AhnLab Blockchain Company to integrate digital wallet into Sogang University’s education metaverse

Busan to Host Blockchain Week in Busan 2023 Next MonthThe South Korean port city of Busan is set to host this year’s Blockchain Week in Busan (BWB) from November 9 to 10 (local time) at the Signiel Busan Hotel. Touting the theme “Target 2026 Blockchain Busan,” local and overseas experts in the field of blockchain and Web3 will come together to discuss the prospects and potential of Busan to become an urban blockchain hub by 2026. The event will be co-hosted by local newspapers Busan Ilbo and Maeil Business Newspaper and jointly organized by entrepreneurship base camp Nonce, contents commerce network JJ Global, and Busan-based media company Bonmedia.Photo by Minku Kang on UnsplashPreparing for the future of blockchain development and financial innovationThe first day of the event will kick off with an opening speech by the city’s mayor Park Heong-joon as well as presentations on Busan’s trajectory for nurturing blockchain development. In addition, Kim Sang-min, the leader of Busan’s initiative to establish its own digital asset exchange, will present the three-year vision for the Target 2026 goal. Various Web3 companies will also gather for the inauguration of the Busan Blockchain Alliance.“BWB 2023 will give us the chance to envision how blockchain technology can change Busan and to visualize how the field will transform in ten years’ time,” Kim commented.A subsequent panel discussion will feature Rory Knight, the Chairman of Oxford Metrica, and Dimitrios Psarrakis, a financial economist who contributed to the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), who will speak on the Korean government’s digital asset regulations.Several professionals including Patrick Yoon, CEO of Crypto.com’s Korea branch, and Kim Ji-yun , CEO of blockchain software firm DSRV, are set to talk about various concepts under the umbrella of bridging blockchain and finance. This includes blockchain-based payment systems, digital IDs, and central bank digital currencies.In particular, loan officers from major investors like the Korea Development Bank, Korea Investment Venture Corporation, and BNK Financial Group will also be in attendance, giving Web3 companies an opportunity to introduce their business models and pitch their ideas for the architectural development of Busan’s urban blockchain infrastructure.Global investment insights and regulatory prospectsInvestment managers from overseas venture capital firms will be at the center of the second day’s events, covering a panel discussion about the global Web3 investment ecosystem and Busan’s integration into it. Caroline Pham, a Commissioner of the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission, is also set to speak with Jin Kang, Head of Legal at blockchain venture capital firm Hashed, on suggestions on crypto regulations for innovation.Meanwhile, Korean representatives of global mainnet projects plan to discuss the role of business directors in the Korean cryptocurrency market.“In pursuit of the vision that we will present at this year’s BWB, Busan is fully dedicated to becoming a global blockchain hub and a leading first mover in the industry by merging finance and blockchain technology,” said Mayor Park.

Daehong and Animoca Brands Partner to Leverage NFTs in Expanding Web3 ProjectsDaehong Communications, the marketing solutions arm of South Korean industrial conglomerate Lotte Group, has recently inked a partnership with Animoca Brands, a blockchain gaming company headquartered in Hong Kong.Animoca Brands gained attention earlier this year by raising $5.5 million through the sale of its Mocaverse NFTs. Mocaverse is the membership NFT collection for the Animoca Brands ecosystem. The Hong Kong-based publisher is also the owner of the renowned metaverse gaming platform, The Sandbox.Photo by Shubham’s Web3 on UnsplashConnecting two worlds of NFTsThis collaboration between Daehong Communications and Animoca Brands is intended to expand their respective Web3 projects, focusing on domains like games, communities, and tickets. As a move under this collaboration, Daehong’s Bellygom and Bellyland NFTs will see integration with Mocaverse. Daehong oversees the Bellygom NFT project, while the pink bear character of the project is a promotional tool for Lotte Homeshopping, a media commerce arm of Lotte Group.Moreover, holders of Mocaverse NFTs are set to experience a variety of games, missions, and rewarding systems introduced by Bellyland — Daehong’s second collection of the Bellygom NFT project.Bellygom’s expansion effortsIn recent times, Daehong has been actively driving the growth of the Bellygom NFT project by revealing the project’s details on GitBook in both Korean and English. Furthermore, Daehong has forged alliances with several burgeoning Web3 projects, including decentralized wellness ecosystem Yogapetz, Web3 social media platform Phaver, and Web3 social network CyberConnect.This partnership marks a strategic confluence of marketing solutions and blockchain gaming, aiming to spearhead innovations in a variety of Web3 projects, especially those related to gaming and community building. These efforts are poised to contribute to broadening the horizon of decentralized technologies.

HSBC Expands Offering to Include Crypto ETFs in Hong KongThe Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), the largest bank in Hong Kong, has reportedly introduced its first cryptocurrency services for local customers.According to journalist Colin Wu’s tweet on Monday, HSBC now allows its customers to buy and sell Bitcoin-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs).Photo by Cheung Yin on UnsplashOffering three crypto ETFsHSBC’s cryptocurrency services specifically focus on the cryptocurrency ETFs listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. Currently, the exchange offers three crypto ETFs, including CSOP Bitcoin Futures ETF, CSOP Ethereum Futures ETF, and Samsung Bitcoin Futures Active ETF.The introduction of these services will provide Hong Kong users with more exposure to cryptocurrencies. As of March 2022, HSBC Hong Kong had approximately 1.7 million active mobile customers, with about 95% of all retail transactions processed online. Plenty of the customers that currently access TradFi financial services don’t touch crypto-native products. Bridging this gap and bringing crypto to a more traditional financial services client base is a major step towards mass market adoption of crypto.Educating the marketIn addition to the roll-out of cryptocurrency services, HSBC reportedly launched the Virtual Asset Investor Education Center. The initiative is designed to protect investors from cryptocurrency-related risks by requiring them to read and confirm educational materials and risk disclosures before investing.The Virtual Asset Investor Education Center is accessible through HSBC’s virtual asset-related products, such as the HSBC HK Easy Invest app, HSBC HK Mobile Banking app, and online banking.This is also a significant step forward. It’s entirely valid that while there are good actors in the crypto space, the sector has also had a lot of sharp practice that reflects badly on it. This alone may be reason enough for many conventional investors not to touch digital assets. Their trust in a platform like HSBC will allow them to include crypto within their portfolios.The second aspect to that reluctance is rooted in a misunderstanding of digital assets, the risks involved, and how risk can be minimized. HSBC has clearly identified this by taking the initiative and launching its Virtual Asset Investor Education Center.Crypto ETF growth potentialThis development follows reports in mid-June that the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) had exerted pressure on major banks to accept crypto exchanges as clients. The central bank and regulator specifically questioned HSBC and Standard Chartered about their reluctance to onboard crypto exchanges as clients.HSBC’s move to offer cryptocurrency services in Hong Kong reflects the growing acceptance and recognition of cryptocurrencies in the financial industry. By providing access to crypto ETFs, HSBC aims to cater to the increasing demand for digital assets among its customers in the region.The crypto ETF products that are currently on offer in Hong Kong are very recent. As an example, Samsung’s Bitcoin futures ETF was launched in January. The product has already seen a lot of interest due to growing uncertainty relative to the traditional global financial system.A report produced by the Hong Kong stock exchange in April found that crypto ETFs have the potential to play a significant part in unlocking the next phase of digital asset expansion in Asia. Clearly, HSBC have taken notice with this move to further enable that potential.