Hong Kong’s GSBN Takes Lead in Blockchain Logistics

X-PLANET to Sell NFTs for 35th Anniversary of Choushinsei Flashman’s Korean ReleaseCom2uS Platform, a subsidiary of Korean game developer Com2uS Holdings, announced last Friday that it will launch non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on its NFT marketplace X-PLANET to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Japanese television show Choushinsei Flashman’s Korean release.Photo by PJ Gal-Szabo on UnsplashFan-favorite showChoushinsei Flashman is a live-action superhero series that gained immense popularity when it was released in South Korea in 1989. The original series produced by Japan’s Toei Animation captivated fans with its dynamic action sequences and the exploration of deeper themes such as family separation and loneliness.Merging the retro and modern worldsX-PLANET is collaborating with Toei Animation and Korean publishing company Daewon Media to carry out the NFT project. The 35th anniversary NFT will officially drop on November 1 at 9:00 AM (UTC) for $150 each. Buyers will receive a 35th-anniversary merchandise set, which includes a Rolling Vulcan figure lamp, a set of Video Home System-themed photo cards, an acrylic phone pop socket, and an acrylic frame. The Rolling Vulcan figure lamp in particular is gaining the most attention, as it is being officially released for the first time in three decades.The marketplace also opened an official mini website dedicated to the event and announced that it would be airdropping NFTs of Mag, the show’s representative robot mascot, on a first-come, first-served basis from Friday until the end of the month.X-PLANET is also planning to hold a Choushinsei Flashman 35th anniversary fan meeting in Korea early next year, which will invite seven Japanese actors from the show plus a secret guest. The sale of NFT tickets to the fan meeting will open in December, the platform said.

Coinone Hires Former FSS Official as Head AuditorKorean crypto exchange Coinone has established an audit department and recruited a former director general of the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) as head auditor, according to local news outlet Moneytoday. This comes in an effort to establish a permanent internal control system and enhance communication with financial authorities.Photo by Hunters Race on UnsplashBringing in a seasoned expertAccording to industry sources on Wednesday, Coinone recently signed an audit contract with the official, who is now the highest-ranking auditor to be hired by a crypto exchange. It was reported that they had retired from the FSS just last week.The new auditor has an extensive career in financial regulation, starting as an investigator at the Bank of Korea’s Legal Affairs Office, and then holding multiple leadership positions at various departments in the FSS, such as the Bank Supervision Department and the Financial Consumer Protection Department. More recently from 2020 to 2021, they served as the Director of the General Affairs Department. During their comprehensive 30-year tenure at both establishments, they gained expertise in the supervision of financial enterprises.Coinone’s dedication to regulatory complianceThey are expected to start their duties at Coinone soon, shortly after the end of the recent Chuseok holiday. The decision to hire them was strongly influenced by its commitment to auditory regulation, the exchange said, emphasizing the need for internal control and preemptive risk management during the complex process of establishing itself as a formal business.Considering the continued tightening of regulations on cryptocurrencies in Korea, such as the enactment of the Virtual Asset User Protection Act and the introduction of guidelines for accounting and reporting on trading cryptocurrencies, Coinone also said that it is determined to actively engage with financial authorities through the new auditor.“This move reflects the intention to build practical expertise in audit services with FSS personnel who have professional knowledge in the area,” an industry insider commented.

Crypto emerges as topic in Indonesian election campaignAs Indonesia gears up for its upcoming presidential election, the country’s crypto market has become a focal point for political discourse. Gibran Rakabuming Raka, a vice presidential candidate and the eldest son of President Joko Widodo, recently unveiled his plans to foster expertise in blockchain and crypto within the Southeast Asian nation.Chosen as the running mate for presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, the 36-year-old politician aims to elevate tech education in Indonesia, opening avenues for the younger generation, particularly in the realm of digital assets. According to a report by Indonesian online news portal detikNews, while speaking at a political gathering on Dec. 10, Gibran asserted:“We are preparing blockchain experts, we are preparing cyber security experts, we are preparing crypto experts.”Photo by Nick Agus Arya on UnsplashCrypto potentialIndonesia has emerged as being ahead of the curve in terms of crypto adoption, ranking seventh on Chainalysis’ 2023 global crypto adoption index. With an estimated 18 million crypto investors, the country boasts a robust industry association that also functions as a self-regulatory body.Local news media reported in October that the Southeast Asian country has seen a 10.1% year-on-year increase in the number of crypto investors. At the time, Tirta Karma Senjaya, Head of the Commodity Futures Trading Regulatory Agency, said, "Growth in the number of crypto investors in Indonesia continues to increase, but investors are still looking for the right time to buy crypto.”Private sector entities have also identified the raw potential. In the same month, Web3 consulting firm Tiger Research, in partnership with South Korean crypto data platform Xangle, produced a report which identified significant potential for the development of Indonesia’s Web3 market. There are over 30 crypto exchanges operating in the country, acting as the primary channel through which growth in crypto is propelled in Indonesia.Capitalizing on crypto interestThe government, under President Widodo, has actively sought to capitalize on this crypto enthusiasm, going as far as establishing a local “stock market” dedicated to crypto assets.Gibran’s proactive stance on crypto education aligns with his broader vision of positioning Indonesia at the forefront of the global digital revolution. The country’s rapidly growing tech landscape and crypto adoption make it an opportune space for fostering expertise in these cutting-edge technologies.As the presidential election approaches, Gibran’s commitment to cultivating a pool of crypto experts underscores the potential influence of the crypto industry in shaping Indonesia’s economic future.An international topicCrypto is increasingly becoming an important topic in elections globally. In the United States, many of the presidential candidates, particularly within the Republican Party, have publicly expressed their interest in crypto and blockchain. Yesterday, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse took to the X social media platform on the subject, stating:”Team @Ripple is putting a stake in the ground, leading the charge with other industry leaders to support pro-innovation and pro-crypto candidates in the 2024 US election cycle. The US cannot afford to continue taking a back seat on the global stage.“With Indonesia’s election frontrunners, Prabowo and Gibran, expressing interest in the sector, it remains to be seen how this focus on crypto will resonate in the upcoming political debate on Feb. 4.