Last checked at 28 May 2020 07:00
28 May 2020
Blue Star Capital plc
("Blue Star" or the "Company")
SatoshiPay Update
Blue Star Capital plc (AIM: BLU), the investing company with a focus on esports, payments, technology and its applications within media and gaming, is pleased to provide the following update regarding its investee company SatoshiPay.
On 28 May 2020, the Stellar Development Foundation ("SDF") announced that it had made a strategic investment of $550,000 by way of convertible loan notes. This investment marks the third investment made by SDF through its Enterprise Fund and will support SatoshiPay to continue to develop its B2B solution for commercial, cross-border payments and its digital wallets. SatoshiPay was one of the first businesses to use Stellar commercially and has, to date, processed €650,000 in payments from over 200,000 accounts. SatoshiPay's open-source wallet for the Stellar network, Solar, has been downloaded more than 25,000 times in 40 countries.
SDF is a key partner of SatoshiPay providing maintenance and partner support for the Stellar decentralised ledger network. This investment will enhance the already strong relationship that exists between the two organisations and provides a strong endorsement for SatoshiPay. The convertible loan notes are expected to convert at the time of SatoshiPay's next round of funding.
The funds will be used to primarily help develop and market the SatoshiPay B2B solution. The company is currently testing this product and expects to have a product in closed alpha testing within 8 weeks. A public beta product launch is anticipated sometime in the fourth quarter of 2020. SatoshiPay advises that the initial reaction to the product has been very positive. Further the company estimates that the commercial payments segment, the largest segment of this market and the area that SatoshiPay's solution will focus on, which allows businesses to make commercial payments across borders generates €170bn annual transactions fees.
By way of general business update on SatoshiPay, the company took immediate action to reduce costs post the COVID-19 outbreak and to ensure the safety of staff. The current cash position combined with the SDF investment provides sufficient working capital for the foreseeable future. The micropayment solution continues to be used in the publishing vertical and is growing steadily.
Meinhard Benn, CEO of SatoshiPay, said: "With a surge in demand for instant B2B payments, and blockchain maturing and enabling a payments revolution, we believe we have a head start through our proven, scalable blockchain business model. Our growth over the years wouldn't have been possible without SDF, who has been an essential partner to us in the development of our technology which continues today with this investment."
Tony Fabrizi, CEO of Blue Star, said: "The investment by SDF is a great endorsement of SatoshiPay and comes at a critical time in the Company's development and secures its funding needs for some time to come. The B2B business opportunity is significant and we are looking forward to the launch of the product in the next few months. We continue to believe that SatoshiPay has an exciting future."
This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014.
For further information, please contact:
Blue Star Capital plc | +44 (0) 777 178 2434 |
Tony Fabrizi |
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Cairn Financial Advisers LLP | +44 (0) 20 7213 0885 |
(Nominated Adviser & Broker) |
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Jo Turner / Liam Murray |
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About Blue Star Capital plc
Blue Star is an investing company with a focus on new technologies. Blue Star's investments include a 27.7% holding in SatoshiPay, a payments business using blockchain technology; investments in 6 early stage esports companies with shareholdings ranging from 11% to 18% and a 0.9% investment in Sthaler, an identity and payments technology business which enables a consumer to identify themselves and pay using just their finger.