** Financial services provider Ovanti's OVT.AX shares rise 14.3% to A$0.008, following its licence agreement with blockchain-based lending platform BNPLPay Protocol

** Stock rose as much as 28.6% earlier in the day, marking its biggest intraday gain since November 8

** Co says deal enables it to access BNPLPay's lending platform for its ongoing debt funding needs on preferential basis for 20 years

** In exchange, co will receive half of the BNPLPlay's protocol's revenues - OVT

** Over 57.4 mln shares change hands, 2.x the 30-day average

** Stock down ~56% this year including current session

(Reporting by Kumar Tanishk in Bengaluru)

((Tanishk.Kumar@thomsonreuters.com; X: @thatstanishk;))