Barunson Labs and EQBR forge partnership to develop film-based security tokens

AEON, a modular payment protocol that aims to standardize and unify crypto payments, has launched a QR code payment system on the BNB Chain, with a view towards expanding crypto payments in Southeast Asia. The project clarified in a press release published on Nov. 11 that its BNB-based QR code payment system has been established in collaboration with Terminus, a payment association project that bridges crypto and real-world transactions through banks, e-wallets and fiat settlement networks. The new service means that merchants can now access AEON’s payment system without having to acquire additional hardware, while crypto payments are settled in fiat currency. AEON believes that the new offering provides greater convenience for users and merchants, while also supporting the BNB Chain ecosystem through the promotion of a seamless payment experience at offline locations throughout the Southeast Asian region.Lara Jameson on PexelsIntegrating with Asian payment networksUsers can now rely on assets such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Tether (USDT), USD Coin (USDC) and Binance Coin (BNB) as a source of funds for payments, which can be made in-store by scanning a QR code via a network of merchants throughout Southeast Asia. Once a transaction is confirmed, funds are converted to fiat currency in real time. The offering minimizes friction for the merchant, making it easy for them to accept crypto as a means of payment. This scan-to-pay feature has now been integrated with national payment networks like VietQR, a money transfer service in Vietnam that enables customers to scan and pay across the mobile apps of the Southeast Asian nation’s banks. Similarly, AEON has integrated with another such service in Thailand known as ThaiQR, which is supported by a number of leading Thai banks.  Connecting Web2 with Web3In an article posted to X last month, Terminus outlined that acting as a “payment association” isn’t just a label but an attempt by the company to take an approach that seeks to connect Web2 with Web3 in a manner previously thought impossible. It believes that it is creating a powerful ecosystem by taking disparate payments providers and joining them together via a cohesive payments association. In bridging Web2 and Web3 Terminus says that it is laying “the groundwork for a future where payments are not only efficient but universally accessible.” Network integrations seem to be key where crypto payment solutions providers are concerned. With that, AEON has been active in bringing about other such integrations beyond this collaboration with Terminus. In September, it entered into a partnership with Singapore’s Alchemy Pay, a crypto-to-fiat payment gateway, with a view towards combining Alchemy’s expertise in payments with AEON’s payments infrastructure and protocol. In October AEON integrated with the TRON layer-1 blockchain network. The collaboration means that decentralized applications within the TRON ecosystem can accept crypto payments over AEON’s payments infrastructure.

Elliptic and CODE join forces to propel crypto compliance in KoreaElliptic, a global blockchain analytics and crypto compliance solutions provider, has partnered with CODE, a Seoul-based Travel Rule solution provider, as part of efforts to expand its operations into the Korean market. Under this agreement, the two companies aim to actively support virtual asset service providers (VASPs) in South Korea in their attempts to adapt to the evolving international regulatory landscape for anti-money laundering (AML) and the crypto Travel Rule.Photo by NordWood Themes on UnsplashCrypto Travel RuleThe Travel Rule refers to the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) Recommendation #16, which outlines that VASPs must share certain personal information about customers — including names and account numbers — when facilitating crypto transactions that exceed a certain amount.Empowering VASPs through risk mitigationElliptic and CODE will work together on comprehensive regulatory technology-based (RegTech) solutions to enable VASPs to identify AML and Counter Financing of Terrorism (CFT) risks among virtual asset transactions, ultimately leading the sustainable growth of the crypto asset industry. In particular, CODE will be able to leverage Elliptic’s services to ensure compliance with Travel Rule regulations. Elliptic offers solutions like wallet screening, transaction monitoring, crypto investigations and VASP screening for big names like Coinbase, Binance and BitGo, as well as law enforcement agencies.“This partnership with Elliptic allows us to expand our compliance services beyond Travel Rule-related solutions for VASPs. Elliptic’s advanced technology and expertise will help our corporate members achieve regulatory compliance more efficiently, contributing greatly to enhancing transparency and security throughout the larger virtual asset industry,” said CODE CEO Lee Sung-mi.

Despite ongoing fluctuations in the cryptocurrency market, analysts suggest that sustained institutional activity is likely to underpin a near-term rebound. As Bitcoin recovered above $90,000 on Dec. 5, market observers began weighing potential risks against growing evidence of corporate and sovereign adoption.Photo by Austin Hervias on UnsplashStructural risks seen as limitedAccording to South Korean news outlet Etoday, Hong Sung-wook, a researcher at NH Investment & Securities, said that the recent slump in both Bitcoin and Strategy stock may weigh on shareholders but does not fundamentally threaten the company’s solvency. He noted that concerns that typically emerge during Bitcoin downturns seldom reflect new underlying risks. Addressing the potential removal of Strategy from the MSCI index, pending review results expected by Jan. 15, Hong indicated that the impact would likely be limited, as the firm has already exhausted its capacity to make additional Bitcoin purchases. However, he cautioned that prolonged share price weakness could force companies to reevaluate digital asset treasury (DAT) models. Such a shift, he warned, could trigger corporate sell-offs that would burden the broader market. Hong also addressed concerns related to stablecoins and future technology. Despite S&P Global Ratings assigning Tether its lowest grade of "weak," Hong observed that the issuer maintains reserves exceeding the USDT in circulation, rendering a mass withdrawal crisis unlikely. Regarding the threat of quantum computing, he argued that the timeline remains uncertain and that the Bitcoin network could mitigate future risks through consensus-driven protocol upgrades. Policy moves may offer market tailwindsLooking ahead, the analyst identified several constructive developments that could bolster the market, including the potential passage of a U.S. crypto market structure bill early next year. He also pointed to the anticipated nomination of Kevin Hassett as Federal Reserve Chair by President Trump. Hassett is expected to favor interest rate cuts, creating a potentially favorable macro environment. Additionally, Vanguard’s decision to permit the trading of select third-party crypto ETFs and mutual funds was cited as significant, given the asset manager’s historically conservative stance on digital assets. While the market has shifted into a broader risk-off mode, institutional demand for Bitcoin has continued to build, including activity that began well before the recent pullback. The Czech central bank recently established a $1 million test portfolio comprising Bitcoin, a USD stablecoin, and a tokenized deposit to research payment futures, though it clarified that it does not currently plan to add digital assets to its international reserves. In the academic sector, a Form 13F filing with the U.S. SEC revealed that Harvard Management Company, which oversees a $56.9 billion endowment, held 6.8 million shares of BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) as of Sept. 30, a threefold increase from the previous quarter. Furthermore, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink reportedly stated at the New York Times DealBook Summit 2025 that multiple sovereign wealth funds have begun accumulating Bitcoin, according to Forbes. Korean banks advance crypto integrationThis shift toward institutional acceptance is also materializing within South Korea’s traditionally conservative banking sector. The Maeil Business Newspaper reported that Woori Bank recently became the first major South Korean lender to display real-time Bitcoin prices on its trading floor, allowing dealers to track the asset alongside equities and foreign exchange rates. Concurrently, Hana Financial Group announced a partnership with Dunamu, the operator of the Upbit exchange, to develop blockchain-based remittance services, according to The Korea Economic Daily. By leveraging Hana’s global network and Dunamu’s technology, the initiative aims to reduce settlement times and costs for cross-border payments. Hana intends to introduce the technology for transactions between its Korean offices and overseas branches as early as the first quarter of next year, with broader expansion planned as domestic regulations evolve. Hana intends to launch the service at overseas branches as early as the first quarter of next year, with gradual expansion planned as domestic regulations evolve.