Dr. Richard Lu reports

POWERBANK ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF THE FIRST SATELLITE IN THE "ORBITAL CLOUD" PROJECT WITH SMARTLINK AI

Powerbank Corp. today congratulated Smartlink AI (Orbit AI) on the successful launch of the DeStarlink Genesis-1 satellite.

This inaugural satellite marks Orbit AI's first step toward building its Orbital Cloud network -- an architecture where AI compute, connectivity and blockchain-verified processing occur directly in low-Earth orbit.

Orbit AI is developing DeStarlink, the first decentralized low-Earth-orbit network for global connectivity, and DeStarAI, a suite of orbital AI data centres powered by solar arrays and naturally cooled in space. Together, these systems form the Orbital Cloud, a unified infrastructure layer designed to enable sovereign, censorship-resistant connectivity and in-orbit compute services.

By 2032 the projected size of the global satellite market is $615-billion (U.S.). Additional opportunities span orbital infrastructure, in-orbit data centres and satellite data services, representing a combined market potential of $115.64-billion (U.S.) over the next decade.

A core differentiator of the Orbital Cloud is its solar-powered execution layer. Satellites are equipped with lightweight, space-grade solar panels that harvest continuous sunlight during orbit, intended to enable round-the-clock AI inference, blockchain node operation and on-board data processing. Powerbank's future contributions will focus on supporting advanced solar modules, adaptive energy management systems and thermal control solutions -- components essential to powering the next generation of larger, higher-compute satellites in the constellation.

"Today marks a transformative moment in the evolution of space-based infrastructure," said Dr. Richard Lu, chief executive officer of Powerbank. "The successful launch of DeStarlink Genesis-1 validates our vision of supporting solar-powered solutions for the digital economy. This demonstrates how clean energy and advanced computing can converge to build resilient, globally accessible infrastructure beyond terrestrial constraints. Powerbank is proud to collaborate with Orbit AI in pioneering this new frontier where our solar energy expertise can help power the next generation of orbital computing and connectivity."

Through its collaboration with Orbit AI, Powerbank intends to contribute advanced solar energy systems and adaptive thermal control solutions, reflecting its broader shift toward digital asset, data centre and real world asset infrastructure, where solar power supports digital infrastructure deployments and high-growth AI markets. Powerbank's contribution focuses on solar power and adaptive thermal technologies essential to future satellite's "execution layer."

Orbit AI plans to expand its constellation beginning in 2026, with larger-scale deployments anticipated through 2028 to 2030. Powerbank expects to continue as a key partner in these developments.

Key milestones

• Q4 2025: launch of Genesis-1 with Ethereum wallet, blockchain node and initial AI inference payload;
• 2026: expansion to five to eight orbital nodes integrating compute and connectivity;
• 2027 to 2028: full constellation rollout and commercialization of Orbital Cloud services;
• 2028 to 2030: autonomous network governance; large-scale orbital compute and communication operations.

Powerbank's collaboration with Orbit AI on the Orbital Cloud initiative reflects the company's strategic expansion into high-growth digital infrastructure markets. The successful launch of Genesis-1 marks the first step in a multiyear road map of Orbit AI to establish a fully operational constellation of solar-powered, AI-enabled satellites that will redefine global connectivity and digital sovereignty from low-Earth orbit. At this time Powerbank elected not to make any additional investment in Orbit AI.

About Powerbank Corp.

Powerbank is an independent renewable and clean energy project developer and owner focusing on distributed and community solar projects in Canada and the United States. The company develops solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) projects that sell electricity to utilities, commercial, industrial, municipal and residential offtakers. The company maximizes returns via a diverse portfolio of projects across multiple leading North America markets including projects with utilities, host offtakers, community solar and virtual net metering projects. The company has a potential development pipeline of over one gigawatt and has developed renewable and clean energy projects with a combined capacity of over 100 megawatts built.

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