1. Home
  2. Transparency

Transparency

South Korea to ask firms to disclose crypto holdings from 2024

After initially mandating public officials to declare their crypto, the South Korean authorities now want all local firms to disclose such holdings.

The South Korean government is continuing to develop tighter regulations targeting the cryptocurrency industry with the introduction of new asset disclosure rules.

On July 11, South Korea’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) announced a new bill that will require all firms that issue or hold cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) to disclose their holdings.

According to the announcement, the FSC reviewed related proposals and gave the green light to the exposure draft bill that introduces mandatory disclosure requirements for crypto.

The new measures aim to enhance transparency in accounting and disclosure of crypto assets in line with supervision guidelines that require accounting for each transaction involving crypto. The initiative also targets revision of accounting standards that obligates disclosure of virtual asset transactions.

In the current draft version of South Korea’s crypto accounting supervision guidelines, the FSC mentioned that the scope of crypto assets to be reported includes fungible assets based on distributed ledger technology or a “similar technology,” or those issued using cryptography. Security tokens, or digitized securities under the terms of the Capital Markets Act, are also included in the scope of application of the guidelines, the regulator noted.

Timing of South Korea's new crypto supervision guidelines. Source: FSC

While the new accounting supervision guidelines come into effect immediately, the revised disclosure standard will be implemented starting from Jan. 1, 2024. “Early application is possible and is strongly recommended,” the FSC noted.

Related: Legal proceedings start for Terraform Labs co-founder in South Korea: Report

The news comes soon after local industry media reported that the FSC required internal employees to report their crypto holdings as defined under the Specific Financial Information Act. The affected employees reportedly include those who currently perform crypto-related duties and those who have performed such duties over the past six months.

While the latest crypto disclosure rules are somewhat new, South Korea has already required government officials to declare their crypto holdings.

South Korea’s National Assembly unanimously passed a bill that obliges lawmakers and high-ranking public officials to report on their crypto assets. The initiative, widely referred to as the “Kim Nam-guk Prevention Law,” came in response to a scandal involving some public officials allegedly manipulating the market and moving large amounts of crypto.

Collect this article as an NFT to preserve this moment in history and show your support for independent journalism in the crypto space.

Magazine: Asia Express: China expands CBDC’s tentacles, Malaysia is HK’s new crypto rival

2021 Bull Run Déjà Vu? Altcoin Market Gains Momentum

5 blockchain-based social media platforms to know

Discover five blockchain-based social media platforms that are reshaping online interactions.

Social media networks built on the blockchain are revolutionizing the way we share, interact and communicate with people online. These systems offer improved transparency, data ownership and decentralized incentives by utilizing the power of blockchain technology. 

This article will discuss five well-known blockchain-based social media sites: Steemit, Verasity, Binded, Audius and Sapien.

Steemit

Based on the Steem blockchain, Steemit is an innovative decentralized social media network. Users are paid for curating and creating content in this novel incentive approach. Users are motivated to create high-quality content and interact with the community since they can earn Steem (STEEM) tokens based on participation.

By fostering a thriving ecosystem of content producers and paying them directly, Steemit’s strategy transforms the conventional social media model.

Verasity

Verasity is another blockchain-based social media platform focusing on video content and monetization. It aims to empower content creators by providing a transparent and fair ecosystem for video sharing, viewing and earning rewards. Verasity utilizes its native token, VRA, to incentivize engagement, and reward both content creators and viewers.

Through blockchain technology, Verasity ensures the authenticity of views and provides a secure environment for content creators to monetize their videos. With features like ad blocking and ad fraud prevention, Verasity aims to improve the overall video content experience, while offering a sustainable monetization model for creators.

Related: 5 YouTube channels for learning graphic design

Binded

Binded is a cutting-edge blockchain technology-based platform designed specifically for photographers to protect their copyright. With Binded, photographers can safely upload their images to a blockchain-secured copyright vault. This ensures the authenticity and ownership of their work. Furthermore, Binded enables artists to share their creations while actively monitoring for any potential copyright infringements.

By leveraging the power of blockchain, Binded has successfully recorded and protected over 350,000 images, establishing itself as a reliable platform for copyright protection. In addition, Binded has simplified the copyright registration process for Instagram photos. Whenever a user posts an image on Instagram with the hashtag #Binded, it triggers an instant registration of the photo, ensuring quick and efficient copyright protection.

Audius

Audius is a decentralized music-sharing and streaming platform seeking to transform the music business. Audius, which was developed on the Ethereum blockchain, gives musicians direct control over their music and enables them to make money without using intermediaries.

Audius offers transparency, equitable rewards and censorship resistance by utilizing blockchain technology. Building networks and engaging with fans directly allows artists to get immediate feedback on their work.

Sapien

The blockchain-based social news network Sapien emphasizes user privacy, high-quality content and data ownership. It allows users to produce, distribute and engage in discourse about a range of topics, while still preserving control over their data.

Sapien has used blockchain technology to create a decentralized reputation system that promotes high-quality contributions and prevents spam and false information. Users can create customized news feeds and have meaningful conversations with other users who share their interests.

Related: 5 AI tools for learning and research

Factors to consider while monetizing content

When it comes to monetizing content, there are several key considerations that content creators should keep in mind:

Audience and niche

Understanding the target demographic and the specific niche one serves is essential. To design content that resonates with users, it is important to identify their requirements, preferences and behaviors. With this knowledge, users can choose the best content monetization tactics.

Value proposition

Outlining the special benefit provided to the audience is key. What distinguishes one’s content from others in the field? By emphasizing the advantages and solutions offered, it’s possible to attract and retain a dedicated audience.

Monetization models

Examining numerous monetization strategies allows for the selection of the models that best suit the audience and content. Advertising, sponsorships, affiliate marketing, subscriptions, premium content, product sales and crowdfunding are examples of popular monetization strategies. By weighing the advantages and disadvantages of each, users can choose the models that align with their content and goals.

Quality and consistency

Delivering high-quality material consistently helps gain the audience’s confidence and establish credibility. High-quality content leads to more viewers, greater engagement and increased revenue possibilities. Consistency in posting dates and content types is also essential for retaining and expanding the audience.

Diversification

Relying on just one way to monetize can be risky. Diversifying the sources of income helps to lessen dependence on any one source. Combining diverse monetization strategies, exploring joint ventures, or using various channels and media to reach a larger audience are effective ways to achieve diversification.

User experience and engagement

Prioritizing user experience and engagement helps keep users on the platform longer, attracting a bigger audience. Creating an intuitive, user-friendly platform or website for content consumption is crucial. Encouraging dialogue through polls, comments and social media interactions can enhance engagement. Engaging with the audience, addressing their comments and adapting the content as needed based on their preferences are important practices.

Promotion and marketing

Effective promotion and marketing methods are crucial for increasing the visibility of the content. Utilizing social media, email marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), partnerships with influencers, and cross-promotion can help reach a wider audience. Developing a strong personal brand and leveraging existing networks can also expand reach.

Analytics and data insights

Using analytics tools to monitor the effectiveness of monetization efforts is essential. Analyzing information about the audience’s demographics, engagement levels, conversion rates and revenue sources provides valuable insights. By making data-driven decisions and continually improving tactics, one can identify areas for development and optimize monetization strategies.

Legal and ethical considerations

Familiarizing oneself with the laws and ethical principles governing content monetization is important. Adhering to privacy rules, disclosure standards for sponsored content, and copyright restrictions ensures compliance. Transparency and honesty in monetization strategies build audience trust and protect the brand.

Innovation and adaptability

The digital landscape is ever-evolving, so being open to modifying monetization plans and exploring new possibilities is crucial. Staying informed about market developments, emerging platforms and tools that can enhance monetization efforts is also important. Regular experimentation, taking feedback to heart and adapting strategies are all necessary to stay ahead in the dynamic world of content monetization.

2021 Bull Run Déjà Vu? Altcoin Market Gains Momentum

Crypto offers Africans a ‘lifeline’ from inflation and corruption, say execs

Chris Maurice, founder and CEO of crypto exchange Yellow Card said in Africa, crypto isn't the "casino" that it can sometimes feel like in the West.

While many investors in the West may look to crypto to speculate the next biggest trend, blockchain technology is actually solving “real-world problems” in Africa such as hyperinflation and "corruption," executives told Cointelegraph.

Speaking to Cointelegraph, Chris Maurice, founder and CEO of Yellow Card — Africa’s largest cryptocurrency exchange — said crypto in Africa “is growing at the speed of light” because it allows many Africans to escape from the traditional financial system’s failures and transact more freely.

“Crypto solves real-world problems with banking and currencies on the continent, and it isn't the casino that it can feel like sometimes in the West.”

Maurice said the most common use cases in Africa are to make international payments, to send money to friends and family and to “save money against inflation.”

“Crypto in Africa lives closer than any other part of the world to the original mission of the technology,” he added.

Kevin Imani, the founder and CEO of Sankore 2.0 — an affiliate of layer-1 Near Protocol — believes blockchain-based payments can act as a human rights technology:

“It’s important to recognize the human rights protections that it provides to people in underdeveloped nations. In many developing countries, hyperinflationary pressure and corruption have left citizens with few options.”

“Cryptocurrencies offer a lifeline to these individuals, providing greater financial inclusion and control over their money,” he added.

According to Statistica, inflation rates in Sub-Saharan Africa reached an estimated 14.5% in 2022 — which marks the region’s largest annual change since the 2008 recession.

Imani said the “ability to counter weak national currencies and corruption” and increase financial inclusion makes peer-to-peer crypto transactions a no-brainer for many Africans.

“I personally see Crypto as Africa's next shot at life, another opportunity to be part of something great, as opposed to the internet revolution of the 2000s, when most Africans weren't as exposed as today,” added Okoye Kevin Chibuoyim, the founder and CEO of crypto education platform GIDA, based in Nigeria.

“Africans are used to bad governments that aren't accountable and transparent, but here, the blockchain flashes its transparent nature here and makes everyone trust the system,” he said.

Related: Africa: The next hub for Bitcoin, crypto adoption and venture capital?

In April, Block — a U.S. digital payments firm led by Jack Dorsey — partnered with Yellow Card to facilitate cross-border payments in Africa based on Block’s infrastructure.

After the number of cryptocurrency users increased by 2,500% in 2021, the region experienced an 11-fold explosion in venture capital funding in 2022.

Maurice said Nigerians have adopted cryptocurrency “like no one else” in the region — with one local publication reporting in May that 47% of Nigerians own or transact with crypto on a daily basis.

While Maurice said Botswana has the “most legal and regulatory clarity,” cryptocurrency is now reportedly illegal in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Gabon, Guyana, Lesotho, Libya and Zimbabwe, according to Investopedia.

Magazine: Bitcoin in Senegal: Why is this African country using BTC?

2021 Bull Run Déjà Vu? Altcoin Market Gains Momentum

OpenAI’s ChatGPT re-enters Italy after obliging transparency demands

The revocation of the ban in Italy required ChatGPT to reveal its data processing practices and implement age-gating measures among other legal requirements.

Popular interactive artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, ChatGPT, has been reallowed to provide services in Italy after addressing the privacy concerns raised by the region’s data protection agency, Garante.

On March 31, OpenAI’s ChatGPT was placed on a temporary ban in Italy after a watchdog suspected the AI chatbot of violating the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requirement.

Exactly 29 days after the ban, on April 29, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced that ChatGPT was “available in Italy again” without revealing the steps taken by the company to comply with the Italian regulator’s transparency demands.

The revocation of the ban required ChatGPT to reveal its data processing practices and implement age-gating measures among other legal requirements. As highlighted by the Italian regulator, the temporary ban was a response to the recent data breach that CHaptGPT suffered on March 20.

While the abrupt ban initially raised possibilities about a wave of AI regulations, the willingness of ChatGPT to swiftly comply with local authorities is seen as an overall positive move, widely welcomed by its users globally.

Related: Bitget pledges $10M for Fetch.ai ecosystem amid ChatGPT boom

European Union legislators are working on a new bill to keep a check on the explosive AI developments.

As Cointelegraph reported, the bill aims to classify AI tools according to the perceived risk levels based on their capability. The risk levels range from minimal to unacceptable. According to the bill, high-risk tools will not be banned entirely but will be subjected to stricter transparency requirements.

If signed into law, generative AI tools, including ChatGPT and Midjourney, will be subject to disclosing the use of copyrighted materials in AI training.

Magazine: Why join a blockchain gaming guild? Fun, profit and create better games

2021 Bull Run Déjà Vu? Altcoin Market Gains Momentum

5 emerging trends in deep learning and artificial intelligence

Explore five emerging trends in deep learning and artificial intelligence: federated learning, GANs, XAI, reinforcement learning and transfer learning.

Deep learning and artificial intelligence (AI) are rapidly evolving fields with new technologies emerging constantly. Five of the most promising emerging trends in this area include federated learning, GANs, XAI, reinforcement learning and transfer learning.

These technologies have the potential to revolutionize various applications of machine learning, from image recognition to game playing, and offer exciting new opportunities for researchers and developers alike.

Federated learning

Federated learning is a machine learning approach that allows multiple devices to collaborate on a single model without sharing their data with a central server. This approach is particularly useful in situations where data privacy is a concern.

For example, Google has used federated learning to improve the accuracy of its predictive text keyboard without compromising users’ privacy. Machine learning models are typically developed using centralized data sources, which necessitates user data sharing with a central server. Although users could feel uneasy with their data being collected and stored on a single server, this strategy can generate privacy problems.

Federated learning solves this problem by preventing data from ever being sent to a central server by training models on data that stays on users’ devices. Also, since the training data remained on users’ devices, there was no need to send huge volumes of data to a centralized server, which decreased the system’s computing and storage needs.

Related: Microsoft is developing its own AI chip to power ChatGPT: Report

Generative adversarial networks (GANs)

Generated adversarial networks are a type of neural network that can be used to generate new, realistic data based on existing data. For example, GANs have been used to generate realistic images of people, animals and even landscapes. GANs work by pitting two neural networks against each other, with one network generating fake data and the other network trying to detect whether the data is real or fake.

Explainable AI (XAI)

An approach to AI known as explainable AI aims to increase the transparency and comprehension of machine learning models. XAI is crucial because it can guarantee that AI systems make impartial, fair decisions. Here’s an example of how XAI could be used:

Consider a scenario in which a financial organization uses machine learning algorithms to forecast the likelihood that a loan applicant will default on their loan. In the case of conventional black-box algorithms, the bank would not have knowledge of the algorithm’s decision-making process and might not be able to explain it to the loan applicant.

Using XAI, however, the algorithm could explain its choice, enabling the bank to confirm that it was based on reasonable considerations rather than inaccurate or discriminating information. The algorithm might specify, for instance, that it calculated a risk score based on the applicant’s credit score, income and employment history. This level of transparency and explainability can help increase trust in AI systems, improve accountability and ultimately lead to better decision-making.

Reinforcement learning

A type of machine learning called reinforcement learning includes teaching agents to learn via criticism and incentives. Many applications, including robotics, gaming and even banking, have made use of this strategy. For instance, DeepMind’s AlphaGo used this approach to continually improve its gameplay and eventually defeat top human Go players, demonstrating the effectiveness of reinforcement learning in complex decision-making tasks.

Related: 7 advanced humanoid robots in the world

Transfer learning

A machine learning strategy called transfer learning involves applying previously trained models to address brand-new issues. When there is little data available for a new problem, this method is especially helpful.

For instance, researchers have used transfer learning to adapt image recognition models developed for a particular type of picture (such as faces) to a different sort of image — e.g., animals.

This approach allows for the reuse of the learned features, weights, and biases of the pre-trained model in the new task, which can significantly improve the performance of the model and reduce the amount of data needed for training.

2021 Bull Run Déjà Vu? Altcoin Market Gains Momentum

Societe Generale Subsidiary Launches Euro Stablecoin, but Faces Criticism Over Smart Contract Issues

Societe Generale Subsidiary Launches Euro Stablecoin, but Faces Criticism Over Smart Contract IssuesAccording to Societe Generale-Forge (SG-Forge), a regulated subsidiary of Societe Generale Group, the company has launched a stablecoin pegged to the euro and issued on the Ethereum blockchain. During the launch announcement, SG-Forge’s CEO stated that a stablecoin “built under a robust banking-grade structure” will be a key element to increase trust and confidence in […]

2021 Bull Run Déjà Vu? Altcoin Market Gains Momentum

Decentralized exchange dYdX announces ‘winding down’ of services for Canadian users

“We hope that the regulatory climate in Canada will change over time to allow us to resume services in the country," said the exchange.

Cryptocurrency derivatives exchange dYdX has announced it will be restricting Canadian user accounts over the next seven days in a move to exit the market.

In an April 7 blog post, dYdX said it will be “winding down services” in Canada, starting with halting the onboarding of new users located in the country. On April 14, the exchange will move all existing Canadian users to “close-only mode,” allowing them to only withdraw funds.

“dYdX is committed to providing transparency around product decisions and democratizing access to financial opportunity,” said the exchange. “We hope that the regulatory climate in Canada will change over time to allow us to resume services in the country.”

The move followed the Canadian Securities Administrators announcing additional restrictions for crypto exchanges’ registration requirements in the country. The rules required platforms to be “prohibited from permitting Canadian clients to enter into crypto contracts to buy and sell any crypto asset that is itself a security and/or a derivative.”

Related: GMX and dYdX go head-to-head for the top decentralized derivatives position

In September 2022, many dYdX users and those in the crypto space criticized a promotion from the decentralized exchange offering a $25 deposit bonus for confirming someone’s identity using a live webcam image. The exchange later ended the program, citing “overwhelming demand” rather than some of the privacy concerns put forth.

Magazine: Your guide to crypto in Toronto: Crypto City

2021 Bull Run Déjà Vu? Altcoin Market Gains Momentum

Hidden Treasure: Every Modern Copy of macOS Contains a Copy of Bitcoin’s White Paper

Hidden Treasure: Every Modern Copy of macOS Contains a Copy of Bitcoin’s White PaperOn April 5, 2023, the independent blogger Andy Baio published a post on his Waxy Blog that explained every version of macOS from Mojave 10.14.0 to the current version hosts a copy of Satoshi Nakamoto’s seminal Bitcoin white paper. Mac users can type a simple command in the terminal, and all nine pages describing Nakamoto’s […]

2021 Bull Run Déjà Vu? Altcoin Market Gains Momentum

Bitcoin Stamps Emerge as New Image-Storage Trend on the Bitcoin Blockchain, Over 8,000 Stamps Minted So Far

Bitcoin Stamps Emerge as New Image-Storage Trend on the Bitcoin Blockchain, Over 8,000 Stamps Minted So FarAfter the Ordinal inscription process gained significant traction on the Bitcoin blockchain with more than 800,000 inscriptions to date, a new trend of non-fungible token (NFT) technology has emerged called Bitcoin Stamps. The image-storing technique is a new way of storing images on Bitcoin, and so far, more than 8,000 stamps have been minted. From […]

2021 Bull Run Déjà Vu? Altcoin Market Gains Momentum

OKX latest proof-of-reserves reveal $8.9B in assets

Lennix Lai, managing director of Global Institutional at OKX spoke with Cointelegraph about what it means to be transparent in a post-FTX and SVB crypto industry.

The global cryptocurrency exchange OKX released its fifth edition of its proof-of-reserves (PoR) report, which it began releasing in Nov. 2022 in its effort for more transparency in the industry. 

According to the latest edition, OKX holds $8.9 billion across Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) and the Tether stablecoin (USDT). This puts the reserve ratios of BTC, ETH and USDT at 103%, 103% and 102%, respectively.

This latest release also comes as the exchange upgraded its PoR system with more transparency by making full liabilities (i.e. the total balance of user deposits) publicly accessible.

Cointelegraph spoke with Lennix Lai, the managing director of Global Institutional at OKX, regarding these extra steps towards transparency.

Lai said that recent events in industry highlight that, “crypto-native challenges require crypto-native solutions.”

“The blockchain and crypto/Web3 industry is built on technology that enables trustless transactions on public blockchains, and this inherent transparency is incredibly valuable.”

Many exchanges in the industry - like Binance, Crypto.com and Bybit - have released such Merkle-Tree-based verification proofs in an effort to preserve the integrity of the industry after the FTX liquidation scandal.

“The FTX crisis had a silver lining in that it made successful firms double down on security and transparency and motivated the industry to innovate in this area.”

Lai said the new mantra of the industry is “don’t trust - verify.” He said over 300,000 users have already viewed the reserves or verified their liabilities in the OKX ecosystem.

The new transparency mechanism that made the total balance of user deposits visible to the public maintains user privacy nonetheless, through splitting and shuffling account liabilities in the tree through a solution known as ‘splitting leaf nodes.’

According to Lai, OKX will also be adding zero knowledge proof to our PoR in the coming weeks.

Related: Tether’s assets exceed liabilities in new reserves report by BDO

After the crash of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) transparency in the greater financial industry has become even more of a talking point. Lai said during times of uncertainty, such as the banking crisis: 

“Proof-of-reserves can provide users with real-time, on-chain verification of reserves and liabilities through transparent technology - in this way traditional finance differs from crypto.”

However, back on Mar. 8, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, a U.S.-based watchdog overseeing audits of public companies, issued a warning to investors about PoRs. The board said these reports “don’t provide any meaningful assurance to investors or the public.”

Nonetheless, companies in the crypto industry continue efforts in transparency. On Feb. 10 Binance also upgraded its PoR system to include zk-snarks.

2021 Bull Run Déjà Vu? Altcoin Market Gains Momentum