CYBERJAYA, Malaysia, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SICPA, a global leader in secure authentication, traceability, and anti-illicit trade solutions, has officially launched its cutting-edge Digital Market Intelligence (DMI) module in Malaysia following its recent successful global launch. This innovative system marks a significant milestone in the country's efforts to combat illicit trade and enhance enforcement capabilities through digital transformation.
For decades, excisable products in Malaysia have been protected using multilayered paper based secure tax stamps embedded with banknote-grade security features, including unique, secure codes, enabling product serialization and traceability across the supply chain while serving as proof of duty payment and helping deter counterfeiting- features recognized by the World Health Organization as "enhanced tax stamp"
The newly launched DMI module builds on this foundation by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and open-source intelligence (OSINT) with SICPA's secure coding and traceability systems. Each product is marked with a unique code and recorded, capturing key production and supply chain events. This allows authorities to track the journey of each item—from manufacturing to marketplace—and identify anomalies or weak points in the distribution network.
What sets the DMI module unique is its ability to process vast amounts of data using AI-powered analytics. By cross-referencing internal system data with external intelligence sources, the module generates actionable insights validated by SICPA's anti-illicit trade experts. These insights empower enforcement agencies to shift from broad, resource-intensive inspections to targeted operations focused on high-risk areas.
"This launch represents a major step forward in Malaysia's digital capacity building for local enforcement authorities," said a local SICPA spokesperson. "The Digital Market Intelligence module not only enhances enforcement operational efficiency but also strengthens accountability and transparency across the supply chain. This is an essential addition in our decades-long commitment to supporting public authorities in tackling the shadow economy."
The implementation of this module is expected to significantly reduce the prevalence of illicit trade in excisable goods such as tobacco, alcohol, and other regulated products. It also aligns with Malaysia's broader digitalization agenda and commitment to safeguarding public revenue and consumer safety.
SICPA's DMI module is now operationally ready to support Malaysian authorities in their mission to protect legitimate trade and ensure compliance with national regulations alongside with SICPA state-of-the-art forensic technologies, a unique capability that makes it the only company in its sector to have achieved this level of expertise. This advancement enables the high-frequency production of forensic reports, providing judicial authorities with bulletproof evidence to close the enforcement loop and secure convictions against perpetrators of contraband.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
From Enhanced Tax Stamps to AI Enabled Illicit Trade Intelligence system, SICPA Launches Digital Market Intelligence Module in Malaysia to Further Strengthen Fight Against Illicit Trade
Founders Fund-backed Bitcoin platform, Citrea, unveils Bitcoin-secured application platform, unlocking institutional and worldwide access to Bitcoin-denominated markets
GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands, Jan. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Citrea, the Bitcoin application platform backed by Founders Fund and Galaxy Ventures, announced the launch of its mainnet, enabling capital market activity directly on the Bitcoin network. Citrea also has gone live with ctUSD, its U.S dollar-denominated stablecoin issued by MoonPay and powered by M0, designed to align with the forthcoming GENIUS Act guidelines. Together, the Citrea mainnet and ctUSD provide an institutional-grade USD settlement and liquidity layer for Bitcoin-based financial activity.
Despite Bitcoin's roughly $1.3 trillion market capitalization, on-chain data shows that more than 61 per cent of BTC, has not moved in over a year, highlighting the scale of capital that remains economically idle due to the lack of native application infrastructure.
"Bitcoin is the world's largest digital asset, yet its role in financial markets has been largely constrained. As demand for Bitcoin exposure grows, much of that activity remains off-chain, relying on intermediaries," said Orkun Kilic, co-founder and CEO of Chainway Labs, the company building Citrea. "By bringing Bitcoin-secured financial applications on-chain, the Citrea mainnet enables capital to be deployed, managed, and settled directly within Bitcoin-native markets. Native settlement through ctUSD provides the bridge to fiat systems, supporting use cases such as BTC-backed lending and institutional credit."
Citrea developed its lending infrastructure in collaboration with leading DeFi participants, including Morpho and UltraYield by Edge Capital. Citrea's native offerings will leverage on-chain and off-chain strategies from premier digital asset institutions like Keyrock to deliver safe, transparent, BTC yields.
"Citrea is addressing a huge market opportunity in helping to make Bitcoin truly programmable, a feature the asset has historically lacked in a scalable way," said Bridget Harris, Associate at Founders Fund. "In building both developer-focused and user-facing products which leverage Bitcoin's security, Citrea fundamentally scales the Bitcoin economy as a whole."
"Citrea enables deeper, more native engagement with BTC by bringing capital markets, stablecoin liquidity, and application infrastructure directly onto Bitcoin," said Will Nuelle, General Partner of Galaxy Ventures. "By making Bitcoin a more active financial asset, Citrea strengthens its role within global financial systems and expands the ways institutions and users can securely build on top of the network."
Citrea's approach has meaningful implications for long-term demand, miner incentives, and how institutions engage with Bitcoin. Citrea enables institutions to pursue more capital-efficient strategies with greater control and flexibility than off-chain venues. As block subsidies decline over time, Citrea aligns network security with real economic usage.
The Citrea mainnet and ctUSD are now live. Learn more at citrea.xyz
About Citrea
Citrea is the Bitcoin application layer, enabling institutions and users to access Bitcoin capital markets. The platform aims to expand Bitcoin's financial utility while remaining anchored to the network's security model. Citrea is backed by investors including Founders Fund, Galaxy, Maven 11, Delphi Digital, Erik Voorhees, Balaji Srinivasan and more.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Citrea Launches Mainnet - Enabling Bitcoin to Be Used for Lending, Trading, and USD Settlement
