Korea’s Changwon City Boosts Local Art Scene with NFTs

WEMIX PLAY to Add Two New Blockchain Games to LineupSouth Korean gaming publisher Wemade said Monday that it has agreed to onboard two new sports games, Ballies and El Jefe Futbol, on its blockchain gaming platform WEMIX PLAY.Photo by ELLA DON on UnsplashThis is the latest development in Wemade’s continued efforts to expand its global partnerships in order to secure a diverse game lineup on WEMIX PLAY and diversify genres within its gaming portfolio.New Web3-enabled games for sports enthusiastsBallies, developed by Ballies LLC, is a blockchain-based, basketball-themed strategy card mobile game. It operates on an on-ramping lend-to-earn system as a Web2 game while incorporating the benefits of Web3 platforms. Users can engage in various blockchain-integrated content, such as lending avatars to other players or participating in tournaments to earn game tokens. The game recently wrapped up beta testing and will be released at the end of this month, according to an announcement on its official X (formerly Twitter) account.On the other hand, El Jefe Futbol is Studio 369’s new soccer strategy game set to launch on November 15. Players can create soccer teams, train players, and participate in various types of matches, including tournaments, league matches, and player-versus-player (PVP) games. They can also convert their athletes into non-fungible token (NFT) cards for trading.Once these games are released, users will have the opportunity to buy and sell NFTs from Ballies and El Jefe Futbol on the WEMIX PLAY marketplace.Opportunity for expansionKlemen Gradisar, Co-Founder of Ballies LLC, expressed his excitement to be a part of the WEMIX community, deeming the WEMIX PLAY onboarding a monumental step for the platform. Matt Candler, CEO of Studio 369, added that this will be an opportunity for Studio 369’s blockchain games to reach a wider audience. As a development studio with expertise in compatibility across various platforms and high-quality gameplay, he said that the studio is committed to providing top-notch gaming experiences.

Korea’s Code Launches System to Detect Blacklisted Crypto WalletsCode, the only Travel Rule solution provider in South Korea, announced on Monday the launch of Protector, a detection system designed to identify blacklisted wallets in the cryptocurrency space. Established by a collaboration between three major Korean cryptocurrency exchanges (Bithumb, Coinone, and Korbit), Code aims to enhance security and compliance in the industry.Photo by Mariia Shalabaieva on UnsplashTravel RuleThe Travel Rule is a regulation that requires financial institutions to share information with each other about transactions to ensure their legitimacy and to prevent money laundering, terrorist financing, and other illicit activities.Wallet risk assessmentsThe Protector system of Code allows its members to assess risks associated with external wallets and take appropriate measures during the withdrawal and deposit of virtual assets. Risks will be categorized into three levels, represented by the colors white, gray, and black. A white designation signifies a normal status, gray serves as a warning, and black indicates a danger.Not only does Protector enable members to manage risks linked to crypto wallets more effectively, it also allows them to monitor the management status of Code’s Travel Rule.Streamlining regulatory complianceCode CEO Lee Sung-mi stated that the recently launched Protector system is designed to streamline regulatory compliance for Code members. By utilizing Protector, members can concentrate on their projects without being burdened by compliance concerns. Lee also emphasized that Code is committed to expanding its range of services for members in the future.The detection system was developed and is operated in partnership with Uppsala Security, a Singapore-based cybersecurity company specializing in blockchain-powered solutions.

amana, a Dubai-based neo-broker, has announced that it is adding another 300 cryptocurrencies to its app. 450 crypto assetsA neo-broker is an online-based digital investment service provider that leverages technology and online tools to make investing and trading more accessible to the broader investing and trading public. The firm announced the product expansion via a press release published on its behalf by GlobeNewswire on March 17. Prior to the announcement, amana had offered its service users access to 150 cryptocurrencies. Expanding the range to a total of 450 cryptocurrencies makes it the leading broker in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in terms of the breadth of digital assets it has made accessible to users.Photo by Christoph Schulz on UnsplashAll-in-one service offeringThe company described the offering as “unmatched,” allowing amana to firmly position itself as the go-to platform where the seamless trading of both traditional and digital assets is concerned. amana believes that its offering fills a gap in the market. Most platforms, it claims, either cater to the digital assets market or the traditional finance market. The platform sees itself as an all-in-one solution, making it unnecessary for investors and traders to create multiple accounts. Speaking to that gap in the market that the company wants to exploit, amana CEO Muhammad Rasoul stated: “We’re making it easier than ever for our customers to trade digital assets alongside stocks, forex, and commodities—all in one place, with zero hassle.” The firm added that the expansion isn’t just about offering a greater selection of digital assets. The announcement said that “it’s about seamless access, competitive pricing, and a frictionless trading experience.” The company described the amana app as “intuitive,” with the ability to empower both seasoned traders and new investors through the ease of trading within a few taps. Alongside the 450 digital assets, the platform provides users with access to U.S. stocks, FX, commodities, gold and global exchange-traded funds (ETFs). amana also facilitates users to trade using leverage and to avail of automated investment plans. Futures products and contracts for difference (CFDs) complete the product offering lineup. Having first launched in September 2022, the platform claimed recently that it has over 320,000 users accessing the service. Besides Dubai, amana has offices in London, Limassol and Beirut. The company is not the first online broker to bridge the gap between traditional finance and digital assets. American commission-free trading platform Robinhood has made in-roads into crypto. The company has plans to roll out its crypto offerings to the Singapore market later this year.  UK-based neobank Revolut has expanded into the world of investing, including crypto as part of that offering. It emerged last year that the firm has plans to launch a stablecoin. flatexDEGIRO, a European online broker that offers stocks, bonds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), outlined last November that it plans to extend its product offering to include cryptocurrencies.