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Rarimo Closes $2.5 Million Vision Round with Vitalik and Other Key Founders United on Future of Digital Identity

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This founder-only fundraise was designed to unite leaders around a shared vision for the future of digital identityInvestors share the Rarimo community’s conviction that digital identities must be private, user-owned and controlledFunds from the Vision Round will be used to launch Rarimo as a roll-up in Q1 2025

LONDON, Dec. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Rarimo, a zero-knowledge (ZK) identity protocol, has announced the closing of a $2.5 million fundraising round spearheaded by Ethereum’s Vitalik Buterin. Other investors included Celestia’s Nick White and Aztec’s Zac Williamson, among others*.

Termed the Vision Round and reserved exclusively for founders of leading chains and ZK protocols, the raise was designed to unite leaders around a shared vision for the future of digital identity.

Investors share a conviction that digital identities must be private, user-owned, and user-controlled. To achieve this, an identity stack such as Rarimo’s that provides total decentralization is urgently required.

In line with this view, funds from the Vision Round will be used to launch Rarimo as a ZK roll-up on Ethereum in Q1 2025. This expansion follows the successful battle testing of Rarimo’s ZK identity system during the Russian elections where it survived Kremlin attacks.

Lasha Antandze, Co-Founder of Rarilabs, a contributor to Rarimo, commented, “In the future, all users will self-issue and privately store their identities on their own device, generating zero knowledge proofs that let them co-ordinate and communicate without compromising anonymity. This decentralized model makes hacks, bans and censorship almost impossible.”

Vitalik Buterin, Founder of Ethereum, shared, “I share the Rarimo team’s passion for improving and protecting freedom and democracy in post-Soviet countries and beyond. I recognize the dual need to protect privacy against oppressive governments and hackers while, at the same time, allowing participants in discussions to trust each other. Free speech must be neither squashed by a boot nor drowned out in noise.

Rarimo’s identity model of ZK-wrapping existing proof-of-personhood methods and building applications on top, allowing users to prove important facts about who they are without fully disclosing their identity, is a promising strategy to achieve both goals at the same time.”

Nick White, Founder of Celestia, added, “Rarimo’s sovereign, private, digital identity layer will unlock very powerful, cypherpunk applications for crypto. Onchain voting is just the tip of the iceberg.”

Rarimo’s identity infrastructure started with passport ZKPs. Users can self-issue passport-based identities, store them privately on their mobile phones, and generate ZK proofs locally from their own devices. No third parties are involved in the process.

These passport ZKPs have been used for anonymous voting in Russia, Iran, and Georgia, and for airdrops. The community is now focused on expanding Rarimo’s infrastructure so that users can build private social graphs and experiment with ZK reputation.

*Full List of Investment Partners

     –  Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum Co-Founder
     –  Nick White, Celestia Co-Founder
     –  Brian Retford, RiscZero Co-Founder
     –  Daniel Lubarov, Polygon Zero Co-Founder
     –  Stefan George, Gnosis Co-Founder
     –  Alex Pruden, Aleo Co-Founder
     –  Keone Hon, Monad Co-Founder
     –  Ariel Gabizon, Zcash contributor
     –  Zac Williamson, Aztec Co-Founder
     –  Arnaud Schenk, Aztec Co-Founder
     –  Liam Eagan, Alpen Labs Founder
     –  Pavel Kravchenko, Distributed Lab Co-Founder

Additional Investor Quotes

Alex Pruden, Founder of Aleo,”Zero-knowledge cryptography holds tremendous potential for solving digital identity challenges. I’m proud to support the Rarimo team as they tackle this critical need with innovative products like Freedom Tool and the ZK Identity Registry. Their work is paving the way for secure, privacy-preserving solutions that have the potential to redefine how we trust and interact online.”

Brian Retford, Founder of RiscZero, “It’s more important today than it ever has been that there be open, decentralized and transparent identity protocol that enables *credible* anonymous and pseudonymous online actions. Rarimo is building this and I’m proud to support them.”

Zac Williamson, Co-Founder of Aztec, “Permissionless identity protocols with strong user privacy protection will be seen as a keystone technology of the new information revolution, and Rarimo is leading the charge. The community is talented, tenacious and targeting real-world deployments of this bleeding-edge technology. I am thrilled to be supporting their journey.”

About Rarimo

Rarimo is a ZK identity protocol. It unlocks a new generation of social apps.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2573208/Rarimo_Vision_Round_Founders.jpg

 

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BCE reports results of Series S and T preferred share conversions

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MONTRÉAL, Oct. 19, 2026 /CNW/ — BCE Inc. (TSX: BCE) (NYSE: BCE) today announced that 400 of its 4,798,333 fixed-rate Cumulative Redeemable First Preferred Shares, Series T (“Series T Preferred Shares”) have been tendered for conversion on November 2, 2026, on a one-for-one basis, into floating-rate Cumulative Redeemable First Preferred Shares, Series S (“Series S Preferred Shares”). In addition, 676,765 of its 1,866,877 Series S Preferred Shares have been tendered for conversion on November 2, 2026, on a one-for-one basis, into Series T Preferred Shares. Consequently, on November 2, 2026, BCE will have 5,474,698 Series T Preferred Shares and 1,190,512 Series S Preferred Shares issued and outstanding. The Series T Preferred Shares and the Series S Preferred Shares will continue to be listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols BCE.PR.T and BCE.PR.S, respectively.

The Series T Preferred Shares will pay on a quarterly basis, for the five-year period beginning on November 2, 2026, as and when declared by the Board of Directors of BCE, a fixed cash dividend based on an annual fixed dividend rate of 5.523%.

The Series S Preferred Shares will continue to pay a monthly floating adjustable cash dividend for the five-year period beginning on November 2, 2026, as and when declared by the Board of Directors of BCE. The monthly floating adjustable dividend for any particular month will continue to be calculated based on the prime rate for such month and using the Designated Percentage for such month representing the sum of an adjustment factor (based on the market price of the Series S Preferred Shares in the preceding month) and the Designated Percentage for the preceding month.

About BCE
BCE is Canada’s largest communications company1, leading the way in advanced fibre and wireless networks, enterprise services and digital media. By delivering next-generation technology that leverages cloud-based and AI-driven solutions, we’re keeping customers connected, informed and entertained while enabling businesses to compete on the world stage. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca or BCE.ca.

1 Based on total revenue and total combined customer connections.

Media inquiries:
Ellen Murphy
media@bell.ca

Investor inquiries:
Krishna Somers
krishna.somers@bell.ca

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bce-reports-results-of-series-s-and-t-preferred-share-conversions-302913268.html

SOURCE BCE Inc.

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3M announces collaboration with GSEO to advance Expanded Beam Optical manufacturing and development

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ST. PAUL, Minn., Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 3M (NYSE: MMM) today announced a collaboration with Genius Electronic Optical Co., Ltd. (GSEO, Taiwan: 3406), an optical technology company, to advance technology development and manufacturing for 3M’s Expanded Beam Optical (EBO) solutions. In support of these efforts, 3M expects to make a strategic investment to acquire approximately 4.7% of GSEO’s common shares as part of the company’s private placement of newly issued shares, subject to customary closing conditions.

The collaboration brings together 3M’s EBO technology leadership, optical interconnect expertise, materials science, manufacturing scale and customer relationships with GSEO’s precision optics manufacturing capabilities and production scale. Together, the companies aim to support EBO commercialization and long-term capacity expansion to meet growing demand from hyperscale data centers and other advanced connectivity applications.

“3M is investing in capabilities and partnerships that can accelerate innovation for our customers,” said William Brown, 3M Chairman and CEO. “By selecting GSEO as a manufacturing partner and investing in the company, we are strengthening the path to scale next-generation optical connectivity solutions for high-performance data center infrastructure.”

GSEO’s existing precision optics manufacturing capabilities and technical development experience are expected to support manufacturing readiness for 3M’s EBO ferrules, co-packaged optics solutions and related optical interconnect applications. The collaboration is part of 3M’s broader EBO ecosystem strategy, which includes continued work with customers and partners across the optical interconnect market.

“GSEO is pleased to expand its relationship with 3M as we work together to advance optical interconnect solutions for next-generation data center infrastructure,” said Micro Kuo, GSEO CEO and President. “This collaboration brings together complementary technology and manufacturing strengths to support continued innovation and help meet the performance demands of high-growth connectivity markets.”

3M expects the strategic investment to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this release are considered “forward-looking statements” under the federal securities laws, including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, and are intended to enjoy the protection of those laws. Forward-looking statements may appear throughout this release and are typically identified by the words “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “evaluate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “goal,” “guidance,” “impact,” “initial,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “outlook,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “probable,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “strategy,” “target,” “will,” “would,” and other words that are similar to, or have the opposite meanings of, those words. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, 3M assumes no duty to update those statements, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of those statements. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events and trends that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including those described in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of 3M’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025.

About 3M
3M (NYSE: MMM) is focused on transforming industries around the world by applying science and creating innovative, customer-focused solutions. Our multi-disciplinary team is working to solve tough customer problems by leveraging diverse technology platforms, differentiated capabilities, global footprint, and operational excellence. Discover how 3M is shaping the future at 3M.com/news.

Contacts
3M
Investor Contact:
Diane Farrow, 612-202-2449
Media Contact:
3MNews@mmm.com 

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SOURCE 3M Company

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Scott Vicknair Personal Injury Lawyers Announces Second Annual Operation Fur-Ever Home Pet Adoption Event at Lafreniere Park

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NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Scott Vicknair Personal Injury Lawyers is excited to announce the return of its second annual Operation Fur-Ever Home, a free community pet adoption event taking place on Saturday, November 14, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Lafreniere Park in Metairie, Louisiana.

The free, family-friendly event will give attendees the opportunity to meet adoptable pets from local animal shelters, learn about responsible pet ownership, and potentially welcome a new furry companion into their homes. Those who preregister for the event will also be entered for a chance to win a Soundcore speaker and a free pet adoption.

“Last year’s event was everything we hoped it would be, and we are incredibly excited to bring Operation Fur-Ever Home back for a second year,” said David Vicknair, founding partner of Scott Vicknair Personal Injury Lawyers. “There is something special about watching a family meet a pet that could become part of their lives for years to come. We wanted to create another opportunity to make those connections while supporting the organizations that work tirelessly to care for animals in our community.”

Building on the success of the first event, this year’s event continues the firm’s commitment to supporting local animal shelters and creating meaningful opportunities for families throughout Southeast Louisiana.

“Giving back to our community has always been an important part of who we are as a firm,” said Vicknair. “Whether we are helping students prepare for school, recognizing deserving teachers, or supporting local animal shelters, our goal is to make a positive difference in the communities we serve.”

Operation Fur-Ever Home is free and open to the public. Families, animal lovers, and anyone interested in adopting a pet are encouraged to attend and preregister.

About Scott Vicknair Personal Injury Lawyers

Scott Vicknair Personal Injury Lawyers is a New Orleans-based personal injury firm committed to providing exceptional legal representation while also investing in the communities it serves. Their experienced team of dedicated attorneys specializes in car accidents, personal injury, and wrongful death cases in New Orleans. With diverse personal and professional backgrounds, they craft legal strategies tailored to each client’s specific case and needs.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/scott-vicknair-personal-injury-lawyers-announces-second-annual-operation-fur-ever-home-pet-adoption-event-at-lafreniere-park-302913183.html

SOURCE Scott Vicknair Personal Injury Lawyers

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