Monday Trade enables 24/5 trading of several major U.S. stocks with 1:1 backing and on-chain settlement

HONG KONG, April 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Monday Trade, a decentralized trading platform built on Monad, launched trading today for ten top tokenized stocks, becoming the first platform to give users exposure to these instruments on Monad’s high-performance Layer 1 network. The tokenized stocks are issued and backed through Anchored’s end-to-end tokenization infrastructure, with each token backed 1:1 by the underlying U.S. asset held in regulated custody.

The launch enables traders to access tokenized stocks of several major companies through their Web3 wallets, settling trades in USDC with full on-chain custody. Unlike traditional brokerage accounts, users can trade 24/5 with real-time settlement while maintaining complete ownership of their assets.

This expansion marks a strategic evolution for Monday Trade from a crypto-native DEX into a comprehensive trading house bridging traditional finance and decentralized finance. The platform already offers spot and perpetual futures trading, and now positions itself as the liquidity hub for real-world assets on the Monad network.

Institutional Infrastructure Meets DeFi Accessibility

The tokenized stocks listed on Monday Trade are issued through Anchored’s institutional-grade infrastructure. Each tokenized stock on Monday Trade is backed 1:1 by underlying securities held through licensed institutional broker partnerships. The platform seamlessly converts USDC stablecoins to tokenized stocks, eliminating the friction of traditional brokerage onboarding while preserving the security of self-custodial wallets.

Built on Monad’s architecture, which delivers 10,000 transactions per second with sub-second finality, Monday Trade executes trades in milliseconds, enabling traders to capitalize on market movements in real-time. The platform supports both market and limit orders with professional-grade charting powered by TradingView, real-time market data, and comprehensive portfolio tracking.

“Bringing tokenized stocks to Monad represents a fundamental shift in how traders can access traditional financial markets,” said Mark Lee, Core Contributor at Monday Trade. “By combining Anchored’s tokenization infrastructure with the speed and transparency of Monad, we’re eliminating the barriers that have kept everyday traders from accessing global stocks with the same efficiency as institutional players. This launch is just the beginning of our vision to make all asset classes accessible on the Monad network.”

The launch comes as real-world asset tokenization emerges as one of crypto’s fastest-growing sectors. On-chain real-world assets now exceed $21 billion in total value excluding stablecoins, with tokenized U.S. Treasuries alone accounting for over $9 billion, demonstrating institutional appetite for blockchain-based traditional assets.

“Monday Trade’s integration is exactly the kind of distribution partnership Anchored was built for: giving DeFi-native users seamless access to institutional-grade, fully backed tokenized stocks without leaving their on-chain environment,” said Wenny Cai, Co-Founder & CEO of Anchored. “This is the first step in a broader rollout across the Monad ecosystem, with more tokenized stocks on the roadmap.”

“Monday Trade’s launch of tokenized stock trading showcases Monad’s capability to handle complex financial applications at scale,” said Keone Hon, Co-Founder and GM at Monad Foundation. “With 10,000 TPS and sub-second finality, Monad provides the infrastructure needed for real-world financial markets to operate seamlessly on-chain. We’re excited to see Monday Trade pioneering this new category on the network and demonstrating the future of high-frequency finance.”

Bridging TradFi and DeFi

The tokenized stock offering is part of Monday Trade’s Q2 2026 roadmap focused on capital efficiency and expanding asset class availability. By combining Anchored’s full-lifecycle tokenization infrastructure with Monday Trade’s trading platform and Monad’s performance layer, the partnership creates a vertically integrated stack where tokenized stocks can be traded with the same speed, transparency, and self-custody that defines Web3.

Traders can access Monday Trade’s tokenized stock markets at monday.trade beginning April 16, 2026. The platform integrates with major Web3 wallets including MetaMask, Coinbase Wallet, and WalletConnect.

About Monday Trade

Monday Trade is an all-in-one DEX for on-chain trading on Monad that offers the best of CEX and DEX trading experience. Built on Monad’s high-performance Layer 1 blockchain, Monday Trade offers millisecond execution for spot trading, perpetual futures, and now tokenized equities. Learn more at monday.trade.

About Monad

Monad is a Layer 1 blockchain built to enable high-frequency finance by delivering 10,000 transactions per second, single-slot finality, and 0.5-second block times. Powered by consumer-grade hardware and full EVM compatibility, Monad provides the performance infrastructure for the next generation of decentralized applications on-chain. Learn more at monad.xyz.

About Anchored

Anchored is the global digital operating system for real-world assets, providing end-to-end infrastructure for the compliant tokenization, distribution, and trading of RWAs. The platform supports the full asset lifecycle: origination, compliance, issuance, distribution across DeFi and CeFi venues, secondary market liquidity, and redemption. Anchored currently offers two product verticals: tokenized stocks and tokenized fund products.

Operating under a compliance-first, multi-jurisdictional architecture, Anchored serves institutional investors, centralized exchanges, market makers, and DeFi protocols seeking regulated on-chain access to traditional financial instruments.

Learn more at anchored.finance.

Media Contact:

Tracy Giap
Monday Trade
tracy@monday.trade

Toni Morales
Anchored
toni@anchored.finance

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/monday-trade-brings-top-nasdaq-stocks-on-chain-launching-first-tokenized-stock-trading-on-monad-network-powered-by-anchored-302744664.html

Bolton-based Gemini.co.uk goes live with a full suite of short-term loan products and a free 28-guide financial education library, targeting the millions of UK consumers left underserved by mainstream lenders

BOLTON, England, April 18, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Gemini, a new FCA-authorised credit broker, today officially launches at Gemini.co.uk, offering UK consumers access to short-term loans from £100 to £5,000 alongside one of the most comprehensive free financial guidance resources available online.

Operated by Swift Money Limited, a company with an established track record of helping over one million UK residents access short-term finance. Gemini has been built from the ground up with transparency, regulatory compliance and genuine consumer value at it’s core.

Filling a Gap the High Street Won’t Touch

Despite rising demand for smaller, accessible loans, every major UK high-street bank, including HSBC, Barclays, NatWest, Lloyds, and Santander, sets the minimum personal loan amount at £1,000. Data published by the Financial Conduct Authority shows the average short-term loan taken out in the UK is approximately £250, a product that mainstream lenders structurally do not offer.

Gemini starts from £100.

The platform connects a single application to a carefully selected panel of FCA-regulated specialist lenders, covering five distinct product areas: small loans, payday loans, short-term loans, bad credit payday loans, and same day loans. All products are governed by the FCA’s price cap for high-cost short-term credit, meaning interest is limited to 0.8% per day, default fees are capped at £15, and consumers will never repay more than double the original amount borrowed.

Gemini is a credit broker, not a lender, and charges no fees to borrowers at any stage.

Free Financial Guidance – No Sign-Up Required

Alongside its lending products, Gemini launches with a library of 28 free financial guides covering borrowing, credit scores, debt management, money management, benefits entitlements, and financial difficulty. Written in plain English and requiring no registration to access, the guides represent a significant investment in financial education for the consumers Gemini serves.

Topics include how to budget, how to improve your credit score, what a CCJ means for your finances, how to deal with debt collectors, and how to build an emergency fund, among others.

What Gemini Offers Consumers

Loans from £100 to £5,000 over 1 to 36 monthsInstant eligibility decision via soft credit search, no impact on credit scoreSame day funding via the UK Faster Payments Service, operating 24/7Bad credit considered – decisions based on current affordability, not credit history aloneZero broker fees – completely free to use28 free financial guides – no sign-up requiredFull FCA price cap protection on every loan arranged

Spokesperson Quote

Mark Scott, Company Director at Gemini, said:

“We built Gemini because there is a very real and largely ignored gap in the UK lending market. When someone needs £200 for an emergency car repair, their bank will tell them the minimum they can borrow is £1,000. That is not a solution, it is a problem that leaves people with nowhere to turn.

“Gemini exists to fill that gap properly: with regulated products, complete transparency, and no fees. But we also wanted to do something more than just match people with loans. Our free guides library is designed to give people the financial knowledge to make better decisions, whether that means taking a loan, or realising they don’t need one.

“We are proud to be launching a product that genuinely puts the customer first, backed by FCA regulation and consumer protections that people deserve.”

About Gemini

Gemini is a trading name of Swift Money Limited, an FCA-authorised and regulated credit broker (FCA Reference: 738569, Company Number: 07552504). Based in Bolton, Greater Manchester, Gemini connects UK consumers with a panel of FCA-regulated specialist lenders offering short-term finance from £100 to £5,000. Gemini charges no fees to borrowers and is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO Registration: ZA069965).

Website: gemini.co.uk FCA Register: register.fca.org.uk (Ref: 738569) Registered Office: Hamill House, 112-116 Chorley New Road, Bolton, BL1 4DH Telephone: 0330 088 2359

Notes to Editors

Gemini is a credit broker, not a lender, and does not make credit decisionsAll loans arranged through Gemini are subject to the FCA’s price cap for high-cost short-term creditRepresentative APR: 79.5% variable. Min APR 48.1%, Max APR 1721%. Terms from 1 to 36 monthsRepresentative example: £1,000 borrowed over 18 months at £89.22/month. Total repayable £1,605.96. Fixed interest rate 59.97% per annum. 79.5% APR variableWarning: Late repayment can cause you serious money problems. For help, visit moneyhelper.org.ukHigh-resolution brand assets and additional background information available on request

Press contact: Gemini / Swift Money Limited: press@gemini.co.uk, 0330 088 2359

Media Contact

Mark Scott, Swift Money Limited, 44 0330 088 2359, Mark@Gemini.co.uk, https://www.Gemini.co.uk

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SOURCE Swift Money Limited

Professor Attilio Scienza, host of the Italian Wine Podcast show “Everybody Needs a Bit of Scienza”, has been awarded Vinitaly’s highly prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at a formal inauguration ceremony in Verona on Sunday 12 April 2026. Launched in 2025, the Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes figures who have made a fundamental contribution to the Italian wine sector.

VERONA, Italy, April 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Professor Attilio Scienza is a prominent academic, geneticist, and one of the world’s leading experts in viticulture and oenology. A full professor at the University of Milan (now retired), he has led important research on the physiology, genetics, and agricultural techniques of the grapevine, and has authored over 350 scientific publications. Alongside Stevie Kim, he has hosted the popular “Everybody Needs a Bit of Scienza” podcast show in which he responds to questions from the international wine community, since 2017. He is also the Chief Scientist of the Vinitaly International Academy which trains and certifies a global network of Italian Wine Ambassadors.

Professor Scienza remains extremely active in the wine community and is a highly sought after speaker and oenological consultant. At this year’s Vinitaly, he delivered advanced seminars on the subjects of Italy’s autochthonous vines, Sangiovese and the concept of vocation, and the complex inter-relationship between woodlands and vineyards. He also found time to launch his latest book, An Italian Wine Pilgrimage, another successful collaboration with Italian wine evangelist Stevie Kim.

Translation of Professor Attilio Scienza’s acceptance speech (delivered in Italian): “Vinitaly should have the courage to become not just an annual showcase, but also a think tank. It should produce a manifesto. A manifesto that clearly states the current critical issues, the sector’s priorities, and proposals to address them. A cultural and political platform, a meeting point for producers, consumers, institutions, research, and regions. European wine can defend itself if it can reposition itself within a broader narrative, capable of speaking not only to producers but to society, one that rethinks wine as one of the most significant forms of Mediterranean and European culture, one that has allowed it to become an extraordinary “tool” for socialization. The annual meeting at Vinitaly should include French, Spanish, and Greek partner institutions. Perhaps it’s just a dream, but one day I hope it will even be possible for Italy and France to come together with the common purpose of promoting their wine together.”

Stevie Kim, Professor Scienza’s co-host on the Italian Wine Podcast, said “I am absolutely delighted that Vinitaly has recognized the truly remarkable contribution of my friend and mentor, Professor Attilio Scienza. Not only is he the world’s leading academic expert on Italian wine, with a depth and breadth of knowledge that is mind blowing, he is also unfailingly generous with his time and expertise, sharing his passion and knowledge of Italian wine and his gift for storytelling with the Italian Wine Podcast’s international audience of listeners and the global community of students of the Vinitaly International Academy. We are truly blessed to have him.”

The motivation accompanying Professor Scienza’s Lifetime Achievement Award reads: “A central figure in the history of Italian wine, an internationally renowned academic, vine geneticist, agronomist, and narrator of the anthropology of wine, Attilio Scienza has opened new horizons in the study and understanding of wine as an expression of culture and in education, thereby defining key concepts such as terroir, identity, and tradition. As Chief Scientist of the Vinitaly International Academy since 2018, he continues to inspire producers, students and enthusiasts by translating scientific knowledge into narratives that ennoble Italian winegrowing and strengthen the positioning of Italian wine in the global scientific and cultural panorama, thereby opening new perspectives on the link between science, culture and wine storytelling”.

About the Italian Wine Podcast: Cin Cin with Italian Wine People! launched in 2017 as a project dedicated exclusively to the Italian wine world. The program uncovers the unique world of Italian wine in conversation with some of its key protagonists. Under the umbrella brand of Mamma Jumbo Shrimp, Italian Wine Podcast aims to inform, educate, and entertain listeners with content for wine professionals and casual listeners alike. The only daily wine podcast in the world, content includes wine business, food & travel, diversity and inclusion, wine producers, science, and marketing and communication. Italian Wine Podcast is available on SoundCloud, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, XimalayaFM (for China), and on the official website. It now boasts over 2,600 recorded episodes with a growing online following of over 8 million listens. Donations to the show are welcomed and help fund a portion of the show’s equipment, production, and publication costs. To advertise on the show, please request a prospectus and/or customized advertising plan from info@italianwinepodcast.com. Cin Cin!

www.italianwinepodcast.com
Listen on SoundCloud, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher and XimalayaFM
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn

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SOURCE Italian Wine Podcast