Kiwoom Securities and Koscom Partner to Pilot Security Token Platform Amid Regulatory Changes

Two Singaporean firms are tokenizing a physical gold fund, joining a broader push to digitize real-world assets (RWAs) ahead of projected growth in the sector. According to CoinDesk, Marketnode, a digital infrastructure operator founded in 2021 by SGX Group and Temasek, has partnered with asset manager Lion Global Investors to tokenize the LionGlobal Singapore Physical Gold Fund. The fund, launched in November as the country’s first insured physical gold fund, will issue tokens on the Solana blockchain. The setup allows investors to subscribe to and redeem fund units on-chain through Marketnode’s network. The structure keeps traditional custody and full insurance on allocated bars, while offering an option for in-kind redemption. LionGlobal’s Enhanced Liquidity funds, denominated in U.S. dollars and Singapore dollars, will also be available on the platform.Photo by Zlaťáky.cz on UnsplashBhutan launches sovereign-backed gold tokenSingapore is among several countries moving to digitize precious metals. A separate CoinDesk report said Bhutan is expanding its blockchain strategy through Gelephu Mindfulness City, a special administrative region aimed at attracting foreign investment. The region is issuing the TER token, a gold-backed digital asset supported by the kingdom’s sovereign framework. The tokens are issued on Solana, with custody and distribution handled by DK Bank, Bhutan’s first licensed digital bank. The shift toward tokenizing tangible assets comes as analysts predict substantial growth in the market. CoinMarketCap data places the current market value of tokenized gold at about $3.2 billion. RWA market projected at $2TData from RWA.xyz shows the broader RWA market cap, excluding stablecoins, stood at $18.7 billion as of Dec. 18. In an October report, Standard Chartered projected that figure would reach $2 trillion by 2028, two years earlier than McKinsey’s forecast last year. Geoffrey Kendrick, Standard Chartered’s head of digital assets research, said the revised timeline reflects rapid expansion in the stablecoin market. He added that growth has been reinforced by the GENIUS Act, passed in the U.S. in July 2025, which introduced clear rules for fiat-backed digital tokens. Singapore tops global crypto adoptionThe collaboration comes as Singapore strengthens its leadership in digital assets. The World Crypto Rankings 2025, released on Dec. 10 by Bybit and DL Research, named Singapore the top country for crypto adoption among 79 jurisdictions. The report cited regulatory clarity and institutional maturity as key drivers, noting that more than 11% of Singaporeans hold cryptocurrency.

India Launches Crypto-Enabled Web Browser InitiativeIn a further leap into the digital frontier, the Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has unveiled the Indian Web Browser Development Challenge (IWBDC), signaling a significant move towards reducing the nation’s reliance on foreign technology.Photo by Julian Yu on UnsplashIndigenous web browserCentral to this ambitious initiative is the creation of an indigenous web browser with an innovative twist — the integration of cryptographic features for digitally signing documents. This advancement is poised to heighten the security and efficiency of online transactions, elevating India’s digital landscape.The launch event for the challenge took place at the India Habitat Centre and showcased a collaborative endeavor involving MeitY, Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA), and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC).Harnessing blockchain technologyAt its core, this initiative aims to bridge the traditional internet framework with the burgeoning potential of blockchain technology. A press release published by MeitY on Wednesday clarified that the web browser will boast an embedded CCA India root certificate, bolstering the browser’s security framework and upholding the sanctity of data privacy.Sunita Verma, Research & Development Group Coordinator at MeitY, underscored the profound significance of this initiative in India’s digital narrative. She conveyed the message from Alkesh Kumar Sharma, MeitY’s Secretary, emphasizing that this challenge embodies a pivotal stride toward realizing the vision of an “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” or self-reliant India.Further echoing this sentiment, Verma stated:“Digital India has orchestrated a transformative shift in our nation’s operational fabric. As we journey forward, the convergence of technology and homegrown innovation stands as a critical waypoint. More than just a browser, this is a symbol of a self-sufficient, digitally empowered India.”Progressive use caseIn line with the drive towards digital sovereignty, Arvind Kumar, MeitY’s CCA, illuminated the paramount significance of trustworthiness and security in the realm of digital interactions. He expressed his confidence that the forthcoming browser, fortified with the India Root Certificate, will render the nation more resilient against internet vulnerabilities, ultimately curbing dependence on foreign technology players.The IWBDC extends an open invitation to innovators across diverse domains, encompassing academia, industry, startups, and individuals, to contribute their ingenuity to this groundbreaking venture. The challenge brings with it a substantial prize pool of Rs. 3.41 crore ($0.4 million), offering not only financial incentives but also a chance to shape the trajectory of India’s digital future.While establishment agencies in India have largely been opposed to the legalization of cryptocurrencies, this initiative demonstrates that others are looking to exploit the blockchain and cryptocurrency innovation.While the Indian government has been active in calling for global crypto regulation, the country itself has not as yet finalized any such legislation relative to Web3 and cryptocurrency. Initiatives like this one help to showcase the possibilities that this innovation can bring about. That should serve to steer regulation in India towards a set of rules that enable the further development of that innovation.As the curtains rise on the Indian Web Browser Development Challenge, the world’s most populous nation is taking a decisive stride towards asserting its tech self-reliance, intertwining innovation with security, and laying the foundation for a digitally progressive India.

XPLA to Bring The Walking Dead: All-Stars to MainnetXPLA, the blockchain gaming platform operated by South Korean gaming company Com2uS Group, has announced that it will onboard Com2uS Holdings’ mobile collectible role-playing game (RPG), The Walking Dead: All-Stars.Photo by Rebekah Yip on UnsplashBringing a fan-favorite story to the gaming worldThe Walking Dead: All-Stars is based on the globally renowned “The Walking Dead” comics, leveraging the global intellectual property owned by Skybound Entertainment. It has received acclaim for its post-apocalyptic setting, characterized by captivating artwork that captures the ambiance of the original comics. Robert Kirkman, author of the comics and Chairman of Skybound Entertainment, has been directly involved in overseeing the project, earning support from fans of the series. The game has also been labeled as an Editors’ Choice app on Google Play.“The Walking Dead: All-Stars vividly brings to life the illustrations of the original comics, which triggered a global zombie craze. We will bring new forms of fun centered around in-game ownership for users worldwide within XPLA’s Web3 ecosystem, ” said Son Kyung-hyun, CEO of FunFlow, the Com2uS subsidiary that developed the game in collaboration with Skybound Games.The Web3 update for the game is scheduled to take place later this month, XPLA said. Users who connect their crypto wallets to the game will be able to collect in-game items and exchange them for XPLA, the platform’s native token, allowing players to own and utilize the assets that they have acquired in the game. Currently, the XPLA token is actively traded on global crypto exchanges such as Crypto.com, Gate.io, and HTX (formerly Huobi Global), as well as major domestic exchanges like Bithumb, Korbit, and GOPAX.Building the game lineupXPLA has been continuously onboarding Web3 games based on hit IPs, such as action RPG Summoners War: Chronicles, casual game MiniGame Party, fishing game Ace Fishing: Crew, and massively multiplayer online RPG (MMORPG) Idle Ninja Online, establishing itself as a global Web3 content hub centered around gaming and entertainment.