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Octa broker’s take on CBDCs vs. crypto: key insights for traders in 2025
According to recent data, over 130 countries representing 98% of global GDP are now exploring CBDCs in some form, including pilots, development, or research (albeit few have fully adopted them). This rise reflects both technological momentum and regulatory intent to reclaim control over digital currency ecosystems, especially as private stablecoins and decentralised crypto assets have proliferated.

The main differences between CBDCs and cryptocurrencies
Stability and trust
While cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum operate in highly volatile and speculative environments, CBDCs are anchored to fiat currencies and issued by central banks. This offers higher value stability and institutional backing, reducing the risk profile for users.
Design and oversight
CBDCs are programmable but centrally managed. Governments can impose compliance measures and offer consumer protection in ways decentralised crypto systems cannot. Moreover, unlike crypto assets, CBDCs are not mined or privately issued, ensuring state control over monetary supply and transaction oversight.
Kar Yong Ang, financial market analyst at Octa, notes: ‘CBDCs offer a new model of digital liquidity—blending state trust and legal tender with tech efficiency. For traders, this opens doors to a more secure and transparent digital finance ecosystem.’
The global race to develop CBDCs and the drivers behind it
Here are three key reasons why central banks invest resources in CBDSs:
- The decline of cash and rise of digital payments. As societies increasingly favour digital over physical money, central banks face pressure to modernise public currency formats. In Sweden, for example, cash transactions make up less than 10% of payments. CBDCs are seen as a public alternative to private payment apps and platforms, ensuring monetary sovereignty in the digital realm.
- Controlling private stablecoin risks. Private stablecoins like USDT and USDC have raised concerns over systemic risk and shadow banking practices. A CBDC can serve as a stable counterbalance to these instruments, offering liquidity and legal clarity in fast-evolving financial markets.
- Financial inclusion and transparency. CBDCs can increase financial inclusion by offering digital wallets to unbanked populations, especially in developing economies. They also offer governments more visibility into money flows, enhancing tax collection and curbing illicit finance—though this has sparked debate around surveillance and privacy.
Pros and cons of CBDCs
CBDCs offer notable advantages: their value is typically pegged to fiat currencies, ensuring greater price stability than most cryptocurrencies. With full state backing, they function as legal tender and may include programmable features like conditional payments. For underbanked populations, they also present a path toward improved financial access.
However, concerns remain. Privacy is a major issue, as CBDCs could give governments visibility into personal transactions. They also pose cybersecurity risks, potentially becoming targets for large-scale attacks. Moreover, they could interfere with traditional monetary policy and financial market dynamics if not carefully designed. For instance, commercial banks could experience deposit runs if individuals perceive CBDCs as a safer alternative to traditional money for savings.
Real-world cases
Although the majority of countries still research CBDC and their application in the economy, some have already implemented them.
- Bahamas. The Sand Dollar became the first nationwide CBDC in 2020. It now serves all islands through a network of mobile-based wallets.
- Nigeria. The eNaira, launched in 2021, has seen a slow adoption of less than 0.5% as of 2025. The government continues to offer incentives to boost usage.
- China. The e-CNY has been piloted in over 25 cities and integrated into public transit and e-commerce platforms. Its scale makes it the most advanced major-economy CBDC.
Looking ahead: the road to adoption
While CBDCs promise greater efficiency and offer more tools for governments to implement social objectives, they also pose new governance challenges. To thrive, states will have to balance innovation with civil liberties, infrastructure resilience, and global interoperability. As the world of digital currencies continues to develop, CBDCs are increasingly important for progressive traders to grasp. Keeping up with developments can give a vital advantage in understanding the future of money.
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Disclaimer: This content is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation, or an offer to engage in any investment activity. It does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation, or individual needs. Any action you take based on this content is at your sole discretion and risk. Octa and its affiliates accept no liability for any losses or consequences resulting from reliance on this material.
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Hashtag: #Octa
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Octa
Octa is an international CFD broker that has been providing online trading services worldwide since 2011. It offers commission-free access to financial markets and various services used by clients from 180 countries who have opened more than 52 million trading accounts. To help its clients reach their investment goals, Octa offers free educational webinars, articles, and analytical tools.
The company is involved in a comprehensive network of charitable and humanitarian initiatives, including the improvement of educational infrastructure and short-notice relief projects supporting local communities.
In Southeast Asia, Octa received the ‘Best Trading Platform Malaysia 2024’ and the ‘Most Reliable Broker Asia 2023’ awards from Brands and Business Magazine and International Global Forex Awards, respectively.
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CP AXTRA Achieves 88/100 DJSI Sustainability Score Ranks 2nd Globally in the Food & Staples Retailing Sector, Reinforcing Its Global Leadership in Retail and Wholesale Sustainability
Mr. Tanin Buranamanit, Group Chief Executive Officer of CP AXTRA Public Company Limited, stated, “CP AXTRA’s score of 88 out of 100 and its 2nd place global ranking in the Food & Staples Retailing sector reflect our strong commitment to driving sustainability through concrete actions and impactful initiatives. Sustainability is embedded across our daily business operations, particularly through systematic waste management throughout the value chain to reduce environmental impact, while creating social value and operating under good corporate governance. We are also advancing toward our goals of Carbon Neutrality by 2030 and Net Zero emissions by 2050, supporting stable growth and long-term sustainable value creation.”
In 2025, CP AXTRA implemented a series of intensive environmental initiatives under the “AXTRA Zero Waste: Less Waste, More Value” concept. These efforts reduced landfill waste by more than 31,700 tonnes, including over 15,000 tonnes of food waste and more than 16,755 tonnes of recyclable waste. The Company also operated a plastic bottle take-back program through Makro and Lotus’s stores nationwide, collecting more than 2.2 million bottles. Together, these initiatives helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 109,649 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e), equivalent to the carbon-absorption capacity of approximately 11 million trees. CP AXTRA also expanded the use of clean energy by installing solar rooftop systems at distribution centers and more than 1,384 Makro and Lotus’s stores, alongside the rollout of a clean-energy delivery fleet of more than 300 electric vehicles, reducing environmental impacts across the value chain.
Additionally, the Company continues to strengthen its social and governance performance through employee capability development, respect for human rights, and the creation of career opportunities for farmers and SMEs nationwide under its “Platform of Opportunity” program. The initiative supports the local economy, with a combined value exceeding 30 billion baht, by connecting entrepreneurs to standardized wholesale and retail systems, generating income and long-term economic stability, and promoting equality, diversity, and fair labor practices.
The 2025 S&P Global CSA results reinforces CP AXTRA’s leadership in elevating Thailand’s wholesale and retail standards to the global level, while creating sustainable value for all stakeholders.
Hashtag: #CPAXTRA #ซีพีแอ็กซ์ตร้า #Makro #Lotuss #CPAXT #DJSI #SPGlobal #Sustainability #ESG #ขยะเป็นศูนย์ประโยชน์เป็นแสน #ลดทิ้งสร้างค่าAXTRAZeroWaste #FoodWasteManagement
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About CP AXTRA Public Company Limited
CP AXTRA Public Company Limited, a subsidiary of CP Group, operates Asia’s leading wholesaler and retailer, “Makro” and “Lotus’s.’ The Company is based in Thailand, with operation across 10 countries. CP AXTRA is committed to fulfilling people’s lives with good health, love, joy, and well-being by providing solutions and meeting customers’ daily needs with technology, innovation, and operational excellence. With over 30 years of retail experience, CP AXTRA is a trusted partner for both B2B and B2C customers, offering a comprehensive range of products and services. Today, it manages over 2,700 offline stores in Thailand and Asia, with strong online presence.
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Changhong Unveils AI‑Powered Smart Home Solutions at CES 2026
Changhong is accelerating the integration of AI across its home‑appliance lineup. Its panda-themed AI series merges this widely welcomed Chinese cultural symbol with AI capabilities, utilising anthropomorphic interaction, environmental sensing, and adaptive control to recreate a naturally intuitive and comforting user experience. The AI TV features the intelligent “Panda Xiaobai,” offering round-the-clock interaction. Complementing it, the AI refrigerator introduces cloud-based humidity control to maintain ingredients in an optimized freshness chamber, while the AI air conditioner delivers a gentle adaptive cooling experience reminiscent of a natural breeze. Completing the ecosystem, the AI washing machine employs triple-power cleaning for efficient fabric care. Blending everyday technology with humanistic warmth, Changhong aims to create smart home experiences that feel more intuitive and emotionally engaging.
Moreover, Changhong also unveiled several breakthroughs: The 100-inch RGB MiniLED TV, boasts an ultra-slim profile, an anti-glare display, and immersive audiovisual performance, complemented by industry-leading large-scale AI models like DeepSeek for enhanced voice interaction. The AI Air Manager 360° air conditioner extends beyond temperature control to incorporate air‑quality management, learning user habits to optimize comfort and energy efficiency. The full‑space preservation refrigerator applies AI freshness algorithms and dual‑system temperature control to eliminate odor mixing and temperature fluctuations. The AI washer‑dryer set intelligently identifies fabric types and automatically adjusts washing programs.
Changhong presents a holistic smart home ecosystem designed around user experience, further enhancing its visibility and presence in the international smart home landscape. Driven by its global “Technology + Sports” branding strategy, the brand has established an overseas network encompassing R&D, manufacturing, products, and services. Through intelligent sensing, natural interaction, and multi-scenario coordination, its AI appliances deliver a more efficient, convenient, and comfortable home experience, reflecting the Company’s forward-looking vision for smart living.
Through its fusion of AI innovation and vivid design, Changhong is shaping a distinct global brand presence, delivering smart home solutions that resonate both emotionally and technologically with users worldwide.
Hashtag: #Changhong
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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[CES 2026 Deep Dive] From Fingertips to the Stars: Lens Technology Debuts Aerospace-Grade UTG, Reshaping the LEO Satellite “Energy Canopy”
There are no flashy RGB lighting effects here, only a sheet of glass as thin as a cicada’s wing, being repeatedly rolled and unrolled like a tape measure. This is the public debut of Lens Technology’s aerospace-grade UTG (Ultra-Thin Glass) photovoltaic encapsulation solution. This technology marks the official entry of the manufacturing titan—best known as a giant in the Apple supply chain—transferring its precision manufacturing capabilities from consumer electronics to humanity’s next trillion-dollar market: space infrastructure.
As leading global satellite companies begin the mass deployment of third-generation (V3) satellites, the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) internet race is entering a “second half” defined by heavy payloads, long lifespans, and low costs. Lens Technology’s entry aims to untie the knot that has long plagued the aerospace industry: the trade-off between flexibility and durability.
Farewell to the “Plastic Feel”: The Material Battle in Space
At the Lens Technology booth, engineers demonstrated the core contradiction to the audience: Traditional aerospace solar cell covers are either heavy Cerium-doped Glass (CMG) or expensive Fused Silica, typically ranging from 100μm to 500μm in thickness. They are robust, but too heavy and impossible to bend.
To adapt to the massive power demands of next-generation satellites (such as those supporting direct-to-cell services), solar wing designs are rapidly evolving from rigid panels to Roll-Out Solar Arrays (ROSA-like structures). This shift forced designers to temporarily turn to polymer materials like transparent Polyimide (CPI).
“However, polymers have a fatal weakness in space,” explained a Lens Technology on-site technical lead. “The LEO environment is filled with high-energy Atomic Oxygen (AO) and strong UV radiation. Under long-term exposure, polymer molecular chains break, causing the material to yellow, become brittle, and suffer a drastic drop in light transmission. This efficiency decay was tolerable for early satellites with 5-7 year lifespans, but for the new generation of mega-constellations pursuing higher commercial returns, it is unacceptable.”
Lens Technology’s answer is Aerospace-Grade UTG. As an inorganic material, glass possesses innate “immunity” to Atomic Oxygen and UV aging, ensuring high light transmission throughout the satellite’s lifecycle. More importantly, its dense structure provides an effective barrier against water vapor and micrometeoroids, offering physical protection for delicate ultra-thin HJT or future Perovskite batteries.
The 30-Micron “Moat”: A Perfect Match for Next-Gen Satellites
In the demo area, a piece of glass only 30μm-50μm thick is bent to an astonishing radius of R1.5mm. This level of flexibility drew gasps from the audience.
This is exactly the characteristic most coveted by top global satellite companies today. To reduce the cost per launch, next-generation mega-satellites must be stowed with origami-like efficiency inside the rocket fairing. Lens Technology’s UTG solution allows solar wings to be tightly wound like a tape measure during launch, and instantly recover to a flat state upon orbital deployment.
However, making glass thin is the first step; keeping it from shattering during the violent vibration of a rocket launch is the real challenge.
Analysts point out that Lens Technology’s core competitiveness lies in its proprietary chemical strengthening processes and laser/diamond wire cutting technologies. Glass fractures often originate from micro-cracks invisible to the naked eye. Leveraging processes honed on foldable smartphones, Lens has significantly reduced the density of micro-defects on the glass edges and surfaces. This means that even under immense tension and vibration, this “glass skin” remains tough and resilient.
Dimensional Strike: Reshaping Aerospace Costs with “Consumer-Grade” Capacity
If technical specifications are the ticket to entry, then capacity and cost control are Lens Technology’s ultimate weapons.
“The logic of commercial space has changed; it is now the era of industrial mass production,” commented an industry analyst at the scene. Compared to the small-batch, lab-grade customization model of traditional aerospace glass manufacturers, Lens Technology brings the scale of consumer electronics manufacturing.
Facing the grand ambition of global satellite leaders planning to launch tens of thousands of satellites annually, supply chain elasticity is critical. Lens Technology stated that it has the capability to rapidly expand existing pilot lines or flexibly retrofit mass production lines. This potential for “ten-thousand-satellite scale” delivery and yield control can significantly lower the BOM (Bill of Materials) cost per satellite—addressing the most sensitive pain point for commercial space giants today.
Outlook: The New Cornerstone of Next-Gen Space Energy
At CES, Lens Technology also “spoiled” its future technology roadmap.
As Perovskite/Silicon tandem cells are viewed as the mainstream for future satellite power, UTG will serve not just as a cover, but as an encapsulation substrate. Lens Technology revealed it is developing next-generation composite UTG integrated with Anti-Static (ESD) coatings and Selective Radiation coatings, which will not only protect chips from electrostatic discharge damage but also assist in regulating battery temperature.
Although this business currently accounts for a tiny fraction of Lens Technology’s massive revenue and is in a period of intensive validation with global top-tier photovoltaic component manufacturers (Tier 2) and top commercial space clients (Tier 1), its signal significance cannot be ignored.
From smartphone screens to satellite wings, Lens Technology is proving that in the era of scaled expansion for space infrastructure, ground-based industrial giants possessing extreme craftsmanship and mass manufacturing capabilities will be indispensable “pavers” for the interstellar journey.
Hashtag: #LensTechnology
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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