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Advanced FinTech AI Competition 2026 Kicks Off to Accelerate AI in Finance

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SHANGHAI, July 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Registration is now officially open for AFAC 2026 (Advanced FinTech AI Competition), a premier international event aimed at integrating AI into real-world financial landscapes.

Co-hosted by over 30 leading universities and organizations, including the China Computer Federation (CCF), Ant Group, NVIDIA, Peking University, Fudan University, and Nanyang Technological University, AFAC 2026 invites developers, students, and startups worldwide to tackle the most pressing challenges at the intersection of AI and finance. Backed by a total prize pool exceeding 1 million RMB, the competition encourages distinguished ideas that accelerate the deployment of AI and large language model (LLM) in the financial sector, delivering tangible business value under genuine business operation constraints.

To cater to a wider range of innovators, AFAC 2026 features two groups designed to translate technological innovations into practical industry solutions aligned with real-world business scenarios and the latest industry trends:

1. Challenge Group (Algorithm Hackathon)

Target Participants: Students and Developers

Focus: Solving complex business problems using authentic fintech data.

Four Tracks:

Market Participant Trading Behavior Identification and Fund Flow AnalysisComplex Financial Document Reconstruction ChallengeAutomation Challenge under Sparse FeedbackFinancial Long-document Agent Dynamic Memory Compression and Efficient Q&A Challenge

2. Startup Group (Creative Development and Application)

Target Participants: One-Person Company (OPC) and Startup Teams

Focus: Leveraging LLM technologies to develop innovative business solutions and drive fintech-real economy integration.

Reference Directions:

Intelligent Wealth Management & Banking ServicesSmart Insurance & Risk ManagementInclusive Finance, Green Finance, & Pension FinanceFrontier Technology Applications

For the Startup Group, AFAC 2026 introduces a comprehensive upgrade to its support ecosystem. The organizing committee has partnered with over 10 renowned incubators and venture capital firms, including Shanghai Sci-Tech Finance Alliance, TusStar Shanghai, XNode, MaShang Accelerator, Bund FTC, SEE Fund, and Plug and Play China, enabling outstanding projects to transition directly from the competition to startup incubation. Beyond the prize pool, winning projects will gain direct access to investment funds, a “green channel” for angel funding, and up to 30 million RMB in sci-tech financial credit.

Professor Zheng Weimin, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Professor at Tsinghua University, and Professor Liu Yuanchun, President of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, will serve as Honorary Chairs of AFAC 2026. They lead a panel of nearly 50 international experts, including university professors, industry experts, and investors, who will form the competition’s expert judging committee.

Yin Jun, Chair of the AFAC 2026 Organizing Committee and CTO of the Wealth & Insurance Business Group at Ant Group, noted, “AI has reached unprecedented levels of hype, but truly landing it in industries—especially in the highly regulated and complex financial sector—remains incredibly challenging. AFAC 2026 is dedicated to providing a ‘sandbox’ that is as close to real-world scenarios as possible, effectively bridging the gap between academia and industry.”

Now in its fourth year, AFAC has established itself as one of the world’s most influential and largest FinTech AI competitions. Since its inception in 2023, the event has attracted over 15,000 teams and nearly 50,000 participants, spanning more than 600 universities and 400 companies globally. By leveraging real-world business data and typical industry scenarios, AFAC continues to serve as a vital launchpad for the next generation of AI talent and intelligent fintech solutions.

For more information and to register, please visit the official AFAC website:
https://afac.alipay.com/.

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SOURCE AFAC 2026 Organizing Committee

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Jump Starter Manufacturer CARKU Expands in Europe Next-Generation Na+ Technology

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FRANKFURT, Germany, Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Amid Europe’s automotive aftermarket exhibition season and the EU’s upcoming ECGT Directive, which is set to apply across the EU from September 27, 2026, CARKU, which has been deepening its presence in Europe, will unveil its new 12V/24V sodium-ion jump starter at Automechanika Frankfurt 2026, running September 8-12.

Expanding Na+ Solutions Across Europe

Building on its portable jump starter lineup, CARKU is expanding its starting-power solutions across Europe with sodium-ion (Na+) technology, engineered to deliver worry-free instant power for everything from everyday roadside rescues to heavy-duty fleet maintenance.

Founded in 2011, CARKU pioneered the modern portable jump starter category with its first lithium-powered car jump starter that year[1]. This latest Na+ expansion is backed by 2 factories, spanning over 110,000 m² with automated SMT production lines and integrated manufacturing facilities — giving CARKU the flexible production capacity and stable global supply network needed to bring battery application to European markets at scale.

Debut at Frankfurt: JS-617N & Upgraded All-in-One Jump Starter

At Hall 10.1, Booth D73, CARKU will debut the flagship JS-617N — a sleek, rugged 12V/24V sodium-ion jump starter built for sub-zero performance, alongside an upgraded series of all-in-one jump starters that integrate built-in air compressors, LED lighting, and device charging. Backed by CARKU’s proprietary BMS and intelligent control technologies[2], and manufacturing and quality management systems certified to ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 standards[3], visitors can experience smart battery protection and ultimate roadside safety live in Frankfurt.

Today, anchored by its dual manufacturing bases and 1,000+ employees, it serves customers across six continents, and this next-generation Na+ lineup marks another step following its lithium technology success in the company’s mission to power a smarter, better life through innovative energy technology.

About CARKU

CARKU provides end-to-end OEM/ODM solutions spanning jump starters, portable power stations, and starting batteries, with products meeting international compliance requirements including CE, FCC, RoHS, and UL. Backed by 852 global patents[4], CARKU delivers trusted smart energy technologies across Europe and worldwide.

For more information, visit CARKU’s official website, and welcome joining us on Facebook 

[1] The 2011 introduction of CARKU’s first lithium portable car jump starter has been reported by Asia IP.

[2] Based on testing conducted by R&D laboratory as of Aug. 2026.

[3] Certification and compliance documentation provided by accredited third-party certification bodies.

[4] Supported by relevant patent certificates and documentation.

CONTACT: info@carku.commarketing@carku.com 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/jump-starter-manufacturer-carku-expands-in-europe-next-generation-na-technology-302857298.html

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Chunghwa Telecom Earns Frost & Sullivan’s 2026 Recognitions for Telecom Market Leadership and 5G Technology Innovation

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Taiwan’s leading telecom provider is recognized for advancing 5G innovation, AI-driven digital transformation, and resilient digital infrastructure.

SAN ANTONIO, Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Frost & Sullivan is pleased to recognize Chunghwa Telecom with the 2026 Taiwanese Telecoms Company of the Year Recognition in the telecom industry and the 2026 Taiwanese 5G Technology Innovation Leadership Recognition for its strong performance in 5G innovation, commercialization, strategic execution, and customer impact.

The recognitions highlight Chunghwa Telecom’s continued leadership in Taiwan’s telecommunications market and its evolution from a traditional mobile operator into an end-to-end digital transformation partner. Frost & Sullivan evaluates companies through a rigorous benchmarking process across strategy effectiveness and strategy execution. Chunghwa Telecom demonstrated strength across both dimensions through sustained investment in 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), enterprise solutions, resilient digital infrastructure, and customer-centric innovation.

“As Taiwan’s premier 5G service provider, Chunghwa Telecom is proactively translating technological innovation into practical 5G services and solutions, raising the benchmark for connectivity and enterprise applications in the market,” said Mei Lee Quah, Senior Director, ICT Research at Frost & Sullivan.

Chunghwa Telecom’s growth strategy is anchored in 5G-Advanced, AI, enterprise solutions, and network expansion. Its integration of 5G, multi-access edge computing, and AI enables localized data processing with millisecond-level latency, supporting private 5G networks, smart applications, and stronger security resilience. The company is also advancing network slicing, edge computing, autonomous networks, and AI-RAN capabilities to strengthen 5G monetization and create new enterprise use cases.

Commercialization remains a key strength. Chunghwa Telecom is developing tailored private 5G and campus networks for manufacturing, logistics, and universities while combining connectivity with AI and advanced computing. Its 5G AIoT solution export project demonstrates how these capabilities can support smart transportation and smart environments in international markets. The company has also expanded into smart healthcare, smart buildings, AI data centers, and enterprise AI applications.

The company’s technology portfolio supports diverse applications across smart manufacturing, smart cities, transportation, healthcare, environmental monitoring, and enterprise AI. Its 5G private network service revenue grew 88% year over year in 2025, while recurring ICT revenue increased 15%. Chunghwa Telecom is also expanding its AI Factory platform, which brings together computing power, AI models, intelligent agents, and applications to accelerate enterprise AI adoption.

Chunghwa Telecom’s growth momentum is reinforced by strong market performance. In 2025, revenue reached TWD 236.11 billion, representing 2.7% year-over-year growth, while operating income increased 3.6% and net income attributable to shareholders increased 4%. Mobile revenue and subscriber market share reached 40.8% and 39.7%, respectively, reflecting continued strength in Taiwan’s telecommunications market.

Frost & Sullivan commends Chunghwa Telecom for combining technological innovation with disciplined execution and customer-focused growth. Investments in 5G, AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity, satellite connectivity, and resilient digital infrastructure position the company to address emerging enterprise and consumer needs while strengthening Taiwan’s digital ecosystem.

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents its Best Practices Recognitions to organizations demonstrating exceptional strategy development and execution, technological innovation, customer value, and market leadership. The recognitions are based on comprehensive benchmarking and analysis conducted by Frost & Sullivan industry experts.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Recognition
Frost & Sullivan’s Best Practices Recognitions honor companies across regional and global markets that exhibit exceptional achievement and consistent excellence in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer experience, and strategic product development. Each recognition is the result of a rigorous analytical process in which Frost & Sullivan industry experts benchmark performance through comprehensive interviews, deep-dive analysis, and extensive secondary research. The goal is to identify true best-in-class organizations that are driving transformative growth and setting new industry standards.

Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:
Tarini Singh
E: Tarini.Singh@frost.com 

 

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SOURCE Frost & Sullivan

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HashKey Exchange and Franklin Templeton to Bring OnChain U.S. Government Liquidity Fund to Asia

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HONG KONG, Aug. 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — HashKey Holdings Limited (3887.HK), a leading comprehensive digital asset company in Asia, announced that its licensed trading platform, HashKey Exchange (“HashKey”), has today announced a collaboration with established global asset manager Franklin Templeton to distribute its flagship tokenized money market fund, Franklin OnChain U.S. Government Liquidity Fund (grBENJI), to digital asset investors in Asia.

The collaboration will commence with the launch of the Franklin OnChain U.S. Government Liquidity Fund (grBENJI) on the HashKey Exchange Earn Channel on August 24, 2026. The product will provide eligible digital asset investors with access to a fund investing primarily in U.S. government money market instruments and U.S. dollar cash assets through blockchain-enabled infrastructure.

As the digital asset ecosystem continues to evolve, market participants are increasingly seeking yield-generating instruments backed by real-world assets. This collaboration represents an important step toward bridging traditional financial markets with compliant digital asset infrastructure, supporting the broader development of on-chain capital markets.

Through this collaboration, Franklin Templeton expands the reach of its tokenized fund solutions into regulated digital asset markets across Asia. For HashKey Exchange, the partnership strengthens its Earn ecosystem by introducing regulated tokenized investment products and deepening collaboration with leading global asset managers.

Combining Franklin Templeton’s decades of global investment expertise with HashKey Exchange’s regulated digital asset infrastructure, the collaboration aims to create a compliant and scalable gateway for institutional and professional investors to access tokenized financial products from established global asset managers.

Building on the launch of grBENJI, both companies will continue to explore opportunities to expand access to tokenized products across markets and asset classes, while remaining committed to advancing transparent and compliant RWA solutions.

Haiyang Ru, CEO of HashKey Exchange BG, stated: “Partnering with a global asset management leader like Franklin Templeton marks a monumental milestone for HashKey Exchange and the broader Asian digital asset landscape. By bringing the Franklin OnChain U.S. Government Liquidity Fund (grBENJI) onto our Earn channel, we are directly addressing the surging institutional demand for compliant, real-world asset (RWA) yield solutions. This collaboration bridges the gap between traditional finance and secure, regulated on-chain infrastructure, setting a new benchmark for transparency and capital market innovation across the region.”

Chetan Karkhanis, SVP, Digital Assets Client Engagement, Franklin Templeton, commented: “We are excited to launch our tokenized money market fund on the HashKey Exchange platform. Leveraging blockchain technology, the Fund provides investors with enhanced transparency, security, accessibility, speed, and cost efficiency. Launching on HashKey is a key step in broadening our reach, tapping into their rapidly expanding client base of digitalnative banking and wealth platforms alongside established institutional clients, while advancing our digital assets and innovation strategy in the region.”

He added, “We look forward to deepening this partnership by expanding beyond tokenized money market funds into other tokenized products over time, leveraging HashKey’s multijurisdictional platform spanning Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Dubai and Bermuda.”

*This product is available to professional investors only and is not available for offering to the public in Hong Kong.

About HashKey Exchange

HashKey Exchange is a digital asset exchange under the listed company HashKey Holdings Limited (3887.HK), dedicated to setting a new benchmark for virtual asset exchanges in terms of compliance, fund protection, and platform security. Hash Blockchain Limited (HashKey Exchange) is among the first batch of licensed retail virtual asset exchanges in Hong Kong. It has received approval from the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong to operate a virtual asset trading platform under Type 1 (Dealing in Securities) and Type 7 (Providing Automated Trading Services) licenses under the Securities and Futures Ordinance, as well as a license under the Anti-Money Laundering Ordinance.

HashKey Exchange holds ISO 27001 (Information Security) and ISO 27701 (Data Privacy) management system certifications. In compliance with laws and regulations, HashKey Exchange does not offer services to users in Mainland China, the United States, or certain other jurisdictions.

HashKey Exchange Press Release and Advertising Standard Terms and Disclaimer

About Franklin Templeton
Franklin Templeton is a trusted investment partner, delivering tailored solutions that align with clients’ strategic goals. With deep portfolio management expertise across public and private markets, we combine investment excellence with cutting-edge technology. Since our founding in 1947, we have empowered clients through strategic partnership, forward-looking insights, and continuous innovation – providing the tools and resources to navigate change and capture opportunity.

With US$1.80 trillion in assets under management as of July 31, 2026, Franklin Templeton operates globally in more than 35 countries.

To learn more, visit https://www.franklinresources.com/all-sites and follow us on LinkedIn.

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SOURCE HashKey Holdings Limited

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