Nexon Korea Intensifies its Blockchain Focus with Nexon Universe

The U.S. Department of Justice said on Dec. 2 that it had seized the web domain tickmilleas.com, which was used to facilitate cryptocurrency investment fraud (CIF) schemes, adding to two others seized last month as part of actions against the same Burma-based network. According to the announcement, the domains were operated by scammers based in Kyaukhat, Burma, who presented the site as a legitimate investment platform in order to solicit deposits from victims.Photo by Markus Spiske on UnsplashPromises of high returns as baitVictims who reported the activity to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) indicated that the recently seized website displayed fabricated investment returns and showed purported deposits credited to their online accounts. These figures appeared during guided walkthroughs of falsified trades, creating the appearance of a functioning platform. The Justice Department said the domain seizures are among the first actions taken since it established its first district-level CIF strike force, known as the Scam Center Strike Force, three weeks earlier. The unit operates under the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. According to the DOJ, the group behind the scheme is known as the Tai Chang scam compound. The network is described as being affiliated with the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) in Burma, Trans Asia International Holding Group Thailand Company Limited, and other entities. The U.S. Treasury listed these parties as specially designated nationals on Nov. 12, citing their ties to Chinese organized crime and their involvement in developing scam hubs across Southeast Asia. Russia probes crypto briberyWhile the U.S. case focused on fraud targeting individual investors, a separate development in Russia involved alleged corruption tied to cryptocurrency. DL News, citing a local media report, said Russian prosecutors are seeking to seize a portfolio of luxury assets linked to Georgy Satyukov, a fugitive former employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, after investigators concluded he had accepted illicit payments in Bitcoin and Ethereum, described as the world’s largest cryptocurrencies. Russian authorities allege that between March and October 2021, Satyukov received $184 million in Bitcoin and $30 million in Ethereum from operators of the failed WEX crypto exchange in return for shielding them from a criminal investigation. WEX had taken over the operations of the BTC-e trading platform in 2017. Investigators say Satyukov liquidated much of his cryptocurrency holdings and used the proceeds to purchase residential and commercial properties in several cities, as well as high-end cars, luxury watches, and jewelry. They have identified $29.6 million in assets believed to be linked to the alleged bribes, which could be transferred to the Federal Treasury if prosecutors win a conviction. The U.S. domain seizures and the separate corruption investigation in Russia illustrate the varied ways cryptocurrency has been implicated in recent criminal cases. Both developments underscore the continued attention authorities are giving to the risks surrounding digital assets. 

Me2on launches P2E game ‘Solitaire Crypto War’ with crypto integrationMe2on, a Seoul-based game developer, revealed the launch of its new game, Solitaire Crypto War, a play-to-earn (P2E) tournament game developed internally and published by its subsidiary, Memoriki. This Android game will be available globally, excluding South Korea and China. Memoriki, established in 2009 and originally based in Hong Kong, was acquired by Me2on earlier this year, broadening Me2on’s reach in the gaming market.Photo by Erik Mclean on UnsplashPVP card gameSolitaire Crypto War, developed from Me2on Group’s Solitaire IP, is a card puzzle player-versus-player (PVP) game that has amassed over 130 million global downloads. Players can engage in the classic Solitaire game against multiple opponents, competing to achieve the fastest clear times. The game ensures fair competition by matching players under identical conditions, with the highest scorer emerging as the winner. Designed for fast-paced gameplay, it pairs players of similar skill levels. Additionally, each season introduces unique events like puzzle piece collecting, Monopoly, and Powerball games, offering various rewards.Available in both free and paid optionsSolitaire Crypto War is a free game, but it also offers a feature where users can opt to use cryptocurrencies like ETH, USDT, USDC, UNI, LINK, MATIC and MEV to participate in competitions against other players and win prizes. The game boasts a variety of modes, including PVP battles, challenges and tournaments, enhancing its appeal. Additionally, its integration with Face Wallet enables users to log in using their social accounts, eliminating the need for a separate wallet installation, thus simplifying the gaming experience.Event running until Dec 28In celebration of the official launch of Solitaire Crypto War, Me2on has planned an opening event running until Dec. 28, providing various benefits to its users. Everyone accessing the game during this event period will receive a welcome package. Additionally, players can engage in various activities such as the game review challenge, ticket triumph challenge, and community quest takedown to receive items daily, enhancing their gaming experience and rewarding their participation.Cho Choong-hyeon, who leads Me2on’s Blockchain Game Division, expressed that the company has integrated blockchain technology to bring the classic card game Solitaire into the Web3 realm. He emphasized that this move allows Solitaire to evolve into a play-to-own (P2O) game, where users can directly own their gameplay achievements. Cho also highlighted Me2on’s dedication to being at the forefront of the Web3 market, which he believes is set to transform the paradigm of the gaming industry.

AliExpress Partners With ‘The Moment3!’ NFT ProjectAliExpress, the renowned global e-commerce platform and subsidiary of China’s Alibaba Group, is making its entry into the world of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) through a newly announced partnership with The Moment3!, a Web3 project. The collaboration aims to release a collection of 5,555 NFTs later this month.Photo by Andrey Metelev on UnsplashWhat is ‘The Moment3!’?Oddly, we know very little about the project. Its Telegram channel has just been established, it doesn’t have a website, while its Discord and Twitter channels are also recently established with modest followings. Anonymity is a feature in Web3 and perhaps that’s the approach this project is taking. Whatever the background, it has to be said that there must be some talent behind the project for it to secure the backing of an entity like AliExpress by way of this partnership.This recent announcement was initially made on AliExpress’ official Twitter account but that tweet has since been removed. The project itself tweeted out news of the partnership on Thursday. The Moment3!’s mission, as stated in its Twitter bio, revolves around utilizing NFTs to immortalize special moments on the blockchain.According to the project’s Discord channel, The Moment3! aims to connect with real-world businesses and provide NFT owners with benefits and exclusive rights beyond the collectible value.NFT debutThis marks AliExpress’ initial venture into the NFT market, although its parent company, Alibaba, has previously explored the Web3 space. In September 2022, Alibaba’s luxury shopping platform, Tmall Luxury Pavilion, introduced an immersive shopping metaverse experience and introduced the Meta Pass, granting users free access to virtual experiences.Alibaba-Centric Web3 projectsThere have been several other Web3-related investments and developments related to Alibaba Group companies in recent months.Last month, Alibaba Cloud, one of the world’s largest cloud computing companies, joined forces with the Avalanche layer one blockchain project to introduce “Cloudverse,” a launchpad facilitating the creation of personalized spaces within the metaverse for businesses.In April Alibaba Cloud was the co-organizer of the Web3 Festival, an event held in Hong Kong to showcase the autonomous Chinese territory for the development of the Web3 sector. The four-day event attracted 10,000 attendees.In early May, Artifact Labs, a Hong Kong-based start-up company that specializes in metaverse and Web3 product offerings, raised $3.25 million in a funding round led by Blue Pool Capital. The investment firm is the personal investment vehicle of Alibaba founders Jack Ma and Joe Tsai.NFT warningAliExpress, owned by Alibaba Group, is a global e-commerce platform that does not cater to customers in mainland China, despite being headquartered in China. The Chinese government prohibited all cryptocurrency transactions in September 2021. NFTs remained legal although authorities recently issued a warning on their use, together with some guidelines.With its new collaboration, AliExpress is expanding its reach into the Web3 space and exploring the potential of NFTs. As the release date approaches, anticipation grows to witness the specific features and benefits offered by the 5,555 NFTs that will soon be available to the public.