Harumi Answers “6 Questions for …”
Interviewed by the editorial staff of CoinTelegraph Magazine for “6 Questions for …”, Harumi Urata-Thompson addressed the current state of blockchain technology, as distinguished from cryptocurrency, among other sundry things.
In an insightful and thought provoking Q&A type interview, Harumi puts a stake in the ground for blockchain tech, laying down the big picture objective with the question:
“Whose problem should we solve that provides us the mass adoption path?”
In this regard, she describes a business use case for a potential road forward:
“How about we solve the problem where the government must send out massive checks like stimulus checks, social benefits, tax credit, so on? I would investigate this kind of solution provider business. I do not believe that it is a coincidence that we have begun to focus on central bank digital currency recently, and a lot of talk in the blockchain fintech [industries] is around this topic.”
Read more about Harumi’s expansive view of the world today, through the lens of blockchain, with optimistic thoughts on the power of technology to solve many real-world problems.
CoinTelegraph Magazine’s “6 Questions” describes its objective: “We ask the builders in the blockchain and cryptocurrency sector for their thoughts on the industry… and throw in a few random zingers to keep them on their toes!”
Harumi Interviewed on Financial Fox by Stefania
In this episode of Financial Fox, Stefania Barbaglio reconnected with Harumi Urata-Thompson, acting CFO at Celsius Network. Celsius is a blockchain-based all-in-one cryptocurrency banking and lending platform for cryptocurrency users, as retailers and as financial institutions.
In this lively conversation, Harumi navigates through the role of financial institutions and the crypto world by describing the unique offering of the Celsius platform. In recent months, traditional financial institutions have been moving into the crypto space with more enthusiasm.
For example, in December 2020, UK-based Ruffer Investment confirmed it had $744M in Bitcoin. This trend has been growing among firms who view Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies as an asset for diversifying their portfolio. This is also an important milestone for cryptocurrency to establish itself as a reliable store of value and potentially to reach mainstream adoption.
Harumi Presents at Hackathon Day 2 at The Blockchain Center
The Blockchain Center hosted Hackathon Day 2 streaming live on YouTube, with a year-end wrap up of 2020’s Blockchain highlights. Harumi Urata-Thompson represented Celsius Network with an overview and update of the cryptocurrency lending platform.
Sitting within the vanguard of innovation in the cryptocurrency landscape, Harumi describes the Celsius Network business model and value proposition as a lending platform in the context of Initial Coin Offerings (ICO’s), cryptocurrency startup companies, and venture capital funding stages.
The online event was hosted by the Blockchain Center.
Harumi Kicks Off Hong Kong Blockchain Week with The Blockchain Center
The Blockchain Center was LIVE from Hong Kong Blockchain Week, launching off with a panel on Central Bank Digital Currency with Harumi Urata-Thompson from Celsius Network and Andrew Durgee from Republic Crypto.
In the webcast, Harumi and Andrew talked about the current cryptocurrency landscape. The lively discussion ranged from talking about the variety of financial and technological features of NFT’s and NFT exchanges to a wide-ranging back-and-forth of crypto “war stories” about the recent past and future trajectory of cryptocurrency businesses. Their segment of the live webcast was followed by presentations of the biggest Non Fungible Token projects: Juergen Hoebarth from Tokenization Limited, Jesse Johnson from Aavegochi, and Devin Finzer from OpenSea.
Andrew Durgee entered crypto in early 2010, pioneering early blockchain technology plays including an industry first multi signature wallet repository. Andrew studied Management Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and is a highly skilled executive with over 12 years of experience. Andrew was previously a Partner at a leading blockchain advisory group, TLDR.
The online event was hosted by the Blockchain Center.
The Block Babes Interview Harumi on Cryptocurrency Lending
The Block Babes host a weekly webcast event, “Today in Tech”. In this episode, Harumi Urata-Thompson was interviewed by the three GenZ blockchain advocates who comprise The Block Babes team. The trio have made it their mission to promote financial education in the area of blockchain technology, decentralized finance and cryptocurrency. Their topic today was about Harumi’s latest endeavors as CFO at Celsius Network.
In the webcast, Harumi talks about:
What is Celsius Network and how does it work?
How does Celsius Network pay interest?
How has Harumi’s career trajectory evolved to get here?
Celsius Network has emerged to become one of the most popular cryptocurrency lending platforms. Against this backdrop, Harumi provides an inside view of crypto lending business models that are driving some of the biggest trends in cryptocurrency today.
Celsius Network enables interest-bearing cryptocurrency accounts and low-fee lending that utilizes cryptocurrency as collateral. Companies like these platforms have grown significantly since they allow users to earn a substantial passive income on cryptocurrency digital assets, particularly in comparison to fiat-based savings account interest rates. They often offer higher interest rates on savings accounts and loan rates that are generally lower than traditional alternatives.
The Block Babes video channel on pscp.tv and YouTube were created in efforts to bring awareness about blockchain technology, decentralized finance, and education to the younger generations. They are a self-described group of “GenZ girls that fell in love with blockchain technology and the ability to build and capitalize on it.” The Block Babes believe that financial freedom is so important yet it’s not common knowledge or something you typically learn in schools.
Harumi Talks Centralized Finance in Decentralized Finance
Harumi Urata-Thompson was recently interviewed in a live podcast by Norbert Gehrke of eXponential Finance.
In the podcast, Harumi as Chief Finance Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Celsius Network talks about her current endeavors promoting centralized finance in a decentralized finance world.
eXponential Finance provides advisory and customized research services, primarily focused on – but not limited to – market entry to Japan/Asia, business model validation, innovation and scale-up strategies.
Harumi Talks Cryptocurrency Lending on Crypto Mondays VR with Blockchain UniVRse
Blockchain UniVRse’s Annalese hosts a weekly webcast event, “Crypto Mondays VR”. In this episode, Harumi Urata-Thompson spoke about the current environment of decentralized finance and cryptocurrency, and her latest project as CFO at Celsius Network.
Celsius Network is one of the most popular cryptocurrency lending platforms. From this vantage point, Harumi provides an inside view of crypto lending business models that are driving some of the biggest trends in cryptocurrency today.
Celsius Network enables interest-bearing cryptocurrency accounts and low-fee lending that utilizes cryptocurrency as collateral. Companies like these platforms have grown significantly since they allow users to earn a substantial passive income on cryptocurrency digital assets, particularly in comparison to fiat-based savings account interest rates. They often offer higher interest rates on savings accounts and loan rates that are generally lower than traditional alternatives.
In the webcast, Harumi addresses key questions like:
What is Celsius Network and how does it work?
How does Celsius Network pay interest?
What was involved in fundraising $20 million during COVID-19?
Blockchain UniVRse is part of Bits and Tokens, a blockchain media company that focuses on the world of cryptocurrency. Their goal is to educate, inform, and teach the public about how cryptocurrency works and how it can be used in day-to-day life.
Space and Blockchain, A “Thursdays on the Block” Online Panel
The Blockchain Center hosts a weekly webcast event, “Thursdays on the Block“. The New Space Economy was the centralizing topic de jour for a panel of experts that included Harumi Urata-Thompson, who appeared as CEO and Co-Founder of celestialdata.
This week’s panel discussion, “Space and Blockchain” was held with deeply experienced knowledge experts and entrepreneurs who operate at the intersection of Space (as in Outer Space) and emerging enabling technologies like blockchain.
Appearing on the panel alongside Harumi were Grant Blaisdell and Samuel Reid. Grant Blaisdell is an early innovator in applying blockchain technology to various industries, having co-founded the leading Blockchain Analytics and AML company Confirm and the marketplace for digital Space assets, Copernic Space.
Samuel Reid is a mathematician, business executive, inventor, and STEM polymath, having been the Chief Blockchain Engineer of the world’s first government regulated cryptocurrency exchange, the Gibraltar Blockchain Exchange. He was CEO of Clean Crude Corporation and GeometricLabs Corporation and is also part of the Space Exploration Branch of the Canadian Space Agency as a member of the Signature Technology Consultation Committee.
Engaging in a lively conversation, the panel addressed issues like:
How do you get involved in the New Space Economy?
What can we learn about New Space Economy startup trajectories?
What about the New Space Economy startup ecosystem is different?
When and how do you fundraise in the New Space Economy ecosystem?
The online event was hosted by the Blockchain Center as part of its weekly “Thursdays on the Block” webcast panel discussion.
Harumi Shares Her Journey Through the Years with Gaper.io
Harumi Urata-Thompson was recently interviewed in a live podcast by Gaper.io about the way in which her professional career took unconventional turns over the years. For Harumi, these lead to trailblazing in the corporate sphere and ultimately, to entrepreneurship. Also archived on YouTube as a video, Harumi’s interview is freely available for viewing by anyone interested in making career shifts.
Gaper.io is a Pakistan-based provider of remote software engineering talent, with specialization in preparing and vetting the top 1% of full-stack engineers that global firms are looking to hire. Full-stack developers are proficient in both the front-end and back-end languages and frameworks, as well as in server, network, and hosting environments.
“SEC & Mom and Pop Investors? Nodes on CODA” Podcast with Matthew Aaron
Listen to Harumi Urata-Thompson and Matthew Aaron as they talk about “mom and pop” investors and the CODA “lightweight” blockchain protocol on his podcast show, The Decrypt Daily: Bitcoin/Cryptocurrency Podcast. Matthew Aaron, Editor-in-Chief of CRYPTO 101 Media, is an advocate for blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. He is focused on educating the average consumer to the benefits and real-world applications of blockchain technology.