Bithumb Burrito Wallet to integrate Smart Valor’s AI investment advisor service

Intella X Joins Hands with Chainlink Labs to Enhance SecuritySouth Korean gaming company Neowiz announced Wednesday that its blockchain gaming platform, Intella X, has forged a partnership with Chainlink Labs, the founder of the Chainlink blockchain oracle network, to further solidify its position as a secure and transparent blockchain gaming platform.Chainlink’s decentralized oracle network connects data both within and outside of the blockchain — also referred to as on-chain and off-chain — which enables developers to build Web3 applications with access to real-world data and off-chain computation across any blockchain.Photo by Shubham Dhage on UnsplashEnhancing security and transparencyThe joint collaboration aims to apply Chainlink Labs’ on-chain and off-chain data connection technology to Intella X. By doing so, they plan to enhance the security of Intella X’s various services, including blockchain games and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).To ensure transparency within its blockchain gaming platform, Intella X will utilize Chainlink Labs’ verifiable random function technology to generate random values during game operations without compromising security or usability, supporting fair gameplay for all users.Scaling the platformAdditionally, they are considering technical collaborations to increase the platform’s scalability by using Chainlink Labs’ Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol, which enables connectivity between different blockchain networks through a single interface.Operating on the Polygon blockchain platform, Intella X offers various in-house platform services, such as its decentralized exchange (DEX) and its NFT launchpad and marketplace. The platform has also soft-launched the Android and web versions of its IntellaX Wallet — a Web3 wallet for Web2 and Web3 gamers — and is ready to expand its ecosystem.

Japan and China are moving in different directions on digital finance. In Japan, senior officials are signaling a push to bring cryptocurrencies further into the mainstream financial system. In China, regulators are doubling down on limits for private-sector tokenization even as the central bank expands a state-led digital currency model.Photo by Nat on UnsplashTraditional exchanges to anchor crypto pushSpeaking at the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Jan. 5, Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama framed 2026 as “the inaugural year of digital” in her New Year’s address, according to local outlet CoinPost. She said she expects cryptocurrency adoption to broaden as commodity and stock exchanges take on a larger role, arguing that established market infrastructure will be key to realizing the benefits of blockchain-based assets. Pointing to the U.S., she noted that exchange-traded funds are commonly used as an inflation hedge, and suggested Japan could move in a similar direction. Katayama also struck an upbeat tone on the wider economy, saying she expects Japanese stocks to hit new record highs this year. She cast 2026 as a potential turning point as Japan seeks to move beyond a long stretch of deflation, and called for responsible but proactive fiscal policy alongside targeted investment in growth sectors. Her comments come as Tokyo considers a major overhaul of how crypto gains are taxed. Under a government proposal, profits from cryptocurrencies would be taxed at a flat 20%, aligning them more closely with levies on stocks and foreign-exchange trading. The framework would also cover crypto-linked ETFs and derivatives. Currently, crypto gains are treated as miscellaneous income, leaving investors subject to progressive rates that can climb to roughly 55% once local taxes are included. The proposed reforms would bring crypto assets under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act. While the package is slated for discussion during the upcoming ordinary Diet session, which is scheduled to begin on Jan. 23, officials do not expect it to take effect before 2028, given the scope of the required legal and regulatory changes. Industry groups flag RWA tokenization risksChina, by contrast, continues to take a restrictive stance toward private digital-asset activity. Seven major financial industry associations—including the National Internet Finance Association of China, the Banking Association, and the Securities Association—issued a joint statement warning that the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs) is illegal and amounts to a “risky business model,” according to Wu Blockchain, citing a WeChat post published last month. The associations argued that RWA tokenization still functions as a form of unauthorized fundraising barred under existing securities laws. They also warned of risks tied to both the projects and their underlying assets, including fraud, operational failures, and speculative hype, adding that even when the assets themselves are legitimate, token structures remain unreliable and could pose spillover risks to other parts of the financial system. The statement added that such activities have not received regulatory approval. The warning fits with Beijing’s broader, state-led approach to digital finance. Last month, Lu Lei, a deputy governor of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), warned that unchecked private-sector innovation could pose challenges for monetary policy, arguing that the rapid growth of digital assets and stablecoins risks weakening central banks’ control over money flows. Against that backdrop, Lu said the PBOC has rolled out a new operational framework for its central bank digital currency that took effect on Jan. 1. The move places the digital yuan in a deposit-like role within the commercial banking system under a two-tier structure, with the central bank overseeing rules and infrastructure and commercial banks handling wallets, payments, and compliance. By late November 2025, the digital yuan network had processed 3.48 billion transactions totaling 16.7 trillion yuan ($2.3 trillion), underscoring how China is channeling digital finance through a centrally controlled system. The system includes about 230 million personal wallets and 18.84 million corporate wallets. 

Korbit hosts its first cryptocurrency investment leagueKorean cryptocurrency exchange Korbit announced yesterday (local time) its inaugural virtual asset investment league, set to begin at midnight between Nov. 26 and 27. This event, a first since Korbit’s establishment, invites any investor with a Korbit account to participate. Interested individuals can join the league by using the mobile app to click on the “Join League” button and consenting to the collection and disclosure of their personal information.Photo by Florian Schmetz on UnsplashRealized returns in Korean wonKorbit’s investment league ranks participants every week, from the start of Monday (00:00) to the end of Sunday (24:00). The ranking is based on the “realized return” in Korean won (KRW), which reflects the profits earned by investors from their cryptocurrency investments. To qualify for the ranking, participants must have made cryptocurrency sales totaling at least KRW 100,000 (approximately $77.4).The exchange will reward the top 100 performers each week in the investment league with KRW points, which can be used for investing in crypto assets on their platform. The first, second and third-place winners will receive KRW 200,000, KRW 100,000 and KRW 50,000, respectively. Additionally, all participants who rank in the top 100 will be awarded KRW 5,000 each.Social trading opportunityThe league offers a great opportunity for social trading, allowing investors to study and emulate the tactics of the market’s top traders. Users can click on the profiles of the top 100 traders to view the three cryptocurrencies those traders engaged with over the week.Moreover, each investor on Korbit will have the ability to monitor their cryptocurrency holdings in real-time. They can also view their total realized return, calculated from the beginning of their trading journey on Korbit up to the present moment, irrespective of the league.Pre-event bonusesTo encourage active participation in the upcoming competition, Korbit launched a pre-event yesterday, scheduled to run until Nov. 26. During this period, the first 10,000 investors who agree to the collection and disclosure of their personal information will instantly receive KRW 1,000. Additionally, the first 1,000 investors who sell crypto assets worth KRW 100,000 or more within the first four weeks following the league’s commencement will be rewarded with an extra KRW 5,000.Commenting on the event, Oh Se-jin, the CEO of Korbit, emphasized that unlike a simulation, this competition involves real investments, offering customers a more authentic and immersive experience. Oh expressed his hope to regularly host such events, aiming to foster a community where investors not only compete for returns but also share information. This approach, he believes, will contribute to cultivating a healthy culture of cryptocurrency investment.