Etherscan Acquires Solscan to Expand Blockchain Data Services

Hi NoRamp Community,

Daily News:

1) Etherscan Acquires Solscan to Expand Blockchain Data Services

2) South Korea Regulator Seeks Ban on Crypto Purchases With Credit Cards

3) Exponent Founders Capital to Invest $75 Million in Early-Stage Companies

4) Talus Pay Acquires Jobox and Clarus to Expand B2B Capabilities

5) Bumper Raises $48 Million to Expand BNPL for Car Repair

Etherscan Acquires Solscan to Expand Blockchain Data Services:

• Etherscan, a prominent block explorer, has acquired Solscan, a leading block explorer for the Solana ecosystem, aiming to enhance the accessibility of blockchain data across multiple networks.

• The acquisition is set to integrate features across both platforms, leveraging Solscan's expertise in providing detailed insights and analytics to improve user experience and data services.

• The move marks a significant development in blockchain exploration, with both teams focusing on offering enhanced support, improved interfaces, and seamless navigation for their combined user base of millions.

South Korea Seeks Ban on Crypto Purchases With Credit Cards:

• South Korea's Financial Services Commission (FSC) has proposed a ban on credit card purchases of cryptocurrencies to prevent illegal outflows of domestic funds and combat money laundering.

• The proposal aims to expand the scope of prohibited credit card transactions by including crypto exchanges, with a public consultation period open until February 13.

• This regulatory move accompanies other proposed rules to enhance user protection on crypto exchanges, such as mandating 80% of customer deposits be stored in cold wallets and imposing fees on exchanges for using customer deposits.

Exponent to Invest $75 Million in Early-Stage Companies:

• Exponent Founders Capital, an early-stage VC firm, announces a new $75 million Fund II, bringing its total funds raised to $125 million, targeting investments in enterprise software, FinTech, AI, and SaaS across the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

• The firm, co-founded by Charley Ma and Mahdi Raza, leverages their extensive operational and angel investing experience to support non-consensus founders aiming to become category leaders.

• The launch occurs amidst a backdrop of declining venture investments, with the firm looking to focus on high-potential areas and founders, despite the broader slowdown in tech funding.

Talus Pay Acquires Jobox and Clarus to Expand B2B Capabilities:

• Talus Pay, a payment processing solution provider, has expanded its FinTech and B2B offerings by acquiring Jobox.ai, specializing in the home services industry, and Clarus Merchant Services, a provider of integrated B2B payment solutions.

• These acquisitions are aimed at enhancing Talus Pay's end-to-end technology infrastructure, proprietary software, and scalability in various business verticals, including home services and a range of B2B sectors.

• The move reflects Talus Pay's commitment to modernizing payment systems and aligns with broader industry trends toward digital transformation in B2B marketplaces and payment platforms, as the company now processes over $9 billion in annual payments volume for 22,000 merchant customers in the United States.

Bumper Raises $48 Million to Expand BNPL for Car Repair:

• Bumper, a London-based FinTech, has raised $48 million in a Series B funding round to expand its car repair installment funding service across Europe, targeting dealers and repair shops in several countries.

• The company allows drivers to spread repair costs into interest-free payments, addressing the need for flexible payment options amid rising living costs, and is currently available through 5,000 dealers for over 250,000 repairs annually.

• The expansion reflects the broader trend of consumers adopting Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) options for essential and discretionary spending, with the belief that offering installment plans can increase sales of more expensive products and services for businesses.

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