Crypto fintech company Superstate launches new fund operating system FundOS
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PhotonPay launches on PhotonPass: Turning "clearing speed" into a "strategic advantage" and creating a closed-loop full-stack financial operating system.
According to ChainCatcher, PhotonPay, the next-generation global payment operating system, recently announced the launch of its account-to-account (A2A) transfer function – PhotonPass – designed to inject ultra-fast liquidity into the global business network. PhotonPass supports instant internal transfers between more than 19 major fiat currencies and core stablecoins such as USDT and USDC. This function eliminates the constraints of traditional correspondent banking networks, achieving "instantaneous fund transfers," while reducing intermediary bank fees, eliminating settlement queues, and unnecessary exchange rate risks. Simultaneously, relying on an AI-driven risk control engine, each transfer supports real-time tracking and automated compliance verification, ensuring the safety of funds. The strategic significance of PhotonPass extends far beyond simple transfer speed; it serves as the architectural anchor of PhotonPay's entire "payment operating system." By seamlessly connecting core modules such as Global Checkout, Custody Wallets, and Automated FX, PhotonPass transforms previously fragmented financial touchpoints into a single, programmable flow of funds. This allows global businesses to manage their global finances with high flexibility and composability, much like orchestrating front-end software code. Lewison, founder and CEO of PhotonPay, stated, “The competitive landscape of global commerce no longer depends solely on strategy itself, but also on the infrastructure for executing that strategy. PhotonPass completes a closed loop within the PhotonPay operating system, bringing us one step closer to our initial vision: building a financial infrastructure that truly keeps pace with modern commerce and covers all global markets.” PhotonPass is now fully available to PhotonPay users.
AI-powered legal services company Norm has raised $120 million in funding, led by Khosla Ventures.
PANews reported on July 7th that, according to Bloomberg, AI legal startup Norm has completed a new funding round of $120 million, valuing the company at approximately $1.2 billion post-money. The round was led by Khosla Ventures, with participation from Blackstone, Bain Capital Ventures, Coatue Management, and others, bringing its total funding to over $260 million. Founded in 2023, Norm differs from traditional software vendors by operating its own Norm Law firm, providing clients directly with legal services delivered by lawyers and AI engineers, charging based on results rather than hourly rates. The company is also developing "AI-driven regulatory AI" compliance agents for regulated industries such as finance and healthcare, and plans to use the new funding to expand its engineering and legal teams and strengthen its systems.
Rilian Technology: The subscription of newly issued shares of QES Group Berhad by its wholly-owned subsidiary will not result in control of the company, and will not have a significant impact on the company's operating performance.
Mars Finance reported on July 5th that Rilian Technology issued a statement and risk warning regarding media reports. On July 5th, 2026, media outlets reported that a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company planned to use its own funds of RMB 73.2885 million to subscribe for 10% of the shares in a private placement of QES Group Berhad. This transaction involves the acquisition of a minority stake in the target company. After the transaction, the company will hold 9.1% of the target company's shares, which will not constitute control over the target company and will not have a significant impact on the company's operating performance. According to the Securities Times, QES Group is a main board listed company on the Malaysian Stock Exchange, primarily engaged in the manufacturing, sales, and related overall solution services of semiconductor and wafer inspection, testing, measurement, analysis, and automation equipment. Its main products include optical inspection systems (OIS), automated processing systems (AHS), and advanced metrology systems (AMS), with applications including wafer and device inspection, 2D and 3D vision inspection, and wafer surface and thickness measurement. Currently, QES Group's business network covers Southeast Asian countries, as well as China and the United States, and it has established a relatively stable customer base in the semiconductor, wafer, electronics, automotive, metal, scientific research, and other industrial inspection fields. (Wide-angle observation)
KOR Protocol raises $7.5 million in Series A funding, valuing the company at $100 million.
According to ChainCatcher, KOR Protocol, an on-chain clearinghouse in the entertainment sector, has announced the completion of a $7.5 million Series A funding round, valuing the company at $100 million. Investors include 1kx, Blockchain Capital, and previous investors such as Republic Crypto, Sfermion, Alumni Ventures, and SevenX.
Sign has partnered with Bhutan's sovereign wealth fund to create a sovereign digital identity and verifiable credential system.
According to Mars Finance, on July 7th, official news indicates that Sign has officially partnered with Bhutan's sovereign wealth fund, Druk Holding & Investment (DHI), through its subsidiary, the National Digital Identity Company (Bhutan NDI), to jointly build a secure, inclusive, and interoperable sovereign digital identity and verifiable credentials system for governments worldwide. Previously, on June 18th, the SIGN Foundation, Bhutan NDI, and the Ministry of Communications, Technology and Innovation (MoCTI) of Sierra Leone signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly design, develop, and implement Sierra Leone's national digital identity platform. This platform, built on open-source technology and W3C-compliant verifiable credentials, allows citizens to securely prove and manage their identities while upholding high standards of privacy, security, and data sovereignty.
UK-based GEO company geoSurge raises $12 million in seed funding.
Mars Finance reports that London-based AI company geoSurge has announced the completion of a $12 million oversubscribed seed round of funding. The company will use the funds to advance its novel approach to AI visibility, helping brands shape how they are presented in generative AI systems such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude. The round was led by AlbionVC, with participation from Play Ventures, Octopus Ventures, Celero Ventures, and Boost Capital. Existing investors Passion Capital and Tuesday Capital also participated, and the round received support from angel investors from Google DeepMind, Microsoft AI, and Signal AI.