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United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based crypto market maker and Web3 investment firm DWF Labs has launched a $250 million fund for investment in mid to large-cap crypto projects. The company, which recently switched its administrative base from Singapore to Abu Dhabi, asserts that the fund will contribute towards the real-world adoption of Web3 technology. Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on UnsplashUp to $50M per projectTaking to X, DWF Labs Managing Partner Andrei Grachev announced the $250 million fund. He added:”Single ticket size ranged from 10 to 50M$ per a project. Cash + comprehensive support = Moon” In a statement published to the company’s website, DWF Labs outlined that the Liquid Fund initiative aligns with the firm’s commitment to contributing towards real growth within the broader crypto market. It stated: “The fund will provide strategic crypto venture capital and ecosystem support, ensuring sustainable growth for projects that drive real-world adoption and help promote change in the industry.” Initial dealsWork on the fund is already in motion. The company confirmed that it has already invested $11 million into promising blockchain projects as part of the initiative. Furthermore, DWF Labs confirmed that it is on the verge of signing two major investment deals with ticket values of $10 million and $25 million respectively. Beyond those deals, the firm asserts that other investment deals are in the pipeline. It clarified that the nature of the investment differs from traditional investments insofar as each deal incorporates a full-scale ecosystem growth strategy, devised specifically for the particular needs of each project. Grachev stated that the company believes “that strategic capital, coupled with hands-on ecosystem development, is the key to unlocking the next wave of growth for the industry.” Key aspects being considered by the company when formulating ecosystem growth strategies relative to targeted blockchain projects include public relations (PR) and brand amplification, a comprehensive go-to-market (GTM) strategy, lending markets development and a focus on stablecoin total value locked (TVL), with supporting liquidity and DeFi activity relative to layer-1 and layer-2 projects. Focus on ‘usability and discoverability’Grachev told Cointelegraph that emphasis will be placed on investing in blockchain projects that stand out in terms of “usability and discoverability.” He added that “good technology and utility alone isn’t sufficient,” asserting that "users first need to discover these projects, comprehend their value and develop trust." The DWF Labs managing partner suggested that strategic capital, together with hands-on ecosystem development, is paramount relative to efforts to realize the next iteration of growth within the crypto sector. Up until the end of last year, DWF Labs was headquartered in Singapore and still maintains a presence there. Besides Abu Dhabi, it also has a physical presence in Dubai. Hong Kong, Switzerland, South Korea and the British Virgin Islands (BVI) account for the locations of the remainder of its international offices. While Grachev and his firm can be assumed to have a positive broader view on the cryptocurrency sector given the launch of this latest fund, the DWF Labs managing partner recently pointed to a more immediate potentially bearish trend in the market.

UAE’s RAK DAO Partners with HBAR Foundation to Support Web3 StartupsRAK Digital Assets Oasis (RAK DAO), the world’s first free zone dedicated to digital and virtual asset companies located within the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has announced a collaboration with the HBAR Foundation which aims to provide growth and funding opportunities to members of the free zone.Leveraging blockchain technologyThe Cayman Islands-based HBAR Foundation, the project team behind the Hedera public ledger, will assist RAK DAO members in leveraging cutting-edge technologies, including blockchain, and building economies and applications on Hedera.In a joint statement released on Tuesday, the partners outlined the benefits of the collaboration, which include a grant program, financial backing processes, and specialized expert support in technology, marketing, and business development. They also aim to support the scaling of adoption and innovation of new ideas in the Web3 space.Photo by Mostafa Ashraf Mostafa on UnsplashRas Al Khaimah free zoneSheikh Mohammed bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Chairman of RAK Digital Assets Oasis, expressed his excitement about the partnership, stating: “Together, we are unlocking a world of new possibilities, empowering entrepreneurs, and propelling innovation forward. This collaboration is a testament to our shared commitment to driving sustainable growth and shaping a future where Ras Al Khaimah emerges as a global leader in the digital economy.”Ras Al Khaimah is the largest city within the Emirate of the same name. It’s the sixth largest city in the UAE and home to the RAK DAO free zone.In March, Ras Al Khaimah enacted a law to establish RAK Digital Assets Oasis, demonstrating its commitment to diversification, attracting new businesses, and positioning itself as a global tech center. The free zone is exclusively focused on digital and virtual asset companies operating in various sectors such as the metaverse, blockchain, utility tokens, virtual asset wallets, non-fungible tokens, decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), decentralized applications, and other Web3-related businesses.Various initiativesAs part of the collaboration, RAK Digital Assets Oasis and HBAR Foundation will undertake several initiatives, including start-up and scale-up pitching sessions, opportunities for partners and investors to connect, and exploration of joint projects such as venture studios or accelerators. Grantees of the HBAR Foundation will also benefit from discounted set-up and licensing packages to establish their presence within RAK Digital Assets Oasis.Shayne Higdon, CEO of HBAR Foundation, acknowledged the UAE’s reputation as a dynamic hub for Web3 innovation and its ability to attract global enterprises and top-tier talent. Higdon stated: “Through this exclusive relationship we are honored to provide grantees with greater access to the UAE while working together to establish RAK Digital Assets Oasis as a major hub for the Web3 and digital assets sector.”The UAE has been actively investing in its infrastructure and implementing policy reforms to attract more entrepreneurs and businesses, aiming to grow its non-oil sector. The country’s digital economy is projected to surpass $140 billion by 2031, up from nearly $38 billion at present, according to a report by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy in February.

SBI Remit and Shonan Shinkin Bank Join Forces on International RemittancesSBI Remit, a long-time partner of Ripple, has expanded its collaboration in Japan, partnering with Shonan Shinkin Bank to offer international remittance services.The partnership, operating under the guidance of SBI Group and announced by SBI Remit last week, claims to provide a more efficient and cost-effective solution for international employees living in Japan who need to transfer money abroad.Photo by Naoya Matsuda on UnsplashEfficient overseas transfersBoth Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture, the area of operation of Shonan Shinkin Bank alongside the city of Yokosuka where it is headquartered, have witnessed a surge in the number of migrant employees working there. That makes these metropolitan areas ideal locations for this particular collaboration.According to the press release, the partnership “was formed as mutual use of both parties’ network and strengths would allow Shonan Shinkin Bank to offer highly convenient international money transfer services that deliver convenience for foreign nationals working at local companies while enabling SBI Remit to develop new markets.”The collaboration, named SBI Ripple Asia, aims to leverage Ripple’s distributed ledger technology to streamline international payments. The technology has the potential to disrupt the remittance sector by offering real-time processing of cross-border payments. This approach significantly reduces transfer times and costs. One of the key elements of the partnership involves the use of XRP, Ripple’s native digital asset, for on-demand liquidity (ODL) between Japan and the Philippines. ODL allows for near-instantaneous transfers.Broader sector trendThis partnership is part of a broader trend in the financial industry, where blockchain technology is being harnessed to enhance services. Ripple, in particular, has been targeting remittances through an offering that enables a competitive edge through both speed and cost-effectiveness relative to transfers. Foreign workers in Japan, particularly the 280,000 Filipinos working in the country, stand to benefit from this new offering. That’s due to the ongoing need for foreign overseas workers to send money back home.The SBI Remit and Shonan Shinkin Bank collaboration highlights the immense potential of blockchain technology in reshaping financial services, especially in regions with a high concentration of foreign workers.This development represents yet another significant achievement in the longstanding partnership between SBI and Ripple. The two companies first began to cooperate by way of a mutually beneficial partnership in 2016 with the establishment of SBI Ripple Asia. The recent demonstration of using XRP for ODL remittances in Japan and the Philippines showcases the tangible benefits of this collaboration, with the potential to reduce international transfer times from days to mere minutes.With the demand for seamless international money transfers on the rise, the partnership between SBI Remit, Shonan Shinkin Bank, and Ripple is poised to make a significant impact on the remittance landscape in Japan and beyond.Foreign overseas workers and the families they support in their home countries have long since been at the edge when it comes to financial inclusion. In the press release, Shonan Shinkin Bank was stated to be committed to achieving financial inclusion by partnering with various stakeholders to provide solutions to the various issues facing small- and medium-sized enterprises, as well as providing international remittances and other solutions to the diverse local community.As the financial industry continues to embrace blockchain solutions, collaborations like this one serve as a testament to the ongoing evolution of global payments systems.