Japan’s largest bank collaborates with KlimaDAO on carbon credit marketplace

UXLINK, a Web3 social network headquartered in Singapore, has announced a successful funding round raising $9 million, supported by a mix of private crypto and publicly listed companies including OKX and KuCoin. UXLINK announced details of the funding round in a social media post published to X on March 13. The startup, known for its innovative approach to social networking merging with transactions, has seen its user base grow to 3.5 million users. Among the investors contributing to this round are OKX Ventures, Web3Port Foundation, Cypher Capital, KuCoin Ventures, Gate Labs and Matrixport Ventures. ZhenFund, 7UPDAO, Signum Capital, ECV and GGV Capital were also participants. In a blog post Dora Yue, Founder of OKX Ventures, expressed enthusiasm about UXLINK's concept, stating:"This innovative concept merges social networking and transactions, creating a robust ecosystem where people can fully leverage their digital assets."Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on UnsplashAcquaintance-based social networkingYue described UXLINK as a game-changer in the field of Web3 social infrastructure. The project differentiates itself by relying on acquaintance social networking. Other Web3 social protocols such as Farcaster, Nostr, Cyberconnect and Lens Protocol are structured around one way follower relationships between key opinion leaders (KOLs) and followers. By contrast UXLINK takes a different approach, building a social network by placing emphasis on the existing social relationships of users with acquaintances. The idea is that real-life acquaintances are established through trust and implicate a much deeper personal connection by comparison with opinion leaders and followers. Speaking to that unique approach, pseudonymous crypto trader and investor Bull Flash stated on X on March 13: “Forget one-sided connections! UXLINK focuses on REAL-WORLD social interactions. Users can connect with each other AND with dApps in real-time through innovative Groups – a game-changer for web3. UXLINK is more than just a platform – it's a MOVEMENT.” Potential for further fundingWhile the exact valuation post-funding remains undisclosed, UXLINK indicated a potential for further funding rounds before its token generation event, signaling continued investor interest in its growth trajectory. With the freshly secured capital, UXLINK aims to introduce the "Social Liquidity Chain," leveraging Optimism and EigenDA technologies to support third-party developments. This initiative is expected to enhance the platform's capabilities and foster a more dynamic user experience. Since its establishment in April 2023, UXLINK has seen rapid adoption, hosting more than 75,000 decentralized groups. The vast majority of its users are located in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe, South Asia and Africa. The platform's unique approach to social finance, facilitated by its Web3 "UXGroups” on Telegram, emphasizes bridging real-world trust dynamics with decentralized applications. In addition to being an investor in the company, last month the OKX Wallet was integrated with UXLINK in an effort to improve user experience, allowing UXLINK users to manage their Web3 assets more efficiently. UXLINK's successful funding round underscores growing investor confidence in the potential of Web3 social networks and belief in their ability to revolutionize traditional social interactions and financial transactions. As the platform continues to expand and innovate, it is positioning itself to make further strides in reshaping the landscape of digital social interactions and finance. 

South Korean Job Seekers to Benefit from Digital Badges for License CredentialsSouth Korean job seekers will soon be able to enjoy the convenience of proving their license credentials with digital badges based on non-fungible tokens (NFTs).The South Korean Ministry of Employment and Labor has announced that its affiliate, the Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRDK), plans to create a mobile application that supports virtual asset wallets. These wallets will allow citizens to conveniently store their HRDK-issued licenses in the form of digital badges.Photo by Gül Işık on PexelsNFT-based digital badgesThese digital badges, which are based on NFTs, will also serve as proof of certification for HRDK’s education and training courses. Decentralized identifiers (DIDs) based on blockchain technology will prevent forgery and counterfeiting and improve personal information protection. The incorporation of gaming elements within NFTs is expected to motivate citizens to engage in continuous learning.Chosen as this year’s state-led blockchain initiative last December, the digital badge project is supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) and the Korea Internet and Security Agency (KISA). HRDK aims to complete the transformation of its 18.5 million issued licenses into digital badges by the end of this year. The project also involves digitizing vocational training certificates issued by the Korea Employment Information Services (KEIS), which has an average annual issuance of 3.6 million certificates. Access to these badges will also be facilitated through not only state-managed mobile ID wallets but also private platform wallets.In the context of employment and career management, individuals have traditionally received paper certificates and had to deliver them to relevant organizations. This process often involved inconvenience, as it required in-person visits, mailing, or scanning. Moreover, individuals faced the hassle of repeatedly obtaining the same certificate due to expiration dates and storage concerns.Seamless certificate managementWith the introduction of the digital badge service, users will be able to download a mobile application on their smart devices. This app will enable them to access their national certificates, allowing them to view their qualification and training completion information at any time. Additionally, users will gain the convenience of instantly submitting or verifying their certificates remotely through their mobile devices whenever necessary.HRDK will further enhance its services through strategic partnerships with credentialing organizations from both the public and private sectors.Kim Young-joong, the Acting President of HRDK, emphasized the significance of national licenses and training certificates as objective measures of individuals’ performance and skills, underscoring their importance in the employment landscape. He further expressed HRDK’s commitment to ensuring customer satisfaction by leveraging cutting-edge technology and efficient data management practices to drive innovation in public services.

Haru Invest Announces Withdrawal & Deposit PauseHaru Invest, a crypto yield platform founded in South Korea and headquartered in Singapore, has announced the suspension of deposits and withdrawals on Tuesday, citing concerns over the accuracy of information provided by one of its service partners.Photo by Muhammad Zaqy Al Fattah on UnsplashInternal investigationIn a statement, the company expressed its apologies to investors and customers, assuring them that the suspension was a necessary measure taken to protect their interests. In another blog post, the company stated: “For the purpose of protecting our users’ assets under our custody, we have come to make a tough decision that any deposit and withdrawal requests will be suspended until further notice, starting from June 13, 2023, at 0:40 UTC.”Following an internal inspection process, Haru Invest conducted a thorough investigation into the matter and concluded that immediate action was required. The company stated that it is currently engaged in a fact-finding process against the operator in question and intends to take the necessary measures to address the situation.“Rug pull” denialHaru Invest emphasized that this issue does not involve a “rug pull,” a term commonly associated with scams in the cryptocurrency space. The company assured its stakeholders that it remains committed to protecting its investors and is actively working towards a resolution.Earlier reports suggested that Haru Invest employees were working remotely and that the company’s offices had closed. However, Haru Invest clarified that certain media articles contained inaccurate information regarding these claims. The company expressed regret over the misinformation and emphasized the importance of factual accuracy in reporting.According to Haru Invest’s website, the platform boasts a significant user base of over 80,000 members. It has facilitated crypto-earn payouts totaling 9.8 million and processed a staggering $2.27 billion in transactions. Haru Invest aims to provide an annual yield of 12% on most of its earn products, offering investors an attractive opportunity in the crypto space.Haru MiningIn September of the previous year, Haru Invest successfully raised $4 million in funding, valuing the company at $284 million. This achievement demonstrates the confidence investors had in the platform and its potential for growth.As recently as last month nothing looked untoward when it emerged that the company had launched Haru Mining, a collaboration with Canadian crypto miner, Pow.re. In a press release at the time, the firm explained that the move would help to diversify its products, with mining always having been an area of interest for the company.In the same month, Haru had announced an integration with Mercuryo, a London-based digital asset management platform.As Haru Invest continues to address the concerns raised by the investigation, investors and customers await further updates regarding the resumption of normal operations. The company has promised that “more details will be shortly announced on the Haru Invest Blog as soon as we get to the bottom of this.”