Fobl Partners with KDAC to Store Part of Customers’ Assets in Custody

Seychelles-incorporated crypto exchange platform Bitget recently released findings from a study on Bitcoin's upcoming halving, revealing that the vast majority of surveyed investors predict bitcoin will achieve a new all-time high (ATH) in 2024. Separately, other market commentators and analysts appear to be bullish on bitcoin ahead of the scheduled cut in Bitcoin mining rewards.Photo by Kanchanara on Unsplash84% anticipate new bitcoin ATHThe study, based on anonymized data from 9,748 participants worldwide, focused on investor perceptions surrounding the halving's impact on their investment decisions. 84% of participants anticipate a new ATH for bitcoin during the next bull run, with only East Europe showing a percentage lower than 80%. Over 50% predict bitcoin's price to be between $30,000 and $60,000 by the time the halving occurs in April. Meanwhile, 30% foresee the bitcoin unit price going higher than $60,000. Off the back of the data that has arisen via the study, Bitget managing director Gracy Chen suggested that it is indicative that 2024 will be a significant year for the bitcoin market. Crypto investment plansApproximately 70% express plans to increase their crypto investments, with the highest conviction in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and East Europe regions. Western European investors are characterized as "short-term cautious" and "long-term optimistic." In addition to the Bitget study, many market commentators appear to have arrived at a similar conclusion. In July of last year, Standard Chartered Bank forecasted a 2024 unit price for bitcoin of $120,000. The bank reaffirmed that view last month, going further still in stating that by 2025, it expected bitcoin to reach a price of $200,000, largely due to capital inflows into spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which were approved in the United States in January. Broader market sentimentTaking to social media on Monday, crypto analyst Charles Edwards of Capriole Investments proposed a potential 500% price return for bitcoin if a bullish halving pattern plays out. Edwards envisions bitcoin reaching $280,000 in 2025. Like Standard Chartered, he cites the January bitcoin ETF launch as the driving force, likening it to a "second halving." He argues that major technological developments have historically seen quicker rates of adoption. Crypto trading analyst Michaël van de Poppe predicts a pre-halving surge to $48,000 and an eventual breakout toward an all-time high in Q3/Q4 of 2024. The next Bitcoin halving is expected in April 2024, historically associated with increased scarcity and subsequent price surges. Pseudonymous macroeconomist @Micro2Macr0 took to the X social media platform on Monday, stating:"Only 2.5 months till the #Bitcoin #Halving. The world is getting more unstable and you have the greatest hedge ever invented sitting in front of you. What are you waiting for?"  Meanwhile, "British HODL" warned that recent developments may result in a break from previous trading patterns. He stated:"Everyone says 12 months after the halving the shock starts for #Bitcoin price. . . . I think there is a high likelihood that the ETF’s change the cycle you’re expecting. Be aware of that.”

Bill Winters, the American banker who heads the British financial group Standard Chartered, appeared at the Hong Kong FinTech Week conference earlier this week, where he predicted a future in which cash will give way to blockchain-based systems for everyday transactions. According to Cointelegraph, Winters’ view aligns with that of Hong Kong regulators. At the same time, he stressed the importance of continued experimentation, noting that it remains uncertain how this transformation will ultimately take shape. Winters also commended Hong Kong’s leadership in exploring the potential of digital finance. Tech-driven finance has certainly been one of the key initiatives Hong Kong has been exploring. Recently, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) released its e-HKD Pilot Programme Phase 2 Report, which showed public support for tokenized deposits.Photo by Shubham Dhage on UnsplashReal-world assets gain ground on the blockchainOn-chain data also underscores the rapid growth of the tokenization sector. According to RWA.xyz, the total value of real-world assets (RWAs) deployed on-chain has climbed to $35.63 billion, up 7.8% from a month ago. A study by Ripple and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) estimates that tokenized assets could be worth $19 trillion by 2033, about 530 times their current value. Among RWA assets, the BlackRock USD Institutional Digital Liquidity (BUIDL) Fund, Tether Gold (XAUT), and Paxos Gold (PAXG) currently lead the market in terms of value. Over the past 30 days, BlackRock’s BUIDL Fund slipped 0.06%, while the two tokenized gold products, XAUT and PAXG, jumped 46.65% and 14.19%, respectively. These gains mirror gold’s bullish run in October, when its price surpassed $4,000 per ounce for the first time on Oct. 7. The momentum has since eased slightly, with gold now trading at around $3,969.55 per ounce. Tokenization brings 24/7 markets and P2P flexibilityIndustry experts point to the convenience of tokenization as a key advantage. Speaking to Yahoo Finance, Will Peck, head of digital assets at WisdomTree, explained that tokenized gold allows for around-the-clock trading and direct peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions. He added that gold and Bitcoin act as complementary stores of value, both serving as deflationary assets. Ian Kane, CEO of fintech company Firepan, said tokenized gold appeals to investors as it enables them to retain ownership, leverage their holdings for loans, and generate extra yield, while preserving their principal against debasement or devaluation. These views are not new. Earlier this month, Robinhood Markets CEO Vlad Tenev described tokenization as “a freight train” that “can’t be stopped,” predicting it will eventually transform the global financial system. Similarly, in his annual letter to investors in April, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink said the tokenization of assets could fundamentally reshape the way people invest. By digitizing ownership, tokenized venture capital funds could move beyond their closed circles, giving ordinary investors a stake in early-stage innovation and greater control over their capital. Venture capital faces hurdles in tokenization pushWhile tokenization promises greater accessibility and liquidity, not all market segments are ready for it. According to TheStreet, tokenized venture capital (VC) funds could open a traditionally closed market to more investors, but the process is more complex than it appears. In an interview with TheStreet, Elena Obukhova, founder of Supermoon Ventures, said that liquidity, not technology, is the main obstacle. Unlike tokenized company shares that can be traded freely on public markets, VC funds invest in private startups whose value may take years to materialize through an exit or acquisition. Allowing such funds to trade freely could increase volatility and pressure founders, as interim valuations might distort perceptions and weaken confidence in early-stage ventures. Still, the promise of tokenized venture finance remains within reach. Firms are testing models that limit trading periods, protect investor data, and refine valuation methods to better reflect the illiquid nature of startup investments. Since liquidity events such as initial public offering (IPOs) or acquisitions typically occur only every one to two years for early-stage startups, the path forward will depend on creating systems that can maintain stable and accurate valuations in the interim. Tokenization is rapidly emerging as a transformative force in the financial world, offering greater accessibility, liquidity, and efficiency. As more assets, from gold to venture capital, make their way onto the blockchain, the potential to reshape investment and trading markets grows. While challenges remain, particularly around liquidity and valuation in sectors like venture capital, the continued advancements in tokenization demonstrate its key role in the future of finance.

Over 3,700 participants flock to Upbit D Conference to explore insights in blockchainThe sixth annual Upbit D Conference (UDC), a major blockchain event in South Korea hosted by the country’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange Upbit, commenced on Monday (local time) at the Grand Walkerhill Seoul Hotel. Touting the theme “All That Blockchain,” the conference gathered some 3,700 participants — including 39 blockchain experts from 29 countries — both online and offline.Aimed at contributing to the blockchain ecosystem, UDC has gained acclaim as a non-profit event featuring in-depth lectures by experts from around the globe. While it initially focused on industry and technology alone, the conference has since expanded its scope to cover areas such as policy, finance, business, culture and trends.Photo by Gerd Altmann on PixabayLively guest discussionsHighlights of the event included a session led by Roger Ver, the founder of Bitcoin.com, who discussed the trajectory of the blockchain industry and the current status of Bitcoin. Korean telecommunications giant SK Telecom’s Executive Vice President, Oh Se-hyeon, also shared insights into the prospects of Web3 and blockchain services in Korea.Other speakers included Emily Parker, Executive Director of CoinDesk; Howard Fischer, former Senior Trial Counsel at the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); Nizam Ismail, former Founding Chairman of the Regulatory and Compliance Sub-Commitee at Blockchain Association Singapore; and Kim Kab-lae, Senior Research Fellow at the Korea Capital Market Institute. Together, the four experts discussed country-specific perspectives and current issues regarding the rapidly changing regulatory landscape of the global virtual asset industry.“As blockchain’s influence expands across the economy, culture and society, UDC has evolved into a comprehensive conference capable of encompassing all aspects of blockchain. We hope it serves as a place that sparks positive inspiration and valuable connections,” said Song Chi-hyung, Chairman of Dunamu, the operator of Upbit.Growing recognitionOver the past five years, UDC has seen participation from over 1,190 companies and nearly 19,100 individual attendees. As of this month, the cumulative number of views on the conference’s official YouTube videos has reached 1.12 million. Videos of all of this year’s sessions can be viewed on the UDC YouTube channel and website.