Korea’s Top Financial Regulator Reaffirms Negative Stance on ICOs 1869

Korea’s top financial regulator has reaffirmed his negative stance on virtual currency transactions and initial coin offerings (ICOs), Business Korea reported Oct. 11.

“The government does not deny the potential of the blockchain industry,” said Choi Jong-koo, the chairman of the Financial Services Commission, at the parliamentary audit session of his commission at the National Assembly on Oct. 11. “But I think we should not equate the cryptocurrency trading business with the blockchain industry.”

“Many people say the Korean government should allow ICOs, but ICOs bring uncertainty and the damage they can cause is too serious and obvious,” Choi said. “For these reasons, many foreign countries ban ICOs or are conservative towards them.”

This remark seems to have effectively reaffirmed his negative stance that it is difficult to allow ICOs from the perspective of investor protection.

Regarding the criticism that commercial banks are not giving out real-name accounts to some virtual currency exchanges, Choi said, “Exchanges should be able to persuade banks to issue bank accounts to them.”

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Margarita Finance Launches World First in AI Investment Management 2209

Bringing institutional-grade investment strategies on-chain, Margarita Finance’s AI-powered agent autonomously trades derivatives with full transparency. This world-first innovation enhances efficiency and lowers the barrier to entry for sophisticated trading in decentralized finance.

Margarita Finance, a blockchain-based platform reimagining structured investment products by bringing them natively on-chain, has today announced the world’s first-ever AI-powered agent to trade institutional-grade derivative strategies on the blockchain.

Heralding a new era of DeFi where AI agents can execute investment strategies, Margarita Finance aims to bridge the gap between TradFi and DeF by making complex investment products more accessible. By eliminating the human prescription involved with traditional trading, the AI agent will participate in derivative trading using advanced strategies. Each trade is entirely verifiable on the blockchain and a dedicated AI-powered X profile will provide real-time updates on key trades. With transparency at its core, Margarita Finance establishes a new benchmark for AI-driven, trustless financial management.

Beyond institutional trading, this world-leading breakthrough will have tangible benefits for everyday investors. The technology enables greater access to institutional yield and sophisticated financial strategies, through transparency and explanations that require no deeper TradFi background. By being able to automate complex decision-making, and ensuring full transparency on-chain, Margarita Finance’s AI agent champions greater financial control and unlocks additional investment opportunities.

The financial industry stands at its most pivotal inflexion point since the 2015 fintech revolution that democratized investing through robo-advisors. As AI rapidly transforms the way people work, its disruptive potential in financial services could fundamentally reshape the role of traditional investment professionals. According to Bank of England research, 75% of businesses are already utilizing AI, with another 10% planning adoption within three years. Just as robo-advisors challenged the necessity of human financial advisors, AI-enabled investment management is now poised to revolutionize the $7 trillion structured products industry – potentially eliminating the need for many traditional investment bankers and managers while making sophisticated investment strategies accessible to the average individual for the first time.

Matthias Wyss, Margarita Finance CEO said: “As AI commands interest from governments, businesses and everyday people, we’re proud to announce the first-ever AI powered agent to trade institutional-grade derivative strategies on the blockchain – the first major step in our mission to improve financial accessibility. With this launch, our AI agent will take the strain out of trading, executing sophisticated investment strategies according to individual risk appetite. We want to see more people have control of their financial decisions and allow them to do more with their hard-earned money. That is why we’re on a mission to bring emerging technologies like AI to investors and allow them to take their investments further without needing deep market expertise.”

To learn more about Margarita Finance visit: https://www.margarita.finance/.

About Margarita Finance

Margarita Finance is a blockchain-based platform reimagining structured investment products by bringing them natively on-chain. Powered by Obligate, a leader in on-chain capital markets and built on Solana, Margarita Finance combines the strengths of blockchain technology, smart contracts, and oracles to make structured products faster, more accessible, and cost-efficient.

Platonic Unveils aOS: The Operating System for Autonomous Finance 2420

The Asset Operating System, aOS, unlocks global capital markets with intelligent, self-executing assets.

Platonic today introduced aOS, a groundbreaking blockchain-native infrastructure that transforms static financial assets into programmable, AI-linked instruments capable of autonomous execution across markets. This innovation unlocks any asset to transact seamlessly, optimize value, and settle instantly—without manual intervention.

“The future of finance is autonomous, intelligent, and borderless,” said Violet Abtahi, CEO of Platonic. “We are architecting a world where value flows like information—aOS is the connective tissue of finance, enabling traditional institutions to participate in the digital-first economy, unlocking $400 trillion in assets that remain static, inefficient, and underutilized.”

A New Era for Financial Markets

Tomorrow’s financial system will look vastly different from the one we know today. A single, global capital market will emerge—one where assets are intelligent and autonomous. Tokenized ownership, real-time settlement, and AI-linked management will dissolve cross-border barriers, unlocking unprecedented liquidity and accessibility. Platonic’s aOS provides the infrastructure to bridge legacy systems into this autonomous economy—transforming static assets into dynamic, revenue-generating instruments for a truly global marketplace.

The platform’s patented architecture combines AI-linked smart contracts, unique privacy channels, and seamless private and public blockchain interoperability to automate complex financial processes that currently require extensive manual intervention. Early pilot programs with major financial institutions have demonstrated dramatic reductions in operational cost and counterparty risk, with one project successfully automating nearly $400 billion in foreign exchange trades.

AOS: The Foundation for the Autonomous Economy

The opportunity is extraordinary: tokenized assets are projected to reach up to $16 trillion by 2030, and aOS is designed to unlock this immense potential. By bridging legacy systems with decentralized networks, aOS empowers institutions to lead the shift into the digital-first era.

“Imagine a future where private equities, real estate holdings, and even personal financial data become dynamic, revenue-generating instruments,” said Abtahi. “That future is closer than we think, and aOS is the catalyst making it a reality.”

About Platonic

Platonic is a leading innovator in blockchain-based financial infrastructure, transforming the way global markets operate. By harnessing AI, secure encryption, and decentralized technologies, Platonic builds the bridge between legacy systems and digital finance. Its groundbreaking solutions empower institutions to evolve, stay ahead of change, and embrace the digital economy—converging traditional and digital ecosystems into a single, unified global capital market driven by intelligent, self-executing assets.

For more information about aOS, visit platonic.io.

XRPH AI App Goes Live – Instant Multilingual Medical Guidance at Users’ Fingertips 2590

The future of healthcare guidance is here. The revolutionary XRPH AI App, built to evolve and continually learn, has officially launched and is available for free download on Google Play, the App Store, and directly via XRPH.ai.

Developed by XRP Healthcare’s in-house AI team, the XRPH AI App is designed to deliver instant, multilingual, and secure healthcare advice to users worldwide.

The XRPH AI App is more than just a medical tool—it’s an intelligent health companion powered by advanced AI, capable of understanding and responding in multiple languages, ensuring accessibility across diverse communities. Whether you seek traditional medical advice or holistic wellness guidance, XRPH AI has you covered.

  • Instant answers to health questions, available 24/7.
  • Voice interaction for in-depth health discussions.
  • Holistic health tips to promote overall well-being.
  • AI-powered real-time insights for proactive healthcare decisions.
  • Custom training and diet programs tailored to individual health needs, including blood type diets, weight-based training plans, and personalized fitness regimens.
  • Daily, weekly, and monthly structured wellness and fitness programs, designed to align with users’ goals and lifestyles.

With data encryption at its core, the XRPH AI App ensures that all interactions remain private and secure, safeguarding sensitive health-related discussions. All user information is fully anonymized, guaranteeing privacy while allowing personalized healthcare insights.

The XRPH AI App is not just a standalone innovation; it is a vital part of XRP Healthcare’s broader strategy to acquire and integrate private healthcare facilities and pharmacies in Uganda. By leveraging AI-powered insights, XRP Healthcare is streamlining operations, improving access to medical services, and enhancing patient care across the region.

XRP Healthcare’s strategy is further strengthened by its distinguished leadership and advisory team. Whitney Lynn, the billion-dollar M&A expert, brings unmatched expertise in executing strategic acquisitions, ensuring the company’s ambitious expansion plans are successfully realized.

Peter Waiswa, a leading healthcare advisor in Uganda with extensive experience in global health initiatives, including his work with UNICEF, provides invaluable insight into regional healthcare integration.

Meanwhile, Keith Errey, XRP Healthcare’s CTO, is a highly regarded innovator in AI and healthcare technology. His company, which has developed advanced solutions for the NHS, is a key driver behind XRPH AI’s technological capabilities, ensuring that the app remains at the cutting edge of AI-driven healthcare solutions.

XRP Healthcare is the first healthcare platform built on the XRP Ledger, setting a new benchmark in digital healthcare by seamlessly integrating AI, blockchain, and decentralized finance. This innovation ensures accessibility, affordability, and efficiency in healthcare services worldwide.

XRP Healthcare is also the first project on the XRP Ledger to integrate AI, with its multilingual AI-driven application providing real-time, personalized health guidance across both traditional and holistic medicine. By breaking language barriers, XRPH AI makes healthcare knowledge more inclusive and widely available.

Additionally, XRP Healthcare is the first project built on a blockchain to introduce a Prescription Savings Card, delivering discounts of up to 80% on medications at over 68,000 pharmacies in the U.S., including major chains like Walmart, CVS Pharmacy, and Walgreens.

This initiative not only enhances affordability but also showcases how blockchain technology can be leveraged to provide real-world benefits in the medical sector.

Kain Roomes, CEO of XRP Healthcare, added, “XRPH AI marks the beginning of a new era in digital healthcare. Our mission is to break down barriers to medical access by leveraging AI and blockchain, ensuring that quality healthcare is available to everyone, regardless of location or financial status. This is just the first step in a journey to revolutionize the industry, where technology bridges the gap between patients and medical professionals, creating a smarter, more connected healthcare ecosystem.”

Laban Roomes, COO and Co-Founder of XRP Healthcare, stated, “Healthcare should have no borders, and with XRPH AI, we are ensuring that everyone, no matter where they are or what language they speak, has access to instant, reliable, and secure medical advice. By integrating AI with multilingual capabilities, we are making healthcare universally accessible—giving individuals the power to take control of their health anytime, anywhere. This is a revolutionary step towards a future where technology empowers people to live healthier lives with confidence and ease.”

By leading the charge in AI-driven healthcare, XRP Healthcare is shaping the future of accessible, secure, and decentralized medical services.

The XRPH AI App will continue to evolve, with exciting new developments planned for future updates, ensuring users always have access to cutting-edge advancements in digital healthcare.

In addition, XRP Healthcare has teased a major global announcement, which is set to be revealed in the special edition of the XRP Healthcare Magazine. The magazine’s release has been deliberately delayed to include this groundbreaking update, now expected to be published sometime in March.

Smarter, instant, and secure healthcare advice is now accessible, all within reach. The XRPH AI App is available for free download on Google Play, the App Store, and via XRPH.ai, offering a transformative digital health experience powered by AI.

StepMania Launches on Telegram: A Gamified Step-Challenge Experience for Everyone 2832

5 2 2025 1

Combining activity tracking, engaging challenges, and Web3 rewards, StepMania motivates users to turn their steps into in-game benefits and rewards.

5th February 2025, British Virgin Islands – StepMania is a gamified activity-tracking app built to inspire daily movement and reward users for staying active. Accessible through Telegram’s MiniApp ecosystem, StepMania turns steps into in-game rewards, fostering healthier habits through leaderboards, squad challenges, and exciting in-game rewards. With a focus on integrating online and offline activity, StepMania creates a unique way for users to stay connected, motivated, and rewarded.

Backed by The Open Platform (TOP), the largest venture builder in TON’s ecosystem, StepMania is a groundbreaking addition to TOP’s portfolio. By bridging online and offline engagement, StepMania exemplifies a vision of empowering innovative products that merge real-world activities with digital ecosystems.

What Makes StepMania Different?

Unlike other step challenge platforms such as STEPN, which often require users to purchase expensive NFTs or navigate complex Web3 processes, StepMania eliminates these barriers. By seamlessly connecting to popular health tracking tools like Apple Health and Google Health Connect, StepMania makes it easy for anyone with a smartphone to start earning in-game rewards. With a focus on social engagement through leaderboards, squad challenges, and influencer-hosted tournaments, StepMania creates a fun and inclusive experience for users of all levels—from casual walkers to Web3 enthusiasts.

Why Telegram?

StepMania is built for Telegram, one of the world’s largest messaging platforms with nearly 1 billion users. By tapping into Telegram’s MiniApp ecosystem, StepMania offers a frictionless experience where users can access activity tracking, leaderboards, and in-game rewards without downloading additional apps. Telegram’s built-in social features also enhance engagement, allowing users to compete with friends, participate in challenges, and share their achievements—all within the same app.

StepMania and the TON Ecosystem

StepMania serves as a gateway to TON’s growing ecosystem by introducing users to blockchain-based in-game rewards through everyday activities. The app enables TON-based projects to engage with highly active audiences by sharing activities and in-game rewards.As StepMania grows its app audience, the aim is to create opportunities for further partnerships, adoption, and innovation.

With StepMania, users can:

  • Earn Rewards: Convert steps into in-game rewards and unlock exciting features.
  • Compete with Friends: Climb leaderboards, join squad battles, and participate in influencer-hosted tournaments.
  • Stay Engaged: Participate in competitions featuring in-game rewards and exclusive in-app features.
  • Discover Web3: Explore partnerships with TON-based projects and benefit from additional features and partnerships from the broader ecosystem.

“At StepMania, our mission is to inspire people to lead more active lives by turning everyday steps into something meaningful. We believe that every movement counts, and through engaging product mechanics, we’re motivating users to connect their offline efforts with in-game rewards. StepMania isn’t just a step-challenge app—it’s a movement to make activity more rewarding and accessible for everyone.”

In the coming months, StepMania will continue its expansion by collaborating with various TON-based projects and exploring partnerships with brands, events, and wearable companies. These efforts will enhance the platform’s value, introducing new ways for users to benefit from various exciting features and engage with a growing activity-driven community.

Join the movement and start stepping with StepMania. Visit https://t.me/Step_mania_bot/app to get started or follow us on Twitter and visit our website for the latest updates.

About StepMania

StepMania is an activity-tracking app that combines gamification, in-game rewards, and blockchain technology to motivate users to stay active. StepMania aims to create a seamless connection between offline activity and digital rewards, making it an exciting addition to TON ecosystem.

Website | Telegram Mini App | Telegram | X

Cainam Ventures Unveils Revolutionary AI-Powered Trading Technology 4137

Cainam Ventures, a financial technology startup, is launching a groundbreaking platform that redefines autonomous digital asset trading. Guided by its mission to pioneer the onramp to agentic financial portfolio construction for digital capital investors, Cainam leverages artificial intelligence (AI), large language models (LLMs), and advanced data analytics to accelerate and optimize portfolio management strategies.

Addressing a key challenge in digital asset management, Cainam recognizes that human energy alone cannot consistently pick digital asset winners at the speed and scale AI offers. The company’s solution is a user-friendly agentic trading platform that empowers investors to capitalize on market opportunities with unprecedented precision and efficiency.

Cainam’s innovative agentic trading technology has already delivered impressive results. It seamlessly integrates with leading Web3 infrastructures, digital exchanges, and social media ecosystems to provide real-time market insights and actionable trade execution. Recent platform testing showcased its capability to transform financial technology, capturing significant attention and expediting investor timelines.

Two cornerstone offerings are central to Cainam’s technology: the Agentic Workforce, which comprises autonomous research analysts and trading agents who deliver real-time investment strategies and execute trades with precision, and the Agentic Trading Terminal, a comprehensive tool that provides personalized data research, actionable trade execution, and dynamic portfolio balancing to ensure optimal asset distributions.

These capabilities give investors a decisive edge in managing their digital assets, with proprietary workflows and algorithms ensuring unmatched speed, accuracy, and adaptability in processing structured and unstructured data sources.

To support its growth, Cainam is increasing its development team to meet the needs of a rapidly growing market. With a robust digital presence, including an active Twitter following, a new LinkedIn page, and a recently launched website, Cainam is engaging its audience through live discussions and teasers to build momentum ahead of its official launch.

“Our mission is to empower investors with seamless access to the future of digital asset trading,” said Matt Gunnin, Chief Technology Officer of Cainam Ventures. “By leveraging AI, LLMs, and data analytics, we provide a transformative platform that redefines what’s possible in the digital asset space. This launch marks a significant milestone, and we’re thrilled to offer unparalleled value to our users.”

Cainam’s platform officially launches tomorrow, Thursday, January 23, 2025, following an enthusiastic response to social media teasers on X @cainamventures that generated significant buzz. The launch activities highlight the platform’s groundbreaking technology, engage early adopters, and set the stage for continued growth and innovation.

For more information, visit www.cainamventures.com.

About Cainam Ventures

Cainam Ventures is a financial technology company redefining autonomous digital asset trading. By leveraging advanced artificial intelligence (AI), large language models (LLMs), and best-in-class data analytics, Cainam empowers investors to optimize portfolio management strategies and capitalize on market opportunities. The company’s proprietary technology integrates seamlessly across leading Web3 infrastructures and digital exchanges, providing real-time market insights, automated trade execution, and dynamic portfolio balancing. Guided by a commitment to innovation and efficiency, Cainam Ventures is pioneering the onramp to agentic financial portfolio construction for digital capital investors, solving the challenges of scale and precision in the modern financial landscape.

Freename Launches .etherlink Domain for Next-Gen Web3 Identity 4480

Freename, the leading multi-chain Web3 namespace platform, has integrated with Etherlink, a Layer 2 blockchain powered by Tezos Smart Rollups, to launch the new top-level domain “.etherlink”. The launch marks an important step in expanding blockchain domain adoption, enabling users to easily create Web3 identities and manage digital assets. To celebrate the launch, every user can use the coupon code ETHERLINK10 to purchase .etherlink domains or apply it as a discount for premium domains during the first three months of the promotion.

The .etherlink domain will serve as a cornerstone for digital identity management on Etherlink’s Layer 2 blockchain, empowering both Web2 and Web3 users to secure their digital presence through blockchain technology while maintaining traditional domain functionality.

Etherlink is a permissionless Layer 2 blockchain that inherits the security of the Tezos Layer 1, and features a decentralized governance model, fraud proofs, and censorship resistance. With today’s launch, Freename, as a multichain Web3 namespace and ICANN-accredited registrar, is also leveraging Etherlink to bridge Web2 and Web3, enabling Web2 domains to be tokenized and secured on the Etherlink network alongside other major blockchains. This ensures brand protection and domain security for Web2 businesses while seamlessly integrating them into a multi-chain ecosystem. Users can simply mint domains directly on the Etherlink network and manage them alongside traditional Web2 domains, supporting over 50 blockchain networks.

“On-chain users need tailored solutions for digital identity. In a multi-chain world, interoperability is essential. With the Etherlink integration and .etherlink TLD launch, we’re enabling the Etherlink and Tezos communities to secure dynamic identities that evolve with their Web3 journey.” Said Gherardo Varani, Head of BD at Freename. “The .etherlink TLD and our ability to tokenize Web2 domains on-chain will redefine brand protection and domain ownership, offering users the best of both worlds.”

The platform leverages Etherlink’s breakthrough transaction costs of $0.001, offering users an affordable and scalable way to interact with the blockchain and DNS. Through integration with Tezos Smart Rollups, users benefit from enhanced security and cross-chain compatibility with other major EVM networks. Etherlink’s architecture ensures unparalleled security and decentralization by eliminating centralized bridges and administrative keys, making it a highly reliable and censorship-resistant platform for blockchain-based operations.

Impact on the Etherlink Ecosystem

“Domains are the foundation of digital identity, and with Freename’s integration, we’re transforming how the Etherlink community connects and transacts,” said Cédric Roche, Business Development & Technical Support Director at Nomadic Labs, a Tezos R&D Hub in Paris. “This is about more than just replacing wallet addresses – it’s about building a more intuitive and accessible Web3 where traditional businesses and crypto-native users can seamlessly interact.”

This integration marks a significant milestone for the growing Etherlink ecosystem and comes at a busy period for the Tezos ecosystem, following the recent launch of the uranium.io marketplace on Etherlink and the unveiling of the Tezos X roadmap in mid-2024. The .etherlink domain provides native Web3 identities for decentralized applications, smart contracts, and community members within the Etherlink network. Community members can now create memorable addresses for their wallets, replacing complex hexadecimal strings with human-readable names.

The domains also enable Etherlink projects to establish branded Web3 presences, fostering trust and recognition within the ecosystem. With Freename’s DNS technology, Etherlink users can seamlessly bridge their Web2 and Web3 identities, opening new possibilities for decentralized applications and services. Freename’s partnership with Etherlink exemplifies its commitment to supporting the integration of Web2 and Web3 technologies, empowering users with a secure, scalable, and decentralized domain ecosystem.

About Freename

Freename is the leading multi-chain Web3 namespace platform and ICANN-Accredited Registrar, enabling users to mint and manage domains and TLDs across major blockchain networks. Freename bridges Web2 and Web3 DNS, providing innovative tools for domain security, brand protection, and decentralized ownership.

About Etherlink

Etherlink is an EVM-compatible, non-custodial Layer 2 blockchain powered by Tezos Smart Rollups. Known for its ultra-low transaction costs, robust security, and decentralized governance, Etherlink is setting new standards for Layer 2 blockchain technology.