NPIXEL Wraps Up 2nd Community Test for Web3 Game “Gran Saga: Unlimited”

PDAX gears up for trading surge amidst Binance market exitThe Philippine Digital Asset Exchange (PDAX), an order book exchange, is planning to take full advantage of Binance’s regulatory issues in the Philippines, with the expectation of an uptick in trading volume as a direct consequence.Photo by iSawRed on UnsplashMarket opportunityAccording to a Filipino English-language broadsheet publication, The Daily Tribune, PDAX CEO Nichel Gaba sees the exit of Binance, flagged by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as an unauthorized exchange in the Philippines, as a pivotal moment for local virtual asset service providers (VASPs) to expand their market presence. Gaba envisions that the anticipated migration of traders from Binance could propel the country’s cryptocurrency trading volume to an estimated $6 billion by 2024.Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) demonstrates that there are currently 17 VASPs in the Philippines, with 10 operational and seven inactive. As one of the operational ones, PDAX is preparing for the expected growth in the local sector.The SEC in the Philippines has been actively working towards imposing a ban on Binance, citing various issues both locally and internationally. Gaba predicts that this development will prompt a substantial number of Filipino cryptocurrency traders to seek alternative, legitimate trading platforms. Gaba stated:“Now that Binance is being banned, there are a lot of users wondering where they can go and the best option for them is to go to a licensed exchange like PDAX. Our strategy as a company is to focus on being the best alternative.”Binance ban countdownAccording to local news outlet BitPinas, the head of the Philippines SEC, Kelvin Lee, clarified that Binance and any other unregistered exchange issued with an advisory have three months before they are banned from the country.Addressing the confusion surrounding the ban during a panel discussion on Wednesday, Lee stated that the ban would be in effect three months from the issuance date of Nov. 29. In that way, time has been allowed for feedback and potential extensions.While the original recommendation was for a shorter transition period, Lee extended it, considering the upcoming Christmas holiday, stating, “Not to make it hard for Filipino investors during that time.”Two additional exchanges bannedIn addition to Binance, Lee mentioned that OctaFX and MiTrade, along with other exchanges that have received advisories for unregistered operations, will also face bans after three months. The local SEC disclosed having a sizable list of unregistered exchanges that will gradually emerge.Responding to criticisms of the ban, given that some users find Binance to be “cheaper” than other registered exchanges, Lee emphasized the importance of compliance costs and consumer protection. He urged local investors to “invest in registered entities” among the 17 VASPs registered in the country that offer fiat-to-crypto services.The BSP-regulated VASPs are expected to process crypto assets worth approximately $3 billion by the end of the year. However, this estimate does not take into account unregulated transactions occurring outside of VASP channels.

Triple-A Secures Series A Funding to Advance Crypto PaymentsTriple-A, the Singaporean digital currency payments firm founded by Eric Barbier, has announced the successful closure of its $10 million Series A funding round.Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash$10 million raiseIn a statement on its website on Wednesday, the firm outlined that the raise had been led by Peak XV Partners (formerly known as Sequoia India & South East Asia), who had previously invested in the company. In addition, the round received support from Abu Dhabi-based venture firm Shorooq Partners, alongside other undisclosed repeat backers.The company offers white-label solutions for businesses, facilitating the seamless integration of cryptocurrency payments with quick conversion to fiat money in their bank accounts within just one day. Triple-A currently supports various cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ether, Tether, and USD Coin.According to Barbier, stablecoins are a game-changer in payments, as they enable real-time settlements, in contrast to traditional payment methods like SWIFT transfers, which may take several days to clear. He stated: “With stablecoins, individuals and businesses worldwide, even in emerging countries, can now easily own and use a USD-denominated currency.”Barbier is known for his earlier success in founding the cross-border payments platform Thunes. The idea for Triple-A was born while Barbier was working at Thunes and recognized the potential of cryptocurrencies in resolving chargeback fraud issues.Barbier saw cryptocurrencies as a more efficient payment method for businesses engaged in cross-border transactions. He explained:“Cryptocurrency payments not only shield businesses from chargeback fraud risks but also help to streamline B2B cross-border payments. With instant settlements and no middlemen required, I realized we could solve many pressing issues in the payments industry today.”Expanding operations globallyThis funding round follows Triple-A’s $4 million seed round, bringing the total funds raised to date to $14 million. The new capital injection will be directed towards expanding Triple-A’s operations in key regions, including the Middle East, North America, and South America.Moreover, the company plans to enhance its cryptocurrency solutions and offerings in its crypto payments and payout products. Currently headquartered in Singapore, Triple-A boasts a global presence with offices in Miami, Hong Kong, Paris, and Barcelona, supported by a team of over 70 professionals.Regulatory compliant pathTriple-A is trying to differentiate itself through adherence to regulation. The company holds licenses that permit it to operate globally, including one from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) as a payments institution and a payments institution license from the central bank of France, allowing it to execute payment transactions across all EU member states.The company is registered with the United States Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and is actively looking to expand its regulatory footprint. In line with the regulatory path the business is treading, Triple-A’s target clientele primarily consists of enterprises that value compliance, regulation, and licensing and seek to engage in cryptocurrency payments without the associated risks and complexities.Triple-A has already gained traction, serving more than 20,000 businesses, including prominent names such as iStudio, Farfetch, Charles and Keith, Singapore Red Cross, Razer, and Reap, along with other large enterprises. In July, it partnered with universal payments platform Optty to enable crypto payments. The onboarding process is swift, with Triple-A completing the Know Your Customer (KYC) procedure and onboarding within one to two business days. The integration methods offered include API and no-code integration.

WEMIX PLAY to Add Two New Blockchain Games to LineupSouth Korean gaming publisher Wemade said Monday that it has agreed to onboard two new sports games, Ballies and El Jefe Futbol, on its blockchain gaming platform WEMIX PLAY.Photo by ELLA DON on UnsplashThis is the latest development in Wemade’s continued efforts to expand its global partnerships in order to secure a diverse game lineup on WEMIX PLAY and diversify genres within its gaming portfolio.New Web3-enabled games for sports enthusiastsBallies, developed by Ballies LLC, is a blockchain-based, basketball-themed strategy card mobile game. It operates on an on-ramping lend-to-earn system as a Web2 game while incorporating the benefits of Web3 platforms. Users can engage in various blockchain-integrated content, such as lending avatars to other players or participating in tournaments to earn game tokens. The game recently wrapped up beta testing and will be released at the end of this month, according to an announcement on its official X (formerly Twitter) account.On the other hand, El Jefe Futbol is Studio 369’s new soccer strategy game set to launch on November 15. Players can create soccer teams, train players, and participate in various types of matches, including tournaments, league matches, and player-versus-player (PVP) games. They can also convert their athletes into non-fungible token (NFT) cards for trading.Once these games are released, users will have the opportunity to buy and sell NFTs from Ballies and El Jefe Futbol on the WEMIX PLAY marketplace.Opportunity for expansionKlemen Gradisar, Co-Founder of Ballies LLC, expressed his excitement to be a part of the WEMIX community, deeming the WEMIX PLAY onboarding a monumental step for the platform. Matt Candler, CEO of Studio 369, added that this will be an opportunity for Studio 369’s blockchain games to reach a wider audience. As a development studio with expertise in compatibility across various platforms and high-quality gameplay, he said that the studio is committed to providing top-notch gaming experiences.