Whampoa Digital, the digital assets investment arm of Singapore-based Whampoa group, has partnered with South Korean gaming company Wemade for $100 million Web3 Fund and digital asset initiatives in the Middle East.
The duo said in a statement on Friday that they have entered into a strategic partnership to collaborate on the fund, which is to be established by Wemade.
As part of this collaboration, Whampoa Digital will be an ecosystem partner to Wemade’s WEMIX PLAY Center in Dubai International Financial Centre‘s Innovation Hub (DIFC Innovation Hub) as well as to the Wemade Web3 Fund.
Both parties will engage in mutual deal and project referrals, particularly in the Web3 industry, and potentially co-invest in promising projects.
Under a non-binding memorandum signed on Friday, Whampoa Digital and Wemade will also leverage each other’s technical and operational know-how to develop blockchain infrastructure and solutions for the gaming and Web3 industries.
The solutions developed will be applied and integrated with financial institutions supporting these industries to promote seamless adoption of digital assets globally.
Wemade operates WEMIX PLAY, an established global Web3 gaming platform with over 250,000 concurrent players.
It has developed a suite of blockchain solutions and has an established track record in investing in gaming studios, notably in Lionheart Studio, Shift Up and MADNGINE, the developer behind the massively successful NIGHT CROWS mobile and PC game.
Wemade is also developing the WEMIX PLAY Center, a global Web3 gaming hub at the DIFC Innovation Hub.
The $100 million Wemade Web3 Fund is targeted at promising gaming studios and blockchain projects that intend to set up an office in the WEMIX PLAY Center.
DIFC Innovation Hub and WEMIX PLAY Center will provide state-of-the-art facilities and mentorship support to Wemade Web3 Fund’s investee companies.
DIFC Innovation Hub is the largest innovation community in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, and home to more than 700 growth-stage tech firms, established innovation companies, digital labs, venture capital firms, regulators, and educational entities.
Whampoa Digital is the technology investment arm of Whampoa Group, a privately-held investment company owned by several established families in Asia.
It is an early investor in digital assets and Web3 ventures, working with Web2 and Web3 visionaries to propel innovation and drive mass adoption of blockchain technologies.
It is also setting up Singapore Gulf Bank, a digital bank in Bahrain that will provide digital banking services to global investors, innovators and institutions participating in the digital economy.
“We are excited to be joining forces with Wemade, a powerhouse in the gaming space,
“This partnership will allow us to pioneer new horizons in the digital asset industry beyond our already established sectors, as well as foster innovation in the Middle East, one of the world’s fastest-growing regions in the Web3 space,” Whampoa Group Senior Partner Aureole Foong said.
Wemade Chief Executive Officer Henry Chang said through the partnership with Whampoa Digital, a leading investment firm in Singapore, they strive to share valuable insights related to blockchain technology with each party bringing their unique expertise to the partnership.
“We are committed to consistently expanding collaborations with outstanding global partners,” he added.
According to the statement, the partnership demonstrates Wemade’s growing capabilities as an operational and technical provider of blockchain solutions beyond gaming and aligns with Wemade’s steadfast commitment to expanding its reach in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Hong Kong Web3 fund CMCC Global launches $100M in first close