Dunamu Collaborates with Credit Institutions to Aid Young Debtors

South Korean digital marketing company FSN’s subsidiary Fingerlabs has been selected as a tenant of the city of Busan’s Blockchain Offshore Firm Development Center. The company confirmed that it moved in recently on Jan. 2.Photo by Héctor J. Rivas on UnsplashFostering growth and collaborationThe Blockchain Offshore Firm Development Center is part of a project conducted by the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) and the Ministry of Science and ICT and operated by Busan to create a special corporate cluster of blockchain firms, thus revitalizing the blockchain industry and nurturing a sustainable industrial ecosystem. "We are excited to be a new tenant at the Blockchain Offshore Firm Development Center,” said Kim Dong-hoon, CEO of Fingerlabs. “We will share our business know-how with other tenants and commit to joint growth. We will also actively participate in various programs provided by the center to contribute to Busan's leap into becoming a digital economy city." Various companies operating blockchain-related businesses outside of Busan were selected to be a part of the development center after a comprehensive overall evaluation of factors like technological facets, marketability and contributions to innovation. Corporate residents have access to various infrastructure and benefits, including facilities and programs at the Busan Blockchain Venture Convention, also dubbed “b-space”. Fingerlabs plans to participate in various programs led by the public sector such as councils, seminars and conferences to help Busan – notably the first regulation-free special zone for blockchain businesses in South Korea – foster its digital economy based on its expertise in the field of Web3.  Innovating Web3 solutionsFingerlabs has grown to become one of the country’s major blockchain companies through its varied services and products, which are provided to corporate clients like SK Planet, Lotte Home Shopping and SK Networks. In particular, it recently launched Bling, a participatory Web3 membership platform that allows businesses to create and manage NFTs that are linked to membership-only benefits. The company also operates a Web3 content distribution hub called Xclusive and Favorlet, an NFT wallet and customer management service. 

Incheon Partners with Daehong to Implement Web3-Driven Urban Marketing StrategyIncheon Metropolitan City, renowned for its international airport in South Korea, has partnered with Daehong Communications, a marketing solutions subsidiary of the country’s retail giant Lotte Group, to leverage Web3 technology for the purpose of promoting the city.Daehong has established an extensive global network within the blockchain industry. Among its notable partners are layer 1 blockchain Aptos, Metaverse company Animoca Brands, and decentralized social protocol CyberConnect. One of Daehong’s primary initiatives is the NFT project associated with Bellygom, a pink bear character of Lotte Homeshopping, a media commerce affiliate of Lotte Group.Photo by Daesun Kim on UnsplashHarnessing blockchain for city promotionThrough this collaborative effort, Incheon aims to harness blockchain technology to explore innovative ways of promoting the city and building stronger connections with its residents.Incheon has recently been very dedicated to Web3 initiatives in promoting the city. Last month, it worked with The Sandbox, the virtual gaming platform of Animoca Brands, to create a metaverse representation of the Incheon Landing Operation to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice Agreement. More recently, the city unveiled its NFT membership program named “Incheon Heroes,” demonstrating its commitment to pioneering its unique path in the era of Web3.Daehong’s role in Web3 adoptionIn the private sector, Daehong has been working towards the widespread adoption of Web3. The marketing firm introduced business models that integrate NFTs into areas that have significant public engagement, such as ticketing, memberships, and brand characters. Daehong has been actively working to facilitate many brands’ entry into the Web3 space.Lee Se-woong, Brand Manager of Incheon City, anticipates that the collaboration with Daehong will serve as a fresh catalyst for Incheon, expressing excitement about the potential synergies between Incheon’s public infrastructure and Daehong’s industrial expertise.Incheon is set to initiate a range of projects by leveraging the Incheon Heroes NFT membership program and the Incheon Universe, a virtual space that allows visitors to immerse themselves in various facets of the city. Furthermore, the city is in the process of establishing collaborations with enterprises, brands, and artists who share a common interest in promoting the sustainability of both the planet Earth and the city itself.

Singapore-based cryptocurrency trading platform BingX has secured a sponsorship deal as the new sleeve sponsor for Premier League football club Chelsea.Photo by Chaos Soccer Gear on UnsplashJanuary 9 debutThe arrangement, spanning the next six months, is expected to debut during Chelsea’s Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg match against Middlesbrough on Jan. 9. As part of this sponsorship, BingX will prominently feature on the front of Chelsea’s training kits for the upcoming 2024/25 season. Meanwhile, the current shirt sponsor, Infinite Athlete, will transition to a training sleeve sponsorship starting next season. While details about the fate of Chelsea’s training kit deal with Trivago, an online hotel booking site, remain uncertain, the club is navigating sponsorship changes in the wake of owner Roman Abramovich’s prior ownership and UK government sanctions. Corporate rebrandEstablished in 2018, BingX operates as a cryptocurrency exchange headquartered in Singapore, catering to a user base of over 10 million in Southeast Asia and North America. In November, the company announced that it was rebranding the business. Part of that process was understood to involve an overhaul of BingX’s visual identity, with the introduction of a streamlined logo. Sponsorship within the English Premier League is a high profile marketing move that will undoubtedly bring more visibility to that brand. Crypto marketing spend reboundThe marketing spend of crypto firms relative to high profile sponsorship deals has recovered significantly in recent months. Such sponsorship deals peaked at the top of the crypto market in 2021. That period saw profligate spending by many of the large crypto platforms. A standout example was provided by the $135 million sponsorship deal signed by fraudulently run crypto exchange FTX for the Miami Heat stadium naming rights in the United States. While that opulent sponsorship spending subsided during the bear market, it appears that there has been a modest resurgence as market conditions have improved. Seychelles-based crypto platform OKX has ongoing marketing relationships with the McLaren Formula One racing team and Manchester City Football Club. In March, U.S.-based crypto exchange Kraken announced a marketing partnership with the Williams Formula One racing team. Earlier this week it emerged that crypto gambling platform Stake.com had signed a sponsorship deal with the Sauber Formula One team. 18 of the 20 English Premier League clubs are now understood to have agreed sponsorship deals at one time or another with crypto companies. This demonstrates the growing trend of cryptocurrency platforms associating with high-profile sports partnerships, enhancing their visibility and influence in the market. Chelsea is actively seeking a front-of-shirt sponsorship deal, considering potential collaborations, including discussions with Saudi national carrier Riyadh Air. It’s understood that the BingX deal has been agreed for in excess of £10 million ($12.7 million) per season.