Business & Markets

36 Krypton learned that the offline interest activity community "Rough Gate" has completed a new round of financing, and the investor is a Hong Kong family fund that has long focused on the field of consumption and lifestyle. This round of funds will mainly be used to expand brand influence, improve the supply of high-quality managers, and accelerate the construction of community ecology and gameplay system. This is another financing following the acquisition of the Keep strategic investment in 2023. Thick doors are trying to reconstruct a thing that is gradually being overlooked - how people “play together in the real world.” Over the past two decades, the Internet has dealt with “links” and “content.” But today, a new problem is emerging: the richer the online entertainment, the more scarce the offline real experience. Short videos, games, and social platforms occupy a lot of time, but real face-to-face interactions between people are decreasing. Xiang Weng, the founder of Rough Gate, was responsible for casual fish products and Alipay B-end products. After many years of Internet experience, he made a less "mainstream" judgment: "AI can replace efficiency, but it can't replace experience. The most authentic connection between people is still offline.” Founded in 2022, Thick Door is positioned as a community of interest that connects the real world. Start your business with the Event Enrollment tool, but not just the tool. The thick door encourages users to not only be participants, the moderator is not just an organizer, and the activity is not just a single consumption, but a deeper participation. Xiang Weng hopes: "The gameplay can be designed, the activities can be produced, and the experience can be created."...

In April, the 6th China International Consumer Goods Expo (hereinafter referred to as "Consumer Expo") was grandly held in Haikou, Hainan. As an important financial service institution of this Consumer Expo, CCB deeply participated in the event with a full range of multi-level financial services, focusing on scenario-based interactive experiences, full-chain cross-border services, and multi-modal payment systems, providing one-stop financial solutions for global merchants and consumers, and helping the Consumer Expo to release stronger consumption momentum. Scenario-enabled interactive immersive financial experience The 6th Consumer Expo is the first Consumer Expo after the island-wide closure of Hainan Free Trade Port. It closely follows the trend of residential consumption upgrading and the quality of life, and injects a steady stream of new momentum to promote consumption upgrading and stimulate China's large market potential. Walking into the exhibition booth area of the Consumer Expo, a touch of eye-catching "Construction Bank Blue" combines a sense of science and technology with professionalism. Streamlined lighting, digital interactive interface and open space layout show the strength of CCB's multi-channel financial services in an all-round way. CCB set up a professional consulting service desk in the exhibition area, and selected the business backbone to be on the front line, providing exhibitors and customers with one-on-one exclusive financial advice. From account opening, fund settlement to financing and wealth management, cross-border business, the staff tailors the service plan to the needs of customers, responds to each inquiry with professionalism and enthusiasm, and achieves "zero distance" access to financial services....

Mastercard and LianCa Center jointly hosted the "Payment Security and Data Trust Summit in the AI Era", with Chen Yiwen, Managing Director of Mastercard Taiwan, and Lu Weirong, General Manager of LianCa Center, on the left. (Reporter Li Yanhui/Taipei Report) [Reporter Li Yanhui/Taipei Report] With the rapid popularization of AI technology, proxy AI is gradually entering business applications. Lu Weirong, general manager of the Liankan Center, today pointed out that in response to the trend of Agentic Commerce, the Liankan Center will build a local, own AI Agent (artificial intelligence agent), not a ready-made AI agent such as lobster. At present, the Liankan Center has formed an alliance with local operators in Taiwan to build a Taiwanese model and a PoC (proof of concept). It is expected that it can be launched this year. It is feasible to further discuss and negotiate for verification. The purpose is to provide credit card business services. Mastercard and the United Credit Card Processing Center jointly hosted the "Payment Security and Data Trust Summit in the AI Era" today (15), inviting industry, government, and academic representatives to jointly discuss the new type of consumer ecology and authorization verification mechanism brought about by the gradual entry of proxy AI into business applications. It is hoped that through dialogue between all parties, a consensus will be forged for the regulatory framework and innovative development of Taiwan's payment industry. Read on...

The first two stablecoin issuer licences in Hong Kong were issued last week. Chen Weimin, vice president of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, said that Hong Kong is a pioneer in the field of stablecoins, so it is necessary to be cautious and review the application one by one according to the standards listed in the law to ensure that the issuer meets the requirements. More importantly, it is hoped that the licensee will have viable use cases, the business can continue to develop, and bring value to enterprises and individuals. It is also necessary to ensure that the licensee has the ability to manage various risks, including maintaining the linkage and stability mechanism, reserve management, private key security, anti-money laundering, operational risks, etc. He mentioned that it took the authorities about six months to review the first 36 applications and found that two truly met the requirements. At the HSBC Global Investment Summit, Chen Weimin said that the regulation of digital assets will become clearer. Regulators in different jurisdictions, including Europe, the United States, Asia, and other jurisdictions, are developing a framework that believes that a consensus is forming that digital assets must be regulated. He believes that the role of supervision should be to identify and intervene in risks earlier, in addition to working with the private sector to promote the development of the industry. The HKMA's Ensemble project brings together banks, regulators, infrastructure, technology companies and other stakeholders to jointly identify pain points, solutions and risks in the financial system. At present, 20 use cases have been reviewed, and it is believed that the private sector plays a very important role in shaping the regulatory framework and ecosystem.