Kickstarter Launches $1 Million Culture Fund to Back Independent Creators Around the World

New initiative will support hundreds of creators across Film, Fashion, Art and Music and bring on strategic partners to expand the fund’s reach and impact

NEW YORK, Aug. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Kickstarter today announced the launch of the Kickstarter Culture Fund, a $1 million fund supporting independent creators working across Art, Fashion, Film and Music. The fund is the first to be financed entirely by Kickstarter and is open to creators around the world.

The Kickstarter Culture Fund is a key expression of the company’s recently launched Power of Belief brand campaign—an effort centered on the idea that belief is what sparks new ideas, and that those ideas come to life when people believe in each other. The Culture Fund puts Kickstarter’s own belief into action: belief in creative independence, belief in the importance of helping more creators bring more ideas into the world, and belief in the power of community to make those ideas possible. Through the fund, Kickstarter will provide direct financial contributions to live campaigns from independent creators using its platform, helping them build momentum during the critical period when they are working to rally support for their ideas.

Creators doing work within the fund’s four core categories can apply for the fund when their Kickstarter campaign is live or when they have a project page in draft.

Creators can learn more about eligibility and apply through the Kickstarter Culture Fund at https://landing.kickstarter.com/culture-fund.

Everette Taylor, Chief Executive Officer at Kickstarter said, “Creators across all industries – especially artists, musicians, filmmakers, and designers – are facing increasing challenges finding the resources and support they need to bring their ideas to life. The Kickstarter Culture Fund is our commitment to addressing that problem because when fewer ideas have the opportunity to break through, culture, the economy, and society all suffer. By putting resources directly behind creators, we’re helping more ambitious ideas find the support they need to become reality. This is just the beginning.”

Courtney Brown Warren, Kickstarter’s Chief Marketing Officer, added, “The Kickstarter Culture Fund is a meaningful expansion of the ways we have historically supported creators on their journey. This time, we’re reaching into our own pockets to provide additional resources to creators at a critical moment when it feels harder than ever to bring a creative idea to life. We believe every creator deserves the opportunity to share their ideas with the world, and the Culture Fund gives us another way to help make that possible.”

Kickstarter will expand the impact of the Culture Fund through partnerships with organizations that share its commitment to supporting independent creators. Through these partnerships, organizations will contribute dedicated funding to the Culture Fund, helping to reach more creators, creative disciplines, and communities around the world.

The first partner under the Culture Fund umbrella is Creative Scotland, the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland. Creative Scotland will be expanding its 2023 Kickstarter fund to provide renewed support for Scotland-based creators. The Creative Scotland Forward Fund will contribute £67,500 directly to eligible Kickstarter campaigns across film, comics, music, radio and podcasts, games, publishing, and design.

To be eligible, creators must be based in Scotland and have a live Kickstarter campaign in one of the fund’s eligible categories. Projects must demonstrate a clear connection to Scotland, with primary creative activity and beneficiaries based in the country. Find more details about the Creative Scotland fund here.

Additional partners will launch dedicated funding initiatives under the Kickstarter Culture Fund umbrella in the coming months.

Learn more about the Kickstarter Culture Fund here.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/kickstarter-launches-1-million-culture-fund-to-back-independent-creators-around-the-world-302844705.html

Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS) Reports Total Holdings of Approximately $378 Million, Includes OpenAI, Beast Industries, More Than 16,000 ETH and Nearly 302 Million WLD Tokens

Eightco treasury composition as of August 5, 2026: $90M OpenAI equity (indirect), $18M Beast Industries equity, 16,278 ETH, nearly 302 million WLD holdings, and $142M cash and equivalents, totaling approximately $378 million

Eightco recently participated in World Foundation’s $52.5M funding round, led by Pantera with participation from Bain Capital Crypto, Selini Capital, Susquehanna Crypto, and additional investors

OpenAI recently announced that it submitted a confidential S-1, setting itself up for a potential future initial public offering

Eightco provides indirect exposure to some of the most innovative private companies including OpenAI and Beast Industries

EASTON, Pa., Aug. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Eightco Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ORBS) (“Eightco” or the “Company”) today provided an update on its total holdings, highlighting its position across digital assets and strategic investments in leading private technology companies.

As of August 5, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. ET, ORBS’ holdings include a $90 million investment (indirectly, through SPVs) in OpenAI, an $18 million funded investment in Beast Industries, a $1 million investment in Mythical Games, 301,971,219 Worldcoin (WLD) at $0.32 per WLD (per Coinbase), 16,278 Ethereum (ETH), and approximately $142 million in total cash and stablecoins, for total holdings of approximately $378 million.

Top Headlines Driving the News:

Eightco’s management believes the Company’s treasury portfolio holds some of the most critical components for the future AI and digital financial system. This week’s top headlines include:

• On August 2, the World Bank released a report noting that artificial intelligence could enable developing countries to gain a century’s ‌worth of development in a decade if they act quickly on power, connectivity and skills gaps. “AI has thrown developing economies a lifeline, and they ⁠should seize it,” said Indermit Gill, the World Bank’s chief economist (Reuters).
• On July 29, it was reported that the AI boom is creating thousands of high-paying jobs for electricians, carpenters, and other skilled trades needed to build the infrastructure powering the future of AI (The New York Times).
• On July 26, it was announced that Nvidia is in talks with OpenAI to provide a roughly $250 billion backstop for OpenAI as part of a massive data-center project. The two companies are exploring a 10-gigawatt, $500 billion data center campus in southern Ohio managed by SoftBank’s SB Energy (WSJ).
• On a recent podcast episode, Sam Altman suggested that we may be approaching the “singularity,” a pivotal moment when advances in AI could accelerate rapidly, unlocking new possibilities for scientific discovery, economic growth, and human progress, while potentially leading to the emergence of superintelligent systems (Relentless).
• Last week, firms including BlackRock, Fidelity, Franklin Templeton, Goldman Sachs and SoFi urged Congress to pass the Clarity Act, arguing that clear rules would protect investors, give companies regulatory certainty and help the U.S. stay competitive as digital assets become more mainstream (Coindesk).

Tom Lee, Board Member of Eightco ORBS recently said during his July 27th appearance on CNBC Power Lunch: “Crypto is turning money into software; a lot of things can turn into money: loyalty points, reputation… You want a governing body to oversee all this. Now, Japan, Russia, Europe are actually passing Clarity Act-like bills. So the U.S. is risking getting behind. That’s why I think crypto is recovering, because outside the U.S., it’s being embraced.”

Eightco: Exposure to key mega-trends

Eightco is built around three mega-trends the Company expects to shape the next decade of innovation: artificial intelligence, digital identity, and the creator economy, with positions in each trend through indirect investment in OpenAI (24% of ORBS’ treasury holdings), Worldcoin (25%), and Beast Industries (5%).

Artificial Intelligence — OpenAI

Eightco has invested approximately $90 million in special purpose vehicles with exposure to equity interests in the parent company of OpenAI, representing approximately 24% of treasury assets, one of the highest disclosed concentrations of any listed vehicle.

ChatGPT, OpenAI’s consumer app, is the #1 consumer AI app worldwide (Sensor Tower). On July 31, 2026, OpenAI announced that its models now reach more than one billion active users and more than two million businesses. Six months after signing up, people send roughly 50 percent more messages each day and use ChatGPT for about twice as many kinds of work.

Digital Identity — WLD Token

Eightco holds nearly 302 million WLD, approximately 8.4% of circulating supply, the largest publicly disclosed institutional position globally and approximately 25% of the Eightco treasury’s assets.

Worldcoin is the native token of World, a global Proof of Human network built by Tools for Humanity (co-founded by Sam Altman and Alex Blania) and stewarded by the World Foundation. Its Orb devices issue a privacy-preserving World ID that verifies a user is a unique human, not an AI agent.

Under World’s announced business model, applications pay per-verification fees while end-user verification remains free, with both credential issuers and the World protocol monetizing verified-human authentication. World identifies a $6.35 trillion combined addressable revenue opportunity across 13 industries spanning banking, e-commerce, gaming, social media, and agentic AI (per Tools for Humanity).

Creator Economy — Beast Industries

Eightco has invested $18 million in Beast Industries equity, approximately 5% of treasury assets.

Beast Industries operates one of the largest direct-to-consumer reach footprints in the world, with a combined 500 million-plus follower base across platforms, anchored by MrBeast as the most-watched person on YouTube globally. As AI commoditizes content production, distribution and audience trust become increasingly scarce assets.

About Eightco Holdings Inc.

Eightco Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ORBS) is a publicly traded company executing a first-of-its-kind Worldcoin (WLD) treasury strategy, providing investors single-ticker indirect exposure to three of the defining trends of this cycle: artificial intelligence through its indirect investment in OpenAI, digital identity through its position as the largest public holder of WLD and the Proof of Human protocol, and the creator economy through its equity stake in MrBeast’s Beast Industries. Backed by leading institutional investors including Bitmine Immersion Technologies Inc. (NYSE: BMNR), MOZAYYX, World Foundation, CoinFund, Discovery Capital Management, FalconX, Payward/Kraken, Pantera, and GSR, Eightco is building the infrastructure layer for human verification in the agentic AI era.

For more information:

X: @iamhuman_orbs

Website: 8co.holdings 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ORBS stock?

Eightco Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ORBS) is a publicly traded company on Nasdaq. ORBS provides indirect exposure to OpenAI and Beast Industries, and holds one of the largest publicly disclosed positions in Worldcoin (WLD).

Who owns the most Worldcoin (WLD)?

Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS) holds nearly 302 million WLD, approximately 8.4% of circulating supply and the largest publicly disclosed institutional position globally.

What is Proof of Human?

Proof of Human is cryptographic verification that a user is a unique, living person, not a bot or AI agent. It is foundational infrastructure for social networks, banking, agentic commerce, and any system requiring “one person, one account” in the agentic AI era.

How does Eightco (ORBS) relate to Proof of Human?

Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS) is the largest publicly disclosed institutional holder of Worldcoin (WLD), the token powering World’s Proof of Human network.

Who is the CEO of Eightco Holdings?

Kevin O’Donnell is the CEO of Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS). The Company’s Board includes Tom Lee (Managing Partner and Head of Research at Fundstrat, and Chairman of Bitmine Immersion Technologies (NYSE: BMNR)) and, as an advisor to the Board, Brett Winton (Chief Futurist at ARK Invest).

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements in this press release other than statements of historical fact could be deemed forward-looking, including, without limitation, statements regarding: the Company’s expectations that artificial intelligence, digital identity, and the creator economy will shape the next decade of innovation; management’s belief that the Company’s treasury portfolio holds some of the most critical components for the future AI and digital financial system; statements that OpenAI submitted a confidential S-1, setting itself up for a potential future initial public offering; statements regarding World’s addressable revenue opportunity of $6.35 trillion across industries spanning banking, e-commerce, gaming, social media, and agentic AI; statements that distribution and audience trust become increasingly scarce assets as AI commoditizes content production; statements that the Company is building the infrastructure layer for human verification in the agentic AI era; statements that Proof of Human is foundational infrastructure for social networks, banking, agentic commerce, and systems requiring verified human identity; and statements regarding the Company providing indirect exposure to defining trends through its investments in OpenAI, WLD, and Beast Industries. Words such as “plans,” “expects,” “will,” “anticipates,” “continue,” “expand,” “advance,” “develop,” “believes,” “guidance,” “target,” “may,” “remain,” “project,” “outlook,” “intend,” “estimate,” “could,” “should,” “positioned,” “view,” and other words and terms of similar meaning and expression are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such terms. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: the Company’s inability to direct the management or operations of private businesses where it is not a controlling stockholder, including OpenAI and Beast Industries; risk of loss or markdown on the Company’s strategic investments, including its indirect position in OpenAI equity (held through special purpose vehicles), its position in WLD, and its position in Beast Industries equity; the Company’s ability to maintain compliance with Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements; unexpected costs, charges, or expenses that reduce the Company’s capital resources or otherwise delay capital deployment; inability to raise adequate capital to fund or scale its business operations or strategic investments; volatility in digital asset prices, including WLD and ETH, which could materially affect the value of the Company’s treasury holdings; regulatory changes, future legislation, and rulemaking negatively impacting digital assets, artificial intelligence adoption, or biometric data collection; risks related to the development, adoption, and market acceptance of Proof of Human technology and the World network; uncertainty regarding the pace and trajectory of agentic AI deployment in enterprise and consumer applications; uncertainty regarding OpenAI’s product roadmap, business model developments, and the timing or success of any IPO; risks related to Beast Industries’ ability to achieve its growth projections; competition in the digital identity and AI infrastructure markets; reliance on third-party sources for the valuation of certain investments; uncertainty regarding MrBeast’s continued success and the performance of Beast Industries’ creator-driven business model; risks related to the Company’s concentrated positions in certain digital assets and private company investments; shifting public and governmental positions on digital assets or artificial intelligence-related industries; risks related to the timing, features, and commercial reception of OpenAI’s model releases; and risks that WLD supply dynamics may not result in anticipated market effects. Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. For a discussion of other risks and uncertainties, and other important factors, any of which could cause Eightco’s actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements herein, see Eightco’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the risk factors and other disclosures in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 15, 2026, and other publicly available SEC filings. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and Eightco undertakes no duty to update this information or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect actual results or any change in its expectations.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/eightco-holdings-nasdaq-orbs-reports-total-holdings-of-approximately-378-million-includes-openai-beast-industries-more-than-16-000-eth-and-nearly-302-million-wld-tokens-302844738.html

Milton and Feeding India collaborate to distribute steel tiffin boxes to children

As part of the collaboration, 25,000 tiffin boxes were distributed to children across 56 schools in 18 cities

NEW DELHI, Aug. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Milton and Feeding India, by Eternal Foundation, have collaborated to offer safe and durable steel Milton bestie tiffin boxes with an inner plate into the hands of school children.

Through this collaboration, Feeding India distributed 25,000 Milton steel tiffin boxes to children across 56 schools, spanning 18 cities including Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Lucknow, Chennai, Guwahati, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Hyderabad.

The idea took root after the Feeding India team repeatedly noticed children showing up at partner schools with cracked, stained and unhygienic plastic tiffin boxes; a small detail with an outsized impact on a child’s health, dignity and daily experience at school. What started as an observation turned into a mission: last month, as Eternal marked its 18th anniversary, the company chose to channel the milestone into something tangible for children.

Steel has long been at the heart of Milton’s product philosophy durable, hygienic, and built to outlast the daily wear that plastic tiffins can’t withstand. When this collaboration took shape, it gave Milton a chance to bring that same promise to children who needed it most.

Speaking on the initiative, Feeding India said that for most of us, a tiffin box seems like a small thing in the grand scheme of life, but for many children, it can become a daily source of discomfort. When their teams flagged this pattern from the ground, they knew it needed more than a quick fix. Collaborating with Milton has allowed them to give children across 18 cities something they can rely on every single day, a safe, and hygienic tiffin box. This is exactly the kind of on-ground impact Feeding India hopes to keep building on, with collaborators who care about the details that matter most to a child’s everyday life.

Adding to this, Raaj Thakkarr, Sr Vice President, Milton, said, “Milton is committed to strengthening primary education by supporting government school infrastructure and improving learning outcomes through fellowship model in rural areas, mid-day meal programmes, and education kits for underprivileged children. Complementing these efforts, our partnership with Feeding India reflects our commitment to sustainability through responsible management and community well-being.”

About Milton:

Milton is committed to strengthening primary education by supporting government school infrastructure and improving learning outcomes through fellowship model in rural areas, mid-day meal programmes, and education kits for underprivileged children. Complementing these efforts, our collaboration with Feeding India reflects our commitment to sustainability through responsible management and community well-being.

About Feeding India:

Feeding India, by Eternal Foundation, is a not-for-profit organisation, designing interventions to reduce hunger and malnutrition in India.

Media Contact:

media@zomato.com

csr@hamiltonindia.in

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/milton-and-feeding-india-collaborate-to-distribute-steel-tiffin-boxes-to-children-302844892.html

Chandigarh University Hosts Punjab’s State-Level Orientation Workshop for National Children’s Science Congress-2026

‘School-University Collaboration is Vital for Harnessing the Raw Potential of Tech-Savvy Gen Z’: Dr Dapinder Bakshi, Joint Director PSCST

CHANDIGARH, India, Aug. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Chandigarh University hosted the State Level Orientation Workshop of the 32^nd National Children’s Science Congress (NCSC)-2026 under the aegis of the National Council for Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC), Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India in collaboration with the Punjab State Council for Science & Technology (PSCST), bringing together distinguished academicians, policymakers, scientists, district coordinators, science educators, academicians and subject experts from across Punjab to strengthen the implementation of the country’s flagship children’s science programme. More than 110 districts coordinators and representatives from all 23 districts of Punjab attended the workshop.

Themed ‘Science & Innovation for Sustainability’, the workshop equipped educators with the knowledge and tools to mentor school students in developing research-based projects that address local challenges through scientific inquiry and innovation.

While Dr Dapinder Kaur Bakshi, Joint Director, Punjab State Council for Science & Technology was the Chief Guest on the occasion, Dr Jagdeesh Kannan, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Academic Affairs, Chandigarh University was Guest of Honour. Prominent among others present at the occasion were Dr. Pooja Devi, Senior Principal Scientist, CSIO, Chandigarh, Dr. Reena Chadha, General Manager, Indian Pollution Control Association (IPCA), Dr. Asha Bhatia, Dean Research and Chairperson, Centre for Sustainability, University Centre for Research & Development (UCRD), Chandigarh University and Dr. B.S. Sooch, Punjabi University, Patiala among others.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Dapinder Kaur Bakshi, Joint Director, Punjab State Council for Science & Technology said, “The school-university connect is very important because we are not targeting passive learning, we are targeting active innovation. Our children are intelligent, hardworking and full of potential. We should never underestimate them just because they are in school. This is the Gen Z generation and technology is an integral part of their lives. They are smart, confident and ready with ideas. Innovation should begin in schools, not wait until college or university. Today, we are already seeing teenagers launching start-up ventures and developing solutions for society. If we nurture that spirit through collaboration between schools, mentors and universities, we can inspire young minds to develop meaningful solutions, create lasting impact and excel at the national level. If we put all our energy together, I believe Punjab can make a strong mark at the national level. It will require extra hours, extra energy and stronger mentorship, but with that spirit, Punjab can bring home many awards.”

Dr Bakshi further added, “Before any innovation comes the ideation and ideation begins when a child starts thinking. It develops when children observe their surroundings, step out of their comfort zones and understand the problems faced by their family, school, community, state and nation. Every community has different challenges and unless children identify those real-life problem statements, meaningful innovation cannot happen. The final measure of any innovation is its impact. If it does not create a positive impact, it serves little purpose.”

Dr. Pooja Devi, Senior Principal Scientist, Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO) said, “The theme of this year’s National Children’s Science Congress is ‘Science and Innovation for Sustainable Development’, which is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Government of India’s Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment). Under this theme, children will be encouraged to undertake scientific research on subjects such as water, energy, waste management, health and the Indian Knowledge System. India’s traditional knowledge promotes living in harmony with nature, and this initiative will provide children with an opportunity to understand and validate this knowledge through a scientific approach.”

She further added, “Science and technology have transformed human life over the years, taking us from the Stone Age to the age of Artificial Intelligence. We are achieving unprecedented development and economic prosperity. However, neglect of the environment has also led to serious challenges such as climate change, with the entire climate cycle undergoing significant changes. Therefore, it is essential to maintain a balance between development and nature. Sustainable development aims to ensure that natural resources are conserved for future generations as well.”

The orientation programme familiarised participants with the NCSC framework, research methodology, thematic project development, evaluation parameters and online project submission process through expert lectures, technical sessions, interactive discussions and live portal demonstrations.

The workshop featured expert sessions by Dr. B.S. Sooch, Associate Professor, Punjabi University, Patiala, on the National Children’s Science Congress framework, water conservation and Indian Knowledge Systems; Dr. Reena Chadha, General Manager, Indian Pollution Control Association (IPCA), on waste management and circular economy; Dr. Pooja Devi, Senior Principal Scientist, CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIR-CSIO), Chandigarh, on sustainable technologies and scientific innovation and Mr. T. P. Sankar, Senior Fellow, Knowledge Resource Centre, TERI, New Delhi, who conducted a live demonstration of the NCSC portal, project registration and online submission process.

The National Children’s Science Congress is one of India’s largest science outreach initiatives aimed at encouraging school students to undertake scientific investigations on issues affecting their communities. The 2026-27 focal theme, ‘Science & Innovation for Sustainability’, aligns with Mission LiFE, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, encouraging students to develop innovative and locally relevant scientific solutions for sustainable development.

About Chandigarh University

Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+ Grade University and QS World Ranked University. This autonomous educational institution is approved by UGC and is located near Chandigarh in the state of Punjab. It is the youngest university in India and the only private university in Punjab to be honoured with A+ Grade by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council). CU offers more than 109 UG and PG programs in the field of engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce, and others. It has been awarded as The University with Best Placements by WCRC.

Website address: https://www.cuchd.in/

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/chandigarh-university-hosts-punjabs-state-level-orientation-workshop-for-national-childrens-science-congress-2026-302844920.html

Envision Commissions Galaxy Campus in Ulanqab, Establishing a New Model for Gigawatt-Scale AI Infrastructure

Featuring the world’s largest single AI data center building, Galaxy Campus integrates renewable energy, intelligent power management and high-density computing at unprecedented scale.

ULANQAB, China, Aug. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Envision, a global leader in green technology, today announced the commissioning of the Envision Galaxy Campus in Ulanqab, Inner Mongolia, a next-generation AI infrastructure campus designed to accelerate the deployment of large-scale artificial intelligence. Powered directly by renewable energy and designed to scale to over 2GW of capacity, the campus in Ulanqab introduces a new approach to meeting the growing energy and infrastructure demands of AI.

At the heart of the campus is a 120,000-square-meter AI supercomputing facility, equivalent to 20 standard football pitches. Once fully operational, it is designed to deliver industry-leading token-generation capacity within a single structure, supported by directly connected renewable electricity and Envision’s proprietary AI Power System.

At full build-out, the facility is designed to deliver one million PFLOPS of AI computing and support up to one million AI accelerators, setting a new benchmark for compute density in AI infrastructure.

“Supporting a million accelerators requires a purpose-built AI Power System that integrates renewable generation, dedicated transmission infrastructure, and large-scale energy storage to deliver stable, low-cost green power,” said Ricky Zheng, General Manager of Envision’s AIDC (AI Data Center). “This enables the facility to deliver up to ten times more compute output per square meter than conventional data centers.”

Beyond power, Envision Galaxy Campus addresses another critical requirement for large-scale, low-latency connectivity. Ulanqab’s position as a major digital infrastructure hub provides the network performance required for AI clusters containing hundreds of thousands of accelerators.

The region’s abundant wind and solar resources provide a complementary advantage. By combining dedicated renewable energy assets, transmission infrastructure and AI-optimized power management, Envision has created a new model for gigawatt-scale AI infrastructure powered directly by green electricity.

“The next frontier of AI is infrastructure,” added Zheng. “As AI models become larger and more compute-intensive, the limiting factors are increasingly power availability, network performance and energy efficiency. Envision Galaxy Campus combines energy, networking and physical infrastructure at unprecedented scale, enabling hyperscalers, technology companies and AI innovators to deploy and scale the next generation of AI workloads.”

The Galaxy Campus serves as the first flagship project under Envision’s global Mission Gobi initiative, which was unveiled at VivaTech in Paris in June 2026. The initiative aims to build 5GW of green AI computing capacity in desert and arid regions worldwide by 2030.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/envision-commissions-galaxy-campus-in-ulanqab-establishing-a-new-model-for-gigawatt-scale-ai-infrastructure-302844855.html

KuCoin Pay Expands Stablecoin Utility With an Enterprise Gift Card Solution

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands, Aug. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — KuCoin Pay, the cryptocurrency payment solution enabled by KuCoin, today announced the launch of KuCoin Gift Card, a scalable digital asset distribution solution that enables businesses to distribute USDT and USDC globally through digital gift cards, with support for bulk issuance and API integration. Designed for customer rewards, promotional campaigns, employee incentives and community engagement, the solution simplifies how businesses deliver digital value across users, markets and use cases while making stablecoin distribution more accessible and operationally efficient.

Businesses can use KuCoin Gift Card to send crypto directly to customers, partners, employees and community members without adding operational complexity. Recipients can redeem the gift cards and receive the corresponding assets through KuCoin, creating an experience that is as intuitive as traditional digital gifting while lowering barriers to crypto adoption.

Beyond redemption, recipients can continue to hold, transfer or use the assets across supported scenarios within the KuCoin ecosystem. By connecting, sending, receiving and continued use, KuCoin Gift Card creates a more complete digital asset experience rather than limiting the value to a single transaction. Bulk issuance and API integration also allow businesses to embed crypto transfers into customer acquisition, loyalty programs, promotional campaigns, community engagement and employee recognition.

“The next phase of crypto adoption will be driven not only by how people trade digital assets, but by how easily they can exchange and use them in everyday economic activity,” said Alicia Kao, Managing Director of KuCoin. “KuCoin Gift Card transforms crypto distribution into a simple, scalable experience for businesses while connecting every transfer to broader utility across the KuCoin ecosystem. By combining KuCoin Pay’s merchant infrastructure with KuCoin’s broader ecosystem, we are building a more complete value loop across sending, receiving and using digital assets—making crypto more practical for businesses and more accessible to users.”

The launch advances KuCoin Pay’s evolution into an infrastructure layer that enables digital value to move more easily between businesses and users. As stablecoins continue to expand their role in global commerce, KuCoin Pay is focused on building trusted payment and distribution infrastructure that helps businesses unlock practical, real-world utility for digital assets.

About KuCoin Pay

KuCoin Pay is a pioneering merchant solution that drives business growth by integrating cryptocurrency payments into retail. It offers a contactless and borderless payment system using a variety of cryptocurrencies and stablecoins. KuCoin Pay supports more than 50 cryptocurrencies, including KCS, USDT, USDC, BTC, which users can use to seamlessly pay for global products and services for both online and in-store purchases. Learn more about KuCoin Pay.

Learn more: www.kucoin.com/pay

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/3008661/image1.jpg

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2785613/KuCoin_new_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/kucoin-pay-expands-stablecoin-utility-with-an-enterprise-gift-card-solution-302842239.html

Afcons receives LoA for ₹1,918-cr desalinated water tunnel project in Mumbai

Manori-to-Mahavir Nagar tunnel critical to boost Mumbai’s water supply

MUMBAI, India, Aug. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Afcons Infrastructure Ltd has announced that it has received the Letter of Acceptance (LoA) from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for the Design and Construction of a Desalinated Water Conveyance Tunnel from the proposed Water Pumping Station at Manori to Charkop, extending further to Mahavir Nagar (Kandivali), Mumbai. The project is valued at ₹1,918 crores, including GST and O&M.

Mr. Krishnamurthy Subramanian, Executive Chairman, Afcons Infrastructure Ltd, said, “The desalinated water conveyance tunnel is a critical step towards ensuring sustainable water supply for Mumbai and stands as a testament to our engineering excellence and execution capabilities.”

Mr. S Paramasivan, Managing Director, Afcons Infrastructure Ltd, said, “We are honoured to partner with BMC once again. Alongside the Kasheli–Mulund water conveyance tunnel, this complex desalinated water tunnel project will be executed on time while maintaining the highest standards.”

In India, Afcons has successfully delivered and is currently executing several hydro, water supply, and water tunnel projects. Some of these projects include BMC’s 7.13 km underground water conveyance tunnel from Kasheli to Mulund, CIDCO’s 8.7 km treated water tunnel in Navi Mumbai, Rural Water Supply Scheme in Uttar Pradesh, and Water Supply Project in Rajasthan. Afcons has also constructed Annaram Barrage in Telangana, part of the world’s largest multi-stage irrigation project.

Internationally, Afcons has delivered multiple water supply projects across Africa, including in Tanzania, Ivory Coast, Benin, and Rwanda, further strengthening its global footprint in sustainable infrastructure development.

About Afcons Infrastructure Ltd.

Afcons Infrastructure Ltd is the flagship infrastructure engineering and construction company of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group. It has a legacy of over six decades, with a strong track record of executing numerous technologically complex EPC projects both within India and internationally. The company has a footprint in 31 countries across South Asia, Africa, Middle East, and CIS. As per the latest ENR survey, Afcons is ranked in the Top 140 international Contractors globally; 12th in Bridges and 8th in Marine & Ports.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/afcons-receives-loa-for-1-918-cr-desalinated-water-tunnel-project-in-mumbai-302844871.html