From Cointelegraph

June 17, 2025 08:33:00 AM:

Former OpenAI employee Joey Bertschler launches crypto-powered earned wage access system through Volante Chain. Platform allows same-day wage access for employees, reducing financial stress. Volante uses blockchain for seamless record-keeping, low fees, and artificial intelligence to predict employer defaults and assess risk. Company raised $2 million from private investors, testing in Vietnam and Japan.

Bertschler left OpenAI due to limited advancement opportunities for non-US employees. Criticizes company for becoming more secretive and profit-driven since Microsoft’s involvement. OpenAI shifts focus to profit-making, facing pushback from co-founders and early investors. Company abandons for-profit model in favor of public benefit corporation structure with legal obligations for social or public goods.

Read more at cointelegraph.com: Former OpenAI Staffer Builds Crypto Wage Startup