Merger brings together two proven fiber providers to accelerate investment, strengthen local operations, and expand next-generation connectivity throughout the Flathead Valley and south Lincoln County.

DENVER and KALISPELL, Mont., Aug. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Vero Broadband, LLC, doing business as Vero Fiber (“Vero”), and Montana Sky Networks Incorporated, doing business as MontanaSky (“MontanaSky”), today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement to unite their organizations, bringing together two companies with a shared commitment to delivering exceptional broadband and investing in the communities they serve.

The merger marks an exciting new chapter for broadband in Northwest Montana. By bringing together MontanaSky’s trusted local presence, deep community relationships, and decades of broadband experience with Vero’s proven fiber expertise, financial strength, and additional resources, the companies will be uniquely positioned to accelerate fiber investment, enhanced customer experience, and build the region’s premier locally operated fiber provider.

The transaction has been executed by both parties and remains subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions. The companies expect to close immediately following receipt of those approvals.

Founded in 1993 by Frederick Weber, MontanaSky has spent more than three decades continually investing in better ways to connect the communities it serves. Through every generation of technology, the company has remained focused on exceptional service, innovation, and strong community relationships—values that will remain at the heart of the business following the transaction.

Sunita Krishna, CEO of Vero Fiber, said:

“This merger is another significant milestone in Vero’s long-term commitment to Northwest Montana. Building on the foundation we established with Montana Digital in early 2025, we’re creating an organization with the scale, local expertise, and financial strength to become Northwest Montana’s leading locally operated fiber broadband provider. We look forward to welcoming the MontanaSky team and continuing to invest together in the future of the Flathead Valley.”

For MontanaSky customers, it will be business as usual. The MontanaSky name will remain, customers will continue working with the same trusted local team, and existing support channels will remain unchanged. At the same time, customers will benefit from expanded resources, continued investment in the network, and the long-term stability that comes from becoming part of a growing regional fiber platform. Employees will also benefit from new opportunities for professional growth while continuing to serve the communities they call home.

Ryan Bowman, CEO of MontanaSky, said:

“For years, MontanaSky and Montana Digital, now part of Vero, have each invested in building fiber networks throughout the Flathead Valley. Bringing those networks together is a natural next step and makes both organizations stronger. Vero shares our values and commitment to the communities we serve, and together we can focus our resources on bringing high-speed fiber to more homes and businesses, faster. The combination also creates greater opportunities for our employees and gives us the scale, resources, and strength to compete more effectively with incumbent providers. Ultimately, that means more choice, better service, and more competitive pricing for customers across Northwest Montana.”

Looking ahead, the combined organization will continue expanding fiber optic access throughout the area supporting economic development, and building the infrastructure that will support homes, businesses, schools, healthcare providers, and community institutions in Northwest Montana for generations to come.

About MontanaSky
MontanaSky (Montana Sky Networks, Inc.) is a locally operated broadband provider with offices in Kalispell, MT and Libby, MT. For more than 30 years, MontanaSky has served communities across the Flathead Valley and Northwest Montana, with a focus on bringing reliable, high-speed connectivity to underserved communities.

About Vero Fiber
(Vero Broadband, LLC), a subsidiary of VFN Holdings, Inc., is a national fiber infrastructure provider specializing in fiber‑to‑the‑premises broadband networks. Through strategic acquisitions, partnerships, and investment in rural and underserved areas, Vero Fiber is expanding access to reliable, high‑speed fiber internet connectivity across the U.S.

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SOURCE Vero Fiber Networks

After an exhaustive security review, the Wyoming Stable Token Commission adopts Chainlink CCIP to further bolster its cybersecurity foundation and set a new standard for the first state digital asset issuer

CHEYENNE, Wyo., Aug. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Wyoming Stable Token Commission, issuer of the Frontier Stable Token (FRNT), today announced that the State of Wyoming has fully migrated away from LayerZero to Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) as its exclusive cross-chain infrastructure in a multi-year contract.

As the first sovereign stable token in the United States, FRNT represents critical public-sector financial infrastructure for Wyoming. Given its obligation to maintain the highest levels of security, governance, and operational integrity for the Frontier Stable Token, the Commission made the critical decision to upgrade to Chainlink CCIP after determining it was the only solution uniquely capable of meeting its rigorous standards, backed by Chainlink Labs’ comprehensive operational security and risk disclosure policies.

Wyoming has established itself as the leading U.S. state for digital asset policy and public-sector blockchain innovation. The Frontier Stable Token is the first fiat-backed, fully reserved stable token issued by a public entity in the United States. It is designed to provide transparent, efficient, and secure digital dollar infrastructure for individuals, businesses, institutions, and public-sector use cases, including payments and settlement. This groundbreaking initiative cements Wyoming at the forefront of digital finance and blockchain innovation.

A November 8, 2023, letter from Wyoming’s Select Committee on Blockchain, Financial Technology, and Digital Innovation Technology encouraged the Commission to adopt a “multi-chain, technology-neutral approach” to deploying its stable token. FRNT has since been deployed on eight public blockchains, following the Commission’s quarterly blockchain selection exercise.

FRNT is currently available on Arbitrum, Avalanche, Base, Ethereum, Hedera, Optimism, Polygon, and Solana blockchains. While the Commission performed its initial deployment through LayerZero’s omnichain fungible token standard, the Commission has since opted to fully deprecate the LayerZero implementation following a detailed security review. FRNT will now leverage Chainlink’s cross-chain infrastructure in a multi-year contract.

Chainlink CCIP has emerged as the leading infrastructure for securely transferring digital assets across blockchain networks. Notably, CCIP implements a defense-in-depth approach to security, including institutional certifications such as SOC 2 Type 2, a highly audited codebase, robust monitoring systems, built-in risk controls, and a decentralized architecture where every transaction is redundantly validated by a minimum of 16 independent node operators. CCIP is also built on the same decentralized oracle network infrastructure that has enabled over $33 trillion in transaction value, secures the vast majority of decentralized finance (DeFi), and has been adopted by the world’s largest financial institutions and market infrastructures.

“Wyoming is building public-sector financial infrastructure with the Frontier Stable Token, and that carries a responsibility to protect the people, businesses, and institutions that rely on it,” said Anthony Apollo, Executive Director of the Wyoming Stable Token Commission. “By adopting Chainlink CCIP, we now have highly secure cross-chain infrastructure that meets the standard our citizens deserve.  Wyoming has always led from the front on digital asset innovation, which is why we look forward to expanding the role Chainlink plays in our state’s digital asset future.”

“I’m very excited that the State of Wyoming has upgraded Frontier Stable Token to Chainlink CCIP as its exclusive cross-chain infrastructure,” said Sergey Nazarov, Co-Founder of Chainlink. “Wyoming has consistently been a leader in digital asset policy and public-sector blockchain adoption, and their selection of CCIP shows that governments and other serious institutions need secure, reliable, and standard-setting infrastructure to move digital assets across chains at scale. This is another important step toward a globally connected onchain financial system, and we look forward to working with the Commission to help define the next generation of financial markets.”

By migrating to Chainlink CCIP, Wyoming is providing a blueprint for other states, government entities, financial institutions, payment companies, asset managers, and stablecoin issuers seeking to deploy regulated digital assets across blockchains while meeting strict institutional standards for operational security.

About Wyoming Stable Token Commission

The Wyoming Stable Token Commission is a sovereign entity within the Wyoming state government, established in March 2023 under the Wyoming Stable Token Act. The Commission was tasked with the design, development, and deployment of the first fiat-backed, fully reserved stable token issued by a public entity in the United States. In January 2026, the Commission fulfilled that mandate with the launch of the Frontier Stable Token (FRNT). FRNT is backed by U.S. dollars and short-term U.S. Treasuries, with income generated from those reserves helping to diversify state revenues and support Wyoming’s School Foundation Program as a public good. Learn more at https://stabletoken.wyo.gov.

About Chainlink

Chainlink is the industry-standard oracle platform bringing the capital markets onchain and the market leader powering the majority of decentralized finance. The Chainlink stack provides the essential data, interoperability, compliance, and privacy standards needed to power advanced blockchain use cases for institutional tokenized assets, lending, payments, stablecoins, and more. Since inventing decentralized oracle networks, Chainlink has enabled tens of trillions in transaction value and now secures the vast majority of DeFi. Many of the world’s largest financial services institutions and leading Web3 protocols have adopted Chainlink standards and infrastructure. Learn more at chain.link.

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SOURCE Wyoming Stable Token Commission; Chainlink

Global lifestyle and wellness company brings together industry veterans and transformation leaders to reinvent the business for a new generation of microentrepreneurs

HONG KONG, Aug. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — QNET, a global lifestyle and wellness company that uses a direct-selling business model, has announced a new senior leadership team as it enters a new phase of transformation and growth.

The appointments bring together experienced leaders from the direct-selling, consumer goods, beauty, wellness, finance and technology sectors. Collectively, the new team will lead QNET’s efforts to modernise its business, strengthen its product portfolio, enhance the experience of its customers and Independent Distributors, and prepare the company for a future increasingly shaped by technology, artificial intelligence and changing consumer expectations.

The appointments reflect QNET’s investment in the leadership and organisational capabilities needed to drive innovation, operational excellence and sustainable long-term growth.

The new leadership team comprises:

Mattias Mildenborn, Chief Executive Officer, brings more than two decades of international experience in sales, marketing, and executive leadership within the direct-selling industry. Before joining QNET, he held senior leadership positions at several prominent global direct-selling brands.Elena Khoo, Chief Marketing Officer, is an accomplished consumer marketing leader whose experience spans leading global FMCG, beauty and luxury brands, including L’Oréal, LVMH, Shiseido and Tupperware.Peter Luke, Chief Financial Officer, brings over 30 years of extensive financial and commercial leadership experience from Herbalife and Avon.Ben Bredenkamp, Group Chief Information Officer, also formerly with Herbalife and Mercedes-Benz, will lead QNET’s technology transformation and the responsible integration of artificial intelligence across the business.

The appointments also mark an important milestone in QNET’s evolution as the company positions itself to serve a new generation of digitally connected, socially conscious micro-entrepreneurs while building an agile, innovative and future-ready organisation.

“This is much more than a change in leadership. It represents the beginning of a new chapter for QNET,” said Kuna Senathirajah, Group Managing Director of QI Group, the parent company of QNET. “We are bringing together leaders with deep industry knowledge, strong consumer experience and proven transformation capabilities who will bring fresh perspectives to the business and help shape its next chapter.”

“Our ambition is to create a QNET that understands the expectations of the next generation, delivers exceptional products and experiences, and equips our Independent Distributors with the knowledge, technology and support they need to build responsible and sustainable businesses. Ultimately, this is about ensuring QNET continues to evolve with the people and communities we serve.”

Strengthening Entrepreneur Education Through The V
As part of the wider transformation, The V, QNET’s sister company and its network training and leadership-development arm, has appointed Sharad Choudhary as Head of Training and Events.

Choudhary is a direct-selling industry veteran who joins The V from Modicare and has previously worked with Amway. He will lead a comprehensive revamp of QNET’s distributor learning and development ecosystem.

His priorities will include strengthening distributor onboarding, modernising product and business education, expanding compliance training and creating structured learning pathways that support Independent Distributors through the different stages of their entrepreneurial journey.

“Successful entrepreneurship requires much more than enthusiasm. It requires knowledge, discipline, ethical conduct and continuous development,” said Senathirajah. “Sharad’s experience will help us create a stronger and more relevant learning environment that gives distributors practical support from the moment they begin their journey and throughout every stage of their development.”

The renewed training framework will place additional emphasis on responsible business-building, consumer protection, accurate product representation and compliance with QNET’s policies and applicable local regulations.

Reinventing QNET for a New Generation
The leadership changes form part of a broader strategy to reinvent QNET around four core priorities: product innovation, customer experience, distributor capability and technology-enabled growth.

Together, these priorities will drive QNET’s next phase of growth while ensuring the organisation respond to changing customer expectations, advances in technology and the evolving needs of its global distributor community.

Under the new team, QNET will strengthen its focus on:

Developing innovative wellness and personal-care products aligned with changing consumer needs;Improving the digital tools and services available to customers and Independent Distributors;Using data and artificial intelligence to make the organisation more responsive, efficient and future-ready;Modernising distributor onboarding, education and compliance;Strengthening governance, transparency and responsible business practices; andCreating a more relevant and engaging entrepreneurial opportunity for a new generation of independent business owners.

QNET enters this new chapter as part of a global direct-selling industry that recorded US$163.9 billion in retail sales in 2024, according to the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations. The industry supports more than 100 million independent representatives worldwide and continues to provide a flexible route to entrepreneurship for people from a wide range of backgrounds.

Mildenborn said the company’s transformation would build on QNET’s established global presence while challenging the organisation to rethink how it serves customers and supports its entrepreneurial community.

“QNET has a strong heritage, a passionate global community and enormous potential,” said Mattias Mildenborn, Chief Executive Officer of QNET. “Our responsibility now is to build on that foundation while having the courage to evolve.”

“The next generation of entrepreneurs expects intuitive technology, relevant products, authentic communication, high-quality education and a company whose values are reflected in how it operates. We are assembling the leadership, capabilities and culture required to meet those expectations and to build a business that can create sustainable value over the long term.”

“Our goal is not simply to participate in the future of direct selling. It is to help shape it.”

Building on a Foundation of Longevity and Industry Commitment
QNET’s transformation is supported by more than two decades of experience in the international direct-selling industry.

The company was recently recognised as one of the longer-serving members of the Direct Selling Association of Singapore during the association’s 50th-anniversary celebration, marking 17 years of membership. The recognition reflects QNET’s longstanding participation in the industry and its commitment to the principles promoted by established direct-selling associations.

As QNET looks ahead, the company is preparing to introduce new products across its wellness and personal-care categories, supported by refreshed brand experiences, stronger customer engagement and a renewed commitment to product innovation.

Senathirajah added: “Longevity gives us a strong foundation, but it does not give us permission to stand still. We are proud of how far QNET has come, and we are equally excited about how much further we can go.”

“With new leadership, new capabilities and new products, we are building a QNET that is growth-focused, consumer-led and ready to create meaningful opportunities for the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.”

About QNET
QNET is a global lifestyle and wellness company that uses a direct-selling business model to offer a diverse portfolio of products in wellness, personal care, home and living, watches and other lifestyle categories.

Through its e-commerce platform, QNET provides customers around the world with access to products designed to support healthier and more balanced lifestyles. The company also offers individuals the opportunity to become Independent Distributors and build a sales business by introducing QNET products to customers.

QNET is committed to responsible entrepreneurship, continuous product innovation, customer service and the ongoing education and development of its Independent Distributors.

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SOURCE QNET