• NoRamp Daily
  • Posts
  • Japanese Mega Firms to Launch Security Tokens Offering

Japanese Mega Firms to Launch Security Tokens Offering

Hi NoRamp Community,

Proof of Work Podcast:

NoRamp chatted with Mike Seckler, CEO of Justworks, and Maite Diez-Canedo, Co-Founder of Via. Justworks recently acquired Via to form Justworks International.

We talk on how the idea for Via came to be, Justworks’ amazing synergistic exercise while considering acquiring Via, the future of the HR industry, and much more. Mike and Maite are incredible entrepreneurs and there’s a lot to learn from both of them. Check out our conversation:

Daily News:

1) Arbitrum Funds Crypto-Related Film From Oscar-Winning Producer

2) Japanese Mega Firms to Launch Security Tokens Offering

3) Pudgy Penguins & Unstoppable Domains to Create .pudgy Domain

4) Starbucks Odyssey’s Community Lead Sees NFTs as Brand Loyalty Lever

5) Zūm Raises $10.5M - Brings Open Banking & Instant Payments to US

Source: The Block

  • The Arbitrum Foundation, supporting the Ethereum Layer 2 network, has partnered with Dpop Studios to finance "New Here," a film exploring digital art and the impact of blockchain and AI on artists, with production by Academy Award winner Shane Boris.

  • The film aims to delve into NFTs and new creative modalities, profiling artists and thinkers in the space, and experimenting with storytelling structures to reach new audiences.

  • "New Here" will consist of 11 short films released throughout the year, with an accompanying NFT collection called Glimpses on Zora, offering an interactive viewing experience and connecting entertainment with digital ownership in a way that reimagines media releases in a web3 world.

Source: Cryptonews

Japanese Mega Firms to Launch Security Tokens Offering:
  • In Japan, major companies including Mitsubishi UFJ, Mizuho Bank, and Rakuten are launching a security token offering that pays interest in "electronic money" on the blockchain-powered Progmat platform, with investors paid in Rakuten Cash tokens.

  • This offering, the first of its kind in Japan, will be conducted through a collaboration of Rakuten's securities and payments arms, Mizuho, and two Daiwa Securities affiliates, with the first offering named the Daiwa Securities Group 1st Unsecured Security Token Bond.

  • The firms plan to release around $6.6 million worth of security tokens with a 0.8% interest rate and a maturity of one year, aiming to provide new financing methods for issuers considering non-fiat interest payments and creating attractive investment opportunities for investors.

Source: Blockworks

Pudgy Penguins & Unstoppable Domains to Create .pudgy Domain:
  • Pudgy Penguins, an NFT collection that has evolved into an intellectual property brand, is launching a .pudgy top-level domain in partnership with Unstoppable Domains, allowing for the creation of digital wallets with .pudgy domains instead of traditional alphanumeric HEX addresses.

  • Under the leadership of Luca Netz, Pudgy Penguins has shifted its focus from JPEGs to intellectual property, with Netz calling it a "transcendent [intellectual property] brand" during its $9 million fundraise in May 2023.

  • The brand has expanded into physical toys, with plushies and figurines of the 8,888 Pudgy Penguins NFTs sold on Amazon and in Walmart stores, and an open-world online game called Pudgy World, currently in open beta mode, set to release more widely in Q1. The toys feature a QR code that unlocks traits in the game, with the goal of making Pudgy Penguins the most popular penguin in the world.

Source: TechCrunch

Starbucks Odyssey Community Lead Sees NFTs as Brand Loyalty Lever:
  • Despite a downturn in the NFT space, brands and loyalty programs can still find value in reaching fans in new ways, with "brand anchors" to gated areas like reward programs expected to expand in 2024, according to Steve Kaczynski, co-author of "The Everything Token" and community lead for Starbucks Odyssey.

  • Starbucks Odyssey, launched in 2022, combines the company's loyalty program with NFTs to enhance customer experiences, creating a community where members can connect and engage beyond digital interactions.

  • The loyalty program has a five-tiered system with over 58,000 active participants, indicating that it's not just web3 enthusiasts who are participating, with top-tier members receiving rewards like trips to Starbucks' coffee farms in Costa Rica.

Zūm Raises $10.5M - Brings Open Banking & Instant Payments to US:
  • Zūm Rails, an all-in-one payments gateway, announced the close of a $10.5 million CAD Series A funding round led by Arthur Ventures, aiming to merge open banking with instant payments and expand its solution in the U.S. market.

  • The company integrates open banking and instant payments into a single gateway, offering an 'omni-rail' approach that includes traditional and real-time payment options, with plans to introduce Banking-as-a-Service and a forthcoming FedNow offering.

  • Since its founding in 2019, Zūm Rails has reached profitability and processes over $1 billion in payments monthly, with a focus on continuing its expansion in the U.S. and further expanding its payments offerings.

NoRamp:

NoRamp is building Web2’s favorite Web3 apps on our lightning-fast payment infra. Join our discord, dive into our our docs, or check out our website to learn more.