Eggverse and SPLabs team up to venture into Southeast Asian Web3 market

Regulatory Pressure Sees Binance Cease Card Offering in the Middle EastLeading global crypto exchange Binance has announced the discontinuation of its card services in the Middle East.Users hailing from the region will have until September 21 to maximize the utility of their Binance cards before the product will no longer be available to them. Latin America is another region which will be similarly affected by the decision. Binance Customer Support stated: “The Binance Card will regrettably no longer be accessible to users based in Latin America and the Middle East.”Photo by rupixen.com on UnsplashEnabling crypto spendingDistinct from conventional debit cards, these Binance cards have offered users the convenience of settling day-to-day expenses with crypto assets. However, this unique feature is now set to become a relic as the exchange shifts its strategy in response to evolving regulatory dynamics.It’s worth noting that this product curtailment will only impact less than 1% of users situated in these regions. Other Binance services around the world will continue unimpeded. That said, products like this one are significant as they help to bridge the gap between the crypto sphere and conventional commerce.As a substitute, Binance is actively championing its “Binance Pay” platform, touting it as “an advanced cryptocurrency payment solution that is both contactless and internationally accessible.”Checkout.com setbackFinancial pundits are speculating that this strategic move could be closely intertwined with recent realignments in Binance’s corporate partnerships. Notably, the UK-based payment processor, Checkout.com, severed its connections with Binance earlier this month amidst mounting regional regulatory interventions and concerns.Responding to this severed partnership, Binance has indicated a contemplation of legal recourse against Checkout.com’s decision. The backdrop of this collaboration has been problematic since its inception in 2020. Initial troubles surfaced when the absence of the 3-D Secure system facilitated a criminal syndicate to conduct a $10 million transaction spree on Binance.Clash with global regulatorsRecent months have seen Binance find itself entangled in a web of legal battles. The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) leveled allegations against Binance, accusing the exchange of deceiving regulatory bodies and mishandling customer funds.Meanwhile, French authorities have intensified their scrutiny, suspecting Binance of potential involvement in money laundering activities. As a domino effect, Binance had to exit numerous markets due to its inability to meet the stringent compliance criteria. Over the course of just three months, the company has lost its ability to trade in Germany, Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Cyprus.Asian pivotAs the company comes under pressure in Western markets, it has focused on furthering its offering in the Asian region. In May, its subsidiary, Gulf Binance, successfully acquired a trading license in Thailand. Later that month, the company announced plans for a dedicated platform for Japanese customers.Parrot Capital, a decentralized hedge fund, has issued a direct recommendation to Binance Card users in response to the news:“Check your daily limits. Withdraw via ATM all your funds or spend them ASAP or risk losing them for good.”This sustained and pervasive scrutiny underscores the formidable challenges faced by the leading crypto exchange. As the regulatory landscape evolves, exchanges like Binance are being forced to re-calibrate in order to navigate an ever-changing environment.

Hashed Emergent to Host India Blockchain Week 2023 in DecemberHashed Emergent, a subsidiary of South Korean blockchain venture capital Hashed, will host India Blockchain Week (IBW) 2023 at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Bangalore, India, from December 4 to 10.Hashed Emergent is a venture capital firm specializing in investments in early-stage companies bridging the gap between Web2 and Web3 in India. The firm was established by Hashed, a group dedicated to propelling the global adoption of the Web3 ecosystem. Hashed Emergent seeks to tap into the potential of emerging markets.Photo by Still Pixels on PexelsIndia’s Web3 surgeIndia is exhibiting promise in the Web3 market, driven by its economy, population, and tech advancements. Since 2015, there has been an increase of about sixfold in the number of Web3 startups in the country, with the count reaching 450 as of April 2022. Among them are four unicorns, namely Polygon, FalconX, CoinSwitch, and CoinDCX. Investment in Web3 startups has also seen a rise, with the figure touching $1.3 billion between 2021 and the first quarter of 2022. Furthermore, the Indian government appears to be taking a more accommodating stance towards the Web3 industry.Hashed Emergent is organizing this event for the first time to accelerate the expansion of the Web3 ecosystem in the burgeoning Indian market. IBW2023 is an international multi-chain conference that will delve into Web3 conversations across all industries. It is designed to foster connections between blockchain enterprises in India and abroad, uniting participants from the multifaceted blockchain landscape.Echoing the prominence of notable blockchain events like Singapore’s Token2049 and Korea’s Korea Blockchain Week (KBW), IBW2023 is expected to attract blockchain enthusiasts from around the world who are eager to see firsthand the evolving potential of India’s Web3 market.Flagship IBW’23 ConferenceThe flagship event, “IBW’23 Conference,” is set for December 6 to 7 and will spotlight five pivotal themes. Discussions will delve into the latest technical advancements in the blockchain realm, the role of Web3 in emerging markets, how global regulations will shape the blockchain sector, the prospects for Web3 in India, and the opportunities and hurdles facing Web3 expansion.About 120 prominent figures from the Web3 space are set to grace the event as speakers. They include Mo Shaikh, CEO of layer 1 blockchain developer Aptos Labs; Emin Gün Sirer, CEO of Avalanche blockchain builder Ava Labs; Sebastien Borget, co-founder of metaverse platform The Sandbox; and Simon Seojoon Kim, CEO of Hashed. Furthermore, the blockchain hackathon, ETH INDIA, is poised to attract over 1,500 developers, all geared to create the decentralized future of Ethereum.Tak Lee, CEO of Hashed Emergent, highlighted that India has been gaining traction as a major player in the blockchain industry. He shared that both Hashed and Hashed Emergent have been keenly observing the potential of the Indian Web3 market since early 2020. They are dedicated to ensuring IBW2023’s success, envisioning it as the first step towards the explosive growth of the Indian Web3 ecosystem.Meanwhile, Hashed Emergent is currently managing its first fund, Hashed Emergent Fund I, which has raised $20 million to date in multiple closings. In its first year and a half, the fund has invested in 28 portfolio companies, many of which have Indian founders. Major portfolio companies include Web3 game discovery and wallet app Glip, Web3 native incubator BuidlersTribe, and African web3 startup Nestcoin.

Gumi joins XPLA mainnet as newest validatorJapanese gaming company Gumi has joined South Korean gaming corporation Com2uS Group’s layer 1 blockchain mainnet XPLA as a new node validator, according to an official announcement on XPLA’s Medium page on Monday (local time).Photo by Shubham’s Web3 on UnsplashEmpowering the XPLA ecosystemThrough this partnership, Gumi is expected to play a crucial role in enhancing transparency, stability and scalability as a validator in the XPLA ecosystem. The collaboration aims to explore new possibilities in blockchain technology and integrate them into the gaming industry, thereby maximizing the benefits for all participants in the ecosystem and connecting game developers with players.Over a decade of global impactSince its establishment in 2007, Gumi has been active in the Japanese and global markets, engaging in various mobile gaming and blockchain projects. Recently, the company has not only been involved in the production of and investment in Web3 games but also operates as a key node operator in multiple blockchain projects. By working with Gumi, XPLA anticipates solidifying its position as a global Web3 gaming industry leader and expanding its influence in the Japanese Web3 market.“Through this partnership, we will gain insights into the Japanese market and strive to create a more reliable ecosystem,” said Paul Kim, leader of the XPLA team.Fortifying trust and redefining the Web3 landscapeXPLA’s validators are responsible for verifying the integrity of the blockchain, analyzing on-chain data to improve operations and ensuring the security of the XPLA ecosystem. By passing a proposal to increase the number of validators from 50 to 80 this year, XPLA aims to create an environment that accommodates more validators, thus building a more robust and trustworthy ecosystem.XPLA is an L1 mainnet that hosts numerous Web3 companies like Oasys, Animoca Brands, YGG, Blockdaemon, Cosmos Station and LayerZero as participants. It has onboarded multiple IP-based hit games like Summoners War: Chronicles, Minigame Party, Ace Fishing: Crew, Idle Ninja Online and The Walking Dead: All-Stars, effectively becoming a global Web3 content and gaming hub.