Top

BitKeep Changes Name to Bitget Wallet Following Acquisition

Web3 & Enterprise·August 11, 2023, 1:47 AM

Continuing the trend set by industry giants like Binance, KuCoin, and OKX, cross-chain wallet provider BitKeep has undergone a transformation, rebranding itself as Bitget Wallet. This strategic shift comes on the heels of the wallet’s acquisition by the prominent Seychelles-headquartered crypto exchange, which acquired a controlling stake for $30 million in March.

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

 

Bitget Swap unveiled

The rebranding announcement, made on August 10, coincides with the unveiling of Bitget Swap, a novel cross-chain swap mechanism integrated into the wallet. This innovative feature draws liquidity from a network of approximately 100 decentralized exchanges spanning across 20 chains. The move positions Bitget Wallet as a versatile platform catering to traders seeking fluidity and efficiency across diverse cryptocurrencies.

Bitget Wallet users are set to benefit from an enticing proposition as the exchange merges its offerings. A collective Bitget User Protection Fund, boasting a substantial $360 million pool, has been established.

The fund is anchored by 6,500 Bitcoin, ensuring robust safeguards against security incidents. This initiative finds its origins in the wake of the FTX exchange collapse last November, with the fund’s value boosted by a subsequent $60 million capital appreciation due to the rally in Bitcoin prices.

The synergy between the two businesses has already borne fruit for Bitget. Last month, it clarified that it had surpassed 20 million users, with the wallet integration believed to be responsible for a large part of that user growth.

 

Growing pains

BitKeep’s past wasn’t without its challenges. A security breach occurred in December when the wallet’s Android Package Kit (APK) was compromised by malware, causing losses of around $8 million among users who had installed the compromised package. In a commendable move, the company fully compensated the affected users on March 29, signaling its commitment to rectifying such setbacks.

Moka Han, Chief Operating Officer of Bitget Wallet, underscored the wallet’s security-focused approach. Han revealed that cross-chain bridges are subject to stringent third-party security audits by notable entities like SlowMist and CertiK before deployment. Rigorous post-deployment monitoring further guarantees a resilient security environment.

 

Payment channel integration

In its recent evolution, Bitget Wallet has integrated five stable payment channels, including Banxa, Simplex, Alchemy Pay, MoonPay, and FaTPay. These integrations empower users to conveniently purchase cryptocurrencies within the wallet using methods such as credit cards, Google Pay, and Apple Pay. Additionally, the wallet has introduced a peer-to-peer marketplace, characterized by comprehensive security measures that protect both buyers and sellers.

Bitget Wallet’s appeal extends far and wide across the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, boasting an impressive user base exceeding 10 million individuals. This figure constitutes nearly half of MetaMask’s user count, signifying the wallet’s considerable popularity.

The company didn’t allow the rebrand milestone to pass without taking the opportunity to further promote its offering. On Thursday, it commenced a “Mystery Box Airdrop” event, offering new Bitget Wallet users the opportunity to claim individual rewards of up to 1,000 USDT.

Biget’s wallet integration is in line with the changing landscape of crypto exchanges generally, with other prominent players such as OKX, KuCoin, and Binance having also ventured into the realm of self-custody wallets, enhancing their service offerings beyond traditional exchange operations.

More to Read
View All
Policy & Regulation·

Apr 10, 2023

Four Pillars for Success in Korean Security Token Market

Four Pillars for Success in Korean Security Token MarketOn Wednesday, blockchain experts in various fields gathered at the 2023 Blockchain Meetup Conference held in Seoul to discuss issues with security tokens and their outlook.©Pexels/Alesia KozikWhat attracted security token businesses’ attention at the meeting was a presentation by Jung Eui-heon from Lambda256, a subsidiary of Korean crypto exchange Upbit’s operator Dunamu. He shared four pillars for success in the Korean security token market.Security tokens gaining traction in KoreaSecurity tokens have been a trending topic in the Korean blockchain industry since the Korean Financial Services Commission (FSC) allowed the issuance and trading of security tokens last February. Furthermore, a 2022 report jointly published by Boston Consulting Group and Singaporean investment platform ADDX predicted that the total size of illiquid tokenized assets worldwide would reach $16 trillion by 2030.Against this backdrop, here are the four keys to successful security token projects that Jung outlined.Technology adaptationFirst, he emphasized the importance of adopting rapidly changing technology. To tackle the issue, he suggested teaming up with advanced tech companies for long-term collaboration. When choosing tech partners, companies should ensure they are sustainable, possess technological prowess, hold credibility on high volume transactions, and maintain the security level of financial institutions, Jung advised.Forging partnershipsThe second point he mentioned was the need to forge partnerships. The FSC’s February guideline requires the issuance and distribution of security tokens to be managed separately. This means that security token projects require collaboration between issuers, distributors, account managers, asset holders, and tech companies.New securities productsJung also noted that discovering new securities products is crucial. Partnering with existing fractional investing companies may help accelerate the security token project initially, but in the long run, enterprises will eventually have to create products in various fields such as gaming, movies, and entertainment.Token liquidityLastly, Jung underlined the token liquidity, which plays a crucial role in determining its prices. Issuers will need to find various distributors and vice versa. Securing liquidity requires the establishment of a technical standard that improves interoperability and compatibility, he highlighted.

news
Web3 & Enterprise·

Apr 01, 2024

Metaverse game project 'Carrieverse' attracts over 100K DAUs

Carrieverse, a South Korean blockchain gaming project based in the Metaverse, launched its global version on March 28. Since then, the game has reportedly seen over 100,000 daily active users (DAU) every day, hitting 150,000 DAUs on its first day of release. The DAU index and related infographics were released by Carrieverse on April 1, according to the local media outlet Kyunghyang Games.  A joint venture between Carriesoft and Mantisco, this blockchain-enabled metaverse platform provides users with various content centered around the life of the game's main character, "Carrie," and her friends. At the heart of the project lies the “Play, earn, and own” model. Aside from the content backed by the "Carrie and Friends" intellectual property (IP), the project has expanded its footprint by launching the Cling Wallet, the NFT project "Kola from the Space" and the crypto game "Superkola Tactics."Photo by GuerrillaBuzz on UnsplashUsers from Southeast Asia and Latin AmericaAccording to data provided by Carrieverse, a significant portion of its users come from Southeast Asian and Latin American countries. Notably, in Indonesia and Vietnam, Carrieverse ranked second and third respectively in the newly released game section of their Google Play Store. The game generated the 15th-largest revenues of all games played in the Philippines and the 16th-largest revenues in Thailand. Carrieverse is reportedly on the top 100 casual games on Google Play Store across 86 countries.  The game also topped the trending chart on the global blockchain ranking site "PlayToEarn" on the day of its global launch, securing second place as of the following Sunday.  Building a robust IP-based metaverse platform The CEO of Carrieverse, David Yoon, said that Carrieverse strives to lead the Korean blockchain gaming industry and contribute to Korea's reputation as a Web3 powerhouse. Yoon said, "A sound ecosystem is being created due to the increase in on-chain data such as wallet generation and conversion of the governance token $CVTX, as well as the increased incineration of Celeb, which can be exchanged for $CVTX. The value of the game and $CVTX will continue to rise further." Carrieverse has also announced plans for various large-scale IP collaborations with other companies, intending to become an IP-based metaverse platform with high DAUs.  

news
Policy & Regulation·

Jan 17, 2025

PM encourages focus on crypto so Malaysia doesn’t get left behind

Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has said that Malaysian government agencies and the country’s central bank need to study blockchain and cryptocurrency from a policy perspective so as not to get left behind.Photo by Esmonde Yong on UnsplashConsidering major changesHis comments emerged alongside the news that Anwar had discussed digital finance policy matters with Abu Dhabi government officials and with Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the founder and former CEO of Binance. According to the New Straits Times, an English-language newspaper published in Malaysia, the Malaysian government is homing in on the establishment and adoption of a formal policy relative to digital assets and blockchain.  Anwar confirmed that discussions also related to “digital transformation, data centers and artificial intelligence (AI),” and that the demands that Malaysia now faces require the government to consider major changes. In discussion with local media, Anwar stated: "I proposed several months ago how our agencies, including security, treasury and Bank Negara study how Malaysia can explore this so we aren't left behind. Ensuring that is regulated could safeguard the people's interests and prevent leakages.” Crypto-friendly regulationsAnwar added that a “radical departure from the old ways” would be needed for Malaysia to remain competitive, emphasizing the need for the Southeast Asian country to keep up to speed through the application of crypto-friendly regulations. Addressing the pace of technological change, he stated: “This is an evolution which happens quickly and requires us to be equally fast. We feel that Malaysia should not be left behind while mired in an old financial system.” In moving towards setting out a clear policy relative to digital assets, the Malaysian prime minister is encouraged by his recent dialogue with United Arab Emirates (UAE) government officials. He said that they confirmed that they feel they can forge close cooperation with Malaysia on the matter. Anwar added:“We need to discuss this in detail, leave behind the old business model and give meaning to this digital finance policy.” Taking to the X social media platform, Binance’s CZ described the nature of his discussion with the Malaysian prime minister, stating: “The discussions were not about Binance but about the crypto industry and Malaysia, including regulations, policies, risks, and collaborations between industries and across national borders. Forward!” A pseudonymous crypto investor and programmer, @darren_com_my, responded to CZ’s tweet to explain that the Malaysian government provides support to the digital assets industry via government agencies, but that, on the other hand, it has blacklisted a number of exchanges such as HTX (formerly Huobi) and Binance.  The local regulator has issued licenses to six virtual asset service providers. In recent weeks, Malaysia’s Securities Commission has taken action against global exchange Bybit and crypto app Atomic Wallet, prohibiting them from trading within the jurisdiction due to both companies not having obtained the required licensing.

news
Loading