fast and efficient, it’s early, accessible, and designed to replicate the kind of massive upside that Bitcoin offered in its infancy.

For more information on Bitcoin Solaris:

Website: https://www.bitcoinsolaris.com/
Telegram: https://t.me/Bitcoinsolaris
X: https://x.com/BitcoinSolaris

Telehealth Popularity Pressures Providers to Modernize Patient Payments

admin — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 08:02:28 +0000

Telehealth has cemented itself as a standard delivery channel in U.S. healthcare, especially among young generations.

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However, while care has gone digital, payment systems largely have not. For providers, this growing disconnect between virtual care delivery and outdated billing workflows isn’t just an operational oversight; it’s increasingly becoming a liability.

Findings from the PYMNTS Intelligence June Generational Pulse Report revealed that nearly 30% of Generation Z and millennials used telehealth for their most recent healthcare encounter, signaling comfort with digital-first care among young demographics. Mental health services stand out, with 52% of sessions conducted remotely, more than any other category.

A gap is emerging, however, with 68% of Gen Z patients reporting moderate to severe friction when paying for that care. These challenges can range from unclear insurance information and fragmented billing platforms to limited digital payment options.

Providers maintaining outdated payment systems risk undoing the gains of telehealth adoption. As digital-native generations become the dominant healthcare consumers, modernizing the billing experience is no longer optional but is becoming an operational and competitive imperative.

Despite Virtual Healthcare Benefits, Real Payments Friction Exists

The consumerization of healthcare has advanced over the past five years, and Gen Z and millennials are leading that shift. These groups expect digital access, price transparency and fast resolution, all expectations shaped by years of interacting with on-demand services, from ride-sharing to mobile banking.

While digital appointments have become more common, particularly for primary care and behavioral health, the billing systems behind them often remain rooted in legacy infrastructure. Many providers, especially small- to mid-sized practices, still depend on older electronic health record (EHR) systems and disconnected revenue cycle management (RCM) tools.

This fragmentation directly impacts the patient experience. In the same PYMNTS survey, 44% of consumers reported at least one issue when paying for their latest healthcare service. For Gen Z and millennials — accustomed to mobile-native, transparent consumer experiences — this complexity becomes a deterrent to continued engagement.

Providers need to recognize that younger generations are not just tolerant of digital workflows. They demand them. They are increasingly choosing providers based not just on clinical outcomes, but on overall experience.

The New Imperative: Modernize Payments or Fall Behind

According to the report, while more than 60% of patients used digital tools to manage healthcare — such as appointment scheduling or prescription refills — less than half reported positive experiences with billing.

Payments friction can reflect structural inefficiencies in how most providers handle the post-visit financial workflow. Many systems still rely on paper-based billing and mailed statements, delayed insurance adjudication processes, separate portals for care delivery and payments, and lack of real-time benefit verification or upfront cost estimation.

Part of the challenge is that many legacy systems were not built with modern payment integrations in mind. Another factor is organizational inertia. For many providers, payment workflows are managed by separate teams from those overseeing digital health initiatives, creating silos that slow innovation.

These operational weaknesses are becoming competitive liabilities. As more patients shift to virtual-first providers and telehealth-native platforms, those offering seamless billing and payment experiences could be better positioned to attract and retain younger consumers.

As telehealth transitions from an emergency solution to a standard of care, aligning billing and payment systems with digital delivery is the next critical step — and it’s one that providers can no longer afford to ignore.

The post Telehealth Popularity Pressures Providers to Modernize Patient Payments appeared first on PYMNTS.com.

Bitget Wallet Celebrates the Launch of Zero-Fee Crypto Card during EthCC

admin — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 07:32:11 +0000

Bitget Wallet was joined by partners and customers on stage and at the PayFi themed Event

Bitget Wallet, the leading non-custodial crypto wallet, celebrated their new crypto-linked card, launched in in partnership with Mastercard and infrastructure provider Immersve, during Ethereum Community Conference (EthCC) in Cannes. The product allows users to make payments directly from their digital wallets at more than 150 million merchants that accept Mastercard worldwide.

The launch was unveiled during a joint keynote followed by an exclusive side event co-hosted by the partners. The keynote, titled “Making Crypto Spendable” featured Jamie Elkaleh, CMO of Bitget Wallet and Christian Rau, SVP of Digital Assets, Blockchain and Fintech Enablement at Mastercard, who outlined how self-custodial crypto assets can now integrate seamlessly with traditional financial infrastructure. Rau emphasized the importance of interoperability, rigorous compliance, and user protection in enabling mass adoption. Elkaleh pointed to wallets becoming full financial interfaces and stressed that real-world usability is key to unlocking the next phase of crypto growth.

Following the keynote, the companies co-hosted “PayFi Rising: Building the Rails,” a curated networking event spotlighting crypto payments innovation and showcasing the new product. The evening featured a fireside chat with Jerome Faury, CEO of Immersve, the Mastercard-licensed issuer powering the product’s backend infrastructure. Faury emphasized that the collaboration enables users to spend crypto as easily as fiat, while retaining control of their digital assets until the point of settlement.

The card, available through the Bitget Wallet app, supports real-time funding via onchain swaps and deposits. Leveraging Mastercard Digital First technology, users can apply for the card digitally and within minutes add it to their mobile wallets for use at both physical and online merchants. Transactions are settled onchain through crypto-to-fiat conversion, while adhering to Mastercard’s regulatory framework, including full KYC and AML compliance. The initial rollout covers the United Kingdom and European Union, with plans to expand to Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand in the coming months.

The launch forms part of Bitget Wallet’s broader PayFi strategy, followed by the company’s recent rebrand and renewed focus on “Crypto for Everyone” vision, which aims to turn self-custodied assets into everyday utility through integrated payment experiences. In addition to the card, Bitget Wallet enables users to pay with crypto via Scan-to-Pay using Solana Pay and national QR payment systems, as well as through the in-app Shop tab, which offers direct purchases of gift cards, mobile credits, and gaming top-ups from thousands of merchants.

Elkaleh concluded by stating that “crypto adoption hinges on giving people real choice — tools that feel familiar but offer the freedom and composability only crypto enables.” Rau added that true innovation lies in fusing trusted infrastructure with emerging asset models, noting that partnerships like this are critical to moving digital assets into the financial mainstream.

For more information, visit the Bitget Wallet blog.

About Bitget Wallet

Bitget Wallet is a non-custodial crypto wallet designed to make crypto simple, seamless and secure for everyone. With over 80 million users, it brings together a full suite of crypto services, including swaps, market insights, staking, rewards, a DApp browser, and crypto payment solutions. Supporting 130+ blockchains, 20,000+ DApps, and a million tokens, Bitget Wallet enables seamless multi-chain trading across hundreds of DEXs and cross-chain bridges. Backed by a $300+ million user protection fund, it ensures the highest level of security for users’ assets. Its vision is Crypto for Everyone — to make crypto simpler, safer, and part of everyday life for a billion people.

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