CPLABS and Protocol Capital to collaborate on blockchain-enhanced autonomous driving in Qatar

Bitcoin mining company Bitdeer Technologies Group is finally set to go public on the Nasdaq this Friday after a series of delays. The Singapore-based firm, which offers cloud mining services, has been in a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) merger process with Blue Safari Group. Drawn-out merger processBlue Safari Group filed for three extensions within six months last year, the last extension being a year long. The deal was originally expected to close in November 2021. The stopping block for the latest extension was insufficient time to get shareholder approval. However, Bitdeer Technologies Group revealed in a statement that shareholder approval has now been filed with the SEC.The merger was finally approved at an extraordinary general meeting of Blue Safari’s shareholders on April 11. The results of the vote will be included in a current report on Form 8-K to be filed by Blue Safari with the SEC. The deal is expected to close on April 13, 2023. Upon closing, Bitdeer Technologies Group will remain as the combined company, and its shares will begin trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “BTDR” on April 14.Bitdeer CEO Linghui Kong said, “Today marks a significant milestone for Bitdeer, leaving us poised to list on the Nasdaq and equipped to seize the growth opportunities ahead of us. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved so far and look forward to embarking on the next chapter of our journey.” The firm operates six mining data centers globally, with an aggregate electricity capacity of 775MW at the end of 2022. Surviving crypto winterBitdeer Technologies Group, backed by Bitmain founder Jihan Wu, offers cloud mining services, and is participating in a market that has been impacted by market volatility. However, miners that have survived are doubling down on expansion efforts. Yesterday, for example, the U.S. mining firm CleanSpark announced the purchase of 45,000 new mining machines for $144.9 million.Bitdeer will be part of a growing list of Bitcoin mining firms listed on Nasdaq, joining the likes of Riot Blockchain, Marathon Digital, and Canaan. Green miningRecently, the cryptocurrency mining industry has witnessed significant growth in green mining efforts. Terawulf, a US-based company, recently announced that its nuclear-powered mining facility, Nautilus, will come online soon. When fully operational, Nautilus is expected to have a hash rate of 1.6 exahashes per second (EH/s). The facility will run on nuclear power, which will significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the mining operations.The energy-use of crypto mining has been coming under scrutiny relative to its carbon footprint and the demands it places on the power grid. In what many in the crypto space have called a “hit piece” targeting mining, the New York Times took aim at the industry on Monday. Bitdeer took to Twitter to call out false claims made by the publication relative to its use of energy during a 2021 winter storm.Bitdeer’s journey to becoming a publicly-traded company has been fraught with delays, but with shareholder approval in place, the company is ready to enter the public markets.

Hana Financial Group Joins Hands with Netmarble to Attract Digitally Savvy Youths to the MetaverseKorean financial holding company Hana Financial Group has formed a strategic partnership with game publisher Netmarble, aiming to capture the attention of digitally savvy youths in South Korea. Their strategy involves introducing innovative financial services and identifying opportunities for joint business projects, as reported by local news outlet Consumer Times.Photo by Andre Taissin on UnsplashFinancial services in the gaming realmThe two sides intend to launch Hana Financial Group’s services within the realm of Grand Cross: Metaworld, a 3D animated massively multiplayer online (MMO) game. Grand Cross is being developed using Unreal Engine 5 and is a project led by Metaverse World, an affiliate of Netmarble.While the companies strive to collaborate on joint marketing promotions that encompass both gaming and financial aspects, the specific plans for executing these initiatives are still in the process of being developed.Some industry experts anticipate that the two entities will leverage their respective strengths within the virtual world to create synergistic outcomes.User interaction and advertising benefitsAccording to a tech insider who spoke to Consumer Times, there are indications that Netmarble will initially empower Hana to feature the financial group’s affiliated entities on the gaming company’s metaverse platform. This strategic step holds the potential for fostering user interaction and reaping advertising benefits. Additionally, the source mentioned that subsequent to this phase, Hana might take steps to enable customers to access banking services within the virtual domain.If, in the future, in-game goods were to establish themselves as a dependable form of currency due to potential policy reforms, it’s believed that Hana Financial Group would play an even more substantial role, leading to increased business opportunities for both partners, the source noted. These offerings would primarily cater to digital native generations.

Rotonda and Hancom Frontis Join Forces for Web3 Ecosystem GrowthRotonda, the subsidiary of Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb and the operator of cryptocurrency wallet platform Burrito Wallet, has recently announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Hancom Frontis. This strategic partnership is geared towards accelerating the growth of the Web3 ecosystem.Photo by Shubham’s Web3 on Unsplash3D metaverse platformIn April, Hancom Frontis officially launched a 3D metaverse platform known as a:rz META. This platform offers a wide array of services, including virtual meetings, online education, and telemedicine, all facilitated by the integration of blockchain-powered digital assets.With the introduction of a:rz META, Hancom Frontis has shifted its focus to Web3-based businesses. The company aims to expand its user base globally through a series of gradual updates.Fostering mutual growthThrough this partnership, both entities are set to embark on several collaborative initiatives aimed at fostering mutual growth. These efforts include sharing resources like personnel, materials, and information, as well as strengthening their business networks. They will jointly engage in research and development of blockchain-based services and work towards enhancing policies for these offerings.Shin Min-cheol, CEO of Burrito Wallet, expressed excitement about their collaboration, stating that their joint efforts would lead to the creation of an advanced blockchain environment that boasts enhanced technology and services. He also highlighted that Burrito Wallet’s ongoing partnerships with businesses across different sectors would solidify the company’s position in the market as a distinguished wallet provider that offers practical services.Recently, Burrito Wallet has taken a significant step towards its global expansion by signing a partnership with Japanese blockchain gaming platform Oasys. Meanwhile, the Korean wallet firm has also expanded its support to 11 mainnets, consistently implementing updates to enhance user-friendliness of the platform.