CMCC Global Launches $100 Million Fund for Asian Blockchain Startups

Hanwha Resorts Partners with Blockchain Donation Platform CherrySouth Korean hospitality company Hanwha Hotels & Resorts (H&R) has announced on Tuesday a collaboration with Cherry, a blockchain-powered donation platform, to raise awareness for charitable giving, according to news outlet Economic Review.Photo by Markus Winkler on UnsplashTracking donations in real-timeCherry became the first mobile app in Korea to enable users to track their donations in real-time using blockchain technology. The platform offers various donation methods, including participation in dance challenges, which have attracted the interest of younger generations.Supporting through NPOThrough this partnership, Hanwha H&R will launch a donation campaign called Sneakers’ Day. The campaign will support underprivileged children’s leisurely travel through the non-profit organization (NPO) Yana once participants’ total steps reach 6 million. Users can join the event by clicking the Hanwha H&R campaign button on the Cherry app and walking.The app counts users’ steps and ranks them, fostering a competitive atmosphere and encouraging more participation. The campaign will take place from May 15 to 31, and is open to everyone.Rewards for participantsThe top three walkers will receive Hanwha H&R vouchers worth 100,000 KRW, 70,000 KRW, and 50,000 KRW. Participants who share a picture of their successful donation on social media will be entered into a random draw to win one of 10 travel kits. Additionally, walkers who achieve over 10,000 steps will have a chance to win one of 10 Starbucks gift cards.A Hanwha H&R official revealed that the company held a similar event for its employees last month, reaching the goal in just 10 days. The company plans to continue participating in various environmental, social, and governance (ESG) activities to maintain its commitment to social responsibility.

Barunson Labs and EQBR forge partnership to develop film-based security tokensBarunson Labs, a Korean blockchain-based platform for culture and arts, has joined forces with Web3 firm EQBR Holdings to offer film-based security tokens, aiming to bridge the realms of finance and cinema both in Korea and overseas.Photo by Felix Mooneeram on UnsplashBarunson’s diversified endeavorsBarunson Group, the parent company of Barunson Labs, has been a major leader in various cultural ventures involving film, drama, virtual reality, games and the metaverse. Notably, its production subsidiary Barunson E&A is known for its investment in “Parasite,” the critically acclaimed movie that won four Oscars at the 92nd Academy Awards.Earlier this year, Barunson Labs applied for a financial regulatory sandbox — a program under Korea’s Financial Services Commission that offers a special and provisional regulatory exemption for financial services that have been recognized for their innovativeness — to launch security tokens based on films. To gain approval, the firm also released the beta version of CRADE, a blockchain-based service that manages the flow of funds during the film production process.EQBR’s strategic expansionMeanwhile, EQBR has been developing a security token offering (STO) platform called Apanda Partners — a joint venture established with Shinhan Securities and Aegis Asset Management that received approval as a financial regulatory sandbox in December of last year. Apanda Partners’ Singaporean branch has since established a localized platform catered to the country’s securities firms and prepared for listing on the country’s regulated investment and trading platform SDAX. Barunson Labs and EQBR plan to list their first security token based on Korean content on SDAX in the first half of next year.“Starting with our collaboration with Barunson Labs, we are developing a process to make diverse assets available as products on various security token platforms built on EQBR’s technology,” explained Lee Hyun-ki, CEO of EQBR. “We will not simply talk about our technological possibilities but also demonstrate them through real-life cases, proving that investments can be diversified through the use of blockchain technology and smart contracts.”Lee is also set to participate in the STO Summit hosted by local news outlet Edaily from Thursday to Saturday (local time), where he will deliver a presentation on the application of STO solutions to actual financial services and the future trajectory of this trend. He will also introduce EQBR’s STO platform.“We are taking a dual-track strategy by simultaneously launching security token products in Korea and in overseas markets like Singapore, which is one step closer to institutionalization,” said Kang Shin-beom, CEO of Barunson Labs. He added that the company would launch more innovative investment products in the future that are poised to boost the status of Korean cultural and entertainment content on the global stage.

One in every two South Koreans has experience investing in cryptocurrency, Herald Business reported, citing a recent survey. The findings from the Korea Financial Consumers Protection Foundation’s (KFCPF) 2025 Virtual Asset User Survey were presented at a financial academic conference in Seoul on Feb. 27. The survey showed that people in their 30s were more likely to have invested in cryptocurrency than any other age group. Participation also rose notably among women and older adults. In particular, the average investment amount among older investors increased by roughly 2.3 times compared with 2023.Photo by Precondo CA on UnsplashCryptocurrencies ranked second among preferred investment vehicles, trailing stocks but ahead of real estate and bonds. About half of crypto investors access exchanges at least three times a week, the survey found. Around 40% have used additional exchange services, including crypto lending. Investors with less than 1 million won ($680) in holdings accounted for 25.3% of respondents. They also accounted for a disproportionately large share of reported financial damages, including losses stemming from exchange bankruptcies or hacks. Many were found to invest without fully understanding the risks involved. Experts urge stronger investor safeguardsLee Jung-min, a researcher at the Korea Financial Consumers Protection Foundation (KFCPF), said there has been a recent increase in debt restructuring applications from investors overwhelmed by interest payments and loans tied to crypto trading. She called for stronger safeguards to curb excessive investment hype and restore market confidence, as well as clearer legal guidelines on how user assets should be returned in cases of exchange failures or hacks. Citing the foundation’s research, Lee said many small-scale investors—particularly those with less than 1 million won ($680) in holdings or those who relied on online trading tip groups—had suffered financial harm. With disputes over small transactions rising, she added that regulators are considering a binding dispute resolution framework for small claims that could eventually be extended to crypto trading. Kim Eun-mi of the Korea Inclusive Finance Agency (KINFA) warned that the crypto market’s high volatility and information gaps pose heightened risks to financially vulnerable groups. She underscored the need for stronger safeguards, similar to those in place for vulnerable borrowers in traditional finance, and added that greater transparency over how policy loan funds are used would help authorities determine whether such programs are being diverted into crypto investments. KINFA CEO Kim Eun-kyung added that while the number of crypto participants has surpassed 10 million, consumer protection measures have not kept pace with the market’s rapid growth. Experts are calling for stronger financial education for older adults with limited knowledge of digital assets and low-income young people. Jung Dae, head of the Korean Academy of Financial Consumers, said 2024 figures from the Seoul Bankruptcy Court show particularly high rates of personal rehabilitation and bankruptcy among people in their 50s and 20s, driven largely by failed post-retirement businesses in the former group and heavy spending on online gaming and crypto investments in the latter. He urged policymakers to pair targeted interventions with rigorous research.  Crypto complaints jumpComplaints related to cryptocurrency surged in South Korea last month, as Bitcoin fell about 45% below its October peak. Cases categorized as “virtual currency” jumped from just 68 in December to 2,054 in February—more than a 30-fold increase—and were 55.5 times higher than a year earlier, according to SBS Biz, citing data released Feb. 27 by the Korea Consumer Agency and the National Council of Consumer Organizations. Analysts said the spike in crypto-related cases was largely linked to a promotional campaign by a trading platform that changed the terms of its API-linked subsidy program midway, triggering a wave of investor inquiries. Meanwhile, a weekly survey of Korean investors conducted by CoinNess and Cratos points to deepening pessimism in the market. Just 10.3% of respondents expect Bitcoin to rise this week, down from 15.5% a week earlier, while 64.2%—up from 52.8%—predict further declines. More than 61% said they feel fearful or extremely fearful, and only 11.2% expressed optimism. Still, despite mounting bearish sentiment and online claims that the crypto boom is over, 60.9% said they see extreme pessimism as a potential buying opportunity.