Technology
Umi Blockchain Ecosystem: Instant Transfers, Smart Contracts And Profitable Staking
Thus far, the number of issued cryptocurrencies and digital tokens has exceeded 7,000 and in this ocean of crypto projects, it is difficult for investors to recognize promising services at an early stage of development, however, at the same time, investments at this stage maximize the profits.
UMI is one of the young projects created at the crossroad of DeFi and digital assets trends, which draws attention not only by its unique functionality but also by its future plans.
UMI is a universal monetary instrument that allows users to make instant, secure and free financial transfers, as well as earn crypto through profitable staking.
In addition, UMI is a full-fledged blockchain platform capable of executing smart contracts of any complexity. Let’s take a closer look at UMI capabilities.
Watch a video about UMI below:
Transactions
The UMI network can execute approximately 4500 transactions per second. This significantly exceeds the capacity of most other blockchains, including fundamental ones like Bitcoin or Ethereum.
The UMI Mainnet was launched in the summer of 2020 and it’s continuously improving. In the future, the UMI team will roll out an update that will increase enough high capacity to execute 10,000 transactions per second. This brings the UMI platform closer to the transactional conductance of major payment systems such as VISA and MasterCard.
The UMI developers also have a long-term goal – to achieve the capacity of 1 million transactions per second. Although this sounds too ambitious, there is a chance to reach it in the long run, and here is why.
First, the UMI network operates on an improved version of the Proof-of-Authority consensus (PoA consensus characteristics will be discussed in detail later in the article).
Secondly, such scaling can be achieved through the optimization of programming languages and smart contracts, as well as with such tools as Kubernetes.
Finally, upgrades of the UMI network can be carried out faster and with less effort with the planned changes in the internal architecture of the ecosystem.
Another planned function of the UMI ecosystem payment service also appears to be very promising – offline transactions.
Other blockchain systems focus on transactions exclusively via the Internet, while in the UMI ecosystem, the procedure of sending transactions can be carried out without access to the World Wide Web using ordinary SMS or other communication methods.
For example, the length of a UMI transaction is 150 bytes. That’s 1200 bits of information. The standard length of an SMS is 1120 bits (140 bytes), which means that only 2 SMS are required to send a transfer through the UMI blockchain. This is convenient if the transfer needs to be sent urgently, and the Internet is temporarily not accessible.
Technically, the UMI ecosystem is already capable of sending offline transactions without the Internet connection, but the service for initiating transfers has not been launched yet. The UMI team is currently developing it.
Although, the main feature of the UMI blockchain is not the network’s capacity, the absence of any fees. This has been achieved by the unique technology on which the ecosystem is built, as well as a different economic model in comparison to other popular cryptocurrencies.
Technology
The UMI blockchain is based on Proof-of-Authority technology, a concept created by Ethereum co-founder Gavin Wood.
The difference between PoA and the popular Proof-of-Work algorithms (which Bitcoin runs on) or Proof-of-Stake (Ethereum plans to switch to PoS) is that in the PoA network there is no place for the contest between the miners and forgers for the right to generate a block and get a reward.
The generation of blocks, and most importantly, their integration into the blockchain, is handled by trusted nodes – ‘master nodes’. In the UMI network, master nodes are large authorized nodes that meet stringent speed requirements. This feature significantly increases the network’s capacity.
However, the original concept of PoA also has its drawbacks. The original PoA model assumes that ordinary users cannot influence the operating mechanics of the system, and only trusted nodes have the right to confirm transactions and record them in the blockchain, and those usually belong to one organization or affiliated companies. These factors increase the risks of network centralization, which deprives the cryptocurrency of its main value – decentralization – and make it little different from other already existing traditional payment systems.
In order to avoid the risk of network centralization, the nodes in the UMI blockchain are divided into two types – ‘master nodes’, that integrate blocks into the blockchain, and ‘validator nodes’ that validate the blocks. Only certain types of nodes can become master nodes – they include nodes launched both by the UMI team and their numerous partners from different countries, while any user can launch a validator node. Validator nodes monitor the work of the master nodes, and if the suspicious actions are detected, the unscrupulous masters are automatically disconnected from the system.
Along with the distribution of power among master nodes and validator nodes, another mechanism which is designed to prevent centralization is planned to be implemented in the UMI system in the future – integration with Proof-of-Stake consensus.
The UMI blockchain will continue to operate on the PoA algorithm, but if any problems with the master nodes arise, the system will automatically switch to the reserve PoS consensus.
Even if all of the masternodes suddenly stop functioning, the performance of the UMI network and its ability to conduct transactions will not be affected. PoS nodes do not need computing equipment to work, a regular laptop is enough. Any UMI user who has installed a desktop wallet with a validator node will be able to launch a backup PoS node.
Moreover, staking works on a smart contract in the UMI system, which means that the staker does not need to keep the computer on all the time. Thanks to staking on a smart contract, you can generate new UMI coins: up to 40% per month in 24h mode. With such a profitable economic model, UMI encourages users to actively join the system. This model is one of the features that allows UMI to avoid commissions for transfers – staking participants are interested in developing the ecosystem without additional incentives, such as commissions.
Smart contracts
The UMI blockchain allows you to create many specialized multifunctional smart contracts, including those suitable for integration into e-commerce services or for launching decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs). These include various decentralized finance (DeFi) services.
Areas of application for the UMI blockchain smart contracts:
- Decentralized exchanges and applications;
- DeFi protocols, including Yield Farming and lending;
- Online stores;
- Crowdfunding platforms;
- Gambling sites;
- Gaming platforms;
- Cashback and bonus programs;
- and many other services.
Thanks to its high capacity, the UMI network will ensure the smooth operation of large DeFi projects, decentralized exchanges (DEX) or decentralized applications (DApps), and users will not face unprecedented high transaction fees, as it happened before with the Ethereum network.
Thus, the launch of UMI-based DeFi services will not have a negative impact on those who use the system exclusively for money transfers.
Staking in detail
Currently, UMI coins can be mined in two staking structures (pools) – ROY Club and ISP Club. In order to start mining, you need to create a personal wallet in the UMI blockchain and transfer a certain amount of UMI coins to your address.
After replenishing the wallet address, you can place your coins for staking in two pools. Unlike other staking systems, coins in the UMI system do not get frozen after joining a pool. They remain in the user’s wallet and no one can access them except the owner. Staking rewards accrue 24/7. The user can withdraw and sell them at any time.
You can buy UMI coins via the SIGEN.pro trading platform, which includes an exchange, an automatic exchanger and a p2p platform. According to the statistics, the daily trading volume of UMI ranges from $ 250,000 to $ 300,000, and the liquidity of the order book for buying coins has already exceeded $ 3.2 million, taking into account the p2p-platform. For the project that was launched only four months ago, the numbers look very promising. The interest in UMI on the market is indirectly evidenced by the rapidly growing number of active users: their number exceeded 47,000.
Mobile apps
Thanks to high-quality and fast mobile apps, users can perform all key operations using a smartphone or tablet. The applications for Android or iOS can be downloaded from Google Play and App Store, respectively.
UMI mobile apps offer a wide list of functions. One can create and manage one or several UMI wallets, receive and send coins, connect to staking structures, view the history of transactions and get in touch with technical support.
The applications provide the ability to authorize using Face ID, fingerprint or PIN-code.
You can find all the latest information about the UMI project in the blog.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A designed-in-house server known as Nathu La has been launched by a global technology company, Zoho Corporation.
Nathu La is engineered with hardware-rooted security at every layer of the stack. Its indigenous IP-driven approach reduces dependency on external entities for security audits, firmware updates, and licensing continuity.
The solution aligns with open-source software principles and reflects Zoho’s broader commitment to building sustainable, secure, and scalable digital infrastructure. It also supports the growing global focus on digital sovereignty, local innovation ecosystems, and high-performance computing capabilities.
The platform was introduced by the company as part of a pivotal step in its journey towards building its full technology stack, from the hardware layer to software applications.
With Nathu La, Zoho has achieved equivalent performance with 12-18 per cent lower power consumption and 20-30 per cent lower total cost of ownership (TCO), thereby reducing inference costs.
The Nathu La server, comprising Intel® Xeon® 6 processors, was developed collaboratively with Intel, leveraging their enablement capabilities and technical expertise.
The design philosophy behind Nathu La is rooted in the Open Compute Project (OCP), emphasising modularity, thermal efficiency, and ease of maintenance. This enables Zoho’s data centres to significantly reduce total cost of ownership and power consumption.
Zoho plans to host its applications on the Nathu La server platform, enabling the company to optimise the full software-hardware stack for its specific workloads, reduce costs, improve performance, and strengthen data governance for its global customers. This will also help bring down inference costs for Zoho’s AI usage.
The Nathu La server motherboard and chassis platform is the result of five years of R&D across hardware, firmware, and systems management. Based on Intel® Xeon® 6 Processors, the server is designed to optimise performance for virtualisation (VM), High Performance Computing (HPC), AI inference, and storage applications. This results in improved performance of Zoho applications for end users.
The server features customised power delivery subsystems, an in-house DC-SCM (Data Centre Secure Control Module) design, and modular chassis options compatible with diverse end-user environments, offering flexibility across deployment types.
All modular components – including the DC-SCM and NIC (Network Interface Card) – were designed in-house by Zoho’s hardware engineering team and assembled through electronics manufacturing partners, enabling tighter integration and quality control across the platform. Over five patents have been filed covering advanced thermal management and cost-optimised server architecture designs.
“Zoho Corporation has invested in building its own technology stack from the ground up over the last three decades. The Nathu La server launch is in line with that goal.
“With our strategy of using contextual, right-sized models, running on our own platform, on our own servers, in our own data centres, we are compounding the benefits accrued from owning and operating our entire technology stack. This ensures that our solutions are more sustainable and accessible for businesses.
“These long-term R&D investments we are making at every layer of the stack are aimed at delivering customer value,” the Country Head for Zoho Nigeria, Mr Kehinde Ogundare, stated.
In 2020, Zoho established a small R&D team in Nagpur, a Tier 2 town in India, focused on projects such as server design and systems engineering.
Members of the Nathu La R&D team include hires from SETU – short for Students’ Engagement for Transformative Upskilling – an initiative designed to build a pipeline of industry-ready engineers, with a focus on advanced learning in Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM).
By Adedapo Adesanya
The financial technology arm of MTN is mulling a direct shift into lending after bringing on its parent company, MTN Group, as a major investor to help cushion against losses that have plagued the business.
According to MTN Group Fintech chief executive, Mr Serigne Dioum, the company wants to move beyond helping customers access loans through partners.
He said in markets where regulators allow it, MTN wants to lend directly and use its own balance sheet.
“We’ve expanded access to credit for more people, but we also want to move further up the lending value chain,” Mr Dioum told investors at the company’s capital markets day.
“Where appropriate, we will seek licences that allow us not only to facilitate loans but also to lend directly to customers and deploy our own balance sheet.”
This development is expected to create a shift in its current fintech model which provides financial services, including deposits, payments, transfers and digital wallets to individuals and small businesses via digital and mobile‑based platforms.
The company has applied for Payment Solution Service Provider and Payment Terminal Service Provider licences through MoMo PSB, its Nigerian fintech subsidiary. If approved, the licences would allow MTN to handle more payment processing, build merchant payment tools, deploy and manage POS terminals, and reduce its dependence on third-party processors.
Despite the opportunities present in the credit market, direct lending could give MTN a larger share of revenue, but it would also expose the company to credit risk, regulation and tougher competition with banks and digital lenders.
Mr Dioum said only about 4 per cent to 5 per cent of adults have access to formal credit across the African continent. In Nigeria, the funding problem is especially severe.
A 2025 report by the National Credit Guarantee Company said nearly 80 per cent of Nigerian MSMEs lack access to formal credit, while Stears has estimated the country’s MSME financing gap at about $236 billion.
For traders, small shop owners, transport operators and households, access to small loans can determine whether they restock inventory, pay suppliers, cover emergencies or expand a business.
In April, MTN Nigeria announced that its parent firm, based in South Africa, would acquire a 60 per cent stake in MoMo Payment Service Bank Limited (MoMo PSB) and Y’ello Digital Financial Services (YDFS) Limited.
The fintech units are currently loss-making, and this move will help MTN Nigeria to reduce financial risk and share future losses and investment burden. However, it will still keep a significant minority stake (40 per cent).
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The reach of the Meta Business Agent is being expanded to Instagram and other platforms of the social media giant.
Meta Business Agent is an artificial intelligence (AI) that allows business owners to attend to customers’ needs with ease.
Customers expect instant responses, but no team can be everywhere at once. This innovation handles such without hassles.
It helps businesses to answer questions specific to the business, makes product recommendations from the catalogue, books appointments, qualifies incoming leads, and closes sales.
More than one million businesses are already using a Meta Business Agent on WhatsApp and Messenger to respond to customers around the clock.
“We’re now expanding our Business Agent to businesses big and small globally, so within minutes you can have yours up and running, responding in your customer’s local language using your tone,” Meta said in a statement.
“We’re also expanding these agents to Instagram since businesses connect with their customers there, too. Businesses can activate their Business Agent here. Getting started with the Business Agent is free. In the coming months, businesses will access the agent through our paid subscription offerings, with options for businesses of every size,” it added.
Meta also stated that it is making it simpler for people to discover businesses powered by a Meta Business Agent directly on WhatsApp. It noted that starting soon, people will be able to find businesses by typing their name in the Search bar, or by sharing their phone number or contact card in chats with friends and family. This way, when more customers reach out, they get a quick, helpful response.
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