Busan Introduces Blockchain-Powered Cards for Multi-Children Families to Offer Social Benefits

Crypto Oasis Founder Thinks UAE Set Up For Crypto SuccessAs the dust settles on 2023's Dubai Fintech Summit, which took place last week, one takeaway offered by the Co-Founder of blockchain ecosystem firm Crypto Oasis is that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has set itself up for success where crypto business is concerned.In speaking with crypto publication CoinTelegraph on the fringes of the Dubai Fintech Summit, Crypto Oasis Co-Founder and Managing Partner Saqr Ereiqat suggested that the regulatory infrastructure that the UAE has put in place provides an ideal foundation upon which crypto companies can develop and prosper.Photo by Mo Ismail on PexelsRegulatory infrastructureEreiqat pointed to some key fundamentals that crypto entrepreneurs and start-up founders should look at when deciding on the location that will best meet their needs and help to optimize their route to market and ultimate success. This includes the regulatory infrastructure.The UAE authorities and regulators at a national level, together with their colleagues within the regulatory agencies in the Emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, have been doing some heavy lifting in this regard over recent months.They’ve all been working on establishing a workable regulatory framework, and as part of that, a licensing process. In the case of Dubai, its Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) has started to issue preliminary or Minimum Viable Product (MVP) license approvals that enable crypto startups to get started, while providing them with a pathway towards obtaining Full Market Product (FMP) licensing at a later stage.Talent poolThe other key requirements that Ereiqat set out were digital infrastructure alongside an ability to attract and provide a pool of talent relative to the crypto assets space. In respect of these key considerations, Ereiqat believes that the UAE hits the target in each case.“The UAE’s regulatory framework is more streamlined and business-friendly compared to the complex and fragmented regulatory environment in the US,” he told the crypto media firm.To enhance these fundamentals, Ereiqat also alluded to a depth of capital that could potentially find its way into UAE-based crypto businesses, easing these start-ups’ efforts in executing on funding rounds as they look to achieve growth.Ereiqat maintains that the interest in the region is already evident, citing a data-point that suggests there are 1,800 Web3-centric businesses already operating in the region, with more than 8,000 people working for those start-up businesses. Speaking to that reality further, he said:“The Dubai FinTech Summit was a significant event that brought together stakeholders from the fintech industry […] The presence of crypto and Web3 leaders and projects at the event is an important indicator of the growing interest and adoption of these technologies in the region.”This enthusiasm and belief in the existence of the right Web3 business environment in the UAE was echoed at that event by both Coinbase Founder and CEO Brian Armstrong and Ripple Founder and CEO Brad Garlinghouse. Both industry figures featured as keynote speakers at the event. Armstrong alluded to the potential of Coinbase establishing a base in Abu Dhabi while Garlinghouse announced the opening of a Ripple office in Dubai.

Ripple Labs, the American technology company that developed and supports XRP and the XRP Ledger (XRPL), has partnered with Japan’s Web3 Salon initiative, while in a separate development, the company is also funding crypto-related academic research within the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.Photo by Moose Photos on PexelsDriving Web3 adoption in JapanIn a statement published to its website on June 9, the company outlined that it has partnered with Japan’s Web3 Salon project, a Web3 initiative with the objective of educating businesses and developers, nurturing blockchain startups and driving Web3 adoption through the provision of startup incubator programs and running hackathons and workshops.One of Japan’s most active Web3 projects, Web3 Salon has the backing of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). The project has also collaborated with a range of Japanese Web3 startups, Asia Web3 Alliance Japan (AWAJ), institutional investors and venture capital firms, as well as a number of key industry stakeholders. Grant fundingAs part of its involvement in this collaboration, Ripple will provide grant funding of up to $200,000 to Japanese startups who have developed their projects on XRPL. Ripple’s grant funding forms part of its broader initiative to finance XRPL-related startups in Japan and Korea. Earlier this month, it confirmed that it had established the XRPL Japan and Korea Fund for this purpose.  At a broader level still, Ripple said that this latest funding commitment also falls under its one billion XRP commitment. Back in 2022 the company committed one billion XRP to advance XRPL ecosystem projects. Christina Chan, Senior Director of Developer Growth at Ripple, commented on the development, stating:“Ripple is proud to collaborate with Web3 Salon to unlock new opportunities in Japan’s thriving startup ecosystem. Together, we hope to fuel innovation and support the next generation of leaders.” Supporting APAC university researchIn a separate blog post published to its website on June 10, Ripple outlined that it was committing $5 million in funding within the APAC region as part of its University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI). The funding will cover blockchain-related academic research projects in Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Australia. $1.1 million has been allocated to South Korea’s Korea University in funding that will be released over a six-year period. The funding builds on another relationship that had already been established with Yonsei University via the UBRI in 2024. Equally, Japan’s Kyoto University had engaged with the UBRI last year. That support is now being renewed while funding is also being allocated to the University of Tokyo. The two institutions will be able to avail to funding in excess of $1.5 million.Other APAC region educational institutions to benefit include the National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology (NKUST) in Taiwan, the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore and the Australian National University (ANU) in Australia.’An epicenter of digital finance’Ripple called APAC “an epicenter of digital finance.” Expanding further on that assertion, it stated that the region has shown “an appetite for experimentation and boasting thriving communities for builders.” Consequently, it views the APAC region as a leader in payment technologies and digital asset adoption.

MEXC Ventures, the venture arm of the Seychelles-headquartered MEXC global crypto exchange, has announced a strategic investment into Triv, one of Indonesia’s largest crypto exchange platforms, as part of an effort to drive further expansion of the business.Photo by Eugenia Clara on UnsplashSupporting blockchain & crypto innovationIn a press release published via PR Newswire on Aug. 5, MEXC Ventures confirmed the strategic investment, which was agreed upon based on a $200 million valuation of the Triv business. MEXC Ventures asserted that the investment falls in line with its global strategy of supporting and developing innovative blockchain and crypto sector projects. Additionally, the firm claims that the move will enable it to capitalize on Southeast Asia’s fast-growing digital asset market. MEXC Ventures Investment Director Leo Zhao said that the company was excited “to back Triv in its next phase of growth." He added: "Indonesia is one of the most dynamic and promising digital asset markets in the region, and Triv has earned a strong reputation for compliance, security, and user trust. Through this partnership, we look forward to supporting Triv in serving Indonesian users even better and accelerating the adoption of digital assets across the country." Well-established exchangeEstablished back in 2015, Triv provides spot crypto trading services, alongside staking services for Ethereum (ETH) and Cardano (ADA). The platform supports payment systems like Advcash and PayPal to enable users to make e-commerce payments and to cover everyday expenses such as utility bills. The platform is recognized for its advanced trading features. Earlier this year, Triv added the Triv Shield, a security tool that prevents platform users from inadvertently interacting with malicious contracts. The company operates under the oversight of Indonesian regulators, the Financial Services Authority (OJK) and the Commodity Futures Trading Regulatory Agency, better known as BAPPEBTI. Gabriel Rey, Founder and CEO of Triv, said that the partnership will enable the platform to expand its coin offerings, “enhance liquidity and introduce more innovative products for both new and existing users.” He believes that the partnership will also be helpful in maintaining CryptoWave Media, an educational platform that forms part of Triv Group, as a leading crypto media outlet in Indonesia.  Earlier this year, MEXC Ventures launched a $300 million Ecosystem Development Fund geared towards accelerating innovation and ecosystem growth within the blockchain sector. At the time, MEXC Chief Operating Officer (COO) Tracy Jin said that the company’s overall vision was to transition from a trading venue to an ecosystem platform, facilitating the needs of crypto industry firms. The company previously made a $16 million strategic investment into Ethena, a stablecoin project built on Ethereum that offers the USDe decentralized stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar. As part of that deal, it also bought $20 million worth of USDe. In April, MEXC Ventures launched IgniteX, a $30 million initiative designed to support and foster Web3 talent and innovation.