Headlines

▌Russia and Iran are exploring the launch of gold-anchored stablecoins

Alexander Brazhnikov, executive director of the Russian Cryptocurrency Industry and Blockchain Association, said that the Central Bank of Iran is considering the possibility of creating some kind of token in the Persian region together with Russia. This token can replace US dollars, rubles and Iranian rials as a means of payment in foreign trade settlements. Brazhnikov said the assumption is that the coin will be backed by gold, i.e. it will be a stablecoin. Anton Tkachev, a member of the Duma Committee on Information Policy, Information Technology and Communications, confirmed the fact of the negotiations, but noted that the issue will only be actively discussed at the government level after the full regulation of cryptocurrencies in Russia.

Policies

▌The Seoul government officially launched Metaverse Seoul

The Seoul Metropolitan Government officially opened its public Metaverse platform on Monday. Users can play games, chat, fill out official forms, get tax help, and other city services in the virtual world. Seoul, South Korea is the first major city to establish a public metaverse platform, and has formulated a five-year roadmap that will launch government, business, tourism and cultural products. Metaverse Seoul conducted Beta testing for some users last year, and is now available for download through Google Play and Apple Store. It was previously reported that Seoul, South Korea conducted a non-public test of some services in the first phase of "New World Metaverse Seoul" on August 31 last year. During the test period, users can experience the Seoul City Hall and the square in the Metaverse, as well as the open book bar space, can read the E-Book of Seoul City, and then play customized summer water games in the Seoul Plaza.

Cryptocurrency

▌Coinbase may abandon the registration license and exit the Japanese market

Due to the impact of FTX bankruptcy on the entire encryption market, Coinbase, a Nasdaq-listed cryptocurrency exchange, is considering withdrawing from the Japanese market. Coinbase will officially start business in Japan in cooperation with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group in 2021, and has also received an investment of 1 billion yen (approximately US$7.74 million) from the latter, but now Coinbase hopes to explore "alternatives" for Japanese business, including Sell the company, or give up the registration license.

▌SushiSwap announces 2023 roadmap: will release its DEX aggregator in the first quarter

SushiSwap's new CEO Jared Gray announced the agreement's 2023 roadmap, which will focus on user experience, and said that Sushi will release its DEX aggregator in the first quarter. The protocol will focus on DEX products this year to increase sustainability and profitability. Sushi also plans to launch a decentralized incubator, Sushi Studios, empowering the brand to launch independently funded projects to support the growth of the ecosystem without burdening the DAO coffers. In addition, Sushi’s governance dashboard will also be launched in the first quarter of 2023. In previous news, Matthew Lilley, chief technology officer of SushiSwap, announced that he would shut down the lending platform Kashi and the token issuance platform MISO because of low public interest and the maintenance of the two platforms required a lot of effort. Sushi developers will pay more attention to DEX products.

▌Messi’s crypto sponsor Socios offers token holders a chance to snap up game balls

Socios, which has World Cup champion Lionel Messi as its global ambassador, is trying to win over fans by offering them the chance to win goal balls. The company announced that fans who buy enough tokens through Socios will have the chance to win a "gameplay" ball during Wednesday's upcoming Italian Super Cup match between AC Milan and Inter Milan. To be eligible, users must own a sufficient number of either team’s Fan Tokens or Socios Tokens at the same time. If eligible, fans will participate in the auction.

▌LEGO is hiring new staff for its metaverse experience

Lego is ramping up recruitment for its metaverse experience. Over the past few weeks, LEGO has advertised jobs in Denmark for a senior marketing manager, senior portfolio manager, and creative lead for interactive experiences in the GAME division. Shortly after LEGO announced that it would develop the Metaverse experience with Epic Games, LEGO family investment firm Kirkbi invested $1 billion in Epic Games.