Cheongju City Targets Cryptocurrency to Recoup Unpaid Taxes

Cronos Labs launches zkEVM chain testnetCronos Labs, the developer behind the Cronos blockchain ecosystem, is charting a new path in the blockchain space by launching a zkEVM chain.From Cosmos to EthereumThe Cronos zkEVM chain is being launched in the first instance as a test network. The layer-2 blockchain will rely upon ZK Stack, the software kit developed by Matter Labs. In this way, the project will be extending its scaling roadmap from Cosmos to Ethereum. As Matter Lab’s SVP of Business and Operations, Marco Cora put it:“When we introduced the ZK Stack, we opened up the door for anyone wanting to build on top of Ethereum to do so by deploying hyperchains. Whether you’re building a specialized Rollup or a general purpose one, hyperchains allow you to tap into Ethereum’s extensive userbase base and liquidity while preserving its robust security and decentralization.”The journey began with the creation of the first chain in the Cronos ecosystem — a Cosmos appchain developed in collaboration with Singapore-headquartered crypto platform Crypto.com and launched in 2021. Subsequently, Cronos introduced an EVM-compatible chain in 2022, built using the Cosmos SDK. Notably, these new endeavors complement, rather than replace, the earlier established chains.Photo by Kanchanara on UnsplashThe product of collaborative effortsA significant development in Cronos’ evolution is the introduction of zkEVM, a result of collaborative efforts involving Cronos Labs, Matter Labs and engineering teams from stakeholders Crypto.com and existing dApp developers. The zkEVM testnet is a breakthrough, utilizing Ethereum’s Sepolia testnet and incorporating zkSync’s open-source prover, Boojum — a STARK-based zero-knowledge proof system known for its efficiency in the layer-2 rollup space, with low hardware requirements and fees.The decision to launch a native Ethereum chain stemmed from challenges in bridging EVM chains and bridging between Cosmos and Ethereum, according to Ken Timsit, Managing Director at Cronos. Timsit emphasized the richness and robustness of the Ethereum developer ecosystem for building DeFi and NFT applications.Native account abstractionHyperchains within the ZK Stack share components, including a native bridge to the Ethereum mainnet and zkSync’s trustless bridging mechanism, ensuring assets remain secured by Ethereum. The implementation of zkSync’s native account abstraction allows transaction fee payments in various cryptocurrencies, including Cronos’ native token (CRO).Cronos’ zkEVM is anticipated to progress to the mainnet in the second quarter of 2024, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of hyperchains.The landscape of hyperchains is expanding, with projects like GRVT and Tradable utilizing the ZK Stack. GRVT, a derivatives exchange, and Tradable, a tech firm focused on bringing private credit on-chain, exemplify the diversity and specialization within this emerging sector. Tradable aims to establish an institutional-focused hyperchain, potentially forming a decentralized chain alongside other institutional partners.Matter Labs views the zkSync hyperchain as a superior option compared to app-specific chains in Cosmos, emphasizing the scalability and security benefits. Hyperchains, a potential alternative to private blockchain frameworks like Hyperledger or Corda, offer technical scalability with the benefits of Ethereum. However, practical scalability remains a challenge due to cost considerations and the social coordination problem.

ICP Planning Hong Kong HubThe development team behind the Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) is planning on creating a Hong Kong-based hub.In Twitter comments published on Wednesday, Dominic Williams, the Founder of the Dfinity Foundation, the development team responsible for ICP, stated that as a consequence of his recent visit to Hong Kong and participation in the Web3 Festival, the project “plans for an Internet Computer Hub, probably in Cyberport.”©Pexels/PixabayICP is a set of protocols that facilitate independent data centers globally to band together, offering a decentralized alternative to the existing centralized cloud providers. On that distributed basis, it allows users to create websites, apps and various web-based services.Founded by Williams and the Dfinity Foundation, the project had the backing of venture capital firms Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and Polychain Capital from an early stage. Cyberport is a 25 hectare multimedia park in Hong Kong’s southern district, consisting of a hotel, four primary office buildings and a retail entertainment complex. It’s home to over 1,900 start-ups and technology companies, making it a creative digital community and technology cluster within Hong Kong.Giving Silicon Valley a run for its moneyWilliams had made a keynote address at the Web3 Festival last week. Dfinity expressed the view that enthusiasm for blockchain, Web3 and the ICP project was “off the charts” at the Hong Kong event. It seems that Williams was similarly enthused such that he wants to establish a physical presence for the project in Hong Kong.Prior to the Web3 Festival event, Williams had also stated that “dynamism in Asia is incredible” . . . “Asia will give Silicon Valley a serious run for its money.” In making a comparison with Silicon Valley, Williams referred to comments he had heard being made by a Taiwanese venture capitalist, suggesting in relation to leading Californian tech companies such as Facebook, “that nobody does any work, it’s like a retirement company.”ICP Asia AllianceAnother item that Williams noted as a take away from his Hong Kong visit was a recognition by the Dfinity Foundation founder that the formation of an ICP Asia Alliance is a possibility. He stated that “things [are] already happening” to effect this eventuality.Confirming that work in progress, it appears that Williams met last week with members of TinTin, a Web3 development DAO, as part of his ICP Asia Alliance initiative. It’s understood that as part of the initiative, the ICP Asia Alliance will cooperate with local venture capital firms in Hong Kong, with a view towards promoting and cultivating talent in Asia relative to Web3 and the ICP project.Building a new internetAs a Swiss non-profit, the Dfinity Foundation launched the ICP blockchain in May 2021. The project has garnered considerable attention from both developers and investors. It also distinguishes itself from many other blockchain projects insofar as it has attracted the involvement of leading tech companies such as Oracle and Samsung.At the time of publication, $ICP was trading at $6.24, 15% its 2023 high point of $7.34.

OSL Group, a publicly-listed digital asset and blockchain platform company headquartered in Hong Kong, is set to acquire Indonesia’s Evergreen Crest Holdings.Photo by Kelly Sikkema on UnsplashAs the proposed acquisition of Evergreen Crest, a business that includes a virtual assets exchange platform, will involve a share transaction, OSL filed details of the acquisition with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on June 2. OSL will take a 90% stake in Evergreen Crest in return for $15 million worth of consideration shares, which will be issued by OSL to the seller. This share issuance will account for 1.48% of the total issued shares in the company. Once the acquisition goes through, Evergreen Crest will become a subsidiary of OSL Group, with Evergreen’s financial results consolidated into the overall financial statements of OSL going forward.  ‘Strategic benefits’The filing suggests that OSL management believe that the acquisition “will bring substantial strategic benefits to the Group,” as it opens up access for the company to the Indonesian digital asset market. The company is optimistic about the outlook for the Indonesian crypto market. It stated: “Indonesia possesses key attributes conducive to growth in this sector, including a substantial and youthful demographic, robust economic growth fundamentals, and a rapidly increasing rate of cryptocurrency adoption.” Acquiring licensesOne interesting aspect of the acquisition is that Evergreen Crest has acquired the requisite licensing to operate within the Indonesian market. Those cryptocurrency and futures trading licenses are likely to be of significant value to OSL as it means that through the acquisition, OSL can now enter the Indonesian market in a fully compliant manner. Using the existing compliant platform, OSL intends to expand the range of services offered within the Indonesian market. It indicated that it would do so in respect of payment finance (PayFi) and tokenized real-world asset (RWA)-related products and services, subject to acquiring the necessary licensing. OSL is encouraged by the opportunity that exists within Indonesia as far as tokenized RWAs are concerned. It claimed that the country has already demonstrated significant tokenized RWA-related activity. PT Multikripto Exchange Indonesia (also known as Koinsayang), the exchange business owned by Evergreen Crest, was awarded a virtual asset trading license by the Indonesian regulator, the Financial Services Authority (OJK), in March. At the time, the exchange outlined that it intended to expand its service reach, while creating a better trading experience for users located within Indonesia and overseas. In September 2024, the exchange was awarded a license to offer crypto asset perpetual futures contracts by Indonesia’s Commodity Futures Trading Supervisory Agency (Bappebti).  OSL expanding its reachOSL appears to be making a concerted effort to expand beyond its Hong Kong base. In February it acquired CoinBest, a Japanese crypto exchange, rebranding the business as OSL Japan. At the time it was reported that the company was also looking at opportunities to expand in European markets. OSL was amongst the first digital asset exchange platforms to be licensed in Hong Kong, receiving Type 1 and Type 7 licenses from the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) in December 2020.