Netmarble’s MARBLEX Bolsters Partnership with Bisonai to Elevate MBX Ecosystem

Bit Origin, the Nasdaq-listed (BTOG) pork processor turned crypto mining infrastructure firm, has acquired 40.5 million Dogecoin (DOGE), the company’s first purchase of the world’s largest memecoin by market cap since it announced that it was establishing a Dogecoin treasury. In a press release published on July 17, the Singapore-headquartered company with operations in the United States, Canada and China, set out that it would become the “first publicly listed company on a major US exchange to accumulate Dogecoin as a core asset.”Photo by Kanchanara on Unsplash$500 million treasury fundingThe firm outlined that it had entered into agreements with accredited investors, implicating the sale of $400 million in Class A ordinary shares in the company. An additional $100 million unlocked via convertible debt brought funding for its Dogecoin treasury to $500 million. Jinghai Jiang, Bit Origin’s CEO and Chairman, asserted that “what started as a joke has evolved into a globally liquid asset with a payments utility.” Jiang asserted that very few digital assets match the settlement speed and scale of community that Dogecoin offers. X Money potentialIn particular, he singled out the potential use of DOGE for X Money, a new payment system that is in the process of being established by Elon Musk’s X social media platform. Alongside many proponents of the cryptocurrency, Bit Origin is hoping that Musk will implement the use of DOGE to power X money. Jiang added:“In an age of broken institutions, Doge embodies a shared culture of optimism and resilience that transcends existing political and financial systems.” On social media, the company outlined that it believes in “Dogecoin not just as a meme, but as a future payments backbone.” Having utilized the services of Chardan Capital Markets as a placement agent, the company has already completed an initial closing of $15 million under the convertible debt facility that has been established.  On July 21, Bit Origin published another press release, detailing the acquisition of 40,543,745 DOGE with the memecoin holding having been purchased at an average acquisition cost of $0.2466 per DOGE.  Nearing inflection point for paymentsCommenting on the development, Jiang stated:“From our experience in mining, we understand the tradeoffs that define proof-of-work systems. We see Dogecoin’s utility potential for micropayments nearing an inflection point, driven by renewed developer activity and broader institutional interest in tokenization.” Dogecoin emerged in December 2013 having been developed by Jackson Palmer and Billy Markus as a joke. The project borrowed much of its code from Bitcoin. Despite having originated as a joke, the project has developed a sizeable community. The digital asset currently holds a market capitalization of $40.5 billion, according to CoinMarketCap data.  Bit Origin rebranded from China Xiangtai Food Co., Ltd. in April 2022. Up until that point, it had been involved in the pork processing business. The company pivoted to crypto mining, partnering with MineOne on a Wyoming mining facility in the United States. The facility was ordered to be shut down by the former Biden administration on the basis of it being a national security risk to have a Chinese project located within a mile of a U.S. Air Force base that houses nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles.

South Korea's Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) plans to introduce a bill this week aimed at establishing a legal framework for digital assets, according to Edaily. The move is part of the party's ongoing efforts to advance its crypto policy agenda ahead of the upcoming presidential election. The proposed law would define the legal status of digital assets and set rules for their issuance, distribution and listing. The bill is expected to keep the requirement for Korean won-pegged stablecoin issuers to obtain authorization with a minimum reserve of 5 billion won ($3.58 million), a key point of debate.Photo by Brady Bellini on UnsplashA DPK official stated that the bill has been drafted and is set to be introduced to the National Assembly this week, following feedback from internal subcommittees. Most of the provisions remain consistent with last month’s draft, but final comments are still being collected on stablecoin reserve requirements, which have been a major point of discussion. Defining digital assetsThe bill defines digital assets as "electronic records with economic value based on blockchain technology" and establishes a regulatory framework for issuers, exchanges and custodians. Key provisions include permitting initial coin offerings (ICOs) and creating a digital asset committee under the Financial Services Commission (FSC). This committee would oversee legal framework design, market monitoring, and policy promotion. Additionally, an industry association will establish a separate committee to oversee token listing practices, ensuring consistent listing standards across exchanges. The most contentious part of the draft has been the regulations for won-based stablecoins. It classifies stablecoins as digital assets akin to fiat currency, requiring a minimum reserve of 5 billion won and authorization from the FSC. It also mandates real-time reserve disclosures, secure asset custody and quarterly reporting. Divide over stablecoin reserve requirementOpinions on the reserve requirement are divided. Some industry insiders argue that the 5 billion won threshold is too high, creating a barrier for startups. Others believe a minimum capital requirement is necessary due to stablecoins' role in payments and their potential as currency substitutes. Lee Jung-yup, president of the Blockchain Law Society, stressed that stablecoins must maintain a basic level of trust, warning that those failing to meet the 5 billion won threshold could become prone to insolvency or fraud. However, Lee acknowledged concerns about the centralized regulatory approach led by financial authorities and the potential for market dominance by large corporations. He suggested exploring the creation of an independent regulatory body for cryptocurrencies, warning that overly strict regulations could stifle domestic digital finance innovation amid growing global competition. Crime surges with market growthWhile regulations continue to evolve, crypto crimes are also rising sharply amid the expanding digital asset market. According to Segye Ilbo, South Korean police arrested about 2,100 individuals for crypto-related offenses last year—17 times more than in 2017, when data collection began. The total losses from such crimes now exceed 1 trillion won ($714 million) annually. Since the election of U.S. President Donald Trump, known for his crypto-friendly stance, Korea's crypto market has experienced rapid growth. This surge has raised concerns about an increase in fraud targeting investors chasing quick profits. 

Paxful’s Ray Youssef heads up Noones financial app startupNoones, a financial communication app launched in 2023, has officially appointed Ray Youssef as its CEO with a visionary goal of reaching a billion daily active Bitcoin users within the next seven years.Empowering Global South financial freedomThis announcement aligns with Noones’ mission to empower financial freedom in the Global South by streamlining the movement of money, liberating users from traditional banking constraints. Youssef believes that “Africa alone has the potential to make NoOnes a trillion dollar company but when you factor in the rest of the global south the sky’s the limit.”Founded on the belief that peer-to-peer systems constitute the world’s only true free market and that Bitcoin represents the new global financial architecture, Noones seeks to uplift individuals in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia.Startups in the digital assets space tend to be more international in nature than in any other sector. According to the firm’s LinkedIn, Noones is headquartered in Dubai. Notwithstanding that, many of its team appear to be Estonia-based while its website’s terms of service specify Panama as being the relevant jurisdiction, making for a truly international setup.Photo by Arpit Rastogi on UnsplashMoving on from Paxful turbulenceYoussef, the former CEO of peer-to-peer crypto platform Paxful and a seasoned expert in strategic planning, product innovation, growth hacking and operations management, brings his wealth of experience to lead Noones. Youssef’s tenure at Paxful, where he played a pivotal role in the company’s success, underscores his ability to drive transformative change in the fintech industry.However, Youssef’s departure from Paxful in April, amidst a legal dispute with Co-Founder Artur Shaback, marked a turning point. Paxful unexpectedly closed its operations amid a broader trend in the industry. Youssef attributed Paxful’s closure to the legal action initiated by Shaback, alleging a pursuit of significant financial gains. Shaback countered, stating that the dispute arose from differences in business direction and governance, accusing Youssef of migrating Paxful’s assets to his new venture, Noones.Promoting prosperity through bitcoinDespite the turbulence at Paxful, Youssef remains resolute in his commitment to leveraging Bitcoin for social good. While Noones, with its focus on decentralized financial opportunities, requires a Know-Your-Customer (KYC) onboarding process, Youssef continues to champion Bitcoin as a tool for poverty eradication and empowerment in the Global South.Noones, under Youssef’s leadership, aspires to simplify financial transactions and provide decentralized, borderless opportunities to its users. Youssef envisions Bitcoin playing a crucial role in promoting prosperity in the Global South, with Noones aiming to create an interoperable pan-African clearing layer. This initiative aims to elevate intra-African trade, bringing it to levels comparable to intra-European trade.In a statement, Youssef expressed his confidence in the transformative power of Bitcoin, stating:”For the past 8 years, I have fought for financial sovereignty for the Global South. Finally, I am glad to be able to fulfil the mission I began almost a decade ago. I’m confident that Bitcoin will play a crucial role in promoting the prosperity of our continent, and I’m thrilled and privileged to contribute to the company’s ambition and growth.”