Latest news with #TOKEN2049
Cision Canada
23-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Leptage Debuts at TOKEN2049 Dubai: Showcasing Innovations in Web3 Infrastructure
WARSAW, Poland, May 23, 2025 /CNW/ -- Leptage, a modern fintech platform catering to global ambition, recently made its significant debut at TOKEN2049 Dubai, one of the most anticipated global crypto events in the Web3 ecosystem. Through its active participation at the event, Leptage captivated both attendees and industry leaders, marking an important step in expanding its presence within the global crypto community. Hosted at the prestigious Madinat Jumeirah from April 30 to May 1, TOKEN2049 Dubai attracted over 15,000 participants from more than 160 countries, including industry pioneers, innovators, regulators, developers, and institutional investors. Leptage's involvement went beyond sponsorship, reflecting the company's ongoing commitment to advancing industry knowledge, fostering regional growth, and supporting community empowerment. TOKEN2049 served as a valuable platform for exchanging insights and driving innovation, echoing the vision that Leptage continues to champion. At TOKEN2049, Leptage introduced key updates to its core infrastructure products, reflecting its continued innovation in shaping the future of crypto transactions and blockchain technology. The enhanced Ramping service enables real-time fiat-to-crypto conversions across more than 180 countries, while Treasury delivers more agile and secure management of stablecoins and digital assets. CardLink, a cutting-edge crypto wallet management infrastructure that provides seamless and secure integration for crypto card services. These updates demonstrate Leptage's commitment to providing seamless, compliant, and scalable pathways that bridge Web2 and Web3. Leptage's participation at TOKEN2049 Dubai marked a pivotal step in its global journey. Leptage continues to bridge Web2 and Web3 with cutting-edge solutions that drive real-world adoption. Looking ahead, Leptage remains focused on advancing blockchain technology and shaping the next wave of Web3 innovation. About Leptage Leptage is a modern fintech platform catering to global ambition. Regulated in Poland, our headquarters is situated in Warsaw. We have expanded our operations to include strategic teams in Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, and Singapore. Our international footprint is a testament to our commitment to serving clients worldwide. At Leptage, we pride ourselves on providing fully compliant, cutting-edge solutions that harmoniously integrate advanced technology with a user-centric design. We aim to build a more secure, efficient, and seamless financial landscape by breaking down barriers and bridging gaps for boundless businesses.
CNBC
23-05-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Yachts, Eric Trump and Habibi Doge: Dubai's crypto party is bigger than ever
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — On a humid Dubai night in early May, I joined guests gathered on the five-storey, 220-foot long Lotus megayacht to celebrate the culmination of TOKEN2049, a major crypto conference held in the glitzy desert emirate I call home. The party was hosted by DogeOS, the app developer behind the blockchain for Dogecoin, the shiba inu-faced meme coin that saw a rip-roaring rally in 2021 and briefly turned a few bullish buyers into millionaires. It's part of a long string of high-profile UAE-based industry events and feels like a prescient symbol of the ever-growing exuberance around cryptocurrencies in the Middle East (and globally) right now. The attendees around me spanned a colorful mix; crypto investors and startup founders, programmers, influencers – and those who, after half an hour of conversation, still wouldn't really explain what they do. "You've probably heard of me. Elon retweets me a lot," one guest said as he introduced himself. I later heard him say the exact same line to three other people. One pair of female attendees promoted their Dubai-based startup that designs business plans for corporates and entrepreneurs "by calculating their astrology and birth chart numerology." They told me that "millionaires often look down on this science … but billionaires love it." The guests hailed from all over the world, sharing a common passion for the future of decentralized digital currency and the revolutionizing of finance. A microcosm of Dubai itself, the boat was a melting pot of nationalities and characters. One American passenger wearing a cowboy hat and a ninja turtle backpack hawked a meme token featuring a shiba inu in a cowboy hat called $WIT coin, standing for "what in tarnation." Between shots of tequila he discussed collaboration with crypto enthusiasts who'd flown in from China. The guestlist also featured Olaf Carlson-Wee, the bleach-blonde original "bubble boy" of crypto, who was Coinbase's first employee and later founded Polychain Capital, one of the world's largest crypto hedge funds. Carlson-Wee, whose net worth is estimated to be in the hundreds of millions, said he is frequently flown in from Los Angeles to work with the UAE government. The bullish energy of the yacht party — complete with open bars, teppanyaki grills and Vegas-style belly dancers wearing feather headdresses — matched the unbridled optimism currently pulsing through the global crypto community. Posts of "WE'RE SO BACK" have abounded on social media in the months following U.S. President Donald Trump's return to the White House and his pledge to make America the "crypto capital of the world." His son Eric Trump, executive vice president of the Trump Organization and board member of Trump-family-owned crypto platform World Liberty Financial, was a keynote speaker at Dubai's Token2049. He was joined by Zack Witkoff, World Liberty Financial's co-founder, and the son of Steve Witkoff, the Trump administration's Middle East envoy. "Smart people, low taxes … and the willingness to actually look forward and realize that the modern financial system is broken" is part of what makes the UAE so attractive for cryptocurrency enthusiasts like himself, the younger Trump told CNBC during the conference. Speaking onstage at the event on May 1, Eric Trump also announced that the Trump family's World Liberty Financial would provide the stablecoins for Abu Dhabi state-backed investment firm MGX's mammoth $2 billion investment into Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange. "We thank MGX and Binance for their trust in us," Zack Witkoff told the audience. "It's only the beginning." Jordan Jefferson, CEO of MyDoge, the team behind DogeOS, moved from Canada to Dubai in 2022 in search of a more crypto-friendly regulatory environment. At a time when North America was cracking down on the industry, he said the UAE was "embracing it and leading regulation." "I came out here because it was at the forefront of the industry. And everybody was here – the energy was amazing," he told CNBC at the yacht party. Jefferson and his colleagues had donned shirts emblazoned with a picture of the Doge shiba inu wearing an Emirati headdress, the kandura, which they dubbed "Habibi Doge." Major crypto exchanges like Binance, OKX, Bybit, and Kraken have received approvals or provisional licenses to operate in the UAE, with many choosing to open offices and regional headquarters there. The Gulf country has also established a "UAE blockchain strategy," hosts several major crypto events annually and offers visas to remote workers and entrepreneurs along with streamlined procedures for starting businesses. "They're leading the way in regulation, definitely trying to be one of the premier jurisdictions where everything is fully regulated," Jefferson said of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Dubai in 2022 established the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, or VARA — the world's first independent crypto regulator — which oversees virtual asset activities in the emirate and provides licensing and supervision to crypto businesses. Abu Dhabi Global Market in the UAE capital also updated its digital asset framework in 2023, providing a clearer licensing and regulatory environment for crypto exchanges, custodians, and other virtual asset service providers. Despite enjoying a rally in prices in recent years, the crypto industry has faced numerous scandals and controversies over time, from the collapse of FTX to the jailing of the crypto exchange's founder Sam Bankman-Fried and former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao. Before declaring bankruptcy in November of 2022, FTX had established its regional headquarters in Dubai and was one of the early firms issued a license by VARA in March of that year, as the emirate worked to entice crypto businesses. Zhao, a Dubai resident, has since been released from prison after serving a four-month term on charges of money laundering. He was granted UAE citizenship, though the timing of his Emirati naturalization has not been publicly disclosed. In February, Dubai-based digital currency exchange Bybit revealed it was the victim of a hack that saw cybercriminals make off with $1.5 billion worth of tokens — the largest-ever crypto heist in history. The UAE has learned from its experiences, Token2049 attendees told CNBC. "It's not easy" to implement robust regulation, Jefferson of DogeOS said. "It's easy to say, 'hey, you can do anything here'. It's harder to do a regulatory framework where other countries around the world will accept it and realize that if you're a company built here [in the UAE] and under these regulations, it's legit. So I think that's probably the most important part." Several crypto investors described due diligence work in the UAE as having become more sophisticated, but to a level that still makes it friendlier to the industry than the U.S. or Europe. "People really feel much safer building crypto companies in Dubai versus in the United States — the U.S. is very over-regulated. And that's something they're working on – Trump and Elon suggested that they would like to remove 10 regulations for every one they add. But we just haven't really seen that yet," said William Athanas, Miami-based founder of xMarkets, a new prediction market launching on DogeOS. On the night of the yacht party, May 1, Bitcoin was trading at $94,808. At the time of publishing, it is trading at $110,538. Danni Liu, a Chinese national currently based in Sweden who co-founded LIFE Protocol — a platform that uses the blockchain to enable community-driven scientific research — was in Dubai for the first time to attend the crypto conference and DogeOS boat party. "Before I got here, it felt like the market sentiment was not that high, people were less willing to take risks," Liu said. "But I came to Dubai, and I see that people are still dancing. I was surprised. The show is going on."
Gulf Business
20-05-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
Winners of MEBA 2025 revealed as Dubai cements its blockchain leadership
The Middle East Blockchain Awards (MEBA) 2025 took centre stage at the Jumeirah Burj Al Arab at the end of last month, honouring pioneers who are shaping the future of blockchain, crypto, Web3, and AI technologies across the MENA region. Held on 29 April to coincide with the TOKEN2049 conference, the event gathered top investors, technologists, public officials and entrepreneurs in what organisers described as an 'awards-as-networking experience'. Now in its second year, MEBA has become one of the most high-profile celebrations of digital innovation in the region. The ceremony was hosted by impact speaker and entrepreneur Lilly Douse and Scott Melker, Host of The Wolf Of All Streets Podcast and #CryptoTownHall. The event was also organised by the Hoko Group. Winners were selected by a judging panel comprising some of the most respected names in blockchain and fintech. The 2025 winners included: Best GameFi Project: Astro Armadillos Best RWA Tokenization Project: Hash AI Most Promising Web3 Ecosystem: Propchain (powered by Best Blockchain Development Solution: Chainsight Top Crypto Influencer: Ran Neuner Best Web3 Financial Community: Real Vision Most Influential Woman in Blockchain and Crypto: Nikita Sachdev Most Promising Crypto Media Agency: Credibility X Best Blockchain Analytics Solution: Crystal Intelligence Most Influential Person in Blockchain and Crypto: Acme Worawat Max Palethorpe, founder and CEO of Hoko Group, said: 'The Middle East Blockchain Awards provides a platform to recognise achievements in blockchain and digital transformation. With the UAE leading developments in Web 3.0, this year's event highlights the work of industry leaders pushing boundaries across blockchain, AI, and fintech.' Returning judge Dr Marwan Al Zarouni, CEO of the Dubai Blockchain Center, added: 'I am pleased to be part of the judging panel again and to witness the continued development of blockchain technologies in the MENA region. The UAE's regulatory approach and innovation ecosystem are driving adoption across Web 3.0 technologies.' The full judging panel included: Dr Marwan Al Zarouni, CEO, Dubai Blockchain Center Scott Melker, Host of The Wolf Of All Streets Podcast and #CryptoTownHall Jumana Al Darwish, Impact Entrepreneur and Web3 Investor, Founder of The Happy Box Megan Plisky, Web3 Leader and Strategic Advisor Matthias Mende, Founder & CEO of Bonuz and Co-Founder of the Dubai Blockchain Center Saqr Ereiqat, Secretary General of the Dubai Digital Asset Association and Co-Founder of Crypto Oasis Ventures Gareth van Zyl, Group Editor, Gulf Business Jorge Sebastião, Co-Founder of the Global Blockchain Organisation and Co-Founder of EcoX As blockchain and digital assets continue to accelerate across the region, MEBA has positioned itself as a platform not only for recognition, but also for collaboration. This year's event put an emphasis on real-world impact — aiming to foster strategic partnerships and investment opportunities across its network of winners and attendees. The UAE continues to assert itself as a global blockchain hub. Chainalysis data reveals that between July 2023 and June 2024, the MENA region saw $338.7bn in on-chain transaction volume. The UAE accounted for $34bn of that figure — a 42 per cent year-on-year increase — while Henley & Partners ranks the country third globally in digital currency usage. With Web3 growth accelerating, MEBA 2025 underscores Dubai's role as a leader in digital innovation and its ambition to shape the future of finance, tech, and governance. For more information, visit:
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Exclusive: Animoca's Yat Siu says bank-backed stablecoins will drive mass adoption
At TOKEN2049, Yat Siu, co-founder and chairman of Animoca Brands, joined TheStreet Roundtable host Scott Melker to talk about the future of stablecoins — and why Hong Kong's new approach could reshape adoption around the world. 'We're also moving into space. Part of it is Animoca Brands becoming more institutional. We have a joint venture with Standard Chartered... and HKT, the largest telco in the region, to launch a stablecoin,' Siu said. The total stablecoin market capitalization stands at $244.99 billion, down 0.5% in the last 24 hours. Daily trading volume reached $78.05 billion, reflecting steady market activity. Stablecoins remain a key pillar of crypto liquidity and cross-border transactions. What makes this stablecoin unique? It's licensed by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, which Siu noted 'probably makes it the very first central bank issued.' Siu explained the global importance of Hong Kong's role. 'Hong Kong has always been a financial gateway for China, both in and out... For instance, if you look at what we call Dim Sum bonds... Hong Kong basically does about two plus trillion dollars of renminbi a day.' He added, 'A stablecoin issued from there is... a way to basically make Hong Kong remain a relevant financial centre.' But it's also about trust. While praising leaders like Tether and Circle, Siu said mass adoption will come when everyday users see banks behind the coins. 'Having the person who doesn't know much about crypto in the first place say, okay, I'm using a token that is backed by the dollar. Can I trust it? If it comes from a bank... your regular user... they're like, oh, okay, I can trust the bank.' Melker pointed out that in the U.S., lawmakers may soon require stablecoin issuers to be banks. 'There's actually been some fear... legislation could specify that you have to be a bank to issue a stablecoin... we are a hundred percent heading to a future where we have Goldman Coin and BNY Mellon Coin and JP Morgan coin, which actually exists.' Siu agreed and said geopolitics is a major factor. 'The seventh largest T-bill buyer last year I think was Tether... If you think about dollar hegemonic money... how do you make sure it's the currency of choice? I think stablecoins is the answer.' Importantly, he clarified. 'It's not a CBDC... The Hong dollar is actually backed by the US dollar... so in a way, the Hong Kong dollar was probably the OG stablecoin.' U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticized the Senate on Thursday for rejecting the GENIUS Act, a proposed stablecoin regulation bill, calling it a 'missed opportunity' for the U.S. to lead in digital asset innovation. 'For stablecoins and other digital assets to thrive globally, the world needs American leadership,' Bessent posted on X. 'The Senate missed an opportunity to provide that leadership today by failing to advance the GENIUS Act.' He described the bill as a 'once-in-a-generation opportunity' to bolster dollar dominance and strengthen U.S. influence in financial technology, warning that without federal regulation, innovation could shift offshore. The Senate voted 49-48 to block the bill, with Republicans Josh Hawley and Rand Paul siding with Democrats amid disputes over bill language and oversight provisions. Lawmakers expressed concern over anti-money laundering terms and foreign issuer restrictions. Tensions were heightened by President Trump's deepening ties to crypto, including memecoin launches, high-priced fundraisers, and backing a DeFi project with its own stablecoin. Bessent concluded, 'Senators who voted to stonewall U.S. ingenuity today face a simple choice: Either step up and lead or watch digital asset innovation move offshore.' Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
LazAI's Ming Guo on the future of AI and blockchain: ‘Decentralization is key'
Ming Guo, co-founder of LazAI, believes the convergence of AI and blockchain will reshape data privacy, model training, and AI development. In a conversation with TheStreet Roundtable host Malak Albaw at TOKEN2049, Guo shared his vision for decentralized AI, highlighting the importance of small, efficient language models and how LazAI is tackling the challenges of centralized AI systems. LazAI is a decentralized AI platform founded in 2023 by Ming Guo and a team of blockchain and AI researchers. The company focuses on building small, efficient language models powered by user-owned data and decentralized infrastructure. 'The current state of AI is overly centralized,' Guo said. 'Big corporations dominate the space, and smaller entities have little to no opportunity to participate in training models or using data in a meaningful way. We want to change that.' LazAI's innovative approach is rooted in blockchain technology, ensuring that data used for AI training is not only transparent and secure but also controlled by the individuals who generate it. By decentralizing both data ownership and AI model training, LazAI aims to create an ecosystem where smaller entities can play a pivotal role in shaping AI development. At the heart of this transformation is LazAI's use of Data Anchoring Tokens (DATs) and Individual-centric Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (iDAOs). These tools empower data providers and AI developers to retain control over their assets, ensuring that contributions are rewarded and the development of AI is more inclusive. One of LazAI's core beliefs is that the future of AI lies in smaller, more efficient models. 'In the traditional model, we're seeing enormous, centralized models that require significant resources,' Guo noted. 'The decentralized model we're developing allows smaller players to enter the game, enabling a broader range of participants to contribute to AI training and development.' These smaller models can be trained by smaller entities, using decentralized infrastructure rather than centralized data centers. This allows LazAI to ensure data privacy and maintain control, giving the users — not the big corporations — ownership over their data. Guo also emphasized the critical role blockchain plays in ensuring that data used in AI training is secure and verifiable. 'Blockchain brings transparency to the process,' he explained. 'Every piece of data used to train AI models can be traced, ensuring it's used with permission and proper attribution.' This blockchain-powered infrastructure ensures that all data remains sovereign to the individual or community that owns it, challenging the traditional AI model where data privacy is often sacrificed for profit. Looking forward, Guo sees the intersection of AI and Web3 as an opportunity to create an ecosystem where AI can be developed in a transparent, ethical, and decentralized manner. 'Web3 enables us to empower individuals to control their data and participate in AI development,' Guo said. 'We believe decentralization is the key to building a better, more inclusive future for AI.' Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
