South Korea investigates Worldcoin for its personal data collection

Expanding beyond the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) domain, Malaysia-headquartered Etherscan has officially acquired Solscan, a prominent block explorer within the Solana ecosystem.Photo by Shubham’s Web3 on UnsplashEnhancing cross-chain analysisThe acquisition, announced earlier this week, signifies a noteworthy development within the blockchain industry and is poised to bring about a new interface aimed at enhancing cross-chain analysis. Solscan, based in Singapore with its primary team in Vietnam, was previously majority-owned by TomoChain Lab, a Singaporean blockchain software developer. The deal’s terms were not disclosed and the acquisition places Solscan in the same league as Polygonscan within the family of Etherscan block explorers. Diversifying product offeringEtherscan, established in 2015, stands as one of the earliest crypto projects, initially focusing on the EVM space. The platform offers an explorer-as-a-service product for blockchain explorers, with the acquisition of Solscan marking a significant step in diversifying its offerings. Since its inception in 2021, Solscan has risen as a leading explorer in the Solana ecosystem, catering to over three million monthly users. Providing services such as detailed address, token, transaction information, APIs, dashboards and NFT metadata, Solscan mirrors Etherscan’s services but is tailored for the Solana network. The merger between Etherscan and Solscan is anticipated to bring forth a series of enhancements and innovations, with both platforms benefiting from the integration of additional features. The roadmap for this collaboration outlines improvements in user interfaces, navigation and overall accessibility, promising an enriched user experience. Solscan, in its announcement, assured its commitment to the Solana community, vowing to maintain unparalleled blockchain exploration services. The shared vision of Etherscan and Solscan revolves around providing what Etherscan termed “credibly neutral and equitable access to blockchain data,” underlining their commitment to transparency and fairness in the blockchain space. Matthew Tan, CEO and founder of Etherscan, expressed excitement about the acquisition and highlighted the alignment of Solscan’s expertise in making blockchain data accessible and user-friendly with Etherscan’s mission. The acquisition is expected to contribute significantly to the broader blockchain ecosystem. Solscan serves as a crucial player in the Solana ecosystem, an Ethereum alternative. The platform assists users in viewing information within the Solana blockchain, managing accounts, tracking transactions and exploring investment opportunities across various crypto platforms. Solana resurgenceThis deal comes at a time when Solana’s momentum is evident, ending 2023 on a strong note. In December 2023, NFT sales on the Solana network surpassed those on Ethereum for the first time. Solana has experienced substantial growth in comparison to Ethereum, both in terms of its token’s value and against the U.S. Dollar. The fall of crypto exchange FTX had a large impact on Solana and its ecosystem as FTX had been heavily involved within that community and associated projects. The exchange still holds a sizable amount of locked SOL tokens. Following its collapse, the SOL unit price fell below $10. At the time of writing, it stands at $100. The acquisition of Solscan by Etherscan underscores the resurgence of the Solana ecosystem, with major players in the Web3 space recognizing the value of Solana-based technology. As both platforms collaborate, users can anticipate a more robust and interconnected blockchain exploration experience.  

South Korean gaming publisher Wemade is set to participate in this year’s Taipei Game Show, the largest gaming exhibition in Taiwan, according to local news outlet Kookmin Ilbo on Tuesday (KST). The event is scheduled for Jan. 25 to 28 at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center.Photo by Timo Volz on UnsplashSneak peek at upcoming blockbustersThe company plans to operate an exclusive booth, where it will showcase game developer Madngine's massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) Night Crows and Round 1 Studio's baseball game Fantastic 4 Baseball. Both games are slated for global release in the first quarter of this year. Game demos and various events will also be held to promote the releases and attract gamers. Games for a diverse gamer baseNight Crows has been popular among gamers in South Korea, where it launched in April last year, topping the popularity and revenue rankings on major app markets. The global version of the game utilizes blockchain technology to implement an advanced tokenomics ecosystem. Global pre-registration will open on Jan. 11. Round 1 Studio’s Fantastic 4 Baseball is a realistic baseball game where players can create their own team with famous players from various leagues, including the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). The demo version includes single-player and home run derbies. 

Wemade Unveils Blockchain-Powered Platform for Various CommunitiesSouth Korean gaming company Wemade today unveiled their latest creation, Wepublic, a blockchain-powered platform for various communities. The objective of Wepublic is to establish a transparent and trustworthy digital society on the WEMIX3.0 Mainnet.Photo by Pixabay on PexelsFrom political parties to NGOsInitially built as a fundraising platform, Wepublic caters to entities of any scale or domain, be it political parties, religious groups, or non-profit organizations. Wepublic is committed to transforming itself into a platform for everyone.By leveraging blockchain, Wepublic ensures that all information and records stored on the platform are transparent, making them immune to counterfeiting and diversion. Furthermore, Wepublic is dedicated to fostering inclusivity and democratic decision-making. Every member within a group on Wepublic has the ability to engage in organizational activities and contribute to fair decision-making processes.Four proof protocolsIn the near future, Wepublic will introduce the “Wepublic Wallet,” enabling users to create or participate in decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs). To ensure transparency and reliability of DAO operations, Wepublic relies on four proof protocols. These protocols serve to verify user identities, credentials, account balances, and the outcomes of governance processes.The first protocol utilizes decentralized identifiers (DIDs) to safeguard personal information, prioritizing user privacy and security. The second protocol employs soulbound tokens (SBTs) to effectively manage groups within the platform. The third protocol provides visibility into account balances and transaction records, adding an additional layer of transparency. Lastly, the fourth protocol ensures the transparent recording of all governance processes on the blockchain, promoting accountability and trust.