KOTEC and Busan Techno Park Join Hands to Boost Technological Growth of Busan Enterprises

Sony Network Invests $3.5M in Startale Labs to Drive Global Web3 AdoptionSony Network Communications, a prominent Japanese internet service provider, has made an investment of $3.5 million in Startale Labs, an innovative Web3 company based in Singapore. The primary objective of this collaboration is to establish an infrastructure that will promote the global adoption of Web3 technologies.Photo by Bastian Riccardi on UnsplashTelecom meets Web3Sony Network Communications, founded in 1995, offers high-speed fiber-optic broadband services and operates in various sectors of the telecommunications industry. The company is actively involved in advanced technology ventures such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI). Meanwhile, Startale Labs specializes in the Web3 domain, providing advisory services related to Web3, supporting the creation of layer 1 blockchains and applications, and collaborating with other entities to develop core Web3 functionalities.As part of this partnership, Jun Watanabe, the President and Representative Director of Sony Network Communications, will join Startale Labs as a director. He expressed his gratitude for the collaboration, emphasizing the deepening ties between Sony and Startale Labs. He highlighted the fruitful joint efforts already underway to advance Web3 technologies. Both companies share the objective of fostering an infrastructure that facilitates global Web3 adoption. Jun Watanabe said this initiative will lead to the emergence of revolutionary Web3 applications.Sota Watanabe, the CEO of Startale Labs, acknowledged Sony Group’s remarkable achievements across diverse industries such as gaming, entertainment, and financial services. He believes that Sony holds great potential in the Web3 sector, and Startale Labs is well-positioned to contribute its expertise and knowledge to this domain. With this partnership, Sota Watanabe envisions a collaborative effort that will not only foster the global Web3 infrastructure but also drive the creation of valuable and impactful Web3 applications.Sony’s Web3 expansionSony Group has been actively exploring opportunities in the Web3 field. Earlier this month, Sony Bank, another affiliate of Sony Group, partnered with Mitsui & Co. Digital Asset Management (MDM) to introduce MDM’s security token service, Alterna, to the Tokyo-based online bank’s customers. Through this collaboration, Sony Bank customers can invest in real-world assets, such as large-scale real estate properties, using security tokens provided by Alterna. This platform opens up investment avenues that were previously inaccessible to retail investors due to high capital requirements. Notably, the minimum investment requirement through Alterna is 100,000 yen.Government supportThere’s also been a positive move from the Japanese government for the Web3 and cryptocurrency industry. The Japanese National Tax Agency recently announced the revised corporate taxation rules pertaining to crypto assets. Under the new amendment, companies are exempt from taxes on unrealized gains from cryptocurrencies if the virtual assets were issued by the company and have been continuously held since issuance, or if they have remained subject to certain transfer restrictions since issuance.Startale Labs CEO Sota Watanabe welcomed this development on his Twitter account, stating that Web3 projects like Astar Network can now conduct business in Japan without moving their operations overseas. Meanwhile, he highlighted the importance of addressing the issue of corporate taxes on tokens issued by third parties in the future. He hoped for continuous engagement in constructive discussions with politicians and government agencies.

Hana Securities Holds Second Event to Promote Security Token VentureHana Securities, the securities arm of South Korean financial holding company Hana Financial Group, is currently holding the second event of its Meta1 project, which aims to bridge future assets with modern finance as part of the company’s security token platform venture.This comes after the first event in April, which was organized in collaboration with the art gallery Print Bakery (PBG), during which it showcased paintings and NFT artwork by PBG exclusive artists Kim Sunwoo and DADAZ.Photo by Zach Key on UnsplashA fusion of NFT art and creative workshopsThe second event, dubbed “Meta1 Art & Play,” is being held in collaboration with PBG again at Airdrop Space in Garosu-gil, southern Seoul, and will continue until September 3. It showcases an art exhibition of 20 works, including new NFT artwork by Kim Sunwoo and DADAZ as well as pieces by collage artist Sunhotan and illustrator Boat. The latter two artists will also teach one-day art workshops for pre-registered guests, and their works will later be issued as NFTs, Hana Securities said.Collaborative pop-ups and diverse eventsIn addition, the event features a pop-up bar jointly operated by Hana Securities and online liquor retailer Dali. Visitors can enjoy a cocktail made with the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Nomad Seoul edition whisky by signing up for Dali and opening a Hana Securities banking account. Johnnie Walker and Dali are participating as sponsors of the event.Visitors who make reservations beforehand will also be eligible to receive a cup of coffee and an NFT made by one of the participating artists. Surprise gifts will also be prepared for 100 guests every day on a first come, first served basis.“We have prepared ‘playable, visual, and enjoyable’ content for visitors to have hands-on engagement in line with the recent trend of experience-based consumption,” said Im Sang-soo, Head of the Wealth Management division at Hana Securities.

Hana TI Partners with BitGo for Web3 Digital Asset Custody SolutionsHana TI, Hana Financial Group’s financial information technology (IT) arm, announced that it will work with US-based digital asset trust company BitGo on technological collaborations related to Web3-based virtual asset custody services.BitGo has been taking steps to enter the Korean market, starting with the establishment of its Korean branch and its new joint venture for digital asset custody services with Hana Bank. Following this announcement, the company said that it would delve deeper into cooperation with Hana TI.Photo by Medienstürmer on UnsplashCharting the course for digital asset custody in KoreaMike Belshe, Co-Founder and CEO of BitGo, recently visited Hana Financial Group’s Integrated Data Center in Incheon’s Cheongna district, which serves as a digital finance facility for the group. He was accompanied by Park Geun-young, CEO of Hana TI, on a tour through the integrated security control center and server rooms.The two CEOs also discussed various cooperative strategies to expand the Korean market for digital asset custody services, including security measures such as obtaining Information Security Management System (ISMS) certification. In addition, Belshe emphasized the significance of a secure and transparent custody infrastructure for facilitating the issuance and distribution of institutional security tokens. To that end, he expressed BitGo’s commitment to consumer protection and enhancing transparency and security within the Korean digital asset industry together with Hana Bank and Hana TI.“We hope that this collaboration will have a positive impact on enhancing trust and stability in the local digital asset ecosystem,” Park added.Along with security cooperation, Belshe and Park agreed that building up the technical capabilities of Web3-based digital asset platforms is equally important in expediting the growth of the market.Belshe and Park also visited the Hana Global Campus in Cheongna — a hub for cultivating talent — as well as the group’s future headquarters, set to be completed in 2025. Hana TI representatives shared their vision for the Hana Dream Town project currently under development in Cheongna.Commitment to advancing Web3 technologyHana TI is currently concentrating efforts on strengthening its capabilities to internalize Web3-based blockchain technology. The company thereby established a division dedicated to Web3 endeavors in June of last year. It has since been actively engaged in research and development for technologies involved in blockchain infrastructure, digital assets, and security tokens.