Sirris invests 4 million in three laboratories. — © rr
Technology
Genk –
The innovation center for the technological industry Sirris announces an investment of 5.5 million euros, including in the laboratories in Kortrijk, Genk and Charleroi. About one and a half million euros is intended for the lab in Genk.
More than 4 million euros will be spent on the construction of new industrial demonstration and test environments in the laboratories in Kortrijk, Genk and Charleroi. From December, SMEs from the Belgian manufacturing industry will be able to experiment with the most modern technologies themselves. More than one and a half million euros will be invested in Genk, including in a space where manufacturing companies and technology suppliers can build and test pilot production lines.
With the additional investments, Sirris wants to help Belgian industry even better with the challenges in the field of energy transition, digitalization and generative artificial intelligence. “After 75 years, our mission to make companies more competitive through technological innovation is more relevant than ever,” it said.
In addition to the package of 4 million euros in investments in the three laboratories, one and a half million euros will also go to research and development of generative artificial intelligence. This should make it possible to offer companies from the technological sector a three-year head start on the market.
Since its founding by Agoria in April 1949, the technology center has been involved in several successful innovations for its customers, such as the development of the first self-assembled cranes at Arcomet in the 1990s. The Sirris team will be expanded in the coming year with twenty new experts. (gc)
Innovation center Sirris invests one and a half million in Genk
Legal Battle: Crypto Firm Challenges SEC’s Classification of Ethereum Token
The Legal Battle Between Crypto Industry and SEC Intensifies
A recent legal clash between the cryptocurrency sector and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) escalated when Consensys, a prominent supporter of the Ethereum blockchain, filed a lawsuit against the agency in a Texas federal court. The lawsuit aims to prevent an impending SEC legal action against Consensys regarding the features of its MetaMask wallet, while also seeking a definitive ruling on whether Ethereum’s digital token, Ether, should be classified as a security.
Challenging SEC’s Authority Over Ethereum
In a detailed 34-page legal document, Consensys strongly contests the SEC’s attempt to assert control over Ethereum, labeling it as both unlawful and a potential danger to blockchain technology at large.
The lawsuit argues that if the SEC were to claim authority over Ether, it would have dire consequences for the Ethereum network and Consensys. The fear of violating securities laws could bring transactions on the Ethereum blockchain in the U.S. to a standstill, impacting one of the most significant innovations on the internet.
SEC’s Aggressive Enforcement Stance
SEC Chairman Gary Gensler’s aggressive enforcement approach towards major players in the crypto industry, such as Coinbase and Uniswap, has sparked controversy. The SEC’s recent wave of subpoenas targeting firms and developers associated with the Ethereum Foundation has further fueled tensions within the industry.
Gensler’s stance, asserting that existing securities laws are adequate and that the crypto sector is resistant to compliance, has drawn criticism from industry stakeholders who argue for a more nuanced regulatory framework for blockchain technology.
Evolution of SEC’s Position on Ethereum
Despite previous indications that Ethereum tokens are not securities, recent developments have seen the SEC challenge this notion, particularly in light of Ethereum’s staking feature. This shift in approach has raised concerns within the crypto community regarding regulatory uncertainty.
Legal Maneuvers and Industry Response
Consensys’ lawsuit against the SEC sheds light on the agency’s Wells Notice, signaling a potential lawsuit against the company. The SEC’s objection to MetaMask’s staking functionality has become a focal point, with Consensys founder Joe Lubin dismissing claims that staking transforms Ethereum into a security.
Lubin criticized Gensler’s motives, suggesting that the SEC’s actions could hinder crypto industry growth and impede the launch of Ethereum spot ETFs. The lawsuit, filed in Texas, aligns with the industry’s strategy to challenge regulatory decisions in courts known for their skepticism towards agency actions.
Future Legal Implications
As the legal battle unfolds, the crypto industry awaits the SEC’s response to the lawsuit and the potential implications for Ethereum’s classification. The lawsuit seeks various rulings, including affirmations that MetaMask is not a broker dealer and that the SEC’s actions violate legal procedures and due process.
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Legal Battle: Crypto Firm Challenges SEC’s Classification of Ethereum Token
Gold prices dropped sharply and then increased by millions of dong per tael
According to the converted price at 25,356 VND/USD, the USD/VND exchange rate is at its peak, Masan will receive VND 6,228 billion in net cash from this investment, helping to significantly improve Masan’s balance sheet. At the same time, Masan will continue to actively seek alternative solutions to reduce leverage and reduce interest expenses with a net debt to EBITDA target of
– Bitcoin price increased after the halving event
Bitcoin is witnessing its first price increase after the halving on April 19. The cryptocurrency recovered more than 5% and rose to the $67,000 mark.
According to data from CoinMarketCap, Bitcoin price is slowly recovering after the halving event took place on April 19. To date, the price of the world’s largest digital currency has increased more than 5% and is trading around the 67,000 USD/BTC mark.
Bitcoin’s liquidity also improved significantly, increasing nearly 30% in the past 24 hours. Thanks to this recovery, Bitcoin’s capitalization expanded to $1,320 billion.
Bitcoin’s positive developments have partly relieved doubts in the cryptocurrency market. In addition to Bitcoin, cryptocurrencies leading the market in terms of capitalization were also strongly bought, typically Ethereum (+3.2%), Binance Coin (+9.3%), Solana (+13.2 %), XRP (+12%) or Cardano (+11.2%).
According to CNBC, this is the first price increase of Bitcoin after completing the 4th halving event. The occurrence of this event will cause miners’ Bitcoin mining reward to halve from 6.25 BTC to 3,124. BTC, thereby putting pressure on supply and allowing the digital currency to maintain scarcity like gold.
– Strength of the USD – scenario beyond forecast for 2024
The world’s financial markets are facing a scenario that was not predicted for 2024. That is the strength of the USD.
The Bloomberg Dollar Index is up more than 4% this year, showing the currency has appreciated against all developed-country and emerging-market currencies.
Asset management company UBS Asset Management predicts the USD could rise further even though the currency is currently 20% higher than its normal value. Meanwhile, Wells Fargo Investment Institute has abandoned predictions that the USD will weaken this year and believes that the “greenback” will extend its upward momentum until the end of 2025.
Mr. Ales Koutny, senior expert at the world’s second largest money management company Vanguard Group Inc., said: “If other countries cannot keep up with America’s growth and inflation, there is almost no choice left.” no choice but to buy USD.
The USD strengthened thanks to a series of signs that the US economy was not decelerating as many predicted. The labor market remains tight and manufacturing activity continues to expand. Prolonged high inflation has caused US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and many policymakers to delay lowering interest rates longer than expected. New York Fed President John Williams even mentioned the possibility of continuing to raise interest rates.
Of course, the strengthening of this world’s reserve currency will impact other currencies and economies.
– Robusta coffee prices increased, Arabica coffee prices decreased, experts predict that the increase may continue
Vietnam’s coffee exports in the first 5 months of the 2023-2024 crop year are still higher than the annual average due to increased prices. However, the supply of goods is gradually narrowing, while roasters around the world still rely mainly on goods from Vietnam.
World coffee prices have mixed movements, robusta continues to increase sharply, arabica declines.
Domestic coffee prices have continuously increased sharply from 2,500 VND – 3,500 VND/kg, towards the mark of 130,000 VND/kg, currently trading in the range of 125,000 – 127,000 VND/kg.
Two new features in the current market: Arabica coffee prices have decreased due to many short-buying contracts on the floor, while supply continues to be a concern, pushing Robusta up without stopping.
Coffee supply is forecast to continue to be tense in the near future, when coffee sources from Vietnam decrease sharply, while Brazil will not begin a new harvest until July. Meanwhile, Indonesian coffee mainly serves domestic consumption, with not much export source. Farmers in Indonesia can also postpone coffee harvest until late May or June, instead of April as usual; This further narrows the current supply, thereby pushing robusta prices up sharply.
Roasters around the world still rely mainly on goods from Vietnam. They and investors are also worried that developments in the Middle East may continue to affect the transport of coffee from Asia to Europe. This problem occurred earlier this year when Red Sea tensions caused the commodity supply chain to be seriously affected.
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