Asian Market Surge for XRP Amid Broader Market Implications

Shinhan Bank Advances into Metaverse with the Launch of Shinamon Season 3According to a report by local news media Dailian, Shinhan Bank, a prominent financial institution in South Korea, has made a stride in its metaverse endeavors. The bank announced yesterday the launch of Shinamon Season 3, a metaverse platform, accompanied by a series of celebratory events to mark its implementation.Photo by Richard Horvath on UnsplashMerging financial & non-financial realmsShinhan Bank claims it is the first Korean bank to independently develop a metaverse platform. With the launch of Shinamon Season 3, the bank has merged the financial and non-financial realms, providing customers with access to a user-friendly platform that offers fun and engaging experiences.In Shinamon Season 3, Shinhan Bank has enhanced its financial services by replacing mobile gifts with reward points and providing additional benefits to customers who make transactions through the bank.Personalization and enhanced servicesAfter gathering customer feedback over the past two seasons, Shinhan has made enhancements to the platform’s environment and interface. Additionally, they have introduced the ability for customers to personalize their characters’ costumes. Looking ahead, the bank intends to leverage NFT wallets to help customers reach other platforms.To celebrate the release of Shinamon Season 3, Shinhan Bank is organizing special events that will grant rewards to customers who join the metaverse. Participants of Shinamon Season 3 who engage in daily quests will have an opportunity to win enticing prizes, including electronic devices, free fried chicken coupons, and reward points.A Shinhan Bank official said that customer feedback was given top priority in the preparations for the launch of Shinamon Season 3. The official added that will continue to reflect customer needs and integrate a diverse range of financial services. This approach aims to create a metaverse platform that closely resonates with real-life experiences, making it more relatable for customers.

Bitget Exec Speaks to Utility of Enhanced KYCCrypto continues to undergo significant transformation as regulatory authorities across Asia tighten their grip on the industry. In response to these regulatory changes, Seychelles-headquartered Bitget has joined KuCoin and OKX, which have recently bolstered their Know Your Customer (KYC) measures to ensure compliance and safeguard their operations.In a recent interview with Cointelegraph, Bitget Managing Director Gracy Chen spoke to the utility of KYC measures, stating that KYC is useful in filtering out illegitimate users, particularly those engaged in activities such as money laundering.Photo by Pixabay on PexelsMeeting Asian regulatory requirementsThe Seychelles-based exchange with ties to China and Singapore recently announced updates to its KYC protocols. These changes come in the wake of the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s (MAS) directives, which advise financial institutions, including cryptocurrency exchanges, to implement robust risk management procedures. The MAS has taken a stringent stance, shutting down certain digital payment token service providers to prevent them from facilitating lending and staking activities by retail customers.Starting from October 1, Bitget will require users who have not completed level 1 KYC verification to be restricted from creating new trading orders. This move aims to ensure that users comply with the newly updated guidelines and maintain the integrity of the exchange’s operations.Following industry peersKuCoin and OKX, two other prominent exchanges which, like Bitget, have their corporate headquarters in Seychelles and a strong presence in Asia, have also revamped their KYC policies. While KuCoin initially introduced KYC in 2018, the exchange has strengthened its identity verification procedures, requiring users to upload documents and complete face checks.Furthermore, in July, it announced a mandatory KYC requirement, in line with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations. While the mandatory KYC requirement is already in force, the other changes are set to take effect at the end of the month.OKX, on the other hand, has implemented stringent requirements, including the submission of a government-issued ID selfie for users to access all its services. The exchange recently set a deadline for service users to complete KYC.Bitget’s Chen highlighted that its decision to embrace KYC measures was driven by a commitment to serving the market responsibly. She acknowledged that while some users may have reservations about KYC, it is a necessary step to maintain the integrity of the exchange and prevent illicit activities. Speaking at the fringes of the firm’s EmpowerX Summit in Singapore, Chen said:“I’m pretty sure if the user is a financially healthy user, such as, like, if they’re not doing something illegitimate, such as money laundering, they should be pretty comfortable with the KYC process.”Tightening regulationThe tightening of regulations in Asia is not limited to Singapore alone. Japan has also taken steps to enhance anti-money laundering measures related to cryptocurrency transactions, responding to international calls for stricter oversight. Additionally, South Korea’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) has announced plans to require companies to disclose details about their cryptocurrency holdings, expected values, and related business models in their financial statements, aligning crypto accounting with conventional financial reporting.These regulatory developments signify a broader trend in the region, with cryptocurrency service providers proactively adapting to the changing landscape. As governments and regulatory authorities take steps to address the potential risks associated with cryptocurrencies, exchanges are prioritizing compliance to ensure their longevity and continued growth.

BPMG launches competition platform GemPION for Web3 gamersBPMG, a South Korean Web3 platform developer, revealed the launch of GemPION. This platform, operated under BPMG’s gaming arm GemHUB and developed in collaboration with blockchain network Everscale, is designed specifically for competitive gaming. It offers users of its integrated games the opportunity to engage in tournament competitions or partake in various missions.Photo by Andrey Metelev on UnsplashDiverse competitive formatsOn the GemPION platform, gamers have the opportunity to participate in various competitive formats such as single-elimination tournaments, battle royales, or leaderboard challenges. The platform features both free-to-enter and paid competitions, with the latter offering larger prize pools. To maintain and increase user engagement, each game hosted on GemPION provides a variety of competitions, either through seasonal events or on an ongoing, all-year-round basis.Launch eventsIn celebration of its official launch, GemPION is organizing a series of events. From Nov. 18 to Dec. 16, a selection of games on GemHUB, including Number Shoot, Jelly Snake, Find Bird, Push Push Cat and Mayan Cryptex, will be highlighted in tournament competitions. These tournaments are set to occur every Saturday and feature a total prize pool of $3,500.The platform is offering 1,000 tickets for complimentary access to paid tournaments. These tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis and can be obtained by users who apply the promotion code. Furthermore, users who invite friends to join the platform, either by completing certain missions or through the use of referral links, will receive additional incentives.GemPION is also preparing to launch more games, including Heroes9 with NFT, Jewel Dungeon Quest and Farm Raid Mission.Cha Ji-hoon, CEO of BPMG, stated that GemPION is a gaming system designed to elevate the immersive experience of users and increase their engagement. He highlighted that the system utilizes technology that is not only applicable to Web3 games but also to conventional games. Cha further shared his vision for GemPION, expressing his aspiration to broaden the gaming ecosystem. He plans to do this by introducing seasonal events and country-specific competitions, which will feature even larger prize pools.