Klasha and FOMO Pay join forces on cross-border payments

WEMIX Foundation to Sponsor Binance Blockchain Week in Istanbul in NovemberThe WEMIX Foundation, a subsidiary of South Korean blockchain gaming publisher Wemade, announced last week its participation in Binance Blockchain Week. The event is set to take place in Istanbul, Turkey, from November 8 to 9.Photo by Ibrahim Uzun on UnsplashSecurity and transparencyWEMIX Foundation has been making multifaceted efforts to ensure that its on-chain ecosystem operates with a world-class level of security and transparency. The foundation has been leveraging tools like Xangle’s Live Watch for on-chain data collection and analysis, Binance’s Ceffu for the safe storage and management of WEMIX tokens, and Fireblocks’ infrastructure to ensure transparent WEMIX transactions. It has also implemented Chainalysis’ anti-money laundering (AML) compliance solution to bolster its security measures.Further collaborationsFollowing their efforts to ensure a secure and transparent on-chain ecosystem, Wemade and the WEMIX Foundation are taking another significant step. As sponsors of Binance Blockchain Week, they are set to explore new collaborations with not just Binance, but also other global projects and institutions attending the event. The WEMIX Foundation sees these potential partnerships as opportunities for synergies, aiming to boost the WEMIX ecosystem’s growth, broaden the reach of “unagi” — the shorthand for its omnichain network, Unbound Networking and Accelerating Growth Initiative — and further reinforce its commitment to security and transparency.

KuCoin Report Points to Marked Increase in Crypto Investors in TurkeyAs part of its “Into The Cryptoverse: Understanding Crypto Users” series, Seychelles-based crypto exchange KuCoin published a report on Thursday that identifies a significant increase in the number of crypto investors in Turkey over the course of the past eighteen months.Photo by Dima Rogachevskiy on UnsplashCrypto adoption surgeThe report, the fifteenth such report produced by KuCoin as part of this series, reveals that there has been a substantial surge in crypto adoption among Turkish adults, with an impressive 52% of the adult population participating in crypto investments.Since November 2021 there has been a 12% increase in the number of crypto investors aged 18 to 60. These statistics underscore the growing interest and acceptance of cryptocurrencies in Turkey. It’s not likely to be a coincidence that this surge in adoption has come about against the backdrop of the local currency, the Turkish lira, losing more than 50% of its value against the US dollar.Here are some of the key insights that the report identified:Growing Crypto Adoption Among Turkish Adults: The survey indicates a significant upswing in the number of Turkish adults investing in cryptocurrencies. The percentage of adults embracing crypto has surged from 40% to 52% over the last year and a half, despite the overall crypto market finding itself in the doldrums within that time frame.Increased Female Participation: While male investors continue to dominate at a rate of 57%, the survey points to a notable trend of increasing participation among women, particularly in the younger age brackets. Approximately 47% of female crypto investors are between the ages of 18 and 30.Youth-Driven Growth: Younger generations are leading the crypto adoption charge, with investors aged 31 to 44 constituting the largest group at 48%. Furthermore, a significant proportion of investors under 30 joined the market within the past year, indicating the influence of youth within the crypto space.Many have expressed the view that crypto adoption will come about through the younger demographic. It’s a factor that has not gone unnoticed by crypto platforms, including fellow Seychelles-based exchange Bitget.Motivations for Crypto Investments: The report delves into the motivations behind crypto investments among Turkish adults. A substantial 58% express the desire to create long-term wealth, transcending generational boundaries. This suggests a widespread belief in crypto’s potential as a tool for financial freedom.Popular Cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin remains a favored choice, capturing 71% of overall investor interest. Ethereum follows closely with 45% interest, while stablecoins garnered the attention of 33% of surveyed participants.Crypto Trading Dominates: A significant 70% of Turkish participants use crypto for trading, indicating the prevalent use of cryptocurrencies as investment instruments. Meanwhile, 22% have ventured into buying NFTs.Influence of Personal Connections: Personal relationships play a pivotal role in driving crypto adoption in Turkey. About 57% of participants learned about crypto through family and friends, highlighting the significance of these connections in introducing newcomers to the crypto world.This finding resonates with a similar finding relative to a recently published report covering crypto adoption in Vietnam.The report has been based upon online surveys carried out by KuCoin between May 5 and May 12 of this year.

Japan’s Largest Airline Opens NFT MarketplaceAll Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan’s largest airline, has ventured into the world of Web3 by launching its own non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace through its subsidiary, ANA Neo.Photo by Marcus Ng on UnsplashANA GranWhale NFT marketplaceThe newly introduced platform, called the “ANA GranWhale NFT Marketplace,” will showcase an exclusive digital art collection crafted by renowned aerial photographer Luke Ozawa.The NFT marketplace commenced on Tuesday with the conversion of Ozawa’s first digital photograph into an NFT. One of these unique pieces will be auctioned alongside the positive film, which served as the source for the photo’s development. The starting price for this item is set at 100,000 yen, offering collectors the opportunity to acquire an NFT paired with a tangible artifact.Following this initial collection, ANA plans to release its second batch of NFTs on June 7. This collection will feature the NFT rendition of the first Boeing 787 operated by ANA, presented in the form of a 3D model airplane. The offerings include a total of 1,574 items, comprising two types of 787 models, with each item priced at 7,870 yen.ANA, a company with revenues of $12.2 billion in its previous fiscal year, aims to expand its NFT product line in the future. The airline envisions leveraging NFTs to enhance the customer experience and add value to its services.Airline industry NFT PotentialThe development of ANA Neo’s GranWhale initiative began in August of last year. The project focuses on creating a virtual travel platform that utilizes various technologies, including virtual reality (VR), to recreate destinations and cultures from around the world. These recreations take the form of metaverse parks, allowing users to explore and immerse themselves in virtual travel experiences.ANA Neo President Mitsuo Tomita emphasized the significance of this venture, stating that the ANA GranWhale logo symbolizes the fusion of the virtual and the real, signifying the airline’s journey into the future, where Web3 and metaverse travel will become increasingly prevalent. “Through this initiative, we aim to unlock the potential of NFTs in the aviation industry, bringing together the digital and physical realms to create unique and memorable experiences that unite the world in wonder,” Tomita stated.Club Toki NFTsANA is not the first Japanese airline to involve itself with the NFT space. Earlier this month, regional Japanese airline Toki Air announced the launch of Club Toki, a fan community centered around NFTs. The initiative claims that community members join by purchasing NFTs, and as NFT holders, they receive further club benefits. The NFTs can be purchased by credit card or payment in ETH, with the buyer needing a MetaMask wallet in order to receive the NFT.In March, Argentinian low-cost airline Flybondi integrated Web3 into its ticketing process by issuing tickets as NFTs in a partnership with NFT ticketing firm, TravelX. With this initiative, Flybondi became the first airline to offer flight tickets as NFTs.With its entry into the NFT marketplace, ANA joins the growing number of companies embracing Web3 technologies to offer unique digital assets and experiences. As the airline continues to develop its GranWhale platform, it seeks to cater to the evolving demands of the market and establish a presence at the intersection of aviation and the metaverse.