OKX Enters Final Stages of Securing VASP License in Hong Kong

China Unveils Offline SIM Card Wallet for Digital Yuan PaymentsThe People’s Bank of China (PBoC) has announced a new offline SIM card-based solution for its digital yuan, enabling users to make payments even with their phones switched off.Photo by Sumeet Singh on UnsplashEmbedded hardwareThe innovative initiative was revealed via a social media post on Monday. It aims to reach users with 2G phones who were previously unable to access digital currency.Currently, this feature is only available for Android phone users with NFC functionality, as no details have been given for iOS users or 2G phone owners. This innovation is part of the central bank’s efforts to expand the reach and usage of its digital currency, especially for users with 2G phones who were previously unable to access it.Earlier this year, the PBoC launched a similar solution for smartphone users, using near-field communication (NFC) technology. However, the latest solution relies on hardware embedded in SIM cards, which can act as a “hard” (offline) central bank digital currency (CBDC) wallet.Partnership with telecoms giantsThe central bank’s partners relative to this particular project include major telecom operators China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom, as well as state-owned commercial banks Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and Bank of China, who have also introduced SIM card-based “hard wallet products.” These developments are expected to significantly improve the payment capabilities and network-free functionality of the digital yuan.To use this feature, citizens have to get a “super SIM card” from their carriers. After they have replaced their existing SIM cards and opened the digital yuan app on their phones, they will see an option to “open a SIM card hard wallet.” This will enable them to make touch-based payments to merchants even when their devices are powered off or lack network connectivity.SIM-based wallets are likely to be particularly useful for those using 2G devices or smartphones without NFC capabilities. Considering that about 20% of Chinese mobile users still use 2G phones, it would make sense for the PBoC to continue working in this direction with future updates.Driving adoptionThe ultimate plan of the PBoC regarding SIM-based wallets is not clear yet. However, recent developments, such as the pilot project in Qingdao where CBDC payments were tested on the metro system without electricity or network, indicate a strong push toward increasing the accessibility and adoption of the digital yuan.Frankly, moves to bring about adoption of the e-CNY have been nothing short of relentless. These measures have varied from paying state employees in e-CNY in Changshu, collaborating with French bank BNP Paribas so that its corporate clients start to use the digital yuan and enabling e-CNY bus fare payments on public transport in Jinan.China’s Jiangsu Province has integrated the digital yuan into its education system, while the resort city of Sanya recently introduced e-CNY ATM machines so that foreign tourists have a means through which they can access the digital currency. These developments demonstrate a clear commitment by the Chinese authorities in advancing the rollout of its central bank digital currency.

Saudi Arabia’s NEOM Forms $50M Animoca Brands PartnershipHong Kong’s Animoca brands, a gaming and metaverse venture capital firm, is embarking on a partnership with Saudi Arabia’s NEOM Investment Fund, focusing on pioneering Web3 initiatives.Animoca announced the initiative via a statement published to its website on Monday. NEOM is an ambitious project aiming to create a futuristic urban oasis in northwest Saudi Arabia, serving as a nexus for technology, commerce, entertainment, and tourism. It is planning to invest $50 million in Animoca.Photo by Hala AlGhanim on UnsplashDeveloping Web3 service capabilitiesThis collaboration will see Animoca harness its expertise to develop Web3 service capabilities with broad global applications in tandem with NEOM, aligning with NEOM’s vision of becoming a cutting-edge tech hub of the future.Animoca Brands has been a prominent player in the Web3 investment arena for several years. In July 2022, the company’s valuation soared to $6 billion, with backing from notable entities such as Singapore’s state investment fund, Temasek. Despite its ambitious goal to secure $2 billion for its metaverse fund in November of the same year, those expectations were significantly tempered following the FTX collapse. Consequently, in March, Animoca revised its target to a more modest $800 million.In-house market makingA report by The Block on Friday revealed that Animoca has been making efforts to pitch an in-house market making service to fledgling Web3 businesses within its portfolio. That service has been presented by the company to more than 400 startup projects in which it has been an investor over recent months.The key market makers in the crypto space include Wintermute, Keyrock, and GSR. This move by Animoca potentially puts Animoca in direct competition with these primary crypto-sector market makers. An in-house digital asset team has been tasked with offering the service. An Animoca spokesperson stated:“Its primary role, much like the treasury teams in many large corporations, is to optimize the utilization of the company’s balance sheet. The team does conduct market-making to ensure there is enough buy/sell liquidity for certain tokens, which is similar to the function that third-party market makers conduct, except that we choose to perform this in-house for scale and efficiency.”Saudi diversificationAs part of its Vision 2030 initiative, Saudi Arabia has been looking to diversify away from its predominantly oil-based economy. In an interview last month, Animoca Brands Founder Yat Siu outlined that the Middle Eastern country is embracing new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain, encompassing blockchain-based gaming and Web3.In July it emerged that the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) were looking to extend the level of collaboration between the two territories relative to international payments and tokenization.This renewed interest from state-backed funds in Animoca suggests a potential shift in the Web3 venture capital landscape, coinciding with broader indications of a thaw in the crypto winter. The collaboration with NEOM and the injection of $50 million underscore the growing recognition of Web3’s potential, cementing Animoca Brands’ position as a key player in the ever-developing Web3 space.

AhnLab Blockchain Company to integrate digital wallet into Sogang University’s education metaverseSouth Korean cybersecurity firm AhnLab’s blockchain arm, AhnLab Blockchain Company (ABC), is poised to collaborate with Sogang University’s Graduate School of Metaverse, according to Korean news outlet Money Today on Wednesday (KST). The entities will work on the development of Metawon Campus, a metaverse education platform currently in the works at Sogang University.Photo by Unseen Studio on Unsplash“This cooperation lays the foundation for Metawon Campus to establish itself as a practical university education platform. Through the integration of ABC Wallet, we will strive to build it into a global education metaverse based on the fundamental standards of stability, convenience and scalability,” said Hyun Dae-won, Dean of Sogang University’s Graduate School of Metaverse.Advancing security and accessibilityThis project mainly entails the integration of AhnLab Blockchain Company’s digital ABC Wallet within the platform. As a non-custodial wallet, this service uses multi-party computation to support multiple blockchain networks including Ethereum, Polygon and Klaytn. This integration has the potential to enhance the security and usability of Metawon Campus, encouraging international students to participate. To further boost security, the platform will also utilize non-transferrable SoulBound tokens (SBTs) issued by ABC Wallet. By providing services in multiple languages, the platform will be available to a wider user base as well.Comprehensive cooperationIn addition to technological collaborations, the two parties agreed to work on R&D and marketing as well as content creation aimed at enhancing participant engagement and accessibility to education.Kang Suk-kyun, CEO of AhnLab Blockchain Company, emphasized the role that ABC Wallet would play in helping international students experience a more secure and liberal virtual environment on Metawon Campus. He went on to reaffirm the company’s efforts to contribute to the popularization of the metaverse and the advancement of blockchain technology.