Lotte’s NFT marketplace partners with upcycling brand NiUl for membership NFTs

Korea invites distinguished financial officials to discuss digital moneyThe Bank of Korea (BOK), South Korea’s central bank, announced on Friday (local time) its participation in an international conference focused on the economic impact and future prospects of digital currencies. This event, co-hosted by the BOK, the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MOEF), the Financial Services Commission (FSC), and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), is scheduled to take place in Seoul on Dec. 14 and 15.The conference, titled “Digital Money: Navigating a Changing Financial Landscape,” is set to welcome high-ranking officials such as Kristalina Georgieva, the Managing Director of the IMF; Choo Kyung-ho, the Minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MOEF); Rhee Chang-yong, the Governor of the Bank of Korea (BOK); and Kim So-young, the Vice Chairman of the Financial Services Commission (FSC). This event is particularly significant as it marks the first visit of IMF head Kristalina Georgieva to South Korea.Photo by pan zhen on UnsplashCrypto, stablecoins, CBDCsDuring the conference, MOEF Minister Choo and FSC Vice Chairman Kim will kick off the event with welcome remarks, followed by a keynote speech from IMF’s Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva. Spanning over two days, the conference will include seven sessions, covering a diverse range of topics. These sessions will delve into various aspects of digital money, such as practical use cases of digital currencies, regulatory approaches to cryptocurrencies, and discussions on stablecoins and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).The conference will feature prominent financial officials in both its opening and closing sessions. On the first day, Thursday, a distinguished panel, including IMF Chief Georgieva; Stefan Ingves, the former Governor of Sveriges Riksbank; FSC Vice Chairman Kim; David E. Rutter, the Founder of R3; and Shin Hyun-song, the Economic Adviser at the Bank of International Settlements (BIS), will discuss the opportunities and challenges facing digital money.The final session on Friday will see another group of high-level financial authorities sharing their expertise and insights. This session will include BOK Governor Rhee; Eddie Yue, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority; Serey Chea, the Governor of the National Bank of Cambodia; and Veerathai Santiprabhob, the former Governor of the Bank of Thailand. Their discussion will focus on regulatory policies surrounding digital currencies.Live-streaming scheduledThe two sessions of this conference will be accessible to a global audience as they will be live-streamed on the BOK’s official YouTube channel. This provides an opportunity for interested individuals from around the world to tune in and gain insights into the evolving landscape of digital money and its regulatory environment.

Japanese investment firm Metaplanet has increased its Bitcoin holdings, purchasing an additional 20.195 BTC for approximately 200 million yen ($1.2 million), as announced after the Tokyo Stock Exchange closed on Monday. This acquisition brings the firm's total holdings to 161.2677 BTC, valued at over $10.1 million. According to The Block, the recent purchase is part of a broader strategy, initiated with the company's decision to allocate 1 billion yen ($6.3 million) for Bitcoin acquisitions funded by an upcoming bond issuance. This move follows a previous buy in June worth 250 million yen.Photo by Traxer on UnsplashStrategic investment responseMetaplanet's investment strategy mirrors that of U.S.-based MicroStrategy, which has significantly integrated Bitcoin into its treasury assets. MicroStrategy currently holds 226,331 BTC, amounting to more than 1% of the total Bitcoin supply. Citing economic challenges like high government debt and the depreciating yen, Metaplanet views Bitcoin as a hedge against economic instability. Following Metaplanet’s latest acquisition, its stock saw a 1% rise on Monday, with an overall increase of 233% since it began investing in Bitcoin. 

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced his resignation on Sept. 7, citing completed trade talks with the United States and growing dissent within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). While the political transition follows the party’s defeat in July’s upper house elections, Ishiba’s departure also creates uncertainty for Japan’s crypto and Web3 agenda, which he had championed. Just two weeks earlier, at the WebX2025 event, Ishiba pledged stronger state backing for Web3 initiatives, noting their potential for addressing Japan’s demographic challenges and driving long-term economic transformation. He highlighted token-based community governance pilots, integration of Web3 at the Osaka Expo, and a five-year startup growth plan centered on digital industries. His exit now raises questions about whether these priorities will carry the same weight under new leadership.Photo by taro ohtani on UnsplashLeadership contest brings policy uncertaintyPotential successors signal diverging approaches. As per a BeInCrypto report, former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, who topped an August Nikkei approval survey with 23% support, is regarded as favoring tighter oversight. Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, in second place with 8%, has shown greater receptiveness toward digital assets. According to Bloomberg, Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato is also considered a contender. Earlier, he emphasized balancing investor protection with space for innovation, noting the rapid uptake of crypto among Japanese investors. The LDP is preparing for a leadership election on Oct. 4, with 295 lawmakers each casting one vote and an equal 295 votes allocated proportionally to the party’s 1.03 million members, for a total of 590 ballots. Until then, investors and industry players are watching for signals on whether Japan’s digital asset roadmap will remain a priority. Adoption advances beyond politicsBeyond politics, adoption is accelerating across Japan’s financial system. Japan Post Bank plans to tokenize deposits on a permissioned blockchain by 2026 using the DCJPY token developed by DeCurret DCP, a Mitsubishi UFJ–backed venture. With $1.29 trillion in deposits across 120 million accounts, the move could streamline settlement of tokenized securities. Corporate strategies are also shifting. Last month Tokyo-based game developer Gumi said it would acquire 2.5 billion yen ($17 million) worth of XRP between September 2025 and February 2026, following its earlier 1 billion yen ($6.8 million) Bitcoin purchase this year. The company described XRP as central to its expansion into international remittance and liquidity networks led by its largest shareholder, SBI Holdings. Japan’s crypto footprint abroad is growing as well. Coincheck, a leading exchange in Japan, is entering Europe through the acquisition of Aplo, a French-licensed digital asset brokerage. The deal follows Coincheck’s Nasdaq listing last year via its Netherlands-based holding company.