Asia & MENA Crypto Roundup: Korean Founder Secures $80 Million Investment, Dubai Legalizes Crypto Salaries, and More

BeInCrypto’s Asia Crypto Roundup dives into the region’s most crucial updates and developments. Covering key markets like China, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore, our roundup offers insights into Asia’s regulatory shifts, blockchain innovations, major project launches, and market trends. 

Last week’s notable events include Story Protocol’s successful $80 million series B funding round and Dubai’s legal ruling that recognizes cryptocurrency payments for salaries.

Bitpanda and RAKBANK Partner to Boost UAE’s Crypto Access

On August 19, Bitpanda Technology Solutions (BTS) and The National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah (RAKBANK) finalized an agreement to enhance digital asset access in the UAE. This collaboration will enable UAE residents to manage various digital assets securely. The partnership is a strategic move that allows banks to participate in the virtual asset economy without developing in-house capabilities.

In this initiative, Bitpanda Broker MENA DMCC’s operational approval and licensing by the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) are crucial. Similarly, RAKBANK must obtain approval from the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE).

Read more: Top 9 Safest Crypto Exchanges in 2024

Korean Founder Secures $80 Million from Andreessen Horowitz

On August 21, venture capitalist Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) announced leading an $80 million series B funding round for PIP Labs, the developer of Story Protocol. The funding also saw participation from Polychain Capital and notable investors like HYBE founder Bang Si-hyuk and Paris Hilton. This investment propels PIP Labs’ valuation at over $2.2 billion.

Story Protocol is a blockchain startup that helps creators protect their intellectual property (IP). It aims to generate sustainable revenue in an era where AI-driven copyright theft is becoming increasingly prevalent.

Furthermore, it provides creators with a platform to register their IP, set usage terms, and receive compensation for their work. These will effectively protect their creations from unauthorized AI usage.

“We believe that all intellectual and creative works can fall under the category of IP, and all of them are going to face dramatic changes in this new age of AI. […] Story is trying to solve a problem of how IP will be monetized when the entire internet is being scraped by these AI models,” Jason Zhao, Chief Protocol Officer and co-founder of the PIP Labs, said.

Zhao, a former product manager at Google’s AI lab DeepMind, co-founded PIP Labs with Lee Seung-Yoon, a South Korean entrepreneur who sold his mobile fiction platform, Radish, for $374 million in 2021. Together, they bring deep expertise in the tech and creative industries to Story Protocol.

The firm has already attracted over 200 entities to register over 20 million intellectual properties on the platform. Story Protocol is gearing up for its mainnet launch to become a cornerstone for future internet content creation and monetization.

Dubai Recognizes Crypto as Legitimate Salary Payment

The Dubai Court of First Instance has recently recognized cryptocurrency payments for salaries under employment contracts. The ruling was based on Article 912 of the UAE Civil Transactions Law and the Federal Decree-Law No. (33) of 2021. It emphasizes the importance of upholding clear contractual agreements, provided they align with public policy and law.

This ruling contrasts with a previous decision in 2023, where a similar claim was denied due to the plaintiff’s failure to provide a precise valuation of the digital currency involved.

The recent case involved a wrongful termination and unpaid wages claim. The plaintiff’s employment contract stipulated a salary in fiat currency and additional payment in EcoWatt tokens, a form of cryptocurrency.

The employer argued that the crypto payments were not legally enforceable. Still, the court ruled in favor of the employee. It validated the payment in EcoWatt tokens rather than converting them into fiat currency.

Malaysia Cracks Down on Illegal Bitcoin Mining

Following a court order, on August 19, Malaysian authorities destroyed 985 Bitcoin mining machines worth approximately $452,500. The machines, seized during enforcement operations from 2022 to April 2023, were crushed with a steamroller in the Perak Tengah district.

This action came after the arrest of seven individuals involved in illegal Bitcoin mining operations that allegedly stole electricity to power their activities. The suspects were detained separately last week, including three local residents and four foreign nationals.

Sepang District Police Chief ACP Wan Kamarul Azran Wan Yusof stated that these individuals had no prior criminal records, but their illegal activities had caused significant losses to the country. The authorities estimate Malaysia lost as much as 3.4 billion Malaysian ringgits ($757 million) between 2018 and 2023 due to electricity theft linked to Bitcoin mining.

Illegal Bitcoin Mining Rigs Seized by Malaysian Authorities. Source: MalayMail

Deputy Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir highlighted the growing prevalence of this issue. He emphasized the detrimental impact of electricity theft for crypto mining on Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and the country.

“The theft of electricity by those who mine cryptocurrency occurs because they believe this activity cannot be detected due to the absence of meters on their premises. However, energy supply companies have various methods to detect unusual energy consumption in an area,” Nasir said.

Read more: How Much Electricity Does Bitcoin Mining Use?

Tether Unveils UAE’s First Dirham-Pegged Stablecoin

On August 21, Phoenix Group PLC, a holding company listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), unveiled a strategic partnership with Tether, a leading issuer of stablecoins, to introduce a stablecoin linked to the UAE dirham. Green Acorn Investments Ltd. supports this initiative, which aims to revolutionize the digital asset sector.

By merging the UAE dirham’s reliability with blockchain’s technological advantages, this stablecoin provides a reliable digital currency that mirrors one of the world’s most stable currencies. Moreover, it could potentially play a pivotal role in enhancing business operations and expanding growth opportunities in the digital age.

Backed by Phoenix Group and Tether’s financial strength and technical expertise, this stablecoin will be governed by strict regulatory compliance procedures that align with the UAE’s regulatory framework. The introduction of this stablecoin is expected to be globally accessible, with deep roots in the UAE’s economic strength and stability.

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