Netmarble F&C prepares to lay off employees of Metaverse World subsidiary

Real-World Asset Investment Platform Alterna Launches in JapanMitsui & Co. Digital Asset Management (Mitsui & Co. DAM) has unveiled Alterna, a novel platform designed to offer retail investors the chance to invest in real-world assets (RWAs). The service launched on Monday following receipt of the necessary regulatory approvals.Photo by Louie Martinez on UnsplashRWA-backed security tokensAlterna enables users to conveniently invest in RWAs that generate stable rental income and other returns. RWAs encompass a wide range of assets, including large-scale real estate properties and infrastructure such as logistics facilities and power plants. By offering security tokens, Alterna opens the door to previously out-of-reach investment opportunities, allowing individuals to invest with a minimum of 100,000 yen. This new service represents an exciting alternative for individuals traditionally more comfortable with cash savings.The first investment opportunity on the platform will be “Stage Grand Nihonbashi Ningyocho,” a residential building located in the Nihonbashi district. The application begins on June 2.The platform’s name, Alterna, emphasizes its role as an alternative investment service, offering a fresh approach distinct from conventional options such as bank deposits, stocks, and investment trusts.More effective portfolio managementCompared to traditional investment types like stocks and bonds, RWAs offer unique risk-return characteristics. With RWA-backed investments, investors can potentially achieve more effective portfolio management. These alternative assets have been garnering interest from institutional investors as well.The Japanese Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF), the world’s largest institutional investor, has been investing in alternative assets since 2014. To pursue yields, the GPIF has been expanding its investment portfolio in real assets like real estate and infrastructure.Easy investment with smartphonesTraditionally, retail investors encountered difficulties investing in large-scale real estate and infrastructure assets. Mitsui & Co. DAM aims to establish an environment where such investments can be made easily via security tokens using smartphones.Interest in Alterna has been substantial even before its official launch, with over 10,000 pre-registrations recorded earlier this month.

Korean cryptocurrency exchange FOBLGATE (FOBL) last Thursday showcased its ongoing project on real estate-based security tokens at Momo Network’s second security token offering (STO) and Web3 networking party, the game media outlet Kyunghyang Games reported. Momo Networks is the company behind Momoboard, an all-in-one app that combines bulletin board, messaging and cloud storage features. The event served as an opportunity for FOBL to inform participants about the current stage of the exchange’s project and where it is headed. Initially introduced in November last year, the project is a collaboration between FOBL and prop fintech company Plus Platform, an asset management and trading platform headquartered in New York, U.S. Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on UnsplashReal estate-based security token projectAt the event, participants are anticipated to discuss the future of the security token market, which is currently focused on conventional real-world assets (RWAs). This new security token project is expected to innovate traditional real estate investments, offering benefits such as high liquidity, low transaction fees and easy access to investors, explained FOBL. The crypto company aims to solidify its position in the crypto market while raising public awareness of real estate security tokens. Future of virtual assetsAhn Hyun-jun, CEO of FOBL, said he plans to make his company an innovator in virtual asset development and create various types of crypto assets that extend beyond real estate-based security tokens.   Furthermore, a FOBL spokesperson stated that this networking party will serve as a forum for Web3 and STO experts to explore new technologies and innovative investment strategies, providing valuable insights for investors and market participants. 

KT and Iron Mountain Forge Alliance to Propel Blockchain-Powered E-Document EcosystemSouth Korean telecommunications giant KT has entered into a strategic partnership with global information management company Iron Mountain to leverage blockchain technology in expanding the certified electronic document ecosystem.Photo by ron dyar on UnsplashFrom paper to digitalUnder this collaboration, KT and Iron Mountain will utilize the Korean telecom firm’s blockchain-based electronic document platform to digitize Iron Mountain’s physical documents. The partnership extends beyond digitization, with plans to explore diverse business prospects across various markets. It’s worth noting that Iron Mountain has an extensive global presence, operating across 54 countries.KT has been operating the Paperless platform since 2020, providing services such as contract writing, registered document delivery, and document storage. This initiative has been particularly beneficial for small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as sole proprietorship businesses, eliminating the need to establish individual systems.Asia-Pacific market as a priorityBoth companies are united in their objective to capture the Asia-Pacific market, a region where conventional paper documentation remains deeply ingrained. Given the extensive usage of paper documents in this market, the anticipated demand for digital transformation is substantial.Song Jae-ho, Vice President of KT’s AI/DX Convergence Business Division, emphasized the promising prospects of combining KT’s technological expertise with Iron Mountain’s global business capabilities. He highlighted the potential for a significant positive impact that their collaboration could bring to the global document market. Song expects the partnership will help KT position as a leader in driving digital transformation within the document management sector.Joyce Housien, Vice President of Commercial at Iron Mountain, echoed these sentiments, underlining the broader scope of their collaboration. She noted that their joint efforts are not only focused on achieving digital transformation within South Korea but also on generating new value within the wider Asian digital industry landscape.