Japanese Crypto Exchange Zaif Adds KLAY/JPY and KLAY/BTC Trading Pairs

Hyosung TNS and APoT Join Hands to Promote NFT Portal ServiceSouth Korean IT infrastructure and financial solutions provider Hyosung TNS announced that it is teaming up with APoT Platforms, a company specializing in developing blockchains for real-world assets (RWAs), to promote NFTtown — Hyosung TNS’ portal service dedicated to providing information, news, and educational content on NFTs.Photo by Andrey Metelev on UnsplashBringing real-world assets to blockchainAPoT Platforms is equipped with technology that is able to embed data on RWAs, such as artwork and luxury goods, thereby connecting them to the blockchain. The company also maintains an extensive network of collaborative relationships with various NFT artist organizations and communities both domestically and abroad.Hyosung TNS plans to bring APoT’s artist network to NFTtown, allowing users to easily access information regarding NFT artists and their works.The two companies will also work together on other efforts, including introducing NFT artworks, digital product transfers, and events for NFT holders.NFT art exhibitionAs the first step of their collaboration, they plan to exhibit and sell works by renowned NFT artists such as Han Kwang-suk, Quiet Eye, and HAN (Han Sun-ok) this month at the Lotte Department Store Ilsan’s Spazio We;R Gallery.

Circle Considers Issuing Stablecoin in JapanCircle, the US-headquartered payment services company and stablecoin issuer, is considering issuing a stablecoin in Japan following the implementation of new regulations on stablecoins.Jeremy Allaire, Co-Founder and CEO of Circle, expressed his interest in exploring partnerships in Japan due to the significant potential of the market under the new rules.Photo by Su San Lee on UnsplashGrowing importance of stablecoinsIn an interview with CoinDesk Japan recently, Allaire highlighted the growing importance of stablecoins in cross-border trade, foreign currency transactions, and global commerce. He believes that Japan, with its recently established framework for the use of overseas stablecoins, has positioned itself as a pioneering country in this regard. Allaire described the stablecoin bill as the Japanese government’s and the Financial Services Agency’s most significant achievement.The revised Payment Services Act in Japan recognizes stablecoins backed by legal tender as an “electronic payment method” and allows for their issuance. However, stringent rules are in place for stablecoin issuers.These include the requirement for stablecoins to be pegged to the yen or other legal tender and the guarantee of redeemability at face value for holders. Only licensed financial institutions, such as banks, registered money transfer agents, and trust companies, will be authorized to issue stablecoins.Breaking into AsiaAllaire emphasized Circle’s interest in establishing partnerships within Japan, a country he recently visited. Circle has already obtained a Major Payment Institution (MPI) license in Singapore, enabling the company to offer various digital payment services, cross-border money transfers, and domestic money transfer services.The Japanese market has witnessed major financial institutions exploring stablecoin initiatives. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation (MUFJ), for instance, announced its plans to launch its own stablecoin platform named Progmat last month. MUFJ also entered into a partnership with Japanese blockchain interoperability solutions provider, Datachain, recently. It’s thought that the move will facilitate both parties in undertaking further work on stablecoin-related initiatives.Circle’s consideration of issuing a stablecoin in Japan underscores the company’s recognition of the country’s regulatory advancements and the potential for stablecoin adoption. As stablecoins gain further traction globally, Japan’s new framework positions it as an important market for Circle and other players in the industry.It’s not just Japan that highlights the need for further stablecoin development. A new policy proposal was published in Hong Kong earlier this week that made a point of urging the Hong Kong authorities to issue its own Hong Kong dollar-backed stablecoin.The objective of such an initiative would be to compete on an international basis with leading US dollar stablecoins such as Circle’s USDC and USDT/Tether. By being proactive in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, Circle could head off rising potential challenges such as that suggested by these stablecoin researchers in Hong Kong.The partnership opportunities in Japan align with Circle’s mission to facilitate efficient and secure digital transactions, and it will be intriguing to observe how the company navigates this emerging landscape in the months to come.

Metaplanet, the Tokyo-headquartered Bitcoin corporate treasury firm, has purchased an additional 696 BTC, following a stock split, bringing its total Bitcoin holding to 4,046 BTC.Photo by Kanchanara on Unsplash$341 million in BitcoinThe company publicized details of its latest Bitcoin purchase on X on April 1. It outlined that funding of this purchase was enabled through the allocation of cash held by the firm as a consequence of the sale of put options.  The average purchase price of the 696 BTC was 14,586,230 yen ($97,694). The average price the firm has paid per Bitcoin in relation to its entire holding of the leading digital asset is 12,943,181 yen ($86,689). Its overall Bitcoin holding has a total value of approximately $341 million. Taking to X, the firm’s CEO, Simon Gerovich, said that Metaplanet’s Bitcoin Income Generation business achieved 770 million yen ($5.2 million) in Q1 revenue, while year-to-date its Bitcoin yield has reached 95.6%. Stock split & bond issuanceThis purchase follows both a stock split and the issuance of bonds worth 2 billion yen ($13.3 million). On March 31, Metaplanet filed a disclosure outlining details of the bond issuance. The company issued the zero interest bonds via its Evo Fund. Buyers will be permitted to redeem the newly issued bonds at face value by Sept. 30. In an X post, Gerovich suggested that the bond issuance was being implemented in order to facilitate the company “buying the dip,” taking advantage of a downturn in the Bitcoin unit price over recent weeks. In a notice filed on Feb. 18, Metaplanet outlined details of its 10-to-1 stock split. The company described how it executed a reverse 10-to-1 stock split last August. This has created a problem for investors as in the interim, the stock price has increased significantly. Consequently, the share price is unwieldy, placing a substantial financial burden on investors. On that basis, the latest stock split will enable greater investor accessibility and improved liquidity. Arising from that, Metaplanet expects that it will gain a broader investor base. On March 30, Gerovich reported that Metaplanet stock is now a component within Betashares’ Crypto Innovators ETF. Betashares is an Australian asset manager with over $50 billion in assets under management.  The Metaplanet CEO suggested that the development pointed towards “growing interest from institutional investors,” while expressing his satisfaction with Australians now having access to Metaplanet’s Bitcoin First Strategy via the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). The ‘Asian MicroStrategy’Metaplanet is being regarded by many industry commentators as the “Asian MicroStrategy,” referring to the American Bitcoin treasury firm that recently rebranded to Strategy, having pioneered a particular approach to building a position in Bitcoin within a corporate treasury. Metaplanet appears to have adopted the same Bitcoin playbook. In an appearance on the Coin Stories Podcast recently, Metaplanet’s Gerovich said that he encourages his friends to put “100% of their net worth into Bitcoin.” Last month, the company confirmed that it was pursuing a strategy to accumulate 10,000 Bitcoin in 2025 and 21,000 Bitcoin by 2026. The firm is now ranked ninth in the world as a corporate Bitcoin holder. Within Asia, it is the leading corporate holder of the world's largest digital asset.