DBS Bank pilots government grants on blockchain

WOO Network Repurchases Shares in 3AC SettlementWOO Network, a Taiwan-based liquidity provider, has reached a settlement with Teneo, the liquidator of bankrupt Singapore hedge fund Three Arrows Capital (3AC).The settlement involves the repurchase of shares and tokens acquired by 3AC during WOO’s Series A fundraising round in November 2021. This resolution brings finality to 3AC's contentious involvement with the Taiwanese firm.Photo by Joss Woodhead on UnsplashClosing out 3AC involvementOn Wednesday WOO announced the share and token repurchase via a blog post published to its website, signaling the resolution of its dealings with Three Arrows Capital and, consequently, bringing an end to the uncertainties that had enveloped their partnership.In addition to this, a total of 20 million WOO tokens, valued at over $3 million, were repurchased and sent to a burn address to ensure they couldn’t be accessed by anyone. 3AC had not only acquired equity but also 25 million WOO tokens, with the remaining set to vest over the next 12 months.Jack Tan, Co-Founder of WOO Network, emphasized the significance of resolving the 3AC-related issues. Tan commended the proactive collaboration with liquidators to secure a fair agreement for repurchasing their shares, along with vested and vesting tokens, from 3AC’s estate. Tan also welcomed the opportunity to move on from the 3AC entanglement, stating:“The past 18 months have seen a concentration of bad news hit our industry from large-scale failures to more overzealous regulators. A thorough cleansing of the system has taken place and we are looking forward to rebuilding with our partners and team.”Equally WOO Network community members are happy with the outcome, with one stating on X (formerly Twitter): “This is a huge win for the project and its community.”By repurchasing these shares and tokens, WOO Network has effectively severed its ties with 3AC and its creditors, paving the way for a more focused growth trajectory in the upcoming year. Jack Tan observed that the cryptocurrency industry has faced an influx of adverse developments in recent times, including significant failures and heightened regulatory scrutiny. He emphasized that a comprehensive restructuring of the system has occurred and expressed optimism about the future, looking forward to rebuilding alongside their partners and team.In light of these recent developments, WOO Network is poised to move forward with renewed vigor, leaving behind the tumultuous period of the 3AC fallout. This strategic resolution not only ensures a fair and equitable outcome for shareholders but also heralds a promising future for WOO Network in the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrency.According to data from CoinGecko at the time of publication, the WOO Network token price experienced an increase of 1.45% over the past 24 hours, settling at $0.1709, with its trading volume increasing by 2.8% to $8.79 million. However, over the past 30 days, the crypto token has recorded gains of nearly 10.8%, indicating resilience and a positive outlook as it navigates the evolving landscape of the digital asset market.This development, along with the cryptocurrency’s recent performance, underscores the potential for growth and renewed promise within the WOO Network ecosystem. More clarity has been brought to the future of the business as a consequence of bringing finality to this contentious issue.

Komainu Secures FCA Approval in Boost For Crypto Custody in the UKKomainu, a digital asset storage firm backed by Tokyo-based global financial services group Nomura, has received approval from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to operate as a crypto custodian wallet provider.Photo by Robert Tudor on UnsplashPaving the way for broader service offeringThe Jersey-headquartered Nomura portfolio company outlined details of its regulatory success in a blog post published on Friday. This regulatory milestone marks a pivotal moment for Komainu’s expansion within the UK market, allowing the firm to amplify its crypto service offering in the UK.The approval paves the way for the firm to offer collateral management services through its platform, Komainu Connect. Sebastian Widmann, Head of Strategy at Komainu, expressed the company’s intention to furnish institutional custody services, a fundamental aspect of the swiftly advancing cryptocurrency market. He also underscored Komainu Connect’s role as a premier collateral management solution within the UK.Komainu’s CEO, Nicolas Bertrand, spoke to the United Kingdom’s pivotal role in the global financial technology sector. He accentuated the UK’s position as a critical hub for fintech, bridging the realms of traditional finance and decentralized finance. The FCA’s endorsement underscores Komainu’s efforts in attempting to deliver secure and compliant cryptocurrency custody services.“This is a key regulatory milestone as the UK remains one of the most important hubs for financial technology and innovation that will spur the convergence of traditional and decentralized finance,” stated Bertrand.This recent approval is not an isolated achievement for Komainu. The firm has been building up recognition for its adherence to regulatory compliance. In August, it secured a full operating license from Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority, reinforcing its dedication to adhering to global regulatory standards.Additionally, being headquartered in Jersey, Komainu falls under the jurisdiction of the Jersey Financial Services Commission, ensuring that the firm also adheres to those local financial regulations.The company previously unveiled an agreement with local authorities, focusing on secure digital asset storage during investigations. This partnership is demonstrative of efforts made by the firm in fostering transparency and security within the cryptocurrency ecosystem, aligning with the broader regulatory objectives of the UK government.Further ambitionsHowever, Komainu’s presence is expected to reach beyond the shores of the UK and Dubai. Coinshares, one of Komainu’s parent companies, recently introduced its hedge fund division, Coinshares Hedge Fund Solutions, signaling its intent to venture into the US market. This strategic maneuver will provide eligible American investors with access to Coinshares’ array of private investment products, further cementing its global presence in the cryptocurrency sector.In June the firm partnered with Seychelles-based global crypto platform OKX. As part of that deal, the digital assets custodian will store and custody digital assets on behalf of OKX's institutional clients.With a positive track record thus far where regulatory compliance is concerned, Komainu is positioning itself for further growth and innovation relative to a fast-developing crypto sector.

Blockchain technology and digital assets feature strongly in a fintech ecosystem report carried out by InvestHK, an agency within Hong Kong’s government responsible for foreign direct investment.Photo by Shubham Dhage on UnsplashGrowing fintech sectorThe recently published report, identified that as of July 2024, there were 175 blockchain application/software firms located in Hong Kong. In the area of cryptocurrency and digital assets, it identified the presence of 111 firms, while there were 122 payment and remittance firms. All in all, the report found that in excess of 1,100 fintech firms had been established in Hong Kong as of mid-2024. It highlights the fact that the sector has seen robust growth in Hong Kong in recent years, while making the point that this has come about in part due to “substantial resources” having been committed by the Hong Kong government to enable such growth within the local fintech sector. The report cites data from a study carried out by DataCube Research, which projects that the fintech market within the Chinese autonomous territory will reach $606 billion by 2032. This forecast incorporates an expectation of an annual growth rate of 28.5% over the course of the next eight years. As well as forecasting further growth for the fintech sector in general in Hong Kong, the InvestHK report also foresees artificial intelligence, blockchain and distributed ledger technology (DLT) and digital assets contributing to that growth. 250% blockchain startup growthThe research identifies that since 2022, there has been a 250% increase in the total number of blockchain-related startups that are located within the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR). The number of crypto and digital asset firms based in Hong Kong has grown by 30% during the same period.  Finding talentIn formulating this report, InvestHK surveyed 130 local fintech firms. One challenge that was identified through that process is the need for the appropriate talent to be in place in order to secure projected growth rates over the coming years. Hong Kong is having to compete on a global basis for appropriate fintech talent, with almost 60% of the companies surveyed by InvestHK suggesting that this is a major challenge. Taking cryptocurrencies as a key component for future growth, last year’s Bitcoin price surge led to a crypto hiring boom with some of the large global fintech companies actively hiring crypto talent.  Other centers such as Singapore are taking measures to attract that talent. Access to capital was another area of concern, with 44% of respondents indicating it as an area of difficulty. In an interview with English-language newspaper China Daily recently, Brian Ah-Chuen, managing director of ABC Banking Corp., said that InvestHK has been aggressive in its approach to certain initiatives. He said that the agency has been successful in drawing capital and talent from around the world to Hong Kong.