Com2uS to sell Flashman NFTs on X-PLANET to raise funds for subway ad 

NEOPIN and Finschia Foundation to jointly launch Finschia’s first decentralized exchangeCentralized decentralized finance (CeDeFi) protocol NEOPIN and blockchain developer Finschia Foundation have teamed up to launch Finschia Network Swap (FNSwap) — the first automated market maker (AMM) decentralized exchange on Finschia’s public blockchain — in the first quarter of next year, according to an announcement on Finschia’s official website last Friday (KST).Photo by Chris Liverani on UnsplashRevolutionizing DeFiNEOPIN has taken over the development of FNSwap, which will employ a pricing algorithm as an AMM decentralized exchange to set the prices of assets, thus increasing liquidity in liquidity pools. The platform will support crypto deposits, including those made in FNSA and NPT — Finschia and NEOPIN’s respective governance tokens — along with other stablecoins. The list of supported cryptocurrencies will be expanded later on as the mainnet grows, Finschia said.“As Finschia’s first decentralized exchange, Finschia Network Swap is expected to make it more convenient for many users to use crypto services,” said Kim Yong-gi, CEO of NEOPIN. “We plan to actively expand the number of cryptocurrencies supported on the platform in line with the expansion of the Finschia ecosystem.”Ecosystem expansionFNSwap will also be centered around its community of users, providing lucrative DeFi products and incentives like token swapping, staking and rewards, thus establishing a secure and convenient blockchain ecosystem.The two firms committed to exploring other endeavors as well, such as discovering promising Web3 projects through events like hackathons; facilitating interaction between their respective partner firms; and conducting joint promotional campaigns to expand the Finschia ecosystem.“We are pleased to work with NEOPIN to launch the first decentralized exchange of the Finschia ecosystem,” said Ko Young-soo, Chairman of the Finschia Foundation. “We will consistently provide the technical support that NEOPIN needs to successfully launch the Finschia Network Swap.”

On March 7, Nissan Motor Co. introduced an innovative metaverse experience titled the "Heritage Cars & Safe Drive Studio," blending elements of automotive history with interactive safety education.Photo by Matthijs Waanders on UnsplashMarking 90 years in businessThe studio, launched to commemorate Nissan's 90th anniversary, features three iconic models from the company's past, recreated in virtual environments to reflect their respective eras. Among the showcased vehicles is the Silvia Q’s S13, renowned globally for its role in drifting culture. Users can explore this historic car from the 1980s while learning about the influence of pedestrian clothing colors on driver visibility. In another exhibit, users engage in a mini-game designed to educate on driver field-of-view and the impact of multitasking on safety. Alongside, the Skyline 2000GTX-E, famous for its presence in popular media like the Gran Turismo video game series and Fast and Furious movies, adds a touch of nostalgia and excitement, transporting users to the 1970s era. In a 1950s and 60s American diner and drive-in theater setting, the final exhibit offers a hands-on steering wheel spin exercise. These experiences aim to merge Nissan's heritage with vital safety knowledge, such as understanding the significance of pedestrian attire and the dangers of distracted driving. Developed in collaboration with Japanese university researchers, these immersive experiences are accessible through Meta Quest headsets, marking Nissan's continued exploration of virtual and augmented reality for customer engagement and education. Previous forays into the metaverseThis initiative aligns with Nissan's ongoing efforts to enhance its presence in the metaverse. It’s not the carmaker's first rodeo where the metaverse is concerned. It introduced its first virtual test drive and a virtual unveiling of its Sakura model in 2022. That same year, the company suggested it was interested in providing more in the way of virtual events, even going as far as to suggest the development of virtual customer support offices for clients. It followed that up in December 2023 with a revamp of four existing metaverse worlds, a project that also formed part of its 90th-anniversary celebrations. Nissan's latest foray into the metaverse coincides with advancements in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) hardware. The recent launch of Apple's inaugural mixed-reality headset in February 2024 signals intensified competition among tech giants like Meta and Microsoft, who have been gradually expanding into consumer and enterprise AR/VR markets over the past decade. Broader auto industry interestNissan isn’t alone in the auto industry in taking initial steps into the metaverse. Rival Toyota has taken a different approach, pursuing an interest in creating remote workspaces for staff so that meetings can be held in the metaverse. Hyundai experimented with entering the metaverse as early as 2021. Through a partnership with Naver Z, the company offered virtual test drives of its Sonata model. Meanwhile Renault Korea has tipped its toes in the metaverse by offering consumers the ability to custom-build virtual cars on a metaverse platform. Through these metaverse updates, Nissan aims to stay at the forefront of automotive innovation, utilizing immersive experiences to engage customers and promote safety awareness in an increasingly digital world. 

Survey Reveals Over Half of Korean Financial Firms Eyeing Both Issuance and Distribution of Security TokensIn a recent survey conducted by fintech solution provider Koscom, it was found that more than half of South Korean financial companies interested in security token businesses are planning to undertake both the issuance and distribution of security tokens. This result reflects the belief of the financial firms that if they engage only in the secondary market, they will experience reduced profitability due to the necessity of lowering transaction fees amidst fierce competition, as per local business newspaper Hankyung.Photo by Shubham Dhage on Unsplash62% of financial firmsAt a seminar held today, Koscom revealed the result of this survey it conducted among a total of 95 entities interested in security tokens, consisting of 30 securities firms, three banks, one asset management company, and 61 token issuers. Among the financial firms that belong to the first three categories, 62% answered that they will conduct both the issuance and distribution of security tokens. 31% expressed a preference for conducting only issuance, while 7% were inclined towards distribution alone.The survey also highlighted that 38% of financial companies hold a positive outlook on the security token market, although they acknowledge insufficient understanding. Additionally, 34% of respondents anticipate that the security token market will rival the exchange-traded fund (ETF) market in terms of size, while only 10% believe it will eventually replace the initial public offering (IPO) market.Cultural contentWhen it comes to the underlying real-world assets (RWAs) for security tokens, cultural content emerged as the most preferred option, with 71% of respondents selecting it. Real estate followed closely at 66%, with energy (55%), artworks (41%), and agriculture and fisheries (21%) also garnering interest. Respondents were allowed to choose multiple options for this section.Similarly, cultural content remained the top choice among token issuers, favored by 21% of respondents. It was followed by real estate (16%), artworks (14%), intellectual property (14%), and agriculture and fisheries (9%).A Koscom official attributed the preference for cultural content and real estate as underlying assets to their accessibility and profitability.This seminar, organized by Koscom, aimed to create a supportive environment for issuers and distributors struggling to promote security token businesses. Hong Woo-sun, CEO of Koscom, said the company will leverage its expertise in the capital market and blockchain technology to collaborate with authorities and relevant organizations in lowering barriers to entry for market participants who need technical infrastructure.