Coinone Hires Former FSS Official as Head Auditor

Recognition of Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 6 has led to many crypto proponents in Asia foreseeing a positive outcome for crypto within the Asian region, and globally.Photo by Kevin Lanceplaine on UnsplashBright future for cryptoAccording to a report published by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), crypto proponents in China are expectant of a bright future for crypto both on the Chinese mainland and in Hong Kong. The mindset seems to be that a pro-crypto stance in the U.S. will lead to other jurisdictions taking a similar approach. HashKey CEO Livio Weng expressed such a view, stating:“Trump’s pro-crypto stance is expected not only to invigorate the US virtual-asset industry, but also to encourage Hong Kong to further relax its own virtual-asset policies in its quest to become a global Web3 hub.”  Prior to being elected, Trump had promised to fire Gary Gensler, who as Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has pursued a strategy of regulation by enforcement, a course of action that has been broadly criticized by crypto market participants in the United States. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse wasted no time in calling on Trump to act, and to fire Gensler. Influencing regulatory attitudesThere seems to be a consensus among commentators that the regulatory approach to crypto in the U.S. is going to become crypto-friendly. Crypto analyst Miles Deutscher suggests that “a Trump victory is a WIN for US tech innovation, as it would solidify [the United States’] status as a crypto powerhouse.” Weng believes that “this shift could also positively influence regulatory attitudes toward virtual assets in mainland China.” That view is mirrored in South Korea by KP Jang, head of Xangle Research. Jang asserts that “if Trump implements bold virtual asset policies while improving existing regulations, it is expected to accelerate regulatory reforms in Korea as well.” Sumit Gupta, CEO and co-founder of India’s largest crypto exchange, CoinDCX, outlined on X that Trump’s victory is a pivotal moment for global crypto, adding:”The direct effects of Trump’s policies might not alter India’s regulatory environment right away. However, global sentiment and investor behaviour will be influenced, eventually reaching India.” The CoinDCX CEO believes that should Trump now appoint regulatory leadership that’s crypto-positive, any resultant crypto regulatory framework adopted by the U.S. could become a blueprint for use by other nations. Gupta identified further potential upside insofar as the implementation of positive crypto policies by Trump would lead to a more attractive environment for crypto, “potentially opening up enhanced funding opportunities and partnerships for Indian startups as investors seek global growth.” Bitcoin price surgeAt the time of writing, the Bitcoin unit price is up 0.64% over the course of the past 24 hours, at $74,884. American business news channel CNBC reported that Bitcoin could reach $100,000 before Trump even takes office.  Matthew Hougan, chief investment officer (CIO) at crypto asset fund manager Bitwise, said that Trump’s election victory could herald in a “golden age of crypto,” with a friendlier regulatory environment leading to greater institutional investment and mainstream adoption.

ONEUNIVERSE Holds Second NFT Sale for Champions ArenaSouth Korean metaverse developer ONEUNIVERSE said Wednesday it is holding its second sale of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in celebration of the upcoming release of its newest AAA Web3 game, Champions Arena.Photo by Stefan Gall on UnsplashFueling earningsThe NFTs, called Champion NFTs, will play a pivotal role in boosting the core Play-to-Earn (P2E) feature of the game. Players must possess Champion NFTs in order to earn victory points, or VPs, within the game’s central hub called the Arena. These VPs can then be converted to and distributed as Gala (GALA), the native token of the game’s publisher Gala Games.The amount of VP that a player can acquire depends on factors such as the quantity and ranking of the Champion NFTs in their collection, as well as their tier ranking. Hence, more Champion NFTs means more VPs.“We are delighted to meet the demand of gamers who are eager to purchase NFTs leading up to the official release of Champions Arena. Through this sale, our goal is to ensure that as many users as possible can experience one of the core functionalities of the game — earning — right from the initial launch,” said Choi Won-jong, Chief Business Officer of ONEUNIVERSE.Global launch and exclusive offersChampions Arena will launch globally at 5 PM PT on August 23 as a mobile and PC game with the exception of South Korea and select countries, according to Gala Games. The NFTs will be available for purchase on the Gala Games official website starting today until the launch. They will be packaged within “Champion Boxes” that contain one of 18 different playable Champions, including those in the highest tier of Legendary.There is also an exclusive 30% discount event running until 3 PM on August 21.

Nod to Gender Diversity as ZORIXchange Appoints Female CEOIn an industry historically dominated by men, Dilys Cheng’s recent appointment as the CEO of Dubai-based ZORIXchange’s digital assets platform marks a progressive step in achieving gender diversity in the cryptocurrency space.The Middle Eastern crypto exchange business announced the appointment via a press release which was published on Monday.Photo by JÉSHOOTS on PexelsBanking backgroundThe firm articulated that Cheng, who hails from Nantou in Taiwan, gained experience in the banking world, igniting a fervent passion for streamlining financial ecosystems. Her eagerness to simplify these processes dovetailed with the potential of blockchain technology, propelling her on a mission of transformation.Leveraging her extensive background in finance, Cheng has merged her expertise in fiat exchanges with the emerging capabilities of blockchain technology. Her tenure as the former Director of Asia Blockchain Accelerator showcased her acumen, propelling startups toward global expansion by harnessing the power of blockchain.Addressing a gender imbalanceThe company also outlined the importance of the appointment from the perspective of gender equality, in an industry that is not well represented by women. The press release goes on to state that Cheng herself “places a strong emphasis on gender equality.” Cognizant of the formidable challenges women encounter in what is very much a male-dominated sector, it appears that Cheng has made the subject a cornerstone of her agenda.Cheng stated: “As we evolve technologically, it’s equally imperative that our culture evolves.”DiversificationThe gender diversity problem in crypto has long been recognized. When it comes to venture capital-backed crypto startups, less than 20% implicate female startup founders.Her rise through the ranks is more than just a professional achievement; it symbolizes the dismantling of merit-based glass ceilings and underscores the ongoing progress in society. Cheng’s ascendancy signifies a profound shift in the crypto realm, one that champions innovation and inclusiveness.From the perspective of investors, a study carried out by Gemini in 2021 found that only 26% of crypto investors were women. The issue isn’t confined to crypto and extends across the broader finance and technology spaces in general. A McKinsey study highlighted that 64% of C-suite executives in financial services were men, with 23% being women.ZORIXchange was founded in 2022 by David Pan. Pan previously worked for KPMG in Taiwan as its COO for Startups and Innovation. In 2018 he left KPMG to establish the ACE crypto exchange in Taiwan. ZORIXchange builds on his experience in the exchange business, within the Middle Eastern market and beyond. ZORIX has offices not only in Dubai, but also in Malaysia and Singapore. The firm has plans to extend its geographical offering further, with a proposed expansion into Hong Kong and Australia in the works.According to a press release published earlier this year, the company is focusing on getting compliance right. With that, it is in the process of acquiring licensing in Dubai, having previously obtained crypto trading licenses in Lithuania and Slovakia.The exchange is expected to launch fully in September, with plans to offer fiat withdrawal and deposit options, together with a debit card product.