NS Studio and Factor Labs to Enhance Military Security with Blockchain Technology

Several players across Asia and the Middle East have announced expansions into the stablecoin sector, aiming to capitalize on a market projected to double in size within the next two years. A notable example came from Hong Kong-listed OSL Group, which unveiled plans last week to introduce a new U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin, USDGO. The token is scheduled to launch in the first quarter of next year with San Francisco-based Anchorage Digital serving as the issuer. According to OSL, the product is designed to comply with the recently passed U.S. GENIUS Act, a legislative framework establishing federal guidelines for stablecoins. The company stated that USDGO will be backed one-to-one by high-quality liquid assets, including U.S. Treasuries, and will undergo third-party audits to meet anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) standards. Anchorage Digital, notably the only digital asset company holding a U.S. national trust bank charter, will handle issuance, while OSL Group will manage branding and distribution. In Hong Kong, distribution is restricted exclusively to OSL Digital Securities Limited. The token will deploy first on the Solana blockchain, with expansion to other networks planned for the future.Photo by engin akyurt on UnsplashInfrastructure expansion in TaiwanTaiwan has also seen movement in the stablecoin space, with blockchain infrastructure firm OwlTing announcing its integration into the Circle Payments Network (CPN). The move allows the firm’s digital wallet, OwlPay Wallet Pro, to utilize stablecoin routing for cross-border transactions. OwlTing is currently targeting markets with high demand for cross-border payments, including Brazil, Nigeria, and the European Union. The company aims to secure a foothold in a global payments market that FXC Intelligence estimates is currently worth $194 trillion and could reach $320 trillion by 2032. As part of its regulatory footprint, OwlTing disclosed it holds Money Transmitter Licenses in 39 U.S. states, a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) license in Europe, and a Bank API license in Japan. The firm is pursuing further regulatory approval in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Latin America. Adoption in the UAEIn the Middle East, state-owned telecommunications giant e& UAE signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Al Maryah Community Bank, according to Khaleej Times. The agreement focuses on enabling payments via AE Coin, the UAE’s first central bank-licensed, dirham-backed payment token. Ramez Rafeek, General Manager of AED Stablecoin LLC, stated that the initiative aims to create a "regulated, transparent, and instant stablecoin framework" for daily transactions. The collaboration supports the UAE’s broader Digital Economy Strategy, designed to transition the nation toward a cashless society. Stablecoins projected to reach $750BThese regional developments come as the global stablecoin market continues to expand. According to data from RWA.xyz, total stablecoin market capitalization, including major tokens such as USDT and USDC, stands at roughly $300 billion, reflecting a 1.17% increase over the past 30 days.Analysts anticipate continued expansion. In a September research note, Teresa Ho, Head of U.S. Short Duration Strategy at J.P. Morgan, projected the market could reach between $500 billion and $750 billion within the next two years. Other market reports offer more aggressive forecasts, suggesting valuations could top $2 trillion by the end of 2028.

Blockchain Solutions Provider Block Odyssey Launches NFT Ticket Service, “MakeDrop”Korean blockchain solutions startup Block Odyssey said Monday it is launching an NFT-based ticket issuance service dubbed “MakeDrop” in an effort to revolutionize ticketing and event services in the era of Web3.Photo by Andrey Metelev on UnsplashLimitations of traditional digital ticketsUntil now, major ticket reservation platforms have made it challenging for event organizers to streamline the ticketing process for events such as corporate or campus gatherings, concerts, festivals, and more.Event organizers have thus had to manually send notifications via text messages and emails, print paper tickets, and directly manage overall ticket sales and distributions. The absence of tools to identify ticket holders from attendees also makes it difficult to accurately determine participation and contribution ratios.Blockchain meets ticketingBut with the rapid advancement of digitized ticket issuance, NFT tickets have been gaining traction as a transparent and secure solution to such challenges. These tickets are verified and stored on a blockchain, setting them apart from traditional forms of digital tickets such as barcodes.About MakeDropBlock Odyssey’s MakeDrop is an open service that allows anyone to easily create, issue, and manage one-of-a-kind NFT tickets with individual ownership rights and transaction history. If secondary ticket transactions occur, all ownership changes can be verified on the blockchain, making it possible to block attempts at fraudulent or repetitive secondary trading.The service is particularly convenient for users, as they can automatically generate a wallet address for storing their NFTs by logging in to social media accounts without having to install a separate cryptocurrency wallet.As for event organizers, they can swiftly issue mobile tickets without using third-party ticket reservation platforms. Ticket invitations are sent to recipients via KakaoTalk, South Korea’s most popular messaging app, making the service more accessible as well. Those who have not received an invitation can still apply for participation if the event is public. Upon acceptance by the organizer, they will receive an approval notification through KakaoTalk, Block Odyssey explained.Participants can then present the NFT ticket’s QR code on the day of an event, and organizers can conduct real-time validation using the QR check feature provided by MakeDrop.Notably, while traditional ticket reservation platforms often do not share ticket holder information with event organizers, MakeDrop allows independent information management for all events. This allows organizers to identify low-engagement or idle members and offer more benefits to loyal participants.As part of its website launch promotion, MakeDrop is currently holding an event to distribute 100,000 free NFT tickets. The company also plans to release a mobile app in the future after incorporating user feedback and enhancing functionalities.

Pakistan’s newly appointed Minister of State for Crypto and Blockchain, Bilal bin Saqib, has been spending time in the United States recently with a view towards collaborating with the Trump administration and Wall Street on matters related to digital assets and digital asset regulation. Pakistani TV channel 24 News HD reported on June 4 that bin Saqib met with Bo Hines during a visit to the White House in Washington, D.C. Hines was appointed by U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this year as the executive director of the President’s Council of Advisors on Digital Assets. Ways to broaden cooperation between Pakistan and the U.S. with regard to the digital assets sector were a primary topic covered during their meeting. Consideration was given to the potential for future partnerships between the two nations, with a particular emphasis on strategic alignment on digital asset policy.Photo by Kanchanara on UnsplashStrategic Bitcoin ReserveBitcoin was also a topic of conversation during the meeting. Last week, bin Saqib, who also heads up the South Asian nation’s newly formed Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC), appeared at the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas to announce that “the Pakistani government is setting up their own government-led Bitcoin Strategic Reserve.” In his keynote address, he stated that Pakistan would hold Bitcoin in a national wallet and would “never ever sell them.” Following his meeting with Hines, bin Saqib took to X, stating:”We’re building strong bridges with the U.S. on Bitcoin reserves, stablecoins, and digital asset frameworks.” Responding to bin Saqib’s X post, Faizan Siddiqi, a Pakistani expat and COO of Canadian advertising services firm, MonetizeMore, underscored the importance of the meeting for an emerging generation in Pakistan inspired “to believe in a brighter, decentralized future.” In addition to meeting with Hines, bin Saqib also met with officials from the White House Counsel’s office, engaging with them on blockchain governance and legal framework matters. New York meetingsFollowing his meeting in Washington, D.C., bin Saqib moved on to New York. A video clip posted by the PCC to the X social media platform on June 6 showed bin Saqib meeting with New York City Mayor Eric Adams. The Pakistani minister thanked Adams for all he is doing for the crypto ecosystem, while inviting him to visit Pakistan and to consider a partnership between New York and the PCC. While in New York, bin Saqib also met with Brandon Lutnick, chairman of global financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald and son of former Cantor Fitzgerald Chairman Howard Lutnick, who was appointed by U.S. President Donald Trump to the position of secretary of commerce back in February.  While Cantor Fitzgerald is a well-established traditional finance (TradFi) firm founded in 1945, the company has embraced digital assets more recently. Cantor has taken on leading stablecoin issuer Tether as a client, having also invested in the company. Last month, the firm launched its first Bitcoin fund. It’s understood that bin Saqib discussed tokenization, Bitcoin mining, the future of Web3 in Pakistan and potential for collaboration with Lutnick. Last month, Pakistan allocated 2,000 MW of surplus electricity to Bitcoin mining and AI data centers.