Share this article
Russian Payments Giant Qiwi Acquires Blockchain Startup
Russian payments firm Qiwi has reportedly acquired a blockchain startup as part of its plan to offer services integrating the technology.
By Stan Higgins
Updated Sep 11, 2021, 1:19 p.m. Published May 16, 2017, 9:00 a.m.
Russian payments firm Qiwi has reportedly acquired a blockchain startup as part of its plan to offer services integrating the technology.
According to state news service TASS, the startup, called Inspirasha, was purchased for an undisclosed amount. Although not much information exists publicly about the firm, business registration records point to a company with that name that works in the computing space.
In translated statements, Qiwi told TASS that the acquisition will boost its existing blockchain efforts.
QIWI, which made waves in 2015 for proposing a commodity-backed cryptocurrency later labeled the ‘BitRuble’, has since moved to integrate blockchain internally, as well as set up a subsidiary devoted to the tech earlier this year.
Cellphone image via Shutterstock
More For You
An attacker drained 116,500 rsETH, roughly 18% of circulating supply, from Kelp's LayerZero-powered bridge on Saturday, triggering emergency freezes across Aave, SparkLend, Fluid and Upshift.
What to know:
- An attacker exploited Kelp DAO's LayerZero-powered bridge to drain 116,500 rsETH—about $292 million and roughly 18 percent of the token's circulating supply—triggering an emergency pause of core contracts.
- Because the bridge held reserves backing rsETH on more than 20 networks, the loss has raised doubts about the backing of rsETH...
