Japan’s Cryptoasset Group Proposes Self-Regulatory Reforms for IEO System

Gravity Reports Strong Q2 Revenues, Outlining Blockchain Game RoadmapSouth Korean game developer Gravity has disclosed its consolidated financial statements to share its second-quarter performance. During this period, Gravity reported total revenues of $181 million. This represents a 147.5% increase when compared to the same quarter last year. The company also demonstrated a surge in its operating profit, reaching $40 million, which reflects a noteworthy year-on-year increase of 138.3%.Photo by Max DeRoin on PexelsRagnarok Origin driving up revenueThis upswing in revenue can be primarily attributed to the successful launch of Ragnarok Origin, an MMORPG mobile and PC game that debuted in Southeast Asia on April 6, 2023. Another contributor was the introduction of Ragnarok Origin in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau, alongside Ragnarok X: Next Generation’s performance in Korea.Gravity’s reputation as a prominent player in the gaming industry has been solidified through its creation of the popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) Ragnarok Online. This flagship game draws its inspiration from a series of comics bearing the same name, which weave together elements from Norse mythology.Upcoming release plansLooking ahead, the game publisher has plans to bring a variety of IP-based games to players worldwide. First, Ragnarok V: Returns is gearing up to enter its closed beta test (CBT) phase in South Korea on August 17. Meanwhile, Japanese gamers can anticipate the launch of White Chord, a character-collecting RPG mobile game, set to debut on August 29. This creation comes from the collaborative efforts of Yulong Games, a Chinese mobile game developer, and Gravity Games Alliance (GGA), Gravity’s Japanese subsidiary.Drawing on its remarkable achievement in Southeast Asia, Ragnarok Origin is now gearing up for a forthcoming launch in Central and South America, scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year. Additionally, fans in Vietnam can look forward to the release of Ragnarok M: Eternal Love, an MMORPG mobile game, slated to arrive in 2024.Blockchain initiativesGravity’s ventures into the realm of blockchain technology also deserve attention. In this regard, Ragnarok Landverse, an MMORPG blockchain PC game, is poised to undertake its second round of CBT during the third quarter of this year. The game sets its sights on a broader launch in the latter half of 2023, encompassing regions like Southeast Asia (excluding Thailand and Indonesia), the Middle East, India, Africa, and Oceania.Furthermore, the anticipation mounts for the global launch of Ragnarok Poring Merge NFT, a time-effective RPG blockchain mobile game, projected to make its debut in the fourth quarter of this year. Another captivating prospect is Ragnarok Monster World, a Web3-based RPG blockchain game for both mobile and PC platforms. Developed by Singaporean company Zero X And, known for its expertise in blockchain game and solution development, the game utilizes NFT technology and is earmarked for release in 2024.

Over Half of Leading Korean Conglomerates Are Venturing Into Web3 and BlockchainMore than half of South Korea’s conglomerates are ushering in the emerging era of Web3 in an attempt to seize new business opportunities presented by a decentralized internet that permits open access and sharing of resources as well as ownership of personal data.Photo by Abbe Sublett on UnsplashSurging interest among Korea’s biggest enterprisesAccording to a survey conducted by local news outlet E Today, 46 of Korea’s top 82 corporations as designated by the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) are pursuing ventures in Web3 and blockchain this year, including those related to non-fungible tokens (NFTs), security tokens, and logistics chains. The survey examined whether the corporations had issued coins, tokens, or NFTs; whether they had corporate divisions or subsidiaries dedicated to blockchain-related projects; and whether they had made investments in blockchain or digital asset-related companies as well as coin and token issuance projects. It was conducted remotely using publicly disclosed information and press releases.Of the 82 total companies, 48 are under the mutual investment restriction system, which prohibits independent corporations from investing their capital in the form of an exchange. Commercial law prohibits mutual stock holdings between parent companies and their subsidiaries in order to prevent a processive increase in company assets through mutual investments. Of those 48, the survey revealed that 32 are engaged in blockchain and Web3-related projects.Nearly 60.42% of the mutual investment restriction group and 48.78% of the total survey group were found to have become involved in the field by signing business deals with blockchain and digital asset-related companies or utilizing blockchain technology themselves.On the other hand, only seven corporations, or 8.54%, had directly issued digital assets or invested in related companies. On the other hand, 26 firms, or 31.71%, invested in NFT-related businesses.Navigating the path to Web3 adoptionHowever, although Web3 is gaining traction as the next generation of future innovation, it has not yet become the dominant trend as Web3 platforms have yet to attract a significant user base. This hindrance can be attributed to the ongoing crypto winter and strict financial regulations.Woo Jong-soo, Director of the Pohang University of Science and Technology’s (POSTECH) Blockchain Research Center and a professor at POSTECH’s Graduate School of Information and Communication, also pointed out that in order for blockchain to exert its influence as an innovative technology, it should be open to the public like Bitcoin. There will be limitations in implementing centralized private blockchains into corporate businesses, he said.But despite these challenges, major leading companies are still pushing their own Web3 and blockchain projects. “The current situation is not an ideal time for diving into Web3 and blockchain businesses, but everyone is quietly preparing while waiting for regulatory uncertainties to be resolved,” said an anonymous developer working at a major corporation.Notably, Park Hye-jin, a professor at the Seoul School of Integrated Sciences and Technologies, revealed that she had received separate Web3 business consultation requests from several teams under the same division of a particular corporation and that these teams were essentially unaware of each others’ ventures into the field. The corporation, which ostensibly announced that it had closed its business, also continues to request consultations, she claimed, highlighting the corporate world’s acknowledgment of Web3’s potential.“Individuals can now monetize and have control over their data, which big tech companies like Facebook and Instagram used to own,” Park explained. “The essence of Web3 is that it is ushering in an era where users have the ability to take initiative.”

OKX Entering Indian Market With a Focus on Web3Cryptocurrency exchange OKX is gearing up to make its presence felt in the Indian market.Local recruitmentThat’s according to a discussion between a company executive and CoinDesk, as explained by the publication in a report published on Friday. The firm plans on recruiting local employees in its endeavor to conquer the market within the world’s most populous nation.OKX intends to rely on local employees who will spearhead its initiatives in the country. Haider Rafique, Chief Marketing Officer at OKX explained:“We’re trying to identify who’s who in the zoo and what is their contribution. There’s a large developer community. How do we help them? Build a relationship with them.”He believes that adopting a community-centric approach will pave the way for a successful entry into the local market. Rafique emphasized:“We’re going to learn about the community. We’re going to work with local folks — figure out where we can add value.”Photo by Naveed Ahmed on UnsplashFocusing on Web3 applicationsThe company also intends to take on the challenge by placing emphasis on the use of Web3 applications. Rafique revealed the company’s ambitious plans to scale up its wallet services “exponentially” by engaging with India’s developer community. Currently, there are approximately 200,000 OKX Wallet users in India, accounting for just 5% of the country’s Web3 user base.In a recent collaboration, OKX partnered with the blockchain platform Neo for an APAC Hackathon held in Bengaluru, a city in southern India. Rafique described this move as a strategic test to validate assumptions, understand the local culture, and support the burgeoning Web3 ecosystem.The global exchange already has a physical presence in world centers such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, and the Bahamas.Indian crypto environmentTrading cryptocurrencies is currently legal in India, albeit with no established regulatory framework by a central authority. Ironically India has been very active in working towards the establishment of global regulatory standards relative to crypto while coming in for criticism from its Supreme Court recently for the government’s failure to provide regulatory clarity at home.Cryptocurrencies are used and traded at the investor’s risk in India and do not hold legal tender status for banking purposes. Additionally, a 30% tax is imposed on cryptocurrency transactions in the country.Rafique believes that Indian regulators are gradually distinguishing Web3 from centralized finance (CeFi). He remarked: “They’re more concerned about venues that have fiat on-ramps, which we do but don’t offer it in India.” He expressed a readiness for the company to become a front-runner once India establishes a regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies.It’s interesting to note that while OKX embarks on expanding its footprint within the Indian market, Indian crypto market incumbents have been looking to downsize. Indian cryptocurrency exchanges like CoinSwitch and CoinDCX have faced layoffs amid the current market downturn.Notwithstanding current market conditions, it’s likely that OKX is taking a long-term view and positioning itself for future success in what should be a very important crypto asset marketplace in the future.Ryan Selkis, CEO and Founder of crypto market intelligence firm Messari expressed this view, stating: “I love to see companies like OKX expanding in India. The largest democracy in the world should be a haven for crypto innovation in the years to come.”