Fraud Defense Sees Terraform Labs Pursue Access to FTX Wallets

P2E defense game Slime World to roll out a major update in DecemberSlime World, a play-to-earn (P2E) blockchain game developed by South Korean company Nada Digital, is set to roll out a major update this December, according to a report by local news outlet Edaily.Photo by Markus Winkler on UnsplashUpdates to two game modesThis update to the defense game will enhance PvP Arena Mode, allowing players to merge NFT characters to battle against others, and will also improve the defense-oriented Infinite Mode. New NFTs released with this update will enable users to try diverse squad formations in Arena Mode, fostering strategic gameplay. The upgrade to Infinite Mode is designed to simplify the process of mining in-game tokens.Airdrop eventsIn celebration of its upcoming update, Slime World is planning a series of events. To bolster Arena Mode, the game will conduct airdrops of extra NFTs to both current and new NFT purchasers. Additionally, there will be airdrops of NADA tokens and various paid items. The platform is also set to provide incentives for players who haven’t accessed the server in a while, encouraging them to re-engage with the game.A representative from NADA Protocol, which operates under Nada Digital, mentioned that despite South Korea’s ban on play-to-earn (P2E) games, Slime World has garnered favorable reviews from gamers around the world. They anticipate that the forthcoming update will further contribute to the game’s growth and popularity.

Zero Two Enters Into JV to Develop First Middle East Mining OpZero Two, a digital assets development company based in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has partnered with leading North American crypto miner Marathon Digital in a joint venture that will result in the development and operation of the Middle East’s first large-scale crypto mining facility.Photo by Manuel Geissinger on PexelsInitial capacity of 250 MWIn a press release issued on Tuesday, Marathon Digital outlined that the venture is focused on accelerating the global digital economy while also supporting Abu Dhabi’s power grid.To progress the project, the two companies have formed the Abu Dhabi Global Markets JV Entity (AGDM Entity). Initially, two digital asset mining facilities, with a combined capacity of 250 MW, will be developed.One site, at Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, will account for 200 MW of that capacity. The remaining 50 MW capacity will be developed at a site located in the port area of Mina Zayed. The strategy of the firms is to exploit excess network energy in Abu Dhabi. The firms see this as a win/win as increasing the base load of the Abu Dhabi power grid will result in a more sustainable grid. The companies intend to supplement any use of non-sustainably produced energy with carbon offset certificates.80/20 equity splitThe two firms have agreed upon an 80%/20% equity split, with Zero Two being the lead investor. In the initial development period for the venture during 2023, both entities will contribute resources to the joint venture in proportion to the equity division, in the form of capital, equipment and infrastructure.Zero Two and Marathon had previously collaborated on a pilot project with the objective of determining the feasibility of building a large-scale facility. Air-cooled miners have not proven to be a success in hot arid climates like that of the Rub Al Khali Middle Eastern desert.The upshot of the pilot program was a determination that a custom-built immersion-cooled system would be feasible. Mining equipment for the facilities is already on order while construction at the two sites is underway. Both sites are expected to go online before the end of the year with a combined hashrate of 7 EH/s.Ahmed Al Hameli commented on the joint venture: “This alliance leverages Zero Two’s regional expertise, expansive relationships, and growing blockchain infrastructure development and operational capabilities, with Marathon’s technical prowess in developing digital asset sites and innovative mining technologies.These synergies create a powerful combination and lay the groundwork for the success of this pioneering project in the Middle East. Marathon shares our commitment to actively supporting Abu Dhabi’s power grid and developing global digital assets infrastructure. We look forward to working with them on this venture.”Jurisdictional arbitrageMarathon’s CEO Fred Thiel said that Zero Two’s regional relationships were an optimal compliment. It may be both a timely and shrewd move by Marathon to develop this project in the Middle East region. In recent weeks the Biden administration floated the idea of a 30% crypto mining tax. Crypto mining is a global endeavor.That type of additional overhead would make it very difficult for North American miners to remain viable. By opening up new working relationships in other regions, the company may be in a better position to pivot should North America and the firm’s Montana-based mining facility become unsustainable.

SK Telecom and Polygon Labs Team Up for Web3 Ecosystem DevelopmentSouth Korean telecommunications giant SK Telecom (SKT) and global blockchain firm Polygon Labs have joined hands to foster the growth of the Web3 ecosystem.Photo by GuerrillaBuzz on UnsplashThe two companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Thursday at SK-T Tower located in Euljiro, Seoul. SKT’s Web3 Chief Officer, Oh Se-hyeon, and Polygon Labs’ CEO, Marc Boiron, were in attendance.Polygon Labs is the operator of the Polygon blockchain network, which is critically acclaimed for its superior blockchain performance, scalability, Ethereum compatibility, and more. The firm is also well-known for its engagement with various global enterprises and Web3 projects.“Polygon Labs has developed optimal blockchain technology for the popularization of Web3, and we expect our collaboration with SKT to serve as a key opportunity to offer Web3 experiences and services to a wider audience,” said Polygon CEO Boiron.Empowering NFT trade and connectivityAccording to the agreement, SKT’s NFT marketplace “TopPort” and the company’s upcoming Web3 wallet will operate on Polygon’s blockchain network. On the other hand, Polygon Labs will aid in integrating SKT’s Web3 services into its global ecosystem.This will enable NFT creators who use TopPort to trade their NFTs on the Polygon network. In addition, NFTs issued on TopPort will now be tradable on other NFT marketplaces within the Polygon network, enhancing global compatibility and scalability.SKT and Polygon also plan to allow SKT’s Web3 wallet to be used across various decentralized applications (dApps) within the Polygon ecosystem. Furthermore, they are exploring the possibility of facilitating NFT trading on TopPort using Polygon’s native token, MATIC.Promoting the advancement of Web3This partnership aims to drive sustained growth within the Web3 ecosystem, particularly by finding and incubating promising Web3 enterprises. To do so, Polygon Labs is considering investments in Web3 startups endorsed by SKT through its investment arm Polygon Ventures.SKT’s Web3 Chief Officer Oh expressed high hopes for the synergy between SKT’s blockchain service technology and expertise and Polygon Labs’ infrastructure technology and ecosystem, saying, “This collaboration could become a cornerstone for the future popularization of Web3.”All of these efforts are geared towards paving the way for Web3’s mainstream adoption, as these two industry giants combine their strengths to spearhead the evolution of the Web3 ecosystem.