Binance Labs clarifies involvement in SkyArk Chonicles’ latest funding round

China Mobile Establishes Metaverse Industry AllianceChina Mobile, one of the leading telecommunications companies in China, has taken a significant step forward in the development of the metaverse by announcing the establishment of an industry alliance during the 2023 Mobile World Congress in Shanghai.News of the development broke via a state-backed media outlet, the Shanghai Securities Journal, in its reporting from the event on Wednesday.Photo by julien Tromeur on UnsplashA trillion yuan marketAt the forefront of this endeavor is Zhao Dachun, Deputy General Manager of China Mobile. Dachun emphasized the metaverse’s potential as a trillion-yuan level market. Recognizing its significance, China Mobile has unveiled the first batch of 24 members of the metaverse industry alliance. Among them are renowned companies such as iFlytek, a leading AI company, HTC, a prominent manufacturer of VR goggles, and MGTV, a popular video streaming platform.The establishment of the alliance serves multiple purposes. It provides a platform for industry partners to engage in discussions and collaboratively shape the future of the metaverse industry. This cooperative effort will contribute to the development of industry standards, facilitating a shared vision for the metaverse ecosystem.More effective metaverse collaborationAdditionally, the alliance aims to foster resource sharing, encouraging deeper integration and collaboration among its members. By adopting a win-win mindset, the alliance members seek to collectively benefit from the new opportunities that arise within the digital economy.Further supporting the metaverse vision, Migu, the digital content unit of China Mobile, has taken significant steps by establishing its metaverse headquarters in Xiamen, a city located in the Fujian province of China.Regional government partnershipIn a promising partnership, Migu has entered into a strategic cooperation agreement with the Xiamen government to spearhead the development of a metaverse within the city. The metaverse, a digital world created through advanced technologies such as virtual reality and augmented reality, holds great potential for transforming Xiamen into a “high-quality, high-value, modern, and international” city that thrives on digital intelligence.Migu’s plans extend beyond theoretical concepts, as they outline concrete steps to realize the metaverse vision. Key application scenarios, such as the development of a metaverse version of Gulangyu Island, a renowned tourist destination celebrated for its natural beauty and historical significance, will be a primary focus. By bringing this iconic location to the metaverse, visitors will have the opportunity to experience its charm in a new digital dimension.Moreover, Migu is dedicated to accelerating research on digital governance within the metaverse. With the metaverse expected to have a profound impact on society, understanding how to effectively manage and regulate this emerging digital landscape becomes paramount. Migu aims to lead the way in establishing best practices and frameworks for responsible and inclusive digital governance.Through collaborative efforts, the promotion of industry standards, and strategic investments in key application scenarios, China Mobile is likely to play an important role in unlocking the vast potential of the metaverse. In turn, the initiative is likely to fuel the growth and transformation of the digital economy.

The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority has announced a ban on cryptocurrency mining on farms, addressing concerns over the misuse of agricultural land.Photo by Kamil Rogalinski on UnsplashClaims of farm misuseAccording to the Khaleej Times, the Authority has informed UAE farmers that their lands are not to be used for Bitcoin and crypto mining. This activity is deemed a “misuse of the farm for purposes other than its intended use.” The new regulation aims to preserve the primary agricultural function of these lands and imposes penalties of up to 10,000 United Arab Emirates Dirhams (approximately $2,722) for violations. Cryptocurrency mining requires significant computational power and electricity, which conflicts with the farms’ intended agricultural use.  Broader support for miningDespite this specific restriction, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) maintains a supportive stance towards cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency mining beyond a farm setting. In 2023, the country emerged as a notable player in the global Bitcoin mining industry, with a combined mining capacity of around 400 megawatts, contributing approximately 4% of the global Bitcoin hash rate. It’s proven to be a popular place in which to locate a mining facility as the country has a robust infrastructure. Stable power is essential in order for miners to be able to run their machines in a sustainable manner. Additionally, the government has generally been supportive of the activity, fostering a conducive environment for both crypto and Bitcoin mining and blockchain technology more generally. Furthermore, the country occupies a strategic location at the crossroads of major trade routes. Regulatory clarity has also been provided by the authorities in the UAE with regard to how crypto mining activity is to be carried out. While this latest move against mining within a farm setting is a restriction, it still feeds into that overall framework of regulatory clarity and certainty. Attracting mining firmsGiven the aforementioned reasons in support of mining in the UAE, the Middle Eastern country continues to attract cryptocurrency mining firms.  In December of last year, a Dubai-headquartered Bitcoin mining company, Phoenix Group, struck a $380 million deal with Chinese mining equipment manufacturer MicroBT. That same month, the company was listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX). In May 2023, Abu Dhabi-based digital assets development company Zero Two entered into a partnership with North American crypto miner Marathon Digital with a view towards developing the region’s first large-scale crypto mining facility. Beyond mining, the location is also proving popular for crypto firms more generally. In May 2023, Chainalysis, a leading blockchain analytics company, established its regional headquarters in Dubai. Similarly, Blockdaemon, a provider of institutional infrastructure, expanded its operations in Abu Dhabi, facilitated by the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), a key financial regulator. Speaking at the Dubai FinTech Summit recently, Reece Merrick, Managing Director of enterprise blockchain company Ripple for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, said that “the UAE has done a remarkable job in really putting itself in a position to be the global crypto hub.”

Korea Investment and Securities Completes the Construction of Security Token InfrastructureKorea Investment and Securities (KIS) recently announced that it has become the first securities firm in South Korea to successfully establish an infrastructure for security token offerings.Photo by Joshua Sortino on UnsplashReal-world assetsSecurity tokens are a new class of securities that are based on distributed ledger technology, allowing individuals to invest in real-world assets (RWAs) that can be tokenized. Such assets include real estate, ships, airplanes, and artworks.In March, KIS initiated a security token consortium named “Korea Investment ST Friends,” collaborating with Internet-only banks KakaoBank and Toss Bank, AI company Kakao Enterprise, and blockchain developer Open Asset. Since May, the consortium has been diligently working with the principal objective of constructing an infrastructure leveraging distributed ledgers. Consequently, the group has finalized the development and testing of a system that manages the entire trajectory of security token projects, from issuance to liquidation.Cloud systemSpecifically, KIS has built its infrastructure on a cloud network, bearing in mind that the regulatory framework for security tokens is still in development. This cloud system is capable of adapting to regulatory modifications and implementing improvement updates. Moreover, it utilizes an agile development approach to encourage rapid decision-making and productive collaborations, enhancing time efficiency.Compatibility with the traditional systemThe newly established security token infrastructure is also compatible with the traditional security trading system. Achieving this compatibility posed numerous technical challenges as the new system operates on distributed ledgers, whereas the existing one relies on centralized servers.KIS is preparing to file patents for some of the technologies incorporated into the new system. These technologies encompass the payment of dividends through smart contracts, assurance of immediate settlements using deposits on distributed ledgers, and the management and safeguarding of personal information. By demonstrating the infrastructure’s capability and stability, the securities firm aims to gain a technological edge.Choi Seo-ryong, the head of the platform division at KIS, expects the new infrastructure to mark a significant milestone as distributed ledger technology merges with traditional finance. He further mentioned that the securities company will discover blue-chip assets meeting investor needs while committing to the stable establishment of the regulatory framework and the protection of investors.Moving forward, ST Friends will continue to enhance the stability and functionalities of the infrastructure through a series of field tests related to the entire process of security token products. Aiming to construct a security token ecosystem, the group will also concentrate on developing products by collaborating with various firms, including Korean content investment platform Funderful and real estate trading platform Valuemap.