Top

Seoul’s Seocho District Leverages Blockchain Coins to Catalyze Social Impact

Policy & Regulation·July 03, 2023, 5:20 AM

Seocho District, one of the 25 districts in the South Korean capital of Seoul, is leveraging blockchain technology to tackle environmental and welfare issues with the introduction of the “Good Seocho Coins,” as reported by local news outlet Shinailbo.

Photo by TANIM MUNSHI on Unsplash

 

Contribute and earn rewards

Under this program, residents of Seocho can earn Good Seocho Coins by engaging in socially beneficial activities. Each coin holds a value of 100 KRW ($0.076) and can be utilized for various purposes such as accessing facilities, enrolling in educational courses, and making purchases at the Seocho Community Center and the Seocho Joongang Senior Welfare Center.

 

From recycling to in-kind donations

To earn these coins, residents can participate in three categories of activities: recycling, identifying marginalized households, and making in-kind donations. By returning items like paper bags, clothes hangers, empty plastic bottles, and ice packs to 300 Carbon Zero-certified stores within the district — ranging from coffee shops to laundromats and butcher shops — residents can earn coins. For instance, returning ten hangers or empty plastic bottles would earn them a coin.

Residents who identify marginalized households and assist them in obtaining welfare benefits will receive ten coins, while those who connect them with social services will earn five coins.

Talented individuals can also contribute to the community and earn coins. For example, photographers, hairdressers, makeup artists, and performers of the non-verbal comedy show Nanta can donate their services and earn one coin per hour. Additionally, health educators and volunteers can earn coins by assisting residents aged 60 or older.

 

Expanding horizons

Originally conceived as an initiative to promote the health and community engagement of elderly individuals, the Good Seocho Coin project underwent revisions last month to encompass a broader community through regulatory changes.

Mayor Jun Sung-soo of Seocho District stated that the aim of this initiative is to harness the potential of blockchain technology and motivate district residents to actively contribute towards tackling a wide range of social challenges. He further highlighted the district’s intention to broaden the scope of this initiative in order to cultivate a sense of pride and satisfaction among the residents, leading to a positive ripple effect throughout the community.

More to Read
View All
Web3 & Enterprise·

Mar 02, 2024

OKX adds Uniswap in bid to eliminate gas fees

Leading crypto exchange OKX has announced the seamless integration of Uniswap Labs' application programming interface (API) into its decentralized exchange (DEX). The objective of the Uniswap addition is to usher in an era of gas-free trading through its innovative feature called "Snap” for OKX service users. Snap trading modeThe company made the announcement by way of a PR Newswire press release on Feb. 29. OKX asserts that Uniswap is one of the most trusted names in DeFi. As part of the integration, the Snap trading mode will be included as a feature on OKX DEX, with the objective of aggregating Uniswap’s liquidity.The feature operates directly on the OKX DEX interface by way of the UniswapX protocol. UniswapX is an immutable smart contract built with the intention to be fully permissionless. The contract cannot be modified or paused by anyone, including Uniswap Labs. Liquidity providers pay the feeIn explaining away the technology, Jason Lau, the chief innovation officer at OKX told Cointelegraph the mechanics behind the no-fee swaps. Lau unveiled a novel model wherein liquidity providers absorb transaction fees on behalf of users. He asserted that this approach not only enhances convenience but also facilitates cost savings for traders. Lau elaborated further, stating: “By agreeing to a price and signing a transaction off-chain, then settling the transaction on-chain, users end up paying no gas fees because the liquidity providers will pay the fee on the user’s behalf.”Photo by Shubham Dhage on UnsplashGoing beyond trading fee reductionAnticipating a positive response from DeFi enthusiasts, Lau highlighted additional features that go beyond transaction fee savings. These include the elimination of slippages, maximum extractable value (MEV) bot attacks and transaction failures, addressing prevalent concerns within the DeFi space.In tandem with the gas-free trading initiative, OKX announced a seamless integration for its wallet users within the Uniswap interface, courtesy of the Multi-Injected Provider Discovery upgrade on Ethereum, based on Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP)-6963. This enhancement extends to all browser extension wallets, enabling OKX wallet users to seamlessly connect with Uniswap, facilitating activities such as cryptocurrency swapping, NFT trading, liquidity pool participation and decentralized application (dApp) development. Positioning this integration as a pivotal addition to their ecosystem, Lau reiterated OKX's commitment to broadening user access to diverse on-chain use cases. He expressed enthusiasm for ongoing development initiatives and urged users to actively contribute feedback for further enhancements. The crypto exchange platform achieved further technical progress recently, with the addition of support for atomicals, runes, doginals and stamps to its Web3 wallet. Providing further detail on these additions last month, the company said that they were part of a "first-to-market" initiative relative to Bitcoin NFTs. Alongside technical advancements like these, earlier this week it emerged that the company was further advancing its market expansion strategy, through the launch of OKX TR, its Turkish platform. With OKX pioneering gas-free trading and bolstering user accessibility to decentralized finance, the convergence of traditional finance and blockchain technology accelerates, indicating an ongoing transformative shift in the crypto space.

news
Web3 & Enterprise·

Jul 18, 2023

BingX Enhances Automated Trading via AstraBit Partnership

BingX Enhances Automated Trading via AstraBit PartnershipBingX, a Singapore-based crypto platform that offers spot, derivatives, and grid trading services, has announced a strategic partnership with AstraBit, an automated algorithmic trading and portfolio management tool, to enhance the efficiency and success of automated crypto trading for its users.Photo by Wance Paleri on UnsplashRevolutionizing user experienceThe collaboration, announced via a blog post published by BingX on Monday, aims to revolutionize the crypto trading experience by combining BingX’s robust platform with AstraBit’s cutting-edge technology.AstraBit empowers BingX users with total control over risk and exposure in their trades through automated trading strategies powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning. Users can leverage AstraBit’s technology to customize and hyper-personalize their trading strategies, maximizing their trading potential in the dynamic crypto market. AstraBit-powered bots follow preset instructions, but users have the flexibility to adjust parameters such as stop loss and take profit at any time, even in the middle of a trade.Security measuresTo ensure the highest level of security, AstraBit operates 24/7, utilizing two-factor authentication (2FA) and implementing advanced security measures such as machine learning intrusion detection systems and anti-ransomware software. Importantly, AstraBit cannot withdraw funds from users’ wallets, providing an additional layer of protection.Elvisco Carrington, PR and Communications Director at BingX, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating: “The integration with AstraBit helps revolutionize the crypto trading experience. By combining BingX’s robust platform with AstraBit’s cutting-edge technology, we are empowering our users to maximize their trading potential and achieve greater success in the dynamic crypto market. This partnership aligns perfectly with our commitment to delivering excellence and driving the industry forward.”MT5 integrationIn addition to the collaboration with AstraBit, BingX made headlines earlier this year by announcing its direct integration with MetaTrader 5 (MT5), making it one of the first crypto platforms to connect with the world’s most popular trading platform. MT5 offers advanced features, including a wide range of technical indicators, depth of market (DOM) functionality, and support for trading on multiple exchanges. It is known for its versatility, supporting various asset classes, including stocks and futures.The integration with MT5 allows BingX users to activate their BingX MT5 accounts and trade futures directly from MT5’s user-friendly interface. This seamless connection optimizes the trading process, leveraging cutting-edge innovations from the world of traditional finance. Users can expect a safe and stable trading experience on cryptocurrencies like BTC and ETH, accompanied by advanced analysis tools for quantitative trading and customized functions.By tapping into the MT5 platform, BingX not only enhances the trading experience for its existing user base but also opens the door for forex traders on MT5 to easily enter the world of cryptocurrencies. This integration provides a smooth transition for forex traders, allowing them to explore the crypto market with ease.The partnership with AstraBit and the integration with MT5 demonstrate BingX's efforts in driving the business forward. Those efforts are further evidenced by a decision taken by the firm earlier this month to expand outside of its Southeast Asia base market into the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

news
Web3 & Enterprise·

Aug 10, 2023

Web3 Cybersecurity Firm Zyber 365 Raises $100M in Funding

Web3 Cybersecurity Firm Zyber 365 Raises $100M in FundingZyber 365, a pioneering Web3 startup that combines AI, Web3, and cybersecurity, has recently secured $100 million in funding from the UK-based SRAM & MRAM Group.Photo by micheile henderson on Unsplash$1.2 billion valuationThe substantial investment places Zyber 365’s valuation at an impressive $1.2 billion, while marking a significant milestone for the company, underscoring its promising trajectory.Although now headquartered in London, the company’s origins stem from India with a set of Indian founders, while the firm continues to maintain its strategic operational base in India.The company was founded earlier this year by Pearl Kapur and ethical hacker Sunny Vaghela. The startup stands out for its groundbreaking approach to cybersecurity, offering a decentralized and cyber-secured operating system that upholds the core tenets of environmental sustainability.Indian nucleus of operationsNotably, Zyber 365 has earmarked India as the nucleus of its operations, aiming to harness the nation’s tech talent and vibrant ecosystem to fuel its growth. The recent injection of capital will likely play a pivotal role in amplifying Zyber 365’s expansion initiatives, bolstering its technological capabilities, and cementing its global market presence.The SRAM & MRAM Group, no stranger to the tech investment landscape, has previously demonstrated its confidence in innovative startups. In a similar vein, the group invested $100 million in another India-centric blockchain startup, 5ire, in July of the previous year, valuing it at an impressive $1.5 billion.Broad Web3-based product rangeZyber 365’s portfolio spans a wide spectrum of Web3 products, including Layer-0, Layer-1, and Layer-2 blockchains, decentralized identities, data analytics, a software development kit, a web browser, and even non-fungible token (NFT) marketplaces and initial coin offering (ICO) capabilities.These offerings can be seamlessly integrated as part of a comprehensive Web3 ecosystem or employed as standalone applications tailored to specific user requirements.Sunny Vaghela, the Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer (CPO) of Zyber 365, expressed his enthusiasm about the infusion of capital. He emphasized that this financial boost positions the company to expedite the development of its Web3 and AI products, thereby enhancing its presence in the dynamic tech landscape.Vaghela underscored how Zyber 365’s inventive approach to cybersecurity and its commitment to pioneering technologies set it on a remarkable path toward industry leadership.Mahendra Joshi, Director of the SRAM & MRAM Group, echoed Vaghela’s sentiments, lauding Zyber 365’s exceptional team and disruptive technology. Joshi’s confidence in the investment’s potential to drive outstanding growth and success in the coming years reflects the industry’s anticipation of the startup’s continued evolution.In an era where cybersecurity and innovation are paramount, Zyber 365’s substantial funding from the SRAM & MRAM Group heralds a new phase of growth and advancement. Venture capital investment in the digital assets space has contracted significantly since the last bull market. However, as this deal demonstrates, there are signs of green shoots emerging.With its cutting-edge technology and strategic focus on Web3 and AI, the startup has an opportunity to reshape the landscape of cybersecurity while solidifying its status as an industry trailblazer.

news
Loading