Koscom strengthens ties with brokerages to boost security token platforms

Thailand has taken steps to tighten controls on digital asset mule accounts and overseas crypto peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms in an effort to combat cybercrime.Photo by Growtika on UnsplashLegislative amendmentsOn April 8, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), a local regulator, published a statement explaining that the Thai cabinet has passed a resolution approving a number of amendments to the Southeast Asian nation’s digital asset business law and its cybercrime law. The regulator asserted that the amendments are designed to “strengthen measures against cybercrime and mule accounts, enhancing the security of public financial transactions and improving the effectiveness of combating online scams.” The amendments won’t become effective until such time as they are published in the Government Gazette of Thailand, an official public journal that acts as a primary source for Thai law. Mule accountsOne aspect that has been addressed is the enhancement of measures taken in an effort to block digital asset mule accounts. Criminals utilize mule accounts in an effort to launder the proceeds of crime.  While this happens with conventional bank accounts, it is also now happening with digital asset exchange accounts and digital asset wallets. Accounts may have been established for legitimate purposes but later fall under the influence of criminals who utilize them for money laundering. According to a report by the Bangkok Post last month, the Thai SEC had been collaborating with the Thai Digital Asset Operators Trade Association (TDO) and digital asset businesses in order to formulate these new measures.  The standard was also established following consultation with the Bank of Thailand, the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, Central Investigation Bureau, the Anti-Money Laundering Office and the Thai Bankers' Association. It is hoped that these enhanced mechanisms will lead to earlier detection of unusual customer behavior, enabling the authorities to intervene at an earlier stage to block mule accounts.Going forward, the regulator will collaborate with the TDO in monitoring and evaluating implementation of the new measures. Individuals who allow their digital asset accounts to be used by criminals will face up to three years' imprisonment and a fine of up to 300,000 Thai baht ($8,765). Blocking P2P platformsAnother change is being implemented in respect of offshore crypto P2P platforms. The objective of that particular measure is to deter and prevent the use of such platforms by investors within Thailand.  It’s envisaged that the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society will now be enabled to move more swiftly in blocking website and application access to these foreign P2P platforms. Such offshore platforms will be deemed to be attempting to solicit local investors if they offer payment options in Thai baht, provide online services or applications using the Thai language or if they accept payments through Thai bank accounts. Earlier this month, Thai law enforcement raided five unlicensed crypto firms. The raid led to the arrest of 11 individuals, charged with illegally operating e-money services related to enterprises responsible for a combined $29 million turnover. 

Korean Cafe Attracts Customers with NFTsA South Korean cafe owner has employed non-fungible tokens (NFTs) as an ingenious marketing strategy to attract customers.©Pexels/Leeloo ThefirstNFT holder benefitsIn an interview with Korean crypto news outlet Digital Asset, Yoo Hyun, the entrepreneurial business owner, explained that he was seeking a strong marketing tool to capture the attention of the NFT market. Yoo was interested in seeing if his cafe could remain profitable while also offering substantial benefits to its customers.Since April 2022, Yoo has released a total of 50 Ethereum-based NFTs related to his cafe, Hide Me, Please (HMP), in two separate batches of 25 each. The first set of NFTs grants holders a free cup of coffee or drink daily for life, while the second set offers an extra drink or dessert with each drink purchased.Increased revenueThis unique NFT initiative has led to increased revenue for the cafe. Kim Dae-sung, the CFO of HMP, explained that the cafe’s monthly revenue increased by 15% compared to the same period last year.HMP is currently selling 500 NFTs as a third set and plans to release more depending on demand. Yoo highlighted the importance of an appealing interior design and tempting desserts, as NFT holders visiting for a free coffee may be enticed to purchase a dessert as well.Regular customersYoo asserts that the food and beverage industry hinges on retaining regular customers and believes NFTs can help achieve that objective. HMP aspires to become a community-based platform, and according to Kim, many digital artists are interested in the space that the cafe provides because it enables them to connect with clients. Collaborations often take place, and while the cafe charges for food and drinks, it does not charge for space rental. This approach fosters a positive impression and contributes to a strong brand image.High-quality cafeAt present, about 5% of HMP’s customers hold NFT memberships. Yoo and Kim plan to increase this number to 10% but no higher, as excessive reliance on NFT members could jeopardize the business. They underlined the significance of remaining a high-quality cafe, staying true to the core foundation of their enterprise. As they anticipate the growth of the Web 3.0 ecosystem, Yoo and Kim believe that with continued efforts, HMP will gain even greater value.

LH Leverages Blockchain to Certify Legally Important DocumentsThe Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) is set to build a certification platform to replace paper documents as the sole form of legal certification. The initiative aims to bring the credibility of traditional methods like contents-certified mail to electronic documents by leveraging blockchain technology.Photo by Liam Truong on UnsplashContents-certified mail — transitioning from postal to digitalContents-certified mail refers to a specific type of mail service provided by the post office, which offers special guarantees regarding the delivery and content of a document. When a document is sent using contents-certified mail, the post office provides certain assurances that can be beneficial in legal and official contexts.Amidst the rise in demand for digital administrative services due to increased remote technologies in the post-COVID-19 era, the ongoing expansion of Web3, and enhanced customized administration, there has also been a growing need for the digitization of documents related to compensation for land and buildings.According to industry sources, LH plans to automate document transmission and management functions through the platform, establishing a digital environment for generating, sending, receiving, viewing, and storing electronic documents.Factoring in blockchain techA key feature of the proof platform is its integrated blockchain technology. “Utilizing blockchain allows accurate documentation of LH as the sender, as well as the timestamps of delivery and reception. This will subsequently enhance transparency and security,” LH said.Going paperlessBy establishing the digital platform, LH will be able to introduce a more convenient method of sending legally significant documents, essentially replacing the manual method of sending them through postal services. This could include sending them via platforms used nationwide like Naver or KakaoTalk or through text messages sent by the country’s major telecommunication companies.This innovation can contribute to the proliferation of paperless methods, addressing the expected increase in postal delivery failures tied to the rise of single-person households.“By constructing this platform, we can better protect user rights and provide administrative services that transcend the temporal and spatial constraints of registered mail,” LH said. “We will broaden our legal, institutional, and technical discussions to innovate processes for verifying the validity of electronic documents.”The project is currently in operation in certain areas related to compensation. According to LH, the plan is to expand the project’s scope to encompass all areas of compensation by next year and then to other areas such as the management and sale of rental apartments.The corporation said that it posted a bidding notice last Wednesday to hire a company that can build the blockchain-powered platform that certifies legally important documents. LH is currently undergoing a selection process.Employing smart contractsLH also mentioned that it is preparing a smart contract system. The system programs the terms agreed upon by involved parties in advance, embeds them in an electronic contract, and enables automatic execution of the terms of the contract when all conditions are met.