Korean Crypto Wallet Joins Forces with Kick Scooter Sharing Platform

BPMG joins XPLA as validatorSouth Korean blockchain platform developer BPMG has joined South Korean gaming corporation Com2uS Group’s layer 1 blockchain mainnet XPLA as a new node validator, following a partnership deal signed in July agreeing to collaborate on developing Web3 content and technology, according to CoinDesk Korea. As a validator, BPMG will play a crucial role in strengthening transparency, stability and scalability within the XPLA ecosystem.Photo by Shubham’s Web3 on Unsplash“We anticipate that this partnership will not only enhance the XPLA ecosystem’s credibility but also achieve qualitative growth through our collaboration in content and technology,” said Paul Kim, leader of the XPLA team.Competitive gaming and rewardsBPMG operates a Play-to-Earn (P2E) blockchain gaming platform called GemHUB, under which the company recently launched GemPION, a sub-platform dedicated to competitive gaming. GemHUB offers various games, including Number Shoot, Jelly Snake, Find Bird, Push Push Cat and Mayan Cryptex. GemPION allows users to engage in various forms of gaming tournaments and participate in missions to receive rewards.Ecosystem expansionThe two companies also said that they would onboard each other’s games onto their respective platforms. GemPION users will thus be able to participate in gaming leagues using XPLA tokens. “We are delighted to become a validator on XPLA after the previous signing of our content and technology partnership deal. We will work on strengthening our collaboration further by onboarding a variety of XPLA games on GemPION as well,” said Cha Ji-hoon, CEO of BPMG.This comes after Japanese gaming company Gumi recently joined XPLA as a validator as well. XPLA is steadily increasing its number of validators from 50 to 80 this year to build a more robust and trustworthy ecosystem.

Haechi Labs Joins Hands with Oasys for Entry into Japanese MarketHaechi Labs, a South Korean blockchain service and digital wallet provider, announced Thursday that it has signed a business deal with Japanese blockchain gaming platform Oasys to establish a footing in the Japanese market.Photo by Erika Fletcher on UnsplashFostering collaborationThrough the new partnership, the companies plan to share their technical expertise and promote mutual growth. In particular, Haechi Labs’ digital wallet, Face Wallet, will be onboarded on the Oasys mainnet. This integration will allow Oasys users to easily access Web3 services using their existing social media accounts. Face Wallet supports login through various social media platforms such as Google, Discord, Twitter, Facebook, Apple, and Kakao, thereby reducing entry barriers for users who are new to Web3.Haechi Labs will also provide a software development kit (SDK) for Face Wallet, enabling game developers operating their games on the Oasys platform to integrate the wallet into their services.“We expect that Face Wallet’s integration into the Oasys mainnet will streamline the onboarding process for Web3 games,” said Moon Geon-gi, CEO of Haechi Labs. “We will continue to pursue close cooperation with various companies in the future.”Gaming focusOasys’ multi-layered blockchain network is centered around gaming, consisting of a built-in L2 scalability solution. It has worked with various major gaming companies such as SEGA, Ubisoft, Bandai Namco, Nexon, and Netmarble, who participate in the network as validator nodes.

Sony Network Communications and Startale Labs to Launch Joint Blockchain VentureProminent Japanese internet service provider Sony Network Communications and Singapore-based Web3 company Startale Labs are undertaking a new joint venture to develop a blockchain network for facilitating the worldwide adoption of Web3.Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on UnsplashCultivating an innovative Web3 ecosystemThis comes after Sony Network Communications’ initial $3.5 million investment in Startale Labs back in June. Both companies expressed their commitment to paving the way for revolutionary Web3 applications through the development of a solid blockchain infrastructure. To do so, they said that they would leverage Sony Group’s knowledge and expertise in various sectors, such as gaming, music, entertainment, and financial services, to apply a multifaceted approach to the joint venture.“By combining Sony Network Communications’ experience in communication, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and solution services with Startale Labs’ insights and technical prowess in Web3, we aspire to create a global infrastructure that underpins the Web3 era, driving innovation across existing industries,” said Jun Watanabe, President and Representative Director of Sony Network Communications.The new business will be established this month under the name Sony Network Communications Labs.“This joint venture is founded on the synergy created by our respective assets and knowledge, and it is aimed at collectively developing a leading blockchain ecosystem. We are determined to discern Web3 trends and drive them globally,” said Sota Watanabe, CEO of Startale Labs.Governmental supportSony Group, Sony Network Communications’ parent company, has consistently been making strides in the Web3 realm. Sony Bank, another affiliate of the group, joined hands with Mitsui & Co. Digital Asset Management (MDM) a few months ago to establish MDM’s security token service Alterna.These efforts have been encouraged by a backdrop of active support for Web3 and crypto businesses from the Japanese government. The Japanese National Tax Agency recently announced the revised corporate taxation rules for crypto assets, which renders companies exempt from taxes on unrealized gains from cryptocurrencies if the virtual assets were issued by the company and have been continuously held since issuance, or if they have remained subject to certain transfer restrictions since issuance.Startale Labs’ popular smart contract platform Astar Network also recently launched an Ethereum layer 2 scaling solution dubbed Astar zkEVM: Supernova with Polygon Labs in a strategic move to expand Web3 adoption in Japan and onboard more enterprise partners.