Pontem secures funding to pioneer Move-compatible apps

Korbit Joins Zero-Fee Crypto Trading Trend in South KoreaSouth Korean cryptocurrency exchange Korbit reduced trading fees to zero on October 20 (local time) for all of the cryptocurrencies supported on the platform. This move follows in the footsteps of Bithumb, another Korean exchange that introduced zero-fee trading earlier this month.Photo by Jeremy Perkins on UnsplashNo extra registration requiredKorbit users can now benefit from zero-fee trading immediately, with no special registration required. This arrangement will continue indefinitely until further notice.Market maker incentives continueKorbit’s market maker incentive program will remain in place. Under this program, users earn 0.01% of the transaction value whenever they place an order.Oh Se-jin, CEO of Korbit, underscored the exchange’s commitment to enhancing user satisfaction. He pointed out several initiatives they’ve undertaken, including enhancing the login system, raising the daily Korean won (KRW) deposit and withdrawal limits, and eliminating transaction fees. He further noted that by removing trading fees, they aim to alleviate the cost pressures of crypto trading for their users and breathe new life into the market.

Wemade CEO Encourages Japanese Game Developers to Embrace BlockchainHenry Chang, the CEO of South Korean gaming company Wemade, delivered a speech on Tuesday at the annual Japanese Web3 conference, WebX, in Tokyo to encourage Japanese game developers to venture into the blockchain industry.Photo by Louie Martinez on UnsplashIntegration of economies and gameplayChang expressed his belief that the integration of economies and gameplay across various games can be achieved through blockchains and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). He emphasized that this combination is innovative in the sense that it overcomes three significant barriers in the gaming world: giving users ownership of in-game assets, creating connections between different games, and tearing down the boundary between games and reality.Chang predicted that all games would evolve into blockchain-based games within the next three years. He presented WEMIX Play, the company’s blockchain game platform, as being fully equipped to support such a transition, with all the necessary features to provide blockchain game services.In a significant move towards realizing this vision, WEMIX Play has recently inked onboarding contracts with two gaming firms. One of them is MetaTokyo Studio, a game developer based in Japan, and the other is Skyjet Software, a Lithuania-based game publisher. WEMIX Play users will soon have the exciting opportunity to enjoy MetaTokyo Studio’s futuristic science fiction game, Chromata, and Skyjet Software’s thrilling 3D helicopter shooting game, Skybreakers.Prime Minister Kishida’s speechNotably, the event also saw a video speech from Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who expressed his enthusiasm for Web3 and its potential to revolutionize society by innovating the existing Internet framework. According to Minister Kishida, the Japanese government is committed to fostering an environment conducive to Web3 initiatives.The Japanese Prime Minister further anticipated that the WebX conference would lead to enhanced business cooperation between Japanese and foreign companies. He also highlighted that leading Japanese firms would unveil major projects aimed at establishing valuable economic zones within the metaverse.

Singapore’s Central Bank Paves the Way for Digital Asset NetworksSingapore’s Monetary Authority (MAS) has taken a significant step towards the future of digital assets by proposing a comprehensive framework for the design of open and interoperable networks for tokenized digital assets.Photo by Pixabay on PexelsDetailed frameworkIn a report published on Monday, titled “Enabling Open & Interoperable Networks,” MAS presented a detailed framework aimed at understanding the design options necessary to facilitate the seamless trading of digital assets across diverse networks and liquidity pools. The framework is rooted in the core principles of financial market infrastructure and draws inspiration from cutting-edge projects that have been at the forefront of advancing these concepts.To ensure a robust and comprehensive approach, the report was jointly developed with subject matter experts from the Bank for International Settlements’ (BIS) Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructure (CPMI), with valuable contributions from prominent financial institutions including DBS Bank, JP Morgan, HSBC, SBI Digital Asset Holdings, Standard Chartered, and UOB.MAS defines digital asset networks as platforms that leverage distributed ledger technology (DLT) or blockchain to enable secure and efficient transfers of digital assets without the need for traditional intermediaries. These networks serve as the foundation for open and interoperable infrastructure, facilitating the issuance, transfer, and custody of digital assets. By promoting transparency, efficiency, and trust, the report suggests that they will play a pivotal role in shaping the digital asset ecosystem.Project GuardianThe report underscores the immense potential of digital asset networks in a future financial landscape, where digital assets and currencies can be seamlessly exchanged across different networks. MAS believes that these networks could revolutionize the way financial transactions occur, leading to increased efficiency and expanded possibilities. The framework also lays the groundwork for future exploration as part of the Project Guardian initiative, encompassing additional focused themes such as Trust Anchors and Institutional DeFi.MAS has also announced the expansion of Project Guardian to include a broader range of financial asset classes. The project now features an industry group comprising 11 leading financial institutions that will spearhead industry pilots in asset and wealth management, fixed income, and foreign exchange. Esteemed banks such as HSBC, Standard Chartered, DBS, and Citi are set to conduct multiple trials focusing on tokenization. For instance, Standard Chartered, in collaboration with Linklogis, is developing an initial token offering platform to issue asset-backed security tokens listed on the Singapore Exchange.Despite its cautious stance on cryptocurrency speculation, MAS recognizes the immense potential for value creation and efficiency gains within the digital asset ecosystem. Leong Sing Chiong, MAS’ Deputy Managing Director of Markets and Development, emphasized the authority’s optimism, stating: “We see significant potential for value creation and efficiency gains in the digital asset ecosystem.”This latest initiative by MAS comes on the heels of its recent proposal for standards governing the use of digital money, including central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and stablecoins. Singapore’s central bank is paving the way for the future of digital assets and making a strong effort to assert its position as a global leader in digital asset innovation through the establishment of this framework alongside industry collaboration.