Exhibit 99.173
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DeFi Technologies’ Subsidiary Valour Applies for Swiss VQF Membership
Valour has made application to The Financial Services Standards Association (in German: Verein zur Qualitätssicherung von Finanzdienstleistungen - VQF), a Self-regulatory Organization (SRO).
The membership will assure people that all DeFi Europe AG trade operations are compliant with Swiss anti-money laundering legislation and will enable the company to offer its ETP’s directly to businesses and institutions.
TORONTO, Feb. 2, 2022 /CNW/ - DeFi Technologies Inc. (the “Company” or “DeFi Technologies”) (NEO: DEFI) (GR: RMJR) (OTC: DEFTF), a technology company bridging the gap between traditional capital markets and decentralized finance, announced today that Valour Inc. (“Valour”), its wholly owned subsidiary and a pioneer in digital asset exchange traded products (“ETPs”), has applied for a Swiss VQF membership through its Switzerland-based entity DeFi Europe AG.
The VQF membership is awarded by the Verein zur Qualitätssicherung von Finanzdienstleistungen (Financial Services Standards Association), a self-regulatory association for the financial industry in Switzerland. The SRO is supervised by the country’s official watchdog, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA).
DeFi Europe is a wholly owned subsidiary of Valour Inc. based in Zug, Switzerland. Once approved, DeFi Europe will be operating as a broker for digital assets, fully compliant with Swiss anti-money laundering legislation, and will enable the company to offer access and liquidity in digital assets.
“We are fully supporting and embracing a more regulated environment for investments, specifically in digital assets,” said CEO of Valour Tommy Fransson. “Admission as a member of the VQF will further our mission to bridge traditional capital markets and the new digital era with a focus on transparency and investor utility.”
About VQF
The Financial Services Standards Association (in German: Verein zur Qualitätssicherung von Finanzdienstleistungen - VQF) is a Self-regulatory Organization (SRO). In Switzerland Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) is the Swiss government body responsible for financial regulation of financial institutes/intermediaries such as Banks, Insurances, Broker- Dealers, Funds as well as SRO’s.
About DeFi Europe
DeFi Europe is a wholly owned subsidiary of Valour Inc. based in Zug, Switzerland. Once approved, DeFi Europe will be operating as a broker for virtual assets, fully compliant with Swiss anti-money laundering legislation and enable the company to offer access and liquidity in virtual assets.
About Valour
Valour Inc. issues exchange-listed financial products that enable retail and institutional investors to access investment in disruptive innovations, such as digital assets, in a simple and secure way. Established in 2019 and based in Zug, Switzerland, Valour is a wholly owned subsidiary of DeFi Technologies Inc. (NEO:DEFI, GR: RMJ.F, OTC: DEFTF). For more information on Valour, visit www.valour.com.
About DeFi Technologies
DeFi Technologies Inc. is a technology company bridging the gap between traditional capital markets and decentralized finance. Our mission is to expand investor access to industry-leading decentralized technologies which we believe lie at the heart of the future of finance. On behalf of our shareholders and investors, we identify opportunities and areas of innovation, and build and invest in new technologies and ventures in order to provide trusted, diversified exposure across the decentralized finance ecosystem. For more information or to subscribe to receive company updates and financial information, visit https://defi.tech/.
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This press release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: the application for Swiss VQF membership; the growth and adoption of decentralized finance; the pursuit by DeFi Technologies of business opportunities; the development of future ETPs and the merits or potential returns of any such opportunities. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Forward- looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company, as the case may be, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but is not limited to, the growth and development of the Valour Solana ETP and the DeFi and cryptocurrency sector; rules and regulations with respect to DeFi; regulatory approval of ETPs and future adoption of Valour’s ETPs. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.
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Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
THE NEO STOCK EXCHANGE DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE
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SOURCE DeFi Technologies, Inc.
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%SEDAR: 00007675E
For further information: Investor Relations: Dave Gentry, RedChip Companies Inc., 1-800-RED-CHIP (733-2447), 407-491- 4498, Dave@redchip.com; Public Relations: Marie Knowles, MFK Publicity, marie@mfkpublicity.co
CO: DeFi Technologies, Inc.
CNW 07:30e 02-FEB-22