Top

Former FTX COO Finds New Role at Sino Global

Web3 & Enterprise·July 20, 2023, 12:29 AM

Constance Wang, previously known for her executive roles at FTX, has recently joined crypto venture capital firm Sino Global Capital.

That’s according to sources Bloomberg cited in a recent report as being familiar with the matter. Wang held the role of Chief Operating Officer at FTX and was also the Co-Chief Executive Officer of FTX Digital Markets, the affiliate of the now-defunct crypto exchange, which was based in the Bahamas. Her responsibilities at FTX included overseeing global business expansion, token listings, and public relations and marketing.

Following the collapse of FTX and its sister trading firm Alameda Research, Wang has reportedly spent a significant amount of time in China, according to an undisclosed source.

Sino Global Capital, founded in 2015 by Beijing-based American investor Matthew Graham, had revealed its early investment in FTX after the exchange’s collapse. The management team stems from a background in consulting, Wall Street, private equity, government, and corporate spheres. A year prior, the venture capital firm launched a $200 million fund with FTX as a key investor. Sam Bankman-Fried, the Founder of FTX, expressed gratitude for Sino Global’s support, stating that they believed in the FTX vision from the beginning and assisted in making it a reality.

Photo by Henry Kobutra on Unsplash

 

Lawsuit

Graham was quite public in his support of FTX and Sam Bankman-Fried. He appeared frequently on podcasts, always explaining that the FTX founder was a genius. On investing in FTX and in projects in general, Graham stated repeatedly that Sino Global maintained a high level of due diligence. Most of the leading venture capital investors in FTX (including Sino Global) have been subject to class action lawsuits filed by creditors. It’s claimed that many of these investors didn’t simply invest capital but also got involved in actively marketing what turned out to be a fraud.

In January, the court-appointed management team overseeing the FTX bankruptcy proceedings sought permission to subpoena Wang and other former executives of the company. Court filings indicate that Wang has not been accused of any wrongdoing in relation to the collapse of FTX or Alameda.

Prior to her tenure at FTX, Wang briefly worked at the crypto exchange Huobi in Singapore as a Business Development Manager. She also spent two years as an analyst at Credit Suisse.

 

New roles

In recent months, other former FTX employees have also reappeared in new roles. Amy Wu, who left Lightspeed Venture Partners to lead FTX Ventures, announced her joining Menlo Ventures, one of the oldest venture firms in Silicon Valley. Brett Harrison, former President of FTX US until his sudden resignation in September 2022, has founded a startup with plans to provide a “GPT-4-powered trading algorithm code generator.”

The transition of Constance Wang and her fellow FTX alumni into new positions at face value seems like a logical progression. However, all of the FTX c-suite executives remain under ongoing scrutiny. Having brought charges against Bankman-Fried, Caroline Ellison, and Nishad Singh some months ago, Southern District of New York (SDNY) Attorney Damian Williams stated clearly that more arrests would follow.

More to Read
View All
Web3 & Enterprise·

Nov 18, 2023

Leading Chinese gaming company lines up $100M crypto investment

Leading Chinese gaming company lines up $100M crypto investmentAs yet another indicator of the rising trend of institutional crypto investments, China’s premier board and card game company, Boyaa Interactive, has unveiled plans to invest up to $100 million in cryptocurrency assets, with a focus on Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH).News of Boyaa’s plans emerged following a disclosure from the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, which stated that the company will distribute notices regarding its crypto investment plans during an extraordinary general meeting (EGM). The relevant details are expected to have been supplied to shareholders on or before Nov. 30. The company has emphasized its intention to ensure transparency while adhering to listing rules throughout this process.Photo by Traxer on UnsplashDigital asset acquisition over a 12-month periodThe decision to delve into the world of cryptocurrencies aligns with Boyaa Interactive’s commitment to strengthening its presence in the evolving Web3 landscape, as highlighted by the company’s board of directors. The proposal outlines a comprehensive strategy to acquire the assets over a 12-month period, pending approval at the upcoming EGM.The planned acquisition involves allocating approximately $90 million equally between Ethereum and Bitcoin. The remaining $10 million is earmarked for stablecoins Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC). Boyaa Interactive asserts that the actual acquisitions will depend on open market conditions, with a commitment not to pay premiums exceeding 10% of prevailing market prices. Funding for this initiative will be sourced from the company’s existing cash reserves.The board will play a crucial role in determining the specific cryptocurrencies to acquire, their allocation ratios and the optimal timing for purchase. The emphasis is on prudent risk management, aligning with Boyaa’s business development strategies.Diversification strategyThe company justifies its choice of Bitcoin and Ethereum by citing their alignment with its long-term development goals. In the document, Boyaa Interactive highlights the importance of investing in cryptocurrencies with robust market liquidity and substantial market values. Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDC, and USDT, chosen for their high market liquidity, align seamlessly with Boyaa’s strategic vision.In its stock exchange filing, it justifies these plans on the basis of a desire to diversify its holdings. The document reads:”[The] purchase of cryptocurrencies is also an important arrangement for the Group’s asset allocation, as allocating part of the Group’s idle reserve funds in cryptocurrencies can serve as a diversification to holding cash in treasury management, and a measure to balance investment risks and returns.”Growing asset acceptanceThe move into the cryptocurrency market comes at a time when institutional investors are increasingly flocking to major assets like BTC and ETH. Reports indicate significant inflows of institutional funds into these cryptocurrencies, setting the stage for what appears to be an extended bull market.Boyaa first showed an interest in holding crypto on its balance sheet back in August when it proposed allocating $5 million towards cryptocurrency investment. The company following up with a $100 million investment serves as a testament to the growing acceptance and integration of cryptocurrencies within mainstream business strategies.

news
Web3 & Enterprise·

Sep 19, 2023

KSOC to Implement Blockchain-based Athlete Management Platform

KSOC to Implement Blockchain-based Athlete Management PlatformThe Korea Sport and Olympic Committee (KSOC) held an initiation briefing on Monday to develop a blockchain-based career and performance management platform for athletes in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and ICT. This project aims to promote environmental, social, and governance (ESG) management by promoting eco-friendly approaches to sports management.Photo by Sandro Schuh on UnsplashThe KSOC was selected by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) in May to participate in a contest focusing on the implementation of blockchain technology in the public sector through the development of new platforms and services. This granted them the opportunity to undertake a blockchain project worth KRW 1.3 billion (approximately $978,000).Representatives from various entities such as the KSOC and KISA and schools like Korea National Sport University and Yongin University attended the briefing on Monday, as well as sporting organizations like the Korea Basketball Association, the Korea Baseball Association, and the Korean University Sports Federation (KUSF).Revolutionizing athlete certificationThe primary focus of the project is to digitize certification for athlete performance, which is one of the documents submitted during the admissions process for special athletes under the KUSF. This document is issued by the respective sports associations and verifies the validity of the performance records of athletes in major competitions. The KSOC currently manages the performance records of nationwide competitions for more than 60 member sports associations, including the Korea Basketball Association, the Korea Baseball Association, and the Korea Taekwondo Association.Embracing digital transformationThe project will thus facilitate a transition from printing and manually submitting paper certificates to a digital format that allows for online submission to involved institutions. This change is expected to reduce paper usage and postal costs as well as save time and simplify processes, thereby contributing to environmental protection and improved ESG management.Additionally, the KSOC said that it would work on providing digital badges for athlete identification through a decentralized identifier (DID) system.These various elements of the project will ensure a more transparent and secure management of performance records and history free from tampering or leaks. The new system is expected to be fully implemented starting at the end of this year.Furthermore, the KSOC plans to continuously strive for the digitization and expansion of the sports sector through the implementation of emerging technologies.

news
Policy & Regulation·

Dec 22, 2023

China to outline clear directions for NFT & Web3 development

China to outline clear directions for NFT & Web3 developmentEarlier this week, China’s Ministry of Science and Technology announced a decision to work towards releasing a comprehensive strategy document aimed at clarifying the future path for the development of NFTs and Web3.Photo by Christian Lue on UnsplashFurthering Web3 innovationIn a communication published online on Tuesday, the ministry outlined its plan to enhance collaboration between relevant departments, emphasizing the promotion of Web3 innovation, increased research deployment and the strengthening of talent within the industry. Despite the regulatory challenges in the crypto space, the ministry acknowledged the growing interest in NFTs among Chinese citizens.The strategy document, developed in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the China Association for Science and Technology, will address key issues such as inheritance, innovation, security and government responsibilities.Ban not suppressing interestDespite the country’s ban on cryptocurrencies, the ministry expressed a commitment to the development of the Web3 industry, particularly focusing on non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Earlier this year, a Wall Street Journal investigation found that leading global crypto exchange Binance was thriving in China.One gray area that Chinese citizens are exploiting relative to the ban is that of NFTs. Crypto trading and mining were banned a couple of years ago. However, NFTs remain legal with the result that there has been a surge in adoption of digital collectibles in China. That prompted China’s top procuratorial agency, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate of China, to issue a warning relative to a number of attributes and risks relative to NFTs in May.Web3-related initiativesSeveral Web3 initiatives have already been underway in China. The Ministry of Science and Technology, in conjunction with the Cyberspace Administration of China, has released important policy documents, including the “Guiding Opinions on Accelerating the Application of Blockchain Technology and Industrial Development” and the “Blockchain Information Service Management Regulations.”Additionally, collaborative efforts involving the Cyberspace Administration of China, the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee, the Supreme People’s Court and other departments have conducted blockchain pilot actions, specifically in areas such as energy, rule of law, copyright and trade finance.The metaverse is another Web3 segment that the Chinese seem to be targeting for growth. A report by POLITICO published last August found that Chinese authorities and state-owned companies appeared to be seeking to mold and develop the metaverse in line with Chinese values. Efforts are being made to effect further development in the regions also, with the city of Zhengzhou announcing in May a set of metaverse-related policy proposals.Looking ahead, China’s Web3 strategy aims to concentrate on key sectors such as government affairs and industry. The plan seeks to encourage the development of novel business models, including NFTs and decentralized applications (dApps), while also accelerating the innovative application of Web3 and the construction of a digital ecosystem.The ministry’s recent response to Wu Jiezhuang, a member of the CPPCC National Committee, the country’s political advisory body, indicated that the delay in releasing the strategy document is part of a meticulous approach to ensure the strategic framework aligns with the evolving nature of the industry.While the postponement may be met with some disappointment, the overall tone remains optimistic, pointing towards the likelihood that China is committed to fostering innovation within the Web3 sector.

news
Loading