Month: May 2021

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Gary Vaynerchuk Releases His First NFT Collection “VeeFriends”

GaryVee lays out a “blueprint” for others to follow on how to bring value using NFT Technology: giving access, community, and real life value found in the smart contract.

NEW YORK, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Gary Vaynerchuk (aka GaryVee), serial entrepreneur and Chairman of VaynerX, today released his first NFT collection called VeeFriends. The collection, which comprises 10,255 tokens, aims to provide the industry with a blueprint for others to follow on how to bring value using NFT technology by giving access, community and real life value found in the smart contract.

Gary Vaynerchuk, CEO and Creator of VeeFriends

The premise of his approach is to create access and serve his community. By adding “utility” to his tokens and not just sell art – this means each NFT will include a smart contract attached with each token purchase thus giving them “utility” through metadata. Over the last 15 years, Gary has spent time interacting with hundreds of thousands of people — what VeeFriends will allow will be a structure around these interactions. Your NFT will give you a three year access pass to attend VeeCon in 2022, 2023 and 2024. The conference will be focused around business, marketing, ideas, creativity, entrepreneurship, innovation, competition, and of course fun. Gary’s focus is to curate the best experience for his community, bringing enormous access and informational value to all VeeFriends token holders in attendance.

Vaynerchuk who serves as the CEO and Creator of VeeFriends, said: “I have always been about building businesses and creating value for my community – this NFT project allows me to do both. When I saw this macro human trend the only way for me to help others understand it was to be a part of it. I know that NFTs will be here for the rest of my life and I will be actively consulting, investing and advising in this space and I wanted to do it from actually being on the field – doing it myself.” I have always believed in being a practitioner of the craft I believe in.”

Gary Vaynerchuk holds one of the VeeFriends drawings he created "Passionate Parrot" Source:VeeFriends.com

VeeFriends was borne out of the idea that business with friends can be fun and you can build a community around common interests. All of the characters were imagined and drawn by Gary himself. The NFTs collection characters represent human traits that Gary most admires and which he believes will lead to happiness and success. This NFT launch begins the process of Gary standing up this intellectual property.

NFT tokens will be released and are available for purchase on VeeFriends.com. Consumers can purchase them using ETH (Ethereum) through a non-custodial digital wallet of their choice via dutch auction. VeeFriends will be accepting payments from MetaMask, Portis, and WalletConnect compatible wallets.

Gary Vaynerchuk and VeeFriends will be pledging a portion of funds from token royalties to various charities that Gary supports. In addition, Gary has created five free scholarship tokens that gives them access to learn from Gary and his professional network.

Sample VeeFriends NFT Token Source:VeeFriends.com

Lastly, to offset the environmental impact, VeeFriends will be making contributions towards DAOs (decentralized autonomous organizations) to benefit renewable energy (such as solar, wind etc), carbon offsets, and support of ETH 2.0 Proof of Stake (PoS) development which is more energy efficient.

About Gary Vaynerchuk
Gary Vaynerchuk is a serial entrepreneur, and serves as the Chairman of VaynerX and the CEO of VaynerMedia. Gary is considered one of the leading global minds on what’s next in culture, relevance and the internet. Known as “GaryVee” he is described as one of the most forward thinkers in business – he acutely recognizes trends and patterns early to help others understand how these shifts impact markets and consumer behavior. Whether its emerging artists, esports, NFT investing or digital communications, Gary understands how to bring brand relevance to the forefront. He is a prolific angel investor with early investments in companies such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Venmo, Snapchat, Coinbase and Uber.

About VeeFriends
VeeFriends is a community for GaryVee NFT collectors and every token holder is a member of VeeFriends. As a holder of a VeeFriend NFT, you will be warranted access to VeeCon which is an annual conference Gary aspires to produce for the next three years.

About Nameless by NFT42
The project is powered by nameless – a minting platform by nft42. The Nameless team collaborated with Gary Vaynerchuk to bring VeeFriends to life and managed all the technology for VeeFriends. For more information about Nameless and NFT42 you can visit their website at nft42.com and follow them on discord here.

VeeFriends Music
All the music featured on the VeeFriends videos were beats created by Richie Souf. This release is the first of its kind. Since their initial meeting in 2016, GaryVee and Richie Souf have been looking for a project to work on together. Richie Souf has worked with Future, Young Thug, Playboi Carti, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, Kevin Gates, Gunna, Roddy Ricch, A-Trak, and Yo Gotti. Instagram, Twitter, Soundcloud, Spotify Page, Splice Page

Assets

Related Links

For Press Inquiries:
Maha Abouelenein
maha.abouelenein@vaynermedia.com
+1 612.850.8495 (USA)
+97155 662 3949 (International / WhatsApp)

Video – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1503728/VEEFRIENDS_HERO.mp4
Video – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1503729/PRESS_FOOTAGE_VEEFRIENDS.mp4
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1503588/Gary_Vaynerchuk_Headshot.jpg
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1503589/Gary_Vaynerchuk_Passionate_Parrot.jpg
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1503590/Vee_Friends_Sample_Token1.jpg

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Govt, UNDP Launch Jobs and Livelihoods Plan for Refugees, Host Communities

Kampala — A framework to address the socio-economic needs of refugees and host communities, tackle environmental challenges and promote investment, has been launched.

The *Jobs and Livelihoods Integrated Response Plan (JLIRP) for Refugees and Host Communities *will also foster peaceful coexistence, job creation in refugee-hosting districts and drive inclusion for sustainable economic growth.

The Plan, developed by the Government of Uganda with support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and sectoral partners, will benefit over 1.4 million refugees and 5.7 million Ugandan citizens in 31 settlements in 13 districts.

The refugee-hosting districts are Madi-Okollo, Terego, Koboko, Adjumani, Yumbe, Obongi and Lamwo in the North and Kamwenge, Kikuube, Kiryandongo, Kyegegwa and Isingiro in the West as well as Kampala capital city.

With a projected investment of up to UGX 608,515,468,751 (about USD 169 million), the Plan will also strengthen coordination and partnership among key actors in Government, development partners, UN agencies, civil society, the private sector and the leadership of host communities.

Ms. Sheila Ngatia, the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Uganda, described the launch as a milestone and congratulated the Government of Uganda and all partners on the achievement.

“This Plan is a vital planning framework to enhance the integrated planning for refugees and host communities, in local development initiatives, promoting peaceful coexistence and to foster sustainable economic growth,” Ms. Ngatia said.

“The Plan will consolidate progress made by Government, development and humanitarian organisations, and boost the capacity of refugee-hosting districts to respond to the socio-economic needs of both the host communities and refugees, in a sustainable manner,” she emphasised.

Ms. Ngatia commended the Government of Uganda for its progressive refugee policy and hosting the highest number of refugees and asylum seekers in Africa. “Uganda stands tall in Africa and the world for this progressive policy.”

Uganda’s progressive refugee policy allows refugees to own land and engage in economic activities to boost their resilience. They are also granted freedom of movement, access to social services such as healthcare and education and land for agriculture.

The Government of the Republic of Korea, through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and the Government of Japan have been long trusted partners of UNDP and the Government of Uganda, in improving livelihood outcomes for refugees and host communities. UNDP has also worked with both local and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as implementing partners.

The UNDP, as disclosed by Ms. Ngatia, will continue to offer its global expertise in livelihood stabilization, economic recovery, inclusive economic growth, resilience, sustainable development, peacebuilding and social cohesion for the development nexus in the refugee response.

The UNHCR Representative in Uganda, Mr. Joel Boutroue thanked the Government and people of Uganda “for being the beacon of hope for pushing forward the Global Compact on Refugees, and not considering refugees as victims but as accelerators of development.”

The Global Compact on Refugees is a framework for more predictable and equitable responsibility-sharing, recognizing that a sustainable solution to refugee situations cannot be achieved without international cooperation. It transforms the way the world responds to refugee situations, benefiting both refugees and host communities.

Government Speaks

Representing Government at the launch, Uganda’s First Deputy Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Moses Ali said Uganda’s hospitality for refugees began in the colonial times when it hosted Polish refugees and continues up today.

After narrating his experience as a refugee in Khartoum, Sudan, in the 1970s, Minister Ali stated refugees should be welcomed because, “the worst thing you can do to refugees is to send them back to the hostile government they are running from.” “It’s wrong to send back someone who has run away from his country,” he stressed.

The First Deputy Prime Minister said most Ugandan leaders were once refugees in Kenya, Tanzania and Sudan, making it easy for them to make plausible decision on refugee hosting. “We do what we do because we believe it is correct. This being a refugee is temporary thing. These people are refugees today and one day they will go back home. However, before they go, they should be treated with courtesy and dignity,” Gen. Moses Ali elaborated.

He said despite limited sources, Uganda cannot turn its back on refugees or leave the situation to religious prayers, hoping that all will be well for them. With the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) and collective response of partners, Uganda has a legal and moral responsibility to refugees, he expounded. “Despite the challenge of hosting refugees, we keep our borders open. We do this as a responsibility and burden-sharing,” Gen. Ali explained.

Synergies with Existing Frameworks

The *Jobs and Livelihoods Integrated Response Plan for Refugees and Host Communities, *which will be implemented across five-years in the period 2020 to 2025, builds on existing frameworks that address the well-being of refugees and host communities.

These include the Education Response Plan for Refugees and Host Communities in Uganda (2019), the Health Sector Integrated Refugee Response Plan (2019-2024), the Water and Environment Sector Response Plan and the upcoming Energy Sector Refugee Response Plan. The UNDP also supported the development of the Water and Environment Sector Response Plan.

UNDP interventions

UNDP in Uganda has implemented several interventions to support the refugee response. They include; Cash for Work to build resilience of refugees through public works, vocational training for youth to equip them with skills for jobs, disaster risk reduction, and tree planting to address the challenge of deforestation.

The Plan

In a bid to achieve these key outcomes, the Plan has five strategic objectives:

  1. Peaceful coexistence and economic interaction extended and strengthened between refugees and host communities by 2025.
  2. Sustainable economic opportunities created in 13 refugee-hosting districts for improved competitiveness and inclusive growth of refugees and host communities by 2025.
  3. Food, nutrition and income security of 486,861 refugee and 1,152,087 host community households improved by 2025.
  4. Skilled refugees and host communities capable of harnessing employment opportunities in the country by 2025.
  5. A minimum of 361,000 (five per cent) of refugee and host communities’ vulnerable populations are fully included and actively participating in local development initiatives of the country by 2025.

The report is anchored on five development pillars of strengthening social cohesion between refugees and host communities, promoting enabling entrepreneurial-led development and market growth systems and increased agricultural productivity, production and marketable volumes. Others are increasing access to market-relevant skills training to enhance employability and job creation and promoting effective and responsive social protection and social inclusion systems.

National Steering Committee unveiled

During the launch of the JLIRP, the National Steering Committee for the operationalization of the Plan was also inaugurated. It comprises representatives from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Office of the Prime Minister, Department of Refugees, National Planning Authority, Ministry of Education and Sports, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Ministry of East African Community Affairs and Ministry of Local Government. Others are the World Bank, Danish Embassy, UNHCR, ILO, the Netherlands Embassy, GIZ, international NGOs, local NGOS, CRRF, and Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB.)

 

 

Source: UN Development Programme

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Ineffective Past, Uncertain Future: The UN Security Council’s Resolution on the Protection of Health Care: A Five-year Review of Ongoing Violence and Inaction to Stop It

More Than 4000 Attacks Against Health Workers, Facilities, and Transports Since 2016 Underscore Need for Action to Protect Health Care in Conflict

Five years after the United Nations (UN) Security Council passed a landmark resolution committing countries to prevent attacks on health care and hold perpetrators accountable, violence against health workers and facilities rages on unabated.

A new report and interactive map published today by the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition (SHCC), based on data collated by coalition member Insecurity Insight, highlights a global onslaught of violence against health workers, facilities, and transport from 2016 through 2020, including:

  • 4,094 reported attacks and threats against health care in conflict
  • 1,524 health workers injured
  • 681 health workers killed
  • 401 health workers kidnapped
  • 978 incidents where health facilities were destroyed or damaged

The figures — drawn from credible media reports as well as reporting by intergovernmental organizations, states, non-governmental organizations, and aid agencies — is likely a significant undercount, due to underreporting in many places around the world.

On May 3, 2016, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2286, which obliged Member States to take specific actions to end — or at least ameliorate — violence against health care. The SHCC report published today provides a review of violence against health care from 2016-2020 and of the inaction of governments to effectively respond to the crisis.

The data underscore the abject failure of the UN Security Council and UN Member States to take any meaningful measures to prevent attacks or hold those responsible to account.

Violence against health care spiked as well during the COVID-19 pandemic, as patients and community members attacked health workers and mounted violent responses to public health measures. While most violence against health care from 2016 to 2019 occurred in conflict zones, the pandemic led to waves of attacks against health care in countries not at war, such as India and Mexico.

The SHCC report highlights the many forms of violence against health care, from airstrikes against clinics to the looting of hospitals. Health workers around the globe have been kidnapped, arrested, injured, and killed while providing medical care. Violent interference prevented patients from accessing care and emergency responders, vaccinators, and other health workers from providing life-saving services.

During the five-year period, more health workers were killed in Syria (243) than any other country, according to the available data. Health workers were kidnapped most frequently in Nigeria (68 health workers kidnapped). More health facilities were destroyed or damaged in Syria (442 incidents) than anywhere else, while the Democratic Republic of Congo experienced the highest number of armed entries into health facilities (43 incidents). Some 690 emergency medical responders were injured in the occupied Palestinian territories and 73 emergency medical responders were arrested in Sudan, both the highest rates of any countries from 2016-2020. Health vehicles were hijacked most frequently in Mali (24 incidents). High income countries were not immune from attacks on health care, particularly amid the COVID-19 pandemic which saw violence against health care in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia in 2020.

UN Security Council Resolution 2286 included 14 directives to end or reduce violence against health care, such as:

  • Ensure militaries “integrate practical measures for the protection of the wounded and sick and medical services into the planning and conduct of their operations.”
  • Adopt domestic legal frameworks to ensure respect for health care, particularly excluding the act of providing impartial health care from punishment under national counterterrorism laws.
  • Engage in the collection of data on the obstruction of, threats against, and physical attacks on health care.
  • Undertake “prompt, impartial and effective investigations within their jurisdictions of violations of international humanitarian law” in connection with health care and, “where appropriate, take action against those responsible in accordance with domestic and international law.”
  • The Security Council refer cases where there is evidence of war crimes in connection with violence against health care in Syria and elsewhere to the International Criminal Court.
  • Member States that sell arms that have been used to inflict violence on health care cease those sales.

Across all of these commitments, with only minor exceptions, the UN Security Council and Member States have made no progress.

“The absence of follow-through on the commitments made by Member States shows that to date they have offered only rhetorical support for Resolution 2286 and the obligation to protect health care,” said Leonard Rubenstein, founder and chair of the SHCC and professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Center for Public Health and Human Rights.

“The pandemic is yet another reminder that the world’s health workers are essential and that when we fail them, we fail all of us,” said Rubenstein. “After five years of inaction, the UN Secretary-General must step up to report each year on actions states have taken to implement the resolution. To aid this process, the Secretary-General should appoint a special representative to monitor and report state performance, conduct country visits, and make recommendations to ensure greater compliance with Resolution 2286.”

“More than 4000 attacks and threats against health care from 2016 through 2020 is a bare minimum estimate — the true extent of the violence is unknown, as many countries, health facilities, and organizations do not report their experiences. Beyond the startling data we do have, each incident represents the loss of family members and colleagues, livelihoods, homes, and, sometimes, a way of life,” said Christina Wille, director at Insecurity Insight, a member of the SHCC that leads data collection and analysis. “The true cost of the attacks also includes the lasting impacts on health workers’ physical and mental health, as well as on communities’ ability to respond to the pandemic, access care for chronic illness, safe childbirth, immunization, and more.”

“Ultimately, the international community did little these past five years to prevent ambulances from being hijacked, protect clinics from being shelled, or medics from being shot,” said Susannah Sirkin, director of policy at Physicians for Human Rights, a coalition member. “Impunity prevailed for these egregious violations of international humanitarian law. Unless the UN Security Council and Member States act now, we risk entrenching the lamentable ‘new normal’ in which doctors and hospitals — once off-limits — have become regular targets.”

The report published today highlights data included in five annual reports (2016-2020) from the SHCC. The 2021 annual report will be published on May 24 at the Graduate Institute Geneva during the World Health Assembly. During this event, the SHCC, Swiss Federation, Minister of Health from the Central African Republic, Pierre Some, and a health worker representing Doctors without Borders, will speak on the reported violence and ways we can address the problems.

The Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition is a group of international nongovernmental organizations working to protect health workers, services, and infrastructure.

The Steering Committee of the 40+ member SHCC includes: Center for Public Health and Human Rights at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, IntraHealth International, Human Rights Watch, Insecurity Insight, International Council of Nurses, International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations, Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health, Management Sciences for Health, Medact, Office of Global Health, Drexel Dornsife School of Public Health, Physicians for Human Rights, Syrian American Medical Society, Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict, and Human Rights Center, University of California, Berkeley School of Law.

 

 

Source: Safeguarding Health in Conflict

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More Than 4000 Attacks Against Health Workers, Facilities, and Transports Since 2016 Underscore Need for Action to Protect Health Care in Conflict

Five years after the United Nations (UN) Security Council passed a landmark resolution committing countries to prevent attacks on health care and hold perpetrators accountable, violence against health workers and facilities rages on unabated.

A new report and interactive map published today by the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition (SHCC), based on data collated by coalition member Insecurity Insight, highlights a global onslaught of violence against health workers, facilities, and transport from 2016 through 2020, including:

  • 4,094 reported attacks and threats against health care in conflict
  • 1,524 health workers injured – 681 health workers killed
  • 401 health workers kidnapped
  • 978 incidents where health facilities were destroyed or damaged

The figures – drawn from credible media reports as well as reporting by intergovernmental organizations, states, non-governmental organizations, and aid agencies – is likely a significant undercount, due to underreporting in many places around the world.

On May 3, 2016, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2286, which obliged Member States to take specific actions to end – or at least ameliorate – violence against health care. The SHCC report published today provides a review of violence against health care from 2016-2020 and of the inaction of governments to effectively respond to the crisis.

The data underscore the abject failure of the UN Security Council and UN Member States to take any meaningful measures to prevent attacks or hold those responsible to account.

Violence against health care spiked as well during the COVID-19 pandemic, as patients and community members attacked health workers and mounted violent responses to public health measures. While most violence against health care from 2016 to 2019 occurred in conflict zones, the pandemic led to waves of attacks against health care in countries not at war, such as India and Mexico.

The SHCC report highlights the many forms of violence against health care, from airstrikes against clinics to the looting of hospitals. Health workers around the globe have been kidnapped, arrested, injured, and killed while providing medical care. Violent interference prevented patients from accessing care and emergency responders, vaccinators, and other health workers from providing life-saving services.

During the five-year period, more health workers were killed in Syria (243) than any other country, according to the available data. Health workers were kidnapped most frequently in Nigeria (68 health workers kidnapped). More health facilities were destroyed or damaged in Syria (442 incidents) than anywhere else, while the Democratic Republic of Congo experienced the highest number of armed entries into health facilities (43 incidents). Some 690 emergency medical responders were injured in the occupied Palestinian territories and 73 emergency medical responders were arrested in Sudan, both the highest rates of any countries from 2016-2020. Health vehicles were hijacked most frequently in Mali (24 incidents). High income countries were not immune from attacks on health care, particularly amid the COVID-19 pandemic which saw violence against health care in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia in 2020.

UN Security Council Resolution 2286 included 14 directives to end or reduce violence against health care, such as:

  • Ensure militaries “integrate practical measures for the protection of the wounded and sick and medical services into the planning and conduct of their operations.” – Adopt domestic legal frameworks to ensure respect for health care, particularly excluding the act of providing impartial health care from punishment under national counterterrorism laws.
  • Engage in the collection of data on the obstruction of, threats against, and physical attacks on health care.
  • Undertake “prompt, impartial and effective investigations within their jurisdictions of violations of international humanitarian law” in connection with health care and, “where appropriate, take action against those responsible in accordance with domestic and international law.” – The Security Council refer cases where there is evidence of war crimes in connection with violence against health care in Syria and elsewhere to the International Criminal Court.
  • Member States that sell arms that have been used to inflict violence on health care cease those sales.

Across all of these commitments, with only minor exceptions, the UN Security Council and Member States have made no progress.

“The absence of follow-through on the commitments made by Member States shows that to date they have offered only rhetorical support for Resolution 2286 and the obligation to protect health care,” said Leonard Rubenstein, founder and chair of the SHCC and professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Center for Public Health and Human Rights.

“The pandemic is yet another reminder that the world’s health workers are essential and that when we fail them, we fail all of us,” said Rubenstein. “After five years of inaction, the UN Secretary-General must step up to report each year on actions states have taken to implement the resolution. To aid this process, the Secretary-General should appoint a special representative to monitor and report state performance, conduct country visits, and make recommendations to ensure greater compliance with Resolution 2286.”

“More than 4000 attacks and threats against health care from 2016 through 2020 is a bare minimum estimate – the true extent of the violence is unknown, as many countries, health facilities, and organizations do not report their experiences. Beyond the startling data we do have, each incident represents the loss of family members and colleagues, livelihoods, homes, and, sometimes, a way of life,” said Christina Wille, director at Insecurity Insight, a member of the SHCC that leads data collection and analysis. “The true cost of the attacks also includes the lasting impacts on health workers’ physical and mental health, as well as on communities’ ability to respond to the pandemic, access care for chronic illness, safe childbirth, immunization, and more.”

“Ultimately, the international community did little these past five years to prevent ambulances from being hijacked, protect clinics from being shelled, or medics from being shot,” said Susannah Sirkin, director of policy at Physicians for Human Rights, a coalition member. “Impunity prevailed for these egregious violations of international humanitarian law. Unless the UN Security Council and Member States act now, we risk entrenching the lamentable ‘new normal’ in which doctors and hospitals – once off-limits – have become regular targets.”

The report published today highlights data included in five annual reports (2016-2020) from the SHCC. The 2021 annual report will be published on May 24 at the Graduate Institute Geneva during the World Health Assembly. During this event, the SHCC, Swiss Federation, Minister of Health from the Central African Republic, Pierre Some, and a health worker representing Doctors without Borders, will speak on the reported violence and ways we can address the problems.

The Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition is a group of international nongovernmental organizations working to protect health workers, services, and infrastructure.

The Steering Committee of the 40+ member SHCC includes: Center for Public Health and Human Rights at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, IntraHealth International, Human Rights Watch, Insecurity Insight, International Council of Nurses, International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations, Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health, Management Sciences for Health, Medact, Office of Global Health, Drexel Dornsife School of Public Health, Physicians for Human Rights, Syrian American Medical Society, Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict, and Human Rights Center, University of California, Berkeley School of Law.

 

 

Source: Safeguarding Health in Conflict

Posted on

Miami International Holdings Reports April 2021 Trading Results, MIAX Exchange Group Sets New Monthly Market Share and Volume Records

PRINCETON, N.J., May 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Miami International Holdings, Inc. today reported April 2021 trading results for its U.S. exchange subsidiaries – MIAX®, MIAX Pearl® and MIAX Emerald® (together, the MIAX Exchange Group™) and the Minneapolis Grain Exchange (MGEX).

In U.S. options, the MIAX Exchange Group collectively executed over 95 million multi-listed options contracts for a combined average daily volume (ADV) of 4,541,657 contracts, representing a total U.S. multi-listed options market share of 14.15%. The 14.15% market share represents an increase of 178 basis points from April 2020.

In U.S. equities, MIAX Pearl Equities™ executed 452,497,977 shares.

In U.S. futures, MGEX executed 322,207 contracts.

Multi-Listed Options Trading Volume for

 MIAX Exchange Group, Current Month

 Year-to-Date Comparison
Multi-Listed Options Contracts Apr-21 Apr-20 % Chg. Mar-21 % Chg. Apr-21 Apr-20 % Chg.
Trading Days 21 21 23 82 83
U.S. Multi-Listed Options Industry 674,204,936 515,812,617 30.7% 856,908,768 -21.3% 3,117,438,800 2,086,343,264 49.4%
MIAX Exchange Group 95,374,791 63,815,671 49.5% 116,927,971 -18.4% 418,632,750 236,031,886 77.4%
MIAX 39,922,649 24,069,512 65.9% 37,494,076 6.5% 145,550,492 90,383,420 61.0%
MIAX Pearl 35,721,054 20,365,030 75.4% 52,194,814 -31.6% 157,392,530 97,520,006 61.4%
MIAX Emerald 19,731,088 19,381,129 1.8% 27,239,081 -27.6% 115,689,728 48,128,460 140.4%
Multi-Listed Options ADV Apr-21 Apr-20 % Chg. Mar-21 % Chg. Apr-21 Apr-20 % Chg.
U.S. Multi-Listed Options Industry 32,104,997 24,562,506 30.7% 37,256,903 -13.8% 38,017,546 25,136,666 51.2%
MIAX Exchange Group 4,541,657 3,038,841 49.5% 5,083,825 -10.7% 5,105,277 2,843,758 79.5%
MIAX 1,901,079 1,146,167 65.9% 1,630,177 16.6% 1,775,006 1,088,957 63.0%
MIAX Pearl 1,701,003 969,763 75.4% 2,269,340 -25.0% 1,919,421 1,174,940 63.4%
MIAX Emerald 939,576 922,911 1.8% 1,184,308 -20.7% 1,410,850 579,861 143.3%
Multi-Listed Options Market Share for

MIAX Exchange Group, Current Month

 Year-to-Date Comparison
Multi-Listed Options Market Share Apr-21 Apr-20 % Chg. Mar-21 % Chg. Apr-21 Apr-20 % Chg.
MIAX Exchange Group 14.15% 12.37% 14.3% 13.65% 3.7% 13.43% 11.31% 18.7%
MIAX 5.92% 4.67% 26.9% 4.38% 35.3% 4.67% 4.33% 7.8%
MIAX Pearl 5.30% 3.95% 34.2% 6.09% -13.0% 5.05% 4.67% 8.0%
MIAX Emerald 2.93% 3.76% -22.1% 3.18% -7.9% 3.71% 2.31% 60.9%
Equities Trading Volume for

MIAX Pearl Equities, Current Month

 Year-to-Date Comparison
Equities Shares (millions) Apr-21 Apr-20 % Chg. Mar-21 % Chg. Apr-21 Apr-20 % Chg.
Trading Days 21 N/A N/A 23 82 N/A N/A
U.S. Equities Volume – Industry 207,994 N/A N/A 307,161 -32.3% 1,101,662 N/A N/A
MIAX Pearl Volume 452 N/A N/A 487 -7.1% 1,923 N/A N/A
MIAX Pearl ADV 22 N/A N/A 21 -7.1% 23 N/A N/A
MIAX Pearl Market Share 0.22% N/A N/A 0.16% 37.3% 0.17% N/A N/A
Futures & Options Trading Volume for

MGEX, Current Month

 Year-to-Date Comparison
Futures & Options

Contracts

 Apr-21 Apr-20 % Chg. Mar-21 % Chg. Apr-21 Apr-20 % Chg.
Trading Days 21 21 23 82 83
MGEX Volume 322,207 256,276 25.7% 259,617 24.1% 1,110,369 971,401 14.3%
MGEX ADV 15,343 12,204 25.7% 11,288 35.9% 13,541 11,704 15.7%

April 2021 Market Share and Volume Records:

MIAX MIAX Exchange Group Multi-Listed Options Records
Single Day Market Share 16.48% April 30, 2021
Monthly Market Share 14.15% April 2021
MIAX Options MIAX Multi-Listed Options Records
Single Day Volume 2,802,030 April 30, 2021
Monthly Volume 39,922,649 April 2021

April 2021 operational achievements and announcements include:

MIH

  • Announced that it partnered with SIG Index Licensing, LLC (SIG Index Licensing) to launch cash-settled futures contracts on SIG Index Licensing’s U.S. Corporate Tax Rate Index. Corporate Tax Rate Futures will be the first of their kind and offer corporations and investors an efficient way to manage risk in volatile corporate tax rate environments. The futures contracts will begin trading on May 24, 2021, exclusively on MGEX via CME Globex® platform.
  • Announced a follow-on equity investment in Vesica Technologies and the finalization of their licensing agreement. Vesica’s SHIFT SearchSM (SHIFT) platform is available for options data through the MIAX website at www.MIAXOptions.com.

For further information regarding MIAX, please visit www.MIAXOptions.com or contact MIAX Trading Operations at TradingOperations@MIAXOptions.com.

Corporate Communications Contacts:

Andy Nybo, SVP, Chief Communications Officer
(609) 955-2091
anybo@miami-holdings.com

Natalie Kay, Karma Agency
215-790-7806
nkay@karmaagency.com

About MIAX

MIAX’s parent holding company, Miami International Holdings (MIH), operates and manages Miami International Securities Exchange, LLC (MIAX®), MIAX Pearl, LLC (MIAX Pearl®) and MIAX Emerald, LLC (MIAX Emerald® and together with MIAX and MIAX Pearl, the MIAX Exchange Group™), the Minneapolis Grain Exchange, LLC, a Designated Contract Market (DCM) and Derivatives Clearing Organization (DCO), and the Bermuda Stock Exchange.

The MIAX, MIAX Pearl and MIAX Emerald options exchanges leverage MIAX’s industry-leading technology and infrastructure to provide their member firms with traditional pricing and pro rata allocation (MIAX), maker-taker pricing and price-time allocation (MIAX Pearl) market structures, and a hybrid market structure with maker-taker pricing and pro rata allocation (MIAX Emerald).

MIAX serves as the exclusive exchange venue for cash-settled options on the SPIKES® Volatility Index (Ticker: SPIKE), a measure of the expected 30-day volatility in the SPDR® S&P 500® ETF (SPY).

Under MIAX Pearl’s exchange license, MIAX Pearl Equities™ provides its members with best-in-class performance through a combination of high determinism, low latency and high throughput. MIAX Pearl Equities has maker-taker pricing and a price-time allocation model.

MIAX’s executive offices and National Operations Center are located in Princeton, NJ, with additional offices located in Miami, FL.

To learn more visit www.MIAXOptions.com.

Disclaimer and Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
The press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any securities of Miami International Holdings, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, the Company), and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer; solicitation or sale would be unlawful. This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.

All third-party trademarks (including logos and icons) referenced by the Company remain the property of their respective owners. Unless specifically identified as such, the Company’s use of third-party trademarks does not indicate any relationship, sponsorship, or endorsement between the owners of these trademarks and the Company. Any references by the Company to third-party trademarks is to identify the corresponding third-party goods and/or services and shall be considered nominative fair use under the trademark law.

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Posted on

GameChange Solar 631 MW Genius Tracker™ Rising Up in Southern Texas

NORWALK, Conn., May 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — GameChange Solar announces a 631 MW Genius Tracker™ system rapidly rising in southern Texas. The system will be the largest solar PV project in the state, and, ultimately one of the largest in the country after completion. The project consists of 1.4 million solar modules across 4,000 acres in Wharton County (just outside of the Houston Metropolitan area). This capacity will generate 500 MWac / 631 MWdc of renewable energy thus projected to power 100,000 homes annually. To meet growing regional demand, the power generated at the project site will be bought online in blocks and sold to the ERCOT wholesale market in 2021. The EPC anticipates the project will be completed mid-2022.

GameChange Solar 631 MW Genius Tracker™ Rising Up in Southern Texas

Allison Larson, Director of Business Development at GameChange Solar, stated: “We are focused on providing excellent logistical support and training to make sure this 631 MW Texas project is smooth and successful for the EPC and the project owner. The system is using the proven and fast installing Genius Tracker™ with preassembled SpeedClamps™ which increases install speed versus typical competitors. We look forward to more of these large utility-scale projects in Texas and elsewhere.”

Max Johnson, Director of Business Development at GameChange Solar, stated: “This record-setting PV power plant facility is located along the Texas Gulf Coast and nearby to several other major solar developments. GameChange Solar’s Genius Tracker™ was chosen for this milestone project because of its’ robust design and ability to withstand heavy wind areas. Our engineering team and dedicated on-site representatives are ready to support developers and owners utilizing the Genius Tracker™ on their surrounding sites that are scheduled to break ground later this year.”

Contact and media inquiries can be directed to Derick Botha +1 (302) 528-2125
email: derick.botha@gamechangesolar.com

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1502560/GameChange_Solar.jpg