P2E defense game Slime World to roll out a major update in December

Bhutan Partners With Bitdeer on Crypto Mining FundSingapore-based Bitcoin mining firm Bitdeer has entered into a partnership with the commercial arm of the Royal Government of Bhutan to jointly develop green digital asset mining operations within the Kingdom of Bhutan.Bitdeer issued a press release on Wednesday to announce the partnership. Druk Holdings and Investments (DHI) acts as the commercial arm of the Royal Government of Bhutan. It was formed pursuant to a Royal Charter in 2007 with the mandate of making investments on behalf of Bhutan while optimizing usage of resources.Driving growthAccording to the information provided, the two companies will “launch the partnership through establishing a closed-end fund with an estimated size of up to US$500 million.” The initiative will see a canvas for funding commencing at the end of this month. Bitdeer’s role in the partnership is that of a general partner while DHI will act as a strategic limited partner.Bitdeer’s Chairman, Jihan Wu, expressed his enthusiasm in gaining access to Bhutan’s zero-emissions hydropower resources through the partnership. Wu stated that the fund represents “a pathway to foster global stakeholder networks that are driving growth and innovation in the technology sector in Bhutan.”Once funding has been raised, that capital will be channeled directly into greenfield operations on the ground in Bhutan. That encompasses the construction of data centers and what the joint parties to the initiative describe as “the acquisition of cutting edge technology.”Photo by Singkham on PexelsDigital transformationUjjwal Deep Dahal, CEO of DHI, stated: “The partnership with Bitdeer to launch a carbon-free digital asset mining data center represents an investment in a more connected and sustainable domestic economy, helping ensure we are at the forefront of global innovation.”Bhutan is executing on a plan to accelerate digital transformation and economic diversification by exploiting opportunities in emerging sectors. Further evidence that this is part of a broader longer term strategy emerged recently. Dahal had told a local Bhutanese publication that DHI had been engaged in bitcoin mining on behalf of the Kingdom since bitcoin had a unit price of $5,000. In that interview, Dahal acknowledged that the involvement from the outset of its bitcoin mining activities was part of a broader, long term strategy.Bitdeer’s Asia expansionAlthough Bitdeer is Singapore-based, its operations up until this point have been focused on facilities located in Northern Europe and North America. According to this latest announcement, the bitcoin miner sees this partnership as a “crucial expansion into Asia for Bitdeer.” A shift in geographical focus may be well timed by Bitdeer as it emerged today that President Joe Biden in the United States is considering the imposition of a 30% tax on crypto mining.The bitcoin miner completed a long overdue special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) merger with Blue Safari Group last month. As part of that process, it listed on the Nasdaq. That public listing process has been a baptism of fire for the company as shortly afterwards, the company traded down 30% from the point of its initial listing.A corporate filing made by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) provides more detail with regard to Bitdeer’s plans in Bhutan. “We expect to generate 100 MW out of the 550 MW power supply from Bhutan, where the construction of a mining data center is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2023 and complete in the third quarter of 2023,” the filing states.

Hashed Emergent to Host India Blockchain Week 2023 in DecemberHashed Emergent, a subsidiary of South Korean blockchain venture capital Hashed, will host India Blockchain Week (IBW) 2023 at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Bangalore, India, from December 4 to 10.Hashed Emergent is a venture capital firm specializing in investments in early-stage companies bridging the gap between Web2 and Web3 in India. The firm was established by Hashed, a group dedicated to propelling the global adoption of the Web3 ecosystem. Hashed Emergent seeks to tap into the potential of emerging markets.Photo by Still Pixels on PexelsIndia’s Web3 surgeIndia is exhibiting promise in the Web3 market, driven by its economy, population, and tech advancements. Since 2015, there has been an increase of about sixfold in the number of Web3 startups in the country, with the count reaching 450 as of April 2022. Among them are four unicorns, namely Polygon, FalconX, CoinSwitch, and CoinDCX. Investment in Web3 startups has also seen a rise, with the figure touching $1.3 billion between 2021 and the first quarter of 2022. Furthermore, the Indian government appears to be taking a more accommodating stance towards the Web3 industry.Hashed Emergent is organizing this event for the first time to accelerate the expansion of the Web3 ecosystem in the burgeoning Indian market. IBW2023 is an international multi-chain conference that will delve into Web3 conversations across all industries. It is designed to foster connections between blockchain enterprises in India and abroad, uniting participants from the multifaceted blockchain landscape.Echoing the prominence of notable blockchain events like Singapore’s Token2049 and Korea’s Korea Blockchain Week (KBW), IBW2023 is expected to attract blockchain enthusiasts from around the world who are eager to see firsthand the evolving potential of India’s Web3 market.Flagship IBW’23 ConferenceThe flagship event, “IBW’23 Conference,” is set for December 6 to 7 and will spotlight five pivotal themes. Discussions will delve into the latest technical advancements in the blockchain realm, the role of Web3 in emerging markets, how global regulations will shape the blockchain sector, the prospects for Web3 in India, and the opportunities and hurdles facing Web3 expansion.About 120 prominent figures from the Web3 space are set to grace the event as speakers. They include Mo Shaikh, CEO of layer 1 blockchain developer Aptos Labs; Emin Gün Sirer, CEO of Avalanche blockchain builder Ava Labs; Sebastien Borget, co-founder of metaverse platform The Sandbox; and Simon Seojoon Kim, CEO of Hashed. Furthermore, the blockchain hackathon, ETH INDIA, is poised to attract over 1,500 developers, all geared to create the decentralized future of Ethereum.Tak Lee, CEO of Hashed Emergent, highlighted that India has been gaining traction as a major player in the blockchain industry. He shared that both Hashed and Hashed Emergent have been keenly observing the potential of the Indian Web3 market since early 2020. They are dedicated to ensuring IBW2023’s success, envisioning it as the first step towards the explosive growth of the Indian Web3 ecosystem.Meanwhile, Hashed Emergent is currently managing its first fund, Hashed Emergent Fund I, which has raised $20 million to date in multiple closings. In its first year and a half, the fund has invested in 28 portfolio companies, many of which have Indian founders. Major portfolio companies include Web3 game discovery and wallet app Glip, Web3 native incubator BuidlersTribe, and African web3 startup Nestcoin.

Kiwoom Securities and Koscom Partner to Pilot Security Token Platform Amid Regulatory ChangesKiwoom Securities, a securities firm based in South Korea, has recently taken a step forward by announcing its collaboration through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with fintech company Koscom. This partnership aims to carry out a pilot program for a security token platform.Photo by Shubham’s Web3 on UnsplashPreparing for regulatory shiftIn light of the expected enactment of a revised bill that will establish a legal framework for security tokens, the two companies have joined forces to work towards creating standardized practices for security tokens. Once this regulatory act comes into effect, fractional investment companies — the entities responsible for issuing security tokens — will have the opportunity to kick-start their operations promptly. This will be possible by utilizing the systems developed by securities firms, also known as account management institutions. The primary objective of this MOU is to define the essential industry standards that will facilitate this process.Combining strengthsWhile Kiwoom Securities benefits from a substantial retail customer base, Koscom brings technological expertise to the table thanks to its four-decade-long track record of constructing the data infrastructure for capital markets. Together, they will work to verify the seamless integration of distributed ledger technology into the operational system of the securities firm.Kiwoom Securities has been making strides in this direction through its partnerships with diverse companies, including music copyright trading platform Musicow and fine arts fractional investment platform Tessa. These collaborations have provided Kiwoom Securities with practical experience and technological insights relevant to security tokens.Hwang Hyun-soon, CEO of Kiwoom Securities, expressed Kiwoom’s commitment to collaborating to ensure that the security token platform developed by both companies evolves into a benchmark platform for the future security token market.Hong Woo-sun, CEO of Koscom, remarked that they expect the agreement to play a role in advancing their security token businesses and developing the Korean security token market.