Korea’s financial regulator establishes dedicated units for crypto oversight

Bithumb Burrito Wallet teams up with Yooldo to expand blockchain gaming networkRotonda, the operator of the digital asset wallet platform Bithumb Burrito Wallet, and blockchain gaming platform Yooldo said Wednesday (local time) that they have jointly signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to expand their respective blockchain ecosystems and secure a global user base.Photo by Christian Wiediger on UnsplashService integrationUnder the new deal, Rotonda plans to integrate Burrito Wallet into Yooldo’s key decentralized applications (dApps), such as its first in-house developed game Trouble Punk, to build support for the expansion of its web game ecosystem. Users will also be able to use Yooldo’s governance token, YOOL, within Burrito Wallet, thus boosting its utility.Furthermore, they plan to actively collaborate on marketing endeavors such as events and campaigns to attract users.Rotonda mentioned its expectations for a successful collaboration with Yooldo as they share a common goal to make their respective services user-friendly. While Rotonda allows wallet holders to conveniently transfer assets and manage numerous cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in one platform, Yooldo is dedicated to building a sustainable Web3 gaming ecosystem that leverages blockchain technology to offer content, rewards and user-friendly UI and UX designs, making the transition from Web2 to Web3 a seamless process for gamers.Burrito Wallet’s commitment to growing the communityMeanwhile, Burrito Wallet has been at the forefront of expanding the digital ecosystem by promoting the widespread adoption of blockchain and supporting promising startups. The platform recently hosted a hackathon at this year’s Global Blockchain Incheon Conference (GBIC 2023) and is a contributor to Bithumb’s tenth-anniversary project — an entrepreneurship support program that aims to foster young entrepreneurs and startups with groundbreaking ideas.

Axie Infinity Teams Up with CyberKongz in Blockchain Gaming RevivalIn a bid to reinvigorate the world of blockchain gaming, Sky Mavis, the company behind the groundbreaking play-to-earn (P2E) blockchain game Axie Infinity, has announced an exciting partnership with CyberKongz, an Ethereum-based non-fungible token (NFT) collection.Together, they are set to develop a more comprehensive gaming ecosystem for the Ronin blockchain. Sky Mavis originated in Vietnam and came to prominence for developing the first major breakthrough for blockchain gaming within the crypto space. The company’s ties with Vietnam continue although it has since established its headquarters in Singapore.While the announcement, made via a blog post published on Tuesday, has sparked curiosity about a brand-new game on the horizon, specific details remain under wraps. Kathleen Osgood, Sky Mavis’ Head of Business Development, revealed that the upcoming game will be designed to be interoperable, seamlessly integrating with existing Axie Infinity experiences.Photo by Bestami Sarıkaya on UnsplashMoving to the Ronin blockchainBut the partnership goes beyond just creating a new game. It also includes the migration of CyberKongz’s popular Play & Kollect game, which is based on the Polygon blockchain. The move to the Ronin blockchain opens up new opportunities for CyberKongz to expand its user base and tap into Ronin’s thriving gaming community.Axie Infinity first captured the gaming world’s imagination in 2021 when it introduced the “play-to-earn” concept. This groundbreaking model allowed players to earn valuable cryptocurrency tokens while playing the game. It quickly became the leading project by sales volume in the burgeoning NFT space, according to data from CryptoSlam. On the other hand, CyberKongz also made headlines in 2021 when it impressively burned $4 million worth of Ether.However, since the NFT craze of 2021, interest in blockchain gaming has seen a decline, with some crypto-based games, such as Neopets, even transitioning to a non-crypto approach.Play-to-earn deficienciesSky Mavis Co-Founder, Aleksander Larsen, acknowledged earlier this year that the play-to-earn model needed improvement to thrive. He emphasized that games must prioritize fun and feature a robust economic system that enables players to earn rewards. Despite this, Kathleen Osgood remains optimistic that the blockchain gaming space can experience a revival through an experience that truly understands the motivations driving users towards Web3.According to Osgood, many teams in the space have merely attempted to replicate what worked in Web2, which may not be enough to drive explosive growth. Instead, she believes that attracting a massive audience lies in taking an innovative approach to leverage the unique offerings of Web3, appealing to users who are naturally drawn to its decentralized and rewarding nature.Gaming evolutionSky Mavis has started opening up its infrastructure to the Web3 ecosystem through the Ronin blockchain. By doing so, it hopes to create gaming communities that are not only more rewarding but also longer-lasting, fostering an environment of engagement and enthusiasm among players.As blockchain gaming continues to evolve, partnerships like the one between Sky Mavis and CyberKongz signal renewed efforts to iteratively improve on previous blockchain gaming models. With a new game on the horizon and the migration of CyberKongz to the Ronin blockchain, the stage is set for a new era of immersive and rewarding blockchain gaming experiences, building upon past efforts.

Krafton and Naver Z Unveil a Metaverse Joint Venture ‘Overdare’Krafton, the developer behind the popular shooter game PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), made an announcement on Thursday regarding its collaboration with augmented reality company Naver Z for a metaverse platform project. The official name of their joint venture has been revealed as “Overdare.” Furthermore, its forthcoming metaverse service, previously referred to as Migaloo, will also be rebranded under the name Overdare.Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on PexelsInvestment breakdownThe total investment in the joint venture amounts to KRW 48 billion (approximately $36 million), with Krafton’s anticipated purchase price standing at KRW 40.8 billion and Naver Z’s expected purchase price at KRW 7.2 billion. Following the acquisition, Krafton will hold an 85% stake in the joint venture, while Naver Z will possess the remaining 15%.Meaning behind ‘Overdare’The company has chosen the English word Overdare to convey two meanings–“dare too much” and “over there,” which has a phonetic resemblance. Through this name, the joint venture aspires to establish itself as a pioneer in the realm of interactive user-generated content (UGC) platforms. Simultaneously, its service aims to provide a place where users can freely and fearlessly express themselves.As a mobile UGC platform, Overdare offers users the ability to craft games of diverse genres, including action RPGs, sports games, and shooting games. Leveraging the power of generative artificial intelligence and the advanced capabilities of Unreal Engine 5, a renowned video game engine, the platform facilitates the streamlined creation of top-notch content. Beyond game development, users can immerse themselves in a wide array of social activities, ranging from personalizing their avatars to engaging in lively conversations.C2E systemOverdare has adopted a create-to-earn (C2E) system within the metaverse, empowering creators to produce their own content, which users can then purchase and own. The trading of these creations is facilitated through non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and blockchain technology. Every transaction that takes place within the metaverse is recorded on the blockchain, and creators are duly compensated based on these transaction records. This system enhances the transparency of transactions and settlements.Compensation in USDCIn pursuit of this vision, Overdare has selected Settlus, a Cosmos-based blockchain developed by Krafton’s subsidiary of the same name, as its mainnet. Settlus has been dedicated to licensing creators’ intellectual property through NFTs on Web2 platforms. As part of this ecosystem, creators have the flexibility to receive compensation in USDC, the US dollar-pegged stablecoin issued by crypto company Circle.Overdare has its sights set on a soft launch of its service in December, followed by the official global release planned for the first half of next year.