• Heightened share price target for PotNetwork Holding Inc. set at $1.25
• Previous market estimates, exceeded by over 70 percent, show positive month-to-month sales for PotNetwork Holdings Inc.
• SeeThruEquity report highlights the greatly lowered legal and physiological risk from hemp-derived CBD

A recent comprehensive report by SeeThruEquity highlighting PotNetwork Holding Inc. (OTC: POTN) and its subsidiary, Diamond CBD, projected a heightened share price target set at $1.25. The increase was attributed to the company’s strong monthly sales data and 3Q17 filings (http://ibn.fm/yCn1c). Per the report, these indicated “continued profitability as the company invests in growth.”

In a prior news release, Dr. Richard Goulding, CEO of PotNetwork Holding Inc., stated, “It is very rewarding to experience this type of growth and success, and all the more pleasing to see an acknowledgement of our collective efforts in the marketplace.” This statement followed news that the company’s previously announced estimates of $8.3 million were exceeded by over 70 percent, reaching $14.5 million due to rapid month-to-month growth in sales (http://ibn.fm/wBGTB).

SeeThruEquity’s report highlighted that hemp derived from CBD can provide a legal alternative to marijuana-based CBD, which is banned by federal law. This allows consumers to make use of CBD products without the risk of experiencing a ‘high’ or infringing on government law. The projected market for hemp-derived CBD is expected to grow at a CAGR of roughly 53 percent through 2020, positioning it among the fastest-growing segments within the multi-billion dollar legal cannabis and hemp market.

Cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are the most researched derivatives of cannabis, a psychoactive drug also known as marijuana (http://ibn.fm/5oEOJ). The traditional ‘high’ associated with this drug is largely thanks to the presence of THC, and, while CBD is a structural isomer of THC (meaning that it has the same chemical composition), the atomic structure is arranged differently, offering many of the same health benefits without the psychoactive effects of THC. Based on numerous studies, CBD has demonstrated the capacity to produce a number of effects on the endocannabinoid system (ECS), including boosting immune system function, reducing sensations of pain, playing a role in inflammatory response and altering appetite, mood, memory and energy levels.

With the advancement of technology and ongoing research of the medicinal qualities of CBD, it is possible that these products could, potentially, serve as substitutes for harmful medications that are currently on the market. The natural healing properties are being assessed on a global level, and several journals have already noted the economic impact of CBD in general. Matt Karnes of Greenwave Advisors, in an interview with Forbes, stated, “In terms of the CBD market size, I estimate an almost $3 billion market by 2021. Right now, there are 15 states that allow CBD only — this is in addition to the 28 states plus DC that have legalized medical marijuana.”

Numerous studies on the positive effects of cannabinoids and THC have paved the way for legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes in Canada and the U.S. A focus report by Mackie Research Capital Corp. (http://ibn.fm/5ZX6c) notes that (based on internal models) the Canadian marijuana market is expected to increase in size quickly, with the forecast peak in market size to exceed C$2.5 billion by 2020. With the United States presenting various states in which medicinal marijuana is legal, the market size for these states (most notably Colorado, Arizona, Oregon and Michigan) is projected to record a significant increase in growth from 2015 to 2020. For the above-mentioned states, the Colorado market is expected to reach more than $1.5 billion, Arizona is expected to exceed $453 million, Oregon could increase to $330 million and Michigan is expected to rise to $556 million, all by 2020.

PotNetwork Holding Inc. is a publicly traded company that acts as a holding company for a number of subsidiaries, namely First Capital Venture Co., PotNetwork.com, and Diamond CBD, Inc. The latter focuses on research, development and multinational marketing of hemp extracts containing a wide variety of cannabinoids and natural hemp derivatives. Diamond CBD’s team of hemp industry pioneers, chemists, doctors, scientists and natural product experts aims to produce high-grade CBD oil, providing a variety of CBD oils, tinctures, edibles and vape liquids.

In a previous news release (http://ibn.fm/ssK7h), Goulding added, “[W]e are proud, and think our shareholders should be too, that on December 13, 2017 PotNetwork Holding was named by Huffington Post, a prominent major national news source, as “One of Five Notable CBD Revolution Industry Leaders’, an accolade that pays tribute to the company’s achievements and future prospects.”

Goulding further noted, “2017 has been a phenomenally successful year for us! Our unprecedented sales growth pays tribute to the hard work of our staff and our resellers, and the exceptional quality of our CBD product line which expanded greatly over 2017.” He also emphasized that the company is poised for growth during 2018 and it embarks on new and unique marketing initiatives and embraces new opportunities.

Without question, the recent report by SeeThruEquity highlighting PotNetwork Holding Inc. and Diamond CBD projects not only an increased share price target, but also a positive expansion of the company within this multi-billion dollar arena. With an ever-increasing demand for safer products of this nature that abide by all governing regulations, PotNetwork Holding Inc., also with its subsidiaries, has its foot in the door of tomorrow’s market.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.PotNetworkHolding.com

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Pursuant to the applicable federal law, the sale or distribution of CBD with less than 0.03% of tetrahydrocannabinol by retailers may be permissible in all states. However, the local, state and federal laws regarding these issues tend to remain in flux and should be accordingly reviewed by local counsel and, as such, legal advice is not intended, but specifically disclaimed.

• Company’s IP portfolio, including proprietary technology and biosynthetic methods, features seven U.S. patents and patent filings in numerous other key countries around the world
• Eliminating the high costs of cultivating plants, Teewinot Life Sciences Corporation delivers pure, consistent pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoids
• Company’s goal is to cut costs and approach cannabinoid production like a pharmaceutical company, not as a cannabis firm

Teewinot Life Sciences Corporation has an advantage in consistently producing pure, clinical-grade cannabinoids with its patented biosynthetic technology. The results eliminate the watering and electrical costs of traditional plant cultivation, as well as the variances in quality. Instead, its method offers low-cost cannabinoids in a pure, consistent clinical grade.

Teewinot Life Sciences is a Tampa, Florida-based global biopharmaceutical company focused on cannabinoid clinical development utilizing patented and proprietary synthetic biology and biocatalysis technology. Its strategy involves the production and use of cannabinoid molecules. The goal of the company is to produce, at lower cost, consistent and pure cannabinoids that it believes can be used to develop superior human therapies.

The company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries have patented technologies that produce individual cannabinoids at commercial scale for a wide variety of markets. It approaches the process as a straight medical company, not as a marijuana firm. Its process involves the pharmaceutical manufacture of cannabinoids through biocatalysis and synthetic biology.

Cannabinoid biosynthetic enzymes are produced in microorganisms transformed with cannabinoid biosynthetic genes. Those enzymes are then used to manufacture pharmaceutically-pure cannabinoids.

The goal is to improve human therapies. The company has now secured seven U.S. patents and has a portfolio of patent applications in a number of countries. Teewinot Life Sciences has subsidiaries in Ireland and Canada.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.TLSCorp.com

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In a testament to the value of corporate communications, West Corporation recently announced that it will acquire Nasdaq’s (NASDAQ: NDAQ) Public Relations Solutions and Digital Media Services, both segments of Nasdaq’s Corporate Solutions business. Valued at $335 million, the acquisition dovetails with West Corporation’s technology-driven communication services, which include unified communications services, safety services, interactive services such as automated notifications, specialized agent services and telecom services. Nasdaq’s Corporate Solutions business provides an array of intelligence and communications tools, technology and advisory services to help businesses better engage investors, the investment community and the public. Nasdaq said it would use the proceeds of the deal for share buybacks.

The deal shows not only the value of information, but, even more importantly, the value of effective corporate communications. In an increasingly cluttered environment of irrelevant information and an overload of news, cutting through the cacophony of noise and confusion is proving to have enormous worth. Businesses around the world are searching for better ways to disseminate information and efficiently communicate messages and value propositions.

West Corporation was purchased last year by New York-based private-equity firm Apollo Global Management. Private equity firms are renowned for finding and buying undervalued companies in high growth sectors, tweaking the business to enhance value, then selling or spinning off segments for exceptional returns. The acquisition of Nasdaq’s communications segments by West reveals the inherent and future value that private equity places on corporate communications.

In a news release announcing the acquisition, John Shlonsky, chief executive officer of West Corporation stated, “This acquisition will complement and broaden our portfolio of products and services. We see tremendous opportunity to grow and enhance this business. We are also excited to partner with NASDAQ and add the talented Public Relations Solutions and Digital Media Services teams to West.”

Products and services acquired in the transaction include:

• GlobeNewswire: a global press release distribution platform and media contacts database with analytics
• Webhosting: a web hosting service purpose-built for investor relations and external communications functions
• Webcasting: a multimedia service that publishes webcasts, webinars, video presentations and other content
• Media Intelligence: a media monitoring and analyst-curated daily news reporting service
• Influencers Database: a service to identify and connect with relevant journalists and social media profiles

Nasdaq also entered an exclusive multi-year partnership with West to provide Nasdaq clients seamless access to the products and services included in the transaction.

Businesses around the world have long realized – and now private equity has verified – the immense value of effective corporate communications.

To view the full press release, please visit http://ibn.fm/eoH8d

• Despite China’s ban on cryptocurrency, CIIX is positioned to lead the way in cryptocurrency education and awareness for the Chinese-speaking community
• Demand for bitcoin continues to rise despite China’s ban on cryptocurrency
• Company is committed to the education and growth of cryptocurrency and providing innovative ways of making bitcoin more accessible

ChineseInvestors.com, Inc. (OTCQB: CIIX) is continuing its commitment to cryptocurrency education and awareness for the Chinese-speaking community. Its educational services seek to answer the average person’s curiosity while simultaneously providing skilled investors with up-to-date news on digital currency. Using the Chinese language character sets, CIIX provides analysis and education that is accessible to the Chinese-speaking community worldwide. CIIX provides information on how to purchase bitcoin, real-time market commentary and consulting services, as well as advertising and public relations services.

Cryptocurrency is appealing in that it allows investors to diversify their portfolios. This shift away from traditional investment opportunities brings with it an air of excitement. Bitcoin is being exchanged by investors in unregulated offline platforms in an effort to bypass China’s ban (http://ibn.fm/MNRpC). The scarcity of bitcoin, and the complexity of mining new coins, is part of the draw. Despite a recent post by China’s Communist Party paper bashing bitcoin and insisting that cryptocurrency is a load of hype, demand has continued to rise (http://ibn.fm/kqchC).

CIIX is committed to raising awareness and education surrounding bitcoin. The company now hosts a daily broadcast from the NYSE, titled ‘Bitcoin MultiMillionaire’, with the intent of educating Chinese-speaking viewers on the most current news in cryptocurrency. In addition, CIIX is committed to bitcoin growth and has installed a bitcoin ATM in the lobby of its headquarters in San Gabriel, California. The Chinese middle and upper class is growing and looking for new ways to diversify their portfolios. ChineseInvestors.com is ready and able to offer them innovative accessibility to cryptocurrency.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.ChineseInvestors.com

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• A merger between Skinvisible and Quoin will enable a successful entry on the post-surgical pain management market
• Opioids – which typically refer to oxycodone, hydrocodone, and fentanyl – are highly addictive painkillers; nearly three in 10 Americans prescribed opioids for chronic pain will abuse them
• Opioids are becoming increasingly deadly to Americans; in 2016, two-thirds of drug-related deaths involved opioids; in fact, since 1999, opioid-related deaths in the United States have increased nearly fourfold
• Drug abuse is a burden shared by every state; nearly 63,600 Americans lost their lives to drug overdoses in 2016 – a 21 percent increase over the previous year; from 2000 to 2016, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 600,000 people died from drug overdoses in the United States
• Every 25 minutes, a baby in the United States is born suffering from opioid withdrawal

Skinvisible, Inc. (OTCQB: SKVI) previously announced the signing of a Letter of Intent for a proposed merger with Quoin Pharmaceuticals Limited – a partnership that could address significant unmet medical needs on the pain management market. If both parties agree on the terms, the merger should be completed this year, and the resulting entity will operate under the name Quoin Pharmaceuticals Inc. and will continue to trade on the OTCQB market.

Quoin’s strength is within the area of pharmaceutical product development for products that address some of the most serious present-day health problems. Skinvisible is the developer of innovative delivery system technologies that can enhance product delivery and performance.

Quoin’s lead product is QRX001 – a transdermal NMDA receptor antagonist for the effective treatment of pain following surgery. QRX001 delivers up to 72 hours of effective pain relief after surgical interventions. Almost 30 clinical studies have been performed to date on the NMDA receptor antagonist, clearly showing that sub-anesthetic doses reduced 24-hour PCA morphine consumption; reduced post-operative nausea and vomiting; reduced pain intensity; resulted in adverse events that were mild or absent; and generated better results than any other single product or combination. The aim of the product is to also reduce the use of opioids for pain management following an operation.

Upon the product’s launch, QRX001 is expected to provide surgeons with a new and effective alternative to opioids. Opioid abuse has reached an epidemic level in the U.S., with opioid overdoses causing more than 90 deaths per day (http://ibn.fm/dTd9u). This number has grown exponentially in the past decade, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with opioid use remaining widespread despite the risks. Today, approximately 12 million Americans report that they use pain killers in a non-medicinal way.

The opioid market in the U.S. is estimated at $6 billion annually. With the opioid epidemic now deemed a National Health Emergency, there is a significant push to find new products that reduce or eliminate their use, particularly in a post-surgical setting, which is where 50 percent of people who become addicted first become exposed to these drugs.

In addition to wrecking lives, opioid abuse poses a massive burden on the economy. Adding up money lost from costs related to health care, addiction treatment, reduced work productivity and crime, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the economic burden of the opioid crisis is more than $78.5 billion per year.

Almost half of the victims were first introduced to opioids after undergoing surgery. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 100 million surgeries take place in the U.S. every year (http://ibn.fm/6Tbem). At least 50 million of these surgical interventions necessitate the use of post-operative pain management pharmaceuticals.

Currently, the pain management market in the U.S. is fueled by a number of sectors. The most prominent ones include post-operative pain relief, arthritis pain, cancer pain, migraine and neuropathic pain. As larger Western populations age and become susceptible to an array of medical conditions, the need for new pain management developments will grow even further. The partnership between Skinvisible and Quoin perfectly positions the two companies to address these growing unmet needs on the pain management market.

The Skinvisible announcement states that new technologies and product synergies between the two companies could potentially provide significant value to shareholders after the merger. Together, Skinvisible and Quoin could maximize their product development opportunities, as noted by Skinvisible President Terry Howlett. The official news release also included a disclaimer regarding ‘forward looking’ statements.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.Skinvisible.com

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• Company offers options to patients seeking immune system-boosting alternatives
• Novel “scorpion venom” product builds on popular Cuban cancer-fighting therapy
• Developing a CBD-based nose-to-brain delivery system that will provide relief across a range of indications from pain, inflammation, seizures and neurological disorders

In an era when a licensed and regulated medical industry provides a secure standard of care for treating ailments but “complementary” or alternative therapies are sought by a number of patients — more than three out of 10 adults, according to the National Institutes of Health’s most recent survey on the subject (http://ibn.fm/sxFbe) — PreveCeutical Medical Inc. (CSE: PREV) (OTCQB: PRVCF) (FSE: 18H) is offering patients novel choices in how to better the quality of their lives. PreveCeutical Medical is dedicated to proactive thinking in personal health management amid a growing market for preventive care, but, when things go wrong and clinical solutions aren’t readily available, the company also wants to help find alternatives that result from the best products nature and science can cooperatively deliver. The early-stage life sciences company has brought one product to market, a solution derived from Caribbean blue scorpion venom, and it is pursuing five other research projects under its product development program.

“We are encouraged from the fact that the Caribbean Blue Scorpion venom peptides bypasses the blood brain barrier and attaches to the abnormal cells, this is an indicator that we are going in the right direction,” PreveCeutical CEO Stephen Van Deventer stated in a news release last August (http://ibn.fm/Ahx2h) announcing the company’s partnership with Sports 1 Marketing (S1M) to develop the scorpion venom as a treatment for concussions, or mild traumatic brain injury, among athletes.

The scorpion venom product builds on discoveries in Cuba and the surrounding Caribbean nations advancing the popular belief that the venom inhibits the growth of cancer cells. PreveCeutical’s product, CELLB9Ò dietary supplement, utilizes select peptides from the blue scorpion (which is actually red, with a blue tail) to boost the user’s immune system, and the company is advancing its research into producing a “nature identical” scorpion peptide solution that it hopes will be able to not only halt the progress of cancerous tumors, but also treat metabolic disorders, pain, cardiovascular disease and infectious maladies without requiring company representatives to travel to the Caribbean to find and milk the unique scorpions for their naturally produced venom.

The company is also working on a medical cannabis gel formulated drug delivery system to deliver relief from ailments such as pain, inflammation, seizures and neurological disorders via nasal administration that potentially avoids side effects that might accompany the digestion of cannabidiol through the gastrointestinal system. The proprietary “Sol-gel” research and development program is being conducted in Brisbane, Australia, and, in November, PreveCeutical received approval from the Queensland state government to acquire, store and use high-quality dried cannabis plant extracts through its partnership with UniQuest Pty Limited at the University of Queensland (http://ibn.fm/07SNJ). Once an importation permit is acquired, PreveCeutical can begin shipping cannabis from its Canadian-licensed producer.

Another initiative with a longer development schedule involves finding a therapy to treat obesity and diabetes by targeting an overactive gene common to both ailments. The company is searching for a breakthrough on non-addictive analgesics as a replacement to highly addictive analgesics such as morphine, fentanyl and oxycodone.

On January 15, PreveCeutical announced its place in the blockchain fintech revolution by accepting bitcoin as a payment option for CELLB9Ò (http://ibn.fm/KNbqa). Despite stock fluctuations during the past month, the bitcoin cryptocurrency remains popular with individuals who conduct commerce on a global scale and who seek a seamless transaction process that doesn’t require fees or other potential obstacles that may arise from using third-party banks. PreveCeutical made the decision after receiving requests from several customers.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.PreveCeutical.com

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• Company’s balance sheet is currently the strongest it has ever been
• Named one of the fastest-growing companies in North America on Deloitte’s 2017 Technology Fast 500™
• Total transaction dollars processed by the company during 2017 reached $2.8 billion

Looking back on 2017 and ahead to the continuation of 2018, Net Element, Inc. (NASDAQ: NETE) CEO Oleg Firer recently sent out a letter to shareholders discussing the company’s progress and developments that have occurred over the past year (http://ibn.fm/VbUXh).

Net Element is a global technology and value-added solutions group operating a payments-as-a-service transactional and value-added services platform for small to medium enterprise in the United States and in select emerging markets. The company supports electronic payments acceptance in a multi-channel environment, including point-of-sale, e-commerce, mobile devices and the blockchain ecosystem.

On an international level, Net Element is focused on leveraging its omni-channel platform to provide flexible solutions to emerging markets that have varied banking, regulatory and demographic circumstances.

All around, 2017 was a banner year for Net Element. The company was named one of North America’s fastest-growing companies on Deloitte’s 2017 Technology Fast 500™, and Net Element was also named one of the fastest-growing technology companies of the year by South Florida Business Journal.

Throughout 2017, Net Element moved forward with its organic growth in the United States, focusing on value-added payments solutions. The company was successful in centralizing its operations and refocusing its business initiatives on a global level.

For the year, total transaction dollars processed by Net Element amounted to $2.8 billion, while total transaction dollars processed geographically in North American and international markets were, respectively, $2.35 billion and $446 million.

Also during 2017, Net Element received a $7.55 million institutional investment to further its ongoing organic growth and blockchain-centered developments. The company additionally gave free mobile point-of-sale card readers to SMB merchants in Florida that were affected by Hurricane Irma.

Net Element further forged various partnerships in 2017, partnering with companies like Elo, Payvision and Planet Payment and also launching services for V-Tell, Azimuth Airlines and iDEAL.

Various product launches were further achieved by the company during 2017, including:

• Same-day ACH payment processing solution in the U.S.
• Zero-fee processing program for SMB merchants in the U.S.
• Loyalty program for merchants
• PayOnline’s support for e-commerce in the U.S.
• Apple Pay support in Russia
• Payment acceptance module for Telegram, Viber, Facebook and VK instant messenger apps
• Expansion of payments module to include Prominent InSales
• Comprehensive point-of-sale program
• ISO incubator program for certified resellers of Unified Payments

The global payments industry continued to thrive during 2017, and Net Element looks forward to even more opportunities to develop pioneering payment solutions in the coming year and further into the future as disruptive technologies like blockchain continue to advance. Heading into 2018, Net Element is bolstered by the strongest balance sheet it has ever had, positioning the company for growth and a strong stance from which to execute on exciting opportunities.

Looking ahead, Net Element plans to add blockchain technology during 2018, which will act as a framework for a huge array of value-added services. The company will also continue its focus on executing the long-term goal of creating a single, international onboarding and transaction processing platform that spans payments ecosystems.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.NetElement.com

• The Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs sets hearing for February 6 to review oversight role of the SEC and CFTC over virtual currencies, such as bitcoin
• In an op-ed written jointly by the SEC and CFTC, agency chiefs say they would support policy efforts to revisit framework of their cryptocurrency regulation; both will testify before the committee
• Agencies say they will seek to maintain integrity and transparency in the volatile cryptocurrency markets; goal is to protect all market participants and investors

Virtual currency oversight by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) will be reviewed after the heads of both agencies testify on February 6 before a hearing of the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs (http://ibn.fm/EcAvU).

Jay Clayton, chairman of the SEC, and J. Christopher Giancarlo, chairman of the CFTC, will testify at the hearing. What they will say was telegraphed in their recent jointly-authored op-ed (http://ibn.fm/uob5E). In it, they noted that most check-cashing and money transmission services are state regulated. They argue that most of the internet-based cryptocurrency trading platforms have registered as payment services and, therefore, are not subject to direct regulation today by the two federal agencies.

Their op-ed said, “Many of the internet-based cryptocurrency trading platforms have registered as payment services and are not subject to direct oversight by the SEC or CFTC. We would support policy efforts to revisit these frameworks and ensure they are effective and efficient for the digital era.”

The agencies said they seek market integrity and transparency. In the op-ed, they note that they seek review of their oversight of these markets and would continue to work with law enforcement to enforce this goal. “The CFTC and SEC, along with other federal and state regulators and criminal authorities, will continue to work together to bring transparency and integrity to these markets and, importantly, to deter and prosecute fraud and abuse,” they added.

• U.S. hemp retail market estimated at $1.8 billion by 2020 with 22% CAGR
• Global hemp-based cannabidiol (CBD) segment projected to reach $3 billion by 2021
• Disruptive potential for industrial hemp products offers substantial rewards

Global Hemp Group, Inc. (CSE: GHG) (FRANKFURT: GHG) (OTC: GBHPF), headquartered in British Columbia, Canada, is a publicly traded company founded in 2014. Global Hemp Group is focused on acquiring and developing a strategic portfolio of like-minded companies that believe in the significant potential of the industrial hemp plant. Global Hemp Group’s focused on attracting joint venture partners across all sectors of the industrial hemp industries with the commitment to improve quality of life by researching, developing and distributing sustainable materials, products and services produced from hemp.

The company’s mission is to build a strategic portfolio of hemp-based companies that operate synergistically to consistently deliver a solid ROI to its shareholders. Global Hemp Group has established the concept of Hemp Agro-Industrial Zone (HAIZ) (https://globalhempgroup.com/hempagro/) in order to build cooperative mechanisms across industrial sectors with a focus on different parts of the hemp plant. Under the HAIZ strategy, Global Hemp Group brings together capital, farmers and labor in an effort to build a “soil-to-shelf” portfolio of complimentary companies and joint venture partners in the global hemp industry.

Global Hemp Group has chosen to only work with suppliers of high quality, sustainable raw materials and finished products derived from the hemp plant. Among the leading industries utilizing industrial hemp’s exceptional properties is the automotive sector, building materials market, bio-composites, energy-related markets, super-foods, nutritional supplements, nutraceuticals and the cannabinoid markets. Guided by the principal theme of “global environmental stewardship,” Global Hemp Group focuses on the key concepts of sustainability and social responsibility in all its endeavors.

Global Hemp Group’s joint venture with publicly traded Marijuana Company of America on hemp cultivation trials in 2017, designed to develop commercial hemp production on the Acadian peninsula of New Brunswick, Canada, for the first time in 20 years, was a great success. The partners are preparing for the upcoming changes in Canada’s cannabis legislation that will permit cannabinoid extraction from industrial hemp. Farmers have already been recruited to plant a minimum of 125 acres of industrial hemp for the 2018 growing season, with the goal of increasing the acreage under cultivation to 1,000+ acres by year three of the joint project. Global Hemp Group is preparing an application for a processing license to extract cannabidiol (CBD) and other cannabinoids from the upcoming industrial hemp crop. Discussions are also underway with potential processing partners for the extraction of cannabinoids and straw processing for building materials for the upcoming harvest in October 2018, with a longer term plan to establish permanent processing facilities by October 2019.

Global Hemp Group is led by Charles Larsen as its president, CEO and chairman of the board. Larsen’s more than 30 years of experience working in government, public, private and startup companies as an executive manager includes being the founding president of Medical Marijuana, Inc., the first public company in the Cannabis space. Larsen is also a founder and current director of Marijuana Company of America, Inc., and has been actively involved in the cannabis and hemp industry for nearly a decade. Larsen is joined by Curt Huber, who serves as CFO and director. Huber is an independent corporate and financial consultant with more than 25 years of experience in all facets of public companies among many different sectors including mining, oil and gas, and technology.

Also joining the management team as director is Dr. Paul T. Perrault, an agricultural economist trained in cooperative development and in rural development. Perrault’s experience includes years of consulting on rural development projects introducing new crops in several developing countries and strengthening agricultural research organizations, principally in Africa. Jeff Kilpatrick also serves as a director and is currently a program supervisor of Alachua County Department of Court Services in Gainesville, Florida. Kilpatrick, who spent 21 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, is a member of LEAP – Law Enforcement Against Prohibition – and is president elect for the National Association of Pretrial Services Agencies (NAPSA).

Global Hemp Group’s business philosophy is “A healthier future through sustainable business strategies.”

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.GlobalHempGroup.com

• Company’s investments in Verady, Coinsquare and TessPay among recent work to increase security for transactions
• Blockchain, cannabis sectors accounted for nearly 10 percent of rising daily activity for TD Ameritrade in 4Q2017
• Estimated $10 billion in cryptocurrency transacted each day

Riot Blockchain, Inc. (NASDAQ: RIOT) is advancing its focus on the rising blockchain technology and its cryptocurrency applications, as exemplified by its November announcement of its strategic investment in Verady, LLC, a company that provides accounting, auditing and verification for blockchain-based assets such as cryptocurrencies (http://ibn.fm/aCePG). The strategy paid off with news that Riot Blockchain’s stock surged from $7 in November to more than $46 in a month, and the company remains committed to gaining “exposure to the blockchain ecosystem through targeted investments in the sector.”

Riot’s primary focus is on the bitcoin and Ethereum cryptocurrencies, and the company owns a share in Coinsquare, a Canada-based cryptocurrency exchange, as well as a majority share in TessPay, which serves as a blockchain-enabled payment vehicle for wholesale telecom carriers. Despite fluctuations in the value of bitcoin as the stock reached stratospheric levels following a hard-charging yearlong rally, and amid ongoing concerns in some sectors that its value is being propped up (http://ibn.fm/Rm3oD), bitcoin’s price remains exponentially above the value of an ounce of gold, which it passed last March.

A NetworkNewsWire article about the popularity of blockchain and cannabis-related stocks cited TD Ameritrade in reporting that daily average trades for the last quarter of 2017 were up 49 percent from the previous year, with trades in the blockchain and cannabis sectors accounting for between six and nine percent of daily activity (http://ibn.fm/6TXUd). Verady’s website (www.Verady.com) notes that over $10 billion worth of cryptocurrency changes hands each day in transactions worldwide, with no framework for proper tracking, reconciliation or reporting. “Audit and Accounting Standards haven’t caught up,” it states, citing its mission to provide the auditing and accountability services for major cryptocurrency companies. In December, Verady announced a strategic partnership with Georgia-based accounting organization Acuity and launched its VeraNet platform as it worked on a convergence of cryptocurrency wallet data with traditional accounting tools for businesses (http://ibn.fm/8cE0H).

John O’Rourke, chairman and CEO of Riot Blockchain, referred to the company’s acquisition of a stake in Verady as continuing its commitment to building blockchain technologies as a first mover on the NASDAQ focused on those technologies. Verady stated that it will use the investment to strengthen itself by advancing its technology and increasing the size of its team. On January 30, the company announced its appointment of cybersecurity expert and strategic executive Christopher Ensey as COO. As the former COO of Dunbar Security Solutions, Ensey managed over 150 security professionals across physical and digital operations while capturing over 100 mid to large enterprise clients (http://ibn.fm/UywOy). On January 17, the company appointed experienced blockchain data mining manager Jeffrey Vormittag as the COO of its wholly owned subsidiary, Riot Blockchain Canada Inc.

The blockchain is a decentralized and encrypted ledger system established to ensure the security and verifiability of transaction records without the need for intermediaries, which came to include banks as the popularity of blockchain-based cryptocurrencies began to rise. Blockchain “miners” work under an international system set up to establish a “proof of work” verification protocol. Riot Blockchain perceived the potential of the technology early on and, in October, redesigned its brand as it began work to establish an advisory board that has sufficient technical experience to help it become a leading authority and supporter of blockchain.

For more information, visit the company’s website at www.RiotBlockchain.com