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Benjamin Capital Acquires New Thing Co. To Enhance ‘Money Moments’ Marketplace

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Innovative fintech player to integrate emerging augmented reality in the next stage of its mission to revolutionize and disrupt the fast-growing consumer cash rewards arena.

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. and OULU, Finland, Sept. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Benjamin Capital Partners announced today the acquisition of New Thing Co., an Austin, TX-based leader in creating extraordinary customer experiences on behalf of brand marketers, featuring its proprietary augmented reality rewards tool and technology. This tool will be integrated into the fast-growing Benjamin app that allows consumers to generate cash rewards – called Benjamin Money Moments – on a broad range of everyday activities including purchases, mobile gaming, and viewing ads.

Benjamin Capital Partners acquires AR firm New Thing Co. to boost money moments

As a key element of the acquisition, New Thing co-founders Aubrey Johnson, CEO, and Jason Bender, CTO, will assume leadership roles in product development and engineering as EVP Product Strategy and EVP Technology, respectively. Both will be reporting into Erno Tauriainen, Founder and Chief Product Officer.

“I’m pleased and excited  to announce our acquisition of New Thing Co.,” said Tauriainen, who is a 15-year veteran of the cash rewards space, with two previous exits.”By bringing Jason and Aubrey on board, we’re not only adding top-tier talent with unparalleled experience in cash-back and user engagement, but we’re also gaining cutting-edge AR technology that will revolutionize how consumers interact with brands, merchants, and games.”

Johnson and Bender are renowned for being early and key members of the Dosh team, a leading cash-back platform that was acquired by Cardlytics for $275M.

“We are honored and thrilled to join the Benjamin team as they continue to have incredible success in the consumer rewards space,” said Johnson. “At Dosh, we built a premier cash rewards engine whose success was a function of creating a world-class user experience, supported by sophisticated technology. We are eager to apply this expertise to this company’s mission to put one or more Benjamins in every user’s wallet every single month.”

This acquisition coincides with a $13 million capital raise, including both debt and equity, from existing investors Play Ventures and Big Bets VC. This fundraising was orchestrated by respected industry veteran Jordan Rohan, who joined Benjamin over the summer as its Chief Financial Officer.

“We are delighted to have the continued support of our visionary investors. The financing has enabled Benjamin to scale its user base past 900,000 monthly active users,” said Rohan, “This capital will also drive our expansion into exciting new verticals including commerce, payments, advertising and more.”

Since coming out of beta in October 2023, the Benjamin app already has over 1 million downloads. Revenue growth has also been very robust and is approaching $4 million MRR in September.

“Our vision is for Benjamin to be the facilitator of a comprehensive cash rewards lifestyle across the full range of commercial brands and entities with which consumers interact on a daily basis from groceries to gas to going out to eat.” said Tauriainen. “The Benjamin wallet will be the catalyst for a series of ‘Benjamin Money Moments’ for consumers as they go throughout the course of their days.”

About Benjamin Capital Partners
Benjamin Capital Partners is the holding company for the Benjamin App, a new cash-rewards platform for consumers, merchants and gamers to earn cash, called Benjamin Money Moments, by completing daily tasks, playing mobile games, viewing content and ads, and making everyday card purchases with cash back. Founded by industry pioneer Erno Tauriainen, and led by digital industry veteran Lon Otremba, Benjamin looks to innovate a number of massive industries, including cashback, gaming, and digital advertising.

About New Thing Co.
New Thing is an Augmented Reality Rewards utility that provides marketers and advertisers the power to easily bring engaging AR and rewards to their marketing and advertising campaigns.

Media Contact:
hank@m8media.net 

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SOURCE Benjamin Capital Partners Inc

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Viettel Group and Vietnam’s Government Cipher Committee Unveil Security Chip Embedding Vietnamese Cryptography in Silicon

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HANOI, Vietnam, Nov. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Vietnam’s Government Cipher Committee and Viettel Group have unveiled VGC v1.0, a security chip integrating a domestically developed cryptographic algorithm directly into silicon, alongside the country’s first domestically designed secure semiconductor platform.

The project addresses concerns over potential data exposure associated with reliance on imported chips. By embedding cryptographic functions directly into hardware, Vietnam’s Government Cipher Committee and Viettel Group aim to strengthen Vietnam’s control over the design and verification of technologies used to protect sensitive information.

VGC v1.0 contains 300 million transistors in a 10 × 10 mm package and is fabricated using a 28-nanometre CMOS process. In performance tests, it performed encryption and decryption approximately 15 times faster than a software-only solution carrying out the same tasks. The first batch passed technical tests and received certification for socio-economic applications in the first quarter of 2026. Technical safeguards were also applied to protect the design before fabrication, reducing risks of information leakage and reverse engineering.

The Government Cipher Committee’s M2 unit established security requirements, developed the cryptographic algorithm and defined evaluation criteria, while Viettel Semiconductor Center designed and implemented the chip. Based on the open RISC-V instruction set architecture, the underlying platform enables Vietnamese engineers to modify processor designs and reuse established verification processes for future chip generations.

VGC v1.0 has already seen initial deployment in secure USB storage devices for Party, government and defence agencies. Planned applications include supporting Vietnam’s national digital signature certification system, which has more than two million digital certificates in circulation. Other potential uses span financial data protection, connected cameras and sensors, and critical infrastructure systems in electricity, water, oil and gas, and telecommunications. Products intended to protect state secrets would require further testing and certification under applicable standards.

“Researching, designing and developing secure semiconductor chips is a formidable challenge, requiring years of accumulated expertise, technological capabilities and highly skilled talent. Yet we believe that starting later does not mean accepting dependence on others. With the right strategy, focused resources and sustained commitment, we can steadily close the gap and move towards mastering technologies of strategic importance to our country,” said Lieutenant General Tao Duc Thang, Chairman and CEO of Viettel Group.

At the launch, the Vietnam’s Government Cipher Committee and Viettel Group signed an agreement covering plans for volume production, multicore security chips, specialist workforce development and testing on real devices. Viettel is also building a semiconductor fabrication plant in Hoa Lac as part of broader efforts to develop domestic capabilities across chip design, manufacturing and packaging.

Beyond the initial chip, the initiative establishes a foundation for future generations of security hardware, supporting Vietnam’s long-term efforts to reduce technological dependence and strengthen control over critical digital technologies.

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SOURCE Viettel Group

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USDGO Plus SP Among First Products on OSL’s Instant Redemption

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Eligible professional investors redeeming units of USDGO Plus SP through OSL may receive redemption proceeds on the same day, subject to OSL’s eligibility criteria and applicable terms and conditions

HONG KONG, Nov. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Units of PrimePlus SPC – USDGO Plus SP held via OSL are included in the initial batch of products covered by Instant Redemption, a feature OSL Group announced on 2 November 2026 for tokenised real-world asset (RWA) products on its licensed platform.

Eligible professional investors redeeming designated products through OSL may receive their redemption proceeds on the same day, subject to OSL’s eligibility criteria, product coverage and applicable terms and conditions. Designated products may also be subscribed for and redeemed in USDGO.

USDGO Plus SP is a segregated portfolio of PrimePlus SPC, a Cayman Islands segregated portfolio company registered with CIMA as a mutual fund. Under the co-operation framework of 2WA and OSL, fund units stay in custody via OSL, 2WA does not custody client fund units, and Instant Redemption is an OSL platform feature*.

OSL continues to provide custody and distribution for USDGO Plus SP. Instant Redemption does not change the fund’s redemption terms, registration status, offering documents, risk disclosures or investor eligibility requirements.

*Instant Redemption is only available to investors on the OSL platform who qualify as professional investors.

About 2WA

2WA is a real-world asset (RWA) and digital asset technology development company focused on expanding the utility of regulated assets. 2WA applies blockchain technology, including tokenization, to broaden how regulated assets such as fund units and listed equities are held, used and mobilized. Throughout, the underlying assets remain with licensed custodians. 2WA’s objective is to create new use cases for these assets and, in doing so, enhance their overall value for investors and institutions.

USDGO sits at the core of 2WA’s business. As an active contributor to the USDGO ecosystem, 2WA uses USDGO as the primary settlement and liquidity asset across its RWA products, and works alongside partners to broaden its adoption, deepen its liquidity and support the long-term growth of its ecosystem. For more information, visit https://2wa.io

About OSL

OSL Group (HKEX: 863) is a global stablecoin infrastructure company that strives to provide compliant and efficient digital financial infrastructure services globally, empowering enterprises, financial institutions and individuals to seamlessly exchange, pay, trade, and settle between fiat and digital currencies. Grounded in the core values of Open, Secure, and Liquid, it is committed to building a more efficient ecosystem that connects global markets and enables instant, seamless and compliant value movement worldwide. For media inquiries, please contact: media@osl.com

Media contacts

2WA: media@2wa.io
OSL: media@osl.com

Disclaimer

This press release is for information purposes only. It does not constitute an offer, solicitation, recommendation or inducement to buy, sell or otherwise deal in any digital asset, security or other financial product, and it is not financial, investment, legal, tax, accounting or other professional advice and should not be relied on as such. Views expressed do not necessarily reflect the official positions of OSL Group or its affiliates. Descriptions of products and services are for general reference only, and participation is subject to applicable terms, conditions and regulatory requirements. This press release may contain forward-looking or indicative information; actual outcomes may differ materially, and none of OSL Group, 2WA, PrimePlus SPC or their respective affiliates undertakes any obligation to update it.

USDGO Plus SP has not been authorised by the Securities and Futures Commission under section 104 of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) (SFO), and its offering documents have not been reviewed by any regulatory authority in Hong Kong. Interests in USDGO Plus SP may be offered in Hong Kong only to professional investors, and only on the basis of the fund’s offering documents. Investing in digital asset funds involves significant risks, including the possible loss of the entire amount invested. Market-neutral strategies do not eliminate risk, and funding rates may turn negative. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Instant Redemption is a feature of OSL’s platform. Its availability is subject to OSL’s eligibility criteria, limits and platform terms, and may be changed, suspended or withdrawn at any time. It does not amend the redemption terms of USDGO Plus SP and is not a guarantee of liquidity or of the return of any amount invested.

This press release is intended only for “professional investors” as defined in the SFO and its subsidiary legislation, must not be distributed or used in any jurisdiction where doing so would breach applicable laws, and does not constitute active marketing to the public in Hong Kong. Readers are responsible for complying with the laws of their own jurisdiction. The stablecoins referred to in this press release may be “specified stablecoins” under the Stablecoin Ordinance (Cap. 656); their issuers and OSL Digital Securities Limited (OSLDS) are not licensed under that Ordinance to conduct regulated stablecoin activities in Hong Kong. OSLDS is a permitted offeror under that Ordinance and offers such products in Hong Kong only to clients it has verified and accepted as professional investors.

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SOURCE 2WA

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THE KOREA INDUSTRY DAILY: ROBOTWORLD 2026 to Spotlight Physical AI and AI-Driven Manufacturing With 402 Exhibitors From 17 Countries

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Rainbow Robotics, Neuromeka and Samhyun to exhibit Nov. 4–7 near Seoul; NVIDIA and Qualcomm to participate in conference

GOYANG, South Korea, Nov. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ROBOTWORLD 2026 will bring together 402 companies from 17 countries at the Korea International Exhibition Center (KINTEX) Nov. 4–7. The 1,198-booth exhibition will explore how Physical AI and AI-driven manufacturing systems are being developed for industrial applications.

International exhibitors will include Taiwan’s Advantech, Japan’s FANUC and China’s Booster Robotics, PAXINI and Unitree. A Canadian delegation of 10 technology companies will participate in the exhibition and conference, while companies from India and Bangladesh will exhibit at ROBOTWORLD for the first time.

The International Robot Business Conference 2026 will extend the discussion of industrial applications through 36 sessions on Nov. 4–5. Its three tracks — Manufacturing AX (AI transformation), Humanoid with Physical AI and Mobility — will address AI adoption in production, robot intelligence and mobility across industrial and service environments. The Manufacturing AX track will feature presentations by representatives from Qualcomm and Advantech, while a speaker from NVIDIA will present in the Humanoid with Physical AI track. Qualcomm will also sponsor the exhibition.

According to the International Federation of Robotics’ World Robotics 2026 report, global industrial robot installations reached a record 603,307 units in 2025, marking an 11% increase from the previous year and surpassing 600,000 units for the first time. Asia accounted for 76% of all newly installed industrial robots, with 457,315 units installed, up 14% year-on-year. Global installations are forecast to reach 655,000 units in 2026, reflecting the continued expansion of industrial automation.

Against this industrial backdrop, the exhibition will explore Physical AI technologies that enable robots to perceive their surroundings, assess conditions and perform physical tasks. Korean exhibitors will address both task intelligence and the platforms and components that enable movement and manipulation.

Rainbow Robotics will exhibit its RBY mobile humanoid and RBQ quadruped series, while Neuromeka will present its Physical Skill Foundation (PSF) technology alongside the EIR humanoid and NAMI mobile humanoid platforms. Neuromeka describes PSF as supporting task execution involving unfamiliar objects and changing work environments. Samhyun will showcase its AXLON actuator series for robot joint actuation, torque control and linear motion, together with the BOLDUM autonomous transport robot for industrial material handling with payloads of up to 3 metric tons.

Beyond individual robots, the exhibition will examine AI-driven manufacturing through systems that combine collaborative robots, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), machine vision and manufacturing software. Exhibitors will demonstrate how process data and material flows can inform robot and equipment operations across production processes.

Humanoid, food-tech and healthcare pavilions will provide focused views of these technologies and their applications. The newly established humanoid pavilion will cover complete robots, actuators, reducers, sensors, controllers and AI software. The food-tech pavilion will feature cooking, serving and kitchen automation. The returning healthcare pavilion will cover surgical, rehabilitation, wearable and care robots, as well as hospital logistics.

Business programs will connect the technology presentations with opportunities for procurement, exports and investment. Export and procurement matchmaking sessions will run Nov. 4–6, with suppliers and prospective buyers matched in advance for one-to-one meetings. A seminar on entering international markets will be held on Nov.5 providing practical information on certification requirements in different countries.

Global Scale-up Day on Nov. 6 will be open to small and medium-sized enterprises as well as startups in AI and robotics seeking investment and growth capital. Conducted entirely in English, the program will bring together venture capital firms, accelerators, strategic investors and M&A specialists.

“With increased participation by global companies and the addition of national and special pavilions, we hope this year’s exhibition will showcase the capabilities of Korean robotics companies and expand opportunities for practical cooperation between Korean and international businesses,” a ROBOTWORLD representative said.

ROBOTWORLD 2026 will take place at KINTEX Exhibition Center 1, Halls 3–5, in Goyang. Information on exhibitors, conference sessions and business programs are available at https://eng.robotworld.or.kr/.

About ROBOTWORLD

ROBOTWORLD is an international robotics exhibition covering industrial and service robots, core components, AI software and manufacturing automation solutions, alongside a conference and business programs. ROBOTWORLD 2026 is hosted by South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) and jointly organized by the Korea Association of AI Robot Industry (KAR), the Korea Institute for Robot Industry Advancement (KIRIA) and the Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems (ICROS).

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SOURCE THE KOREA INDUSTRY DAILY

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