Zkrypto Partners with LG CNS to Develop Blockchain-Powered Business Models

Busan to Host Blockchain Week in Busan 2023 Next MonthThe South Korean port city of Busan is set to host this year’s Blockchain Week in Busan (BWB) from November 9 to 10 (local time) at the Signiel Busan Hotel. Touting the theme “Target 2026 Blockchain Busan,” local and overseas experts in the field of blockchain and Web3 will come together to discuss the prospects and potential of Busan to become an urban blockchain hub by 2026. The event will be co-hosted by local newspapers Busan Ilbo and Maeil Business Newspaper and jointly organized by entrepreneurship base camp Nonce, contents commerce network JJ Global, and Busan-based media company Bonmedia.Photo by Minku Kang on UnsplashPreparing for the future of blockchain development and financial innovationThe first day of the event will kick off with an opening speech by the city’s mayor Park Heong-joon as well as presentations on Busan’s trajectory for nurturing blockchain development. In addition, Kim Sang-min, the leader of Busan’s initiative to establish its own digital asset exchange, will present the three-year vision for the Target 2026 goal. Various Web3 companies will also gather for the inauguration of the Busan Blockchain Alliance.“BWB 2023 will give us the chance to envision how blockchain technology can change Busan and to visualize how the field will transform in ten years’ time,” Kim commented.A subsequent panel discussion will feature Rory Knight, the Chairman of Oxford Metrica, and Dimitrios Psarrakis, a financial economist who contributed to the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), who will speak on the Korean government’s digital asset regulations.Several professionals including Patrick Yoon, CEO of Crypto.com’s Korea branch, and Kim Ji-yun , CEO of blockchain software firm DSRV, are set to talk about various concepts under the umbrella of bridging blockchain and finance. This includes blockchain-based payment systems, digital IDs, and central bank digital currencies.In particular, loan officers from major investors like the Korea Development Bank, Korea Investment Venture Corporation, and BNK Financial Group will also be in attendance, giving Web3 companies an opportunity to introduce their business models and pitch their ideas for the architectural development of Busan’s urban blockchain infrastructure.Global investment insights and regulatory prospectsInvestment managers from overseas venture capital firms will be at the center of the second day’s events, covering a panel discussion about the global Web3 investment ecosystem and Busan’s integration into it. Caroline Pham, a Commissioner of the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission, is also set to speak with Jin Kang, Head of Legal at blockchain venture capital firm Hashed, on suggestions on crypto regulations for innovation.Meanwhile, Korean representatives of global mainnet projects plan to discuss the role of business directors in the Korean cryptocurrency market.“In pursuit of the vision that we will present at this year’s BWB, Busan is fully dedicated to becoming a global blockchain hub and a leading first mover in the industry by merging finance and blockchain technology,” said Mayor Park.

Korea’s Code Launches System to Detect Blacklisted Crypto WalletsCode, the only Travel Rule solution provider in South Korea, announced on Monday the launch of Protector, a detection system designed to identify blacklisted wallets in the cryptocurrency space. Established by a collaboration between three major Korean cryptocurrency exchanges (Bithumb, Coinone, and Korbit), Code aims to enhance security and compliance in the industry.Photo by Mariia Shalabaieva on UnsplashTravel RuleThe Travel Rule is a regulation that requires financial institutions to share information with each other about transactions to ensure their legitimacy and to prevent money laundering, terrorist financing, and other illicit activities.Wallet risk assessmentsThe Protector system of Code allows its members to assess risks associated with external wallets and take appropriate measures during the withdrawal and deposit of virtual assets. Risks will be categorized into three levels, represented by the colors white, gray, and black. A white designation signifies a normal status, gray serves as a warning, and black indicates a danger.Not only does Protector enable members to manage risks linked to crypto wallets more effectively, it also allows them to monitor the management status of Code’s Travel Rule.Streamlining regulatory complianceCode CEO Lee Sung-mi stated that the recently launched Protector system is designed to streamline regulatory compliance for Code members. By utilizing Protector, members can concentrate on their projects without being burdened by compliance concerns. Lee also emphasized that Code is committed to expanding its range of services for members in the future.The detection system was developed and is operated in partnership with Uppsala Security, a Singapore-based cybersecurity company specializing in blockchain-powered solutions.

Fair Weather Day for Rain With Abu Dhabi License ApprovalRain, the cryptocurrency exchange that serves the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Turkey, and Pakistan, has scored a significant regulatory win in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). On Tuesday, the Abu Dhabi unit of Rain secured a license to operate as a virtual assets brokerage and custody service within the country.Photo by Agnieszka Kowalczyk on UnsplashCoinbase backingHeadquartered in Bahrain and backed by Coinbase, Rain’s Abu Dhabi Global Market financial free zone entity will now have the authority to offer virtual asset services to institutional and select retail clients in the UAE. This includes the ability to facilitate the buying, selling, and custody of cryptocurrencies.According to Co-Founder Yehia Badawy, the newly acquired license brings additional advantages to Rain. Notably, the exchange will be able to open a bank account in the UAE, simplifying fund management for its clients who can now utilize the local payment network.For Rain, this regulatory approval holds particular significance, as it addresses the hesitancy among local asset managers to engage with crypto firms lacking a domestic license. With this stamp of approval, these managers are expected to feel more at ease collaborating with Rain, thus expanding the potential demand from institutional investors.$500 million valuationRain has been gaining traction since its establishment in 2017 by Badawy and three other co-founders. Kleiner Perkins and Coinbase Ventures, two prominent investors from Silicon Valley, have backed the exchange. Both participated via a Series B funding round in January 2022 that saw Rain raise $110 million. Interestingly, Rain’s leading investor, Coinbase, also expressed an interest in developing a base in Abu Dhabi in recent months.There has been a lot of speculation in recent times with regard to where Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, is headquartered. Although still not certain, many believe that Abu Dhabi provided that base for the company. Meanwhile, US-headquartered cryptocurrency exchange Gemini, is working towards establishing a base in the UAE.Overcoming challenging market conditionsLast year’s Series B fundraise resulted in the company achieving a valuation of $500 million. The funds from that round were earmarked for the expansion of Rain’s operations throughout the region. Later that same year, the company laid off dozens of employees as bear market conditions within the digital assets space began to bite. As market conditions worsened later that year, the firm announced a fresh round of job cuts in September.The UAE has been positioning itself as a crypto-friendly destination, aiming to attract major players in the cryptocurrency industry. By enabling cryptocurrency payments in sectors like real estate and education, the UAE has spurred adoption rates and transaction volumes. Additionally, the country has been actively working on developing virtual asset regulations to accommodate new business opportunities in a highly competitive Gulf region.Rain’s recent licensing achievement signifies a significant milestone for the exchange and contributes to the UAE’s ongoing efforts to establish itself as a leading hub for the cryptocurrency sector.