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Web3 Gamer – Cointelegraph Magazine
The hacker problem in MapleStory Universe is getting worse, with execs issuing apologies to players for how it’s been handled.
MapleStory Universe head of strategy Keith Kim said there’s been an “aggressive” spike in attempts to exploit the game, mostly involving exploiting character skills and network tampering.
“These are not isolated incidents. They compromise the experience for everyone.”
Popular gamer Predtz claimed in a video that hackers are using external software to make “low-level characters” artificially more powerful to defeat the “high-level bosses” in the game and extract more NPXC rewards.
This breaks the intended game balance and exploits the in-game economy, which is more concerning in blockchain games where rewards have real-world value, Predtz said.
Gaming commentator Dmoneygames said that because hackers have been exploiting the bonus reward events, he’s now spending a lot of time just trying to find channels that aren’t overrun by them.
“I finally found a channel without a hacker, but a hacker could appear at any second now to take advantage of the bonus XC that is going on right now,” Dmoneygames said in the video.
The game’s executive producer, Sunyoung Hwang, admits there hasn’t been enough communication over how they planned to address the feedback.
“We haven’t communicated in the way this community deserves — not actively enough, not in both directions. That’s on us, and we sincerely apologize,” Hwang said.
However, Hwang claimed that no one has been able to cheat in a way that has seriously messed up the game’s economy or caused a market crash. “To be clear, there have been no unchecked exploits that led to systemic reward inflation or marketwide sell pressure,” Hwang said.
However, Gamer Yoked claimed the recent hacking saga has “completely flooded the market.”
“Late game items dropped in value,” he explained, adding that “nobody wants to buy gear when prices are guaranteed to keep falling.”
One gamer responded to Hwang, saying, “We don’t just want empty promises.”
To fight back, the developers upgraded the game’s skill validation system to detect suspicious behavior, especially in the early levels of the game, where abuse has spiked.
“This system now detects abnormal skill behavior and distorted network environments, with coverage extended to both boss content and early-level play, where abuse has become more frequent,” he said.
Kim expects the cheaters to keep coming, but says the dev team is ready to respond quickly and stay ahead.
A spokesperson for MapleStory Universe tells Magazine that the team “is taking this issue seriously and fully acknowledges its impact on player trust and the integrity of the in-game ecosystem.”
“In response, we have taken swift action to reinforce our systems through a multi-layered approach. This includes placing permanent access bans on more than 20,000 accounts per day involved in malicious activity, and enforcing additional limitations to disrupt exploit patterns,” the spokesperson says.
Tokyo Beast explodes in Japan, Immutable set to expand there
Futuristic combat auto-battler game Tokyo Beast has exploded in Japan, becoming the No. 1 free game on the Japanese App Store — and Web3 gaming giant Immutable is already planning to double down in the region.
“Japan has always been a global powerhouse in gaming,” Immutable co-founder Robbie Ferguson tells Magazine, adding that the Japanese gaming market’s strong response to Tokyo Beast signals that Japan has a demand for digital ownership in games.
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After launching on June 12, the game racked up over 300,000 downloads in just 48 hours.
Ferguson says it is “a clear indicator that Web3 gaming can achieve mainstream success in one of the most influential gaming markets in the world.”
The surge in popularity comes just three months after Immutable announced it would be bringing Tokyo Beast onchain as part of a push to tap into Japan’s massive — but still relatively untapped — gaming market.
The game joined Immutable’s platform earlier this year and integrated with the Immutable Passport, which serves as a non-custodial wallet, gamer profile and authentication solution for users.
Ferguson says that Japan has the highest average spend per user and calls it an “incredibly important market,” which Immutable is now focusing on.
He says it is one of their most active hubs, and Immutable is “definitely continuing to expand there.”
In February, Ferguson pointed out that Japan’s $27.4 billion gaming market has yet to fully embrace Web3. However, several Japanese gaming companies have already shown interest in Web3, including Square Enix, Bandai Namco and Capcom.
Hot Take: FIFA Rivals
As a die-hard football (soccer) fan, I was pumped when Mythical Games’ mobile-based FIFA Rivals dropped. I really enjoyed Mythical Games’ NFL Rivals, even though I’ve never watched an NFL game or knew anything about “that type” of football.
I even cleared out space on my phone for FIFA Rivals — RIP random apps I never used — just to download the 1.5 gigabyte Polkadot-based Mythos chain game.
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At first, the game didn’t win me over; in fact, it was frustrating.
The moment the mandatory tutorial started, I knew something felt off. Instead of classic on-screen controls, I had to draw squiggly lines and tap players to get them to do anything.
Tapping. Players. To tackle?
As much as I love football games, this felt more like a touchscreen puzzle than the “EA Sports” FIFA titles I grew up playing.
But I’ll be the first to admit — this is a case of boomers/millennials being cranky at change.
Once I got a bit more practice at the controls (they still feel a bit jarring), it actually turned out to be a fun and addictive game to play.
There’s something oddly satisfying about watching a high ball float into the striker’s box, then sliding your finger across the screen and watching it hit the back of the net.
One of my favorite plays in the game is pretending I’m David Beckham and doing a quick little swiggle on the screen to curl the ball into the top corner of the net.
The game has impressive graphics and a unique super boost feature, which gives players access to special powers such as turbocharged kicks, tackles and sprinting.
The crowd chanting and the over-the-top tackle sounds make the whole game way more exciting, too.
Best of all, you don’t need to pay or buy expensive NFTs to start playing. That said, players can purchase NFTs to bolster their gameplay experience, from NFT boots that increase the player’s stats to NFT balls that give their team the kickoff advantage.
Overall, if you’re a football fan like me, it’s definitely worth adding to your mobile game portfolio. It’s great for a casual pick-up game here and there — and if you want to go sweaty, you can also build your dream team, compete online against other players and level up in a career-mode style.
Reddit users are tossing around the idea that FIFA Rivals may be the title that brings blockchain gaming mainstream. User jclaslie said, “I am honestly pleasantly surprised with the gameplay.” Absurdcriminality said, “There is so much potential, not just because of the gameplay, but because soccer is a much more popular sport than the NFL worldwide.”
DatFoon said, “Surely this will be the one to push blockchain gaming into the mainstream.”
Other News
— Fast-paced hero shooter game, The Machines Arena, has released a new preview trailer in what it claims to be its “biggest” update yet.
— NFT marketplace Magic Eden has teamed up with Web3 developer platform Sequence to streamline the experience for Web3 gaming and NFT developers. “Whether you’re focused on distribution, monetization, or interoperability, now you get it all in one seamless, integrated solution,” Sequence said in a recent blog post.
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Ciaran Lyons
Ciaran Lyons is an Australian crypto journalist. He’s also a standup comedian and has been a radio and TV presenter on Triple J, SBS and The Project.
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Former Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao has questioned the legitimacy of The Open Network’s new pathway to UAE residency, noting the absence of any official announcement from UAE government sources.
As Cointelegraph reported, The Open Network announced on Saturday that 10-year UAE Golden Visas will be available to applicants who stake at least $100,000 worth of Toncoin (TON) for three years and pay a $35,000 processing fee. The visa could reportedly be secured in under seven weeks.
“Is this real?” CZ asked on X in response to the announcement. “It would be awesome IF it is true. But I got conflicting info so far.”
“There are no official gov website with the “stake Ton for golden visa” update,” CZ added, noting the lack of information about which government entity, if any, approved the program.
CZ is familiar with the UAE’s residency requirements, having received a Golden Visa when he first arrived in the country.
In response to CZ’s post, some X users pointed out that Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has confirmed the news. Durov reposted the announcement on X from crypto influencer Ash Crypto.
Even so, CZ had reservations, stating he likes to “trust but verify.”
Nevertheless, the announcement was enough to send TON’s price sharply higher, with the token rallying more than 11% within a few hours, according to CoinMarketCap.
Cointelegraph could not independently verify the news, as the announcement did not appear on the websites of the Ras Al Khaimah Emirate DAO, Securities and Commodities Authority, Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority or Abu Dhabi Global Market Authority as of Sunday afternoon.
However, as the original announcement stated, the Golden Visa program is being managed by a third party.
“Our visa issuing partner in the UAE will review your details and guide you through the final steps,” TON said.
Related: Telegram founder Durov on arrest, detention in France: ‘I’m confused’
UAE has become a leading crypto and blockchain hub
The UAE has emerged as a rapidly growing hub for cryptocurrency adoption and blockchain-based companies, thanks to its favorable regulatory environment, government support and infrastructure that welcomes DeFi and Web3 projects.
Many of these advantages were highlighted at the recent Token2049 conference in Dubai, which CZ attended.
As Cointelegraph recently reported, the UAE has launched a Machine Economy Free Zone to explore the intersection of robotics, AI and decentralization.
The new sandbox, developed in partnership with layer-1 blockchain peaq, aims to reward tokenholders with a share of the revenues generated by machine economy activities. The initiative also seeks to create real-world use cases for decentralized physical infrastructure (DePIN) networks.
The UAE has also positioned itself as a key player in tokenized real estate, with Dubai launching the first licensed tokenized real estate project in the Middle East and North Africa. The initiative is a collaboration between the Central Bank of the UAE, the Dubai Futures Foundation and the Dubai Land Department.
In May, a $3 billion real estate blockchain deal contributed to a surge in Dubai property sales.
Magazine: TradFi is building Ethereum L2s to tokenize trillions in RWAs: Inside story
Key takeaways:
- Bitcoin’s Bollinger Bands indicator now sees the potential for BTC price breakout above $110,000.
- Bitcoin eyes new all-time highs in July due to multiple tailwinds.
Bitcoin (BTC) could see further upside volatility as BTC’s price holds key levels, according to a classic technical analysis metric.
Bollinger Bands: BTC price nears breakout
In a Sunday post on X, crypto YouTuber Crypto Rover said that Bitcoin was positioned for an upward breakout based on Bollinger Bands analysis.
Bollinger Bands, a Bitcoin indicator used by traders to assess momentum and volatility within a certain range, had reached its tightest point in 12 months, signaling that a significant price move may be underway or imminent.
Crypto Rover shared a chart showing that Bitcoin Bollinger Bands were “tighter than they’ve been” since February 2024 across three-day timeframes.
Related: ‘False move’ to $105K? 5 Things to know in Bitcoin this week
Bitcoin surged about 75% between February and March of 2024 to its previous all-time highs of $74,000, after breaking above the upper boundary of the Bollinger Bands.
If history repeats, Bitcoin’s current price of $108,900 could quickly turn into a new all-time high of $190,000, according to data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView.
In an accompanying comment, Crypto Rover said:
“Big pump incoming!”
He wasn’t the only trader to spot the emerging pattern.
“Bollinger band tighter than it’s been for over a year,” said crypto analyst Cantonese Cat, adding, “Bigger move coming.”
“The $BTC Bollinger Bands are pretty compressed — currently around yearly lows at a 9.4% price range,” wrote Crypto markets commentator Frank Fetter in an X post.
The $BTC Bollinger Bands are pretty compressed — currently around yearly lows at a 9.4% price range. When vol? pic.twitter.com/H69SWOZD9x
— Frank (@FrankAFetter) June 30, 2025
John Bollinger, the creator of the Bollinger Bands volatility indicator, had previously said that Bitcoin’s multiple rejections from the upper boundary of the indicator around $110,000 could mark a local top.
But the indicator’s creator is now bullish once again. In a Sunday post on X, Bollinger said:
“Bitcoin looks to be setting up for an upside breakout.”
Multiple metrics: Bitcoin “bull trend is intact”
As Cointelegraph continues to report, multiple factors are putting Bitcoin in a good position for more upside despite hitting resistance at $110,000.
In addition to persistent institutional demand through spot Bitcoin ETFs and treasury companies, BTC’s giant cup-and-handle pattern in higher timeframes projects a breakout to as high as $230,000.
Looming US tariff deadlines along with an upcoming “Crypto Week” in Washington D.C. could unlock risk appetite among the bulls.
Meanwhile, the Bitcoin market value realized value “MVRV” ratio, an onchain metric used to assess whether Bitcoin’s price is overvalued or undervalued, is at 2.23, above its 365-day simple moving average (SMA365) at 2.15, per data from CryptoQuant.
“Historically, as long as MVRV stays above its SMA365, the uptrend tends to continue,” explained CryptoQuant analyst Burakkesmeci in a QuickTake analysis, adding:
“The bull trend is intact.”
As Cointelegraph reported, continued expansion of global money supply (M2) serves as another potential catalyst for Bitcoin to reach $170,000 in the coming months.
This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.
The Kingdom of Bhutan is integrating cryptocurrency payments into its tourism infrastructure in a bid to modernize its economy and attract younger, tech-savvy travelers.
In a panel discussion during Binance’s Crypto-Powered Tour in Bhutan, Damcho Rinzin, the director of Bhutan’s Department of Tourism, told the audience that the country’s tourism sector has long struggled because of the country’s payment infrastructure.
On May 7, Binance Pay partnered with local bank DK Bank to let users pay for their expenses in Bhutan using crypto. During the panel discussion, DK Bank president Ugyen Tenzin said almost 1,000 merchants nationwide have been onboarded to accept the payment method.
Rinzin said feedback from tourists had described the bank wire transfers they had used in Bhutan as “a thing of the past.” By integrating crypto, he said the country could become more accessible to modern travelers and eliminate friction in its payment infrastructure.
Accepting crypto payments sends a “welcoming” message
In addition to convenience, Rinzin sees crypto as a branding opportunity for the Himalayan kingdom. “This sends a very strong message that Bhutan is very welcoming,” he said.
He added that welcoming crypto means being open to a different kind of tourist. Rinzin said opening the doors to crypto signals openness to young, forward-looking visitors who align with the kingdom’s sustainable and mindful tourism vision.
Rinzin also shared the modest goal of attracting 300,000 users annually. He said DK Bank’s integration with Binance Pay should help the tourism sector, as attracting a portion of the crypto exchange’s millions of users to visit would boost the local economy.
He also compared crypto payment fees with traditional banking systems. Rinzin said the near-instant payments and lower fees for using crypto are more efficient than existing payment systems in Bhutan.
“Digital inclusion is going to do wonders for people not only in the tourism industry in Bhutan,” he said, adding that it would also help people in other industries.
Crypto aligns with Bhutan’s evolving identity
In a roundtable discussion with the media during the tour, Carissa Nimah, chief marketing officer of Bhutan’s Department of Tourism, expressed similar sentiments. Nimah described Bhutan as “traditional and authentic,” while also being “focused and visionary.”
She said the move to accept crypto aligns with the kingdom’s evolving identity. “This partnership opens up Bhutan to a new category of traveler, people who want to explore the world using crypto payments.”
With major projects like the Gelephu Mindfulness City underway, crypto integration is seen as a part of a broader vision in Bhutan. “I think this would play a very large part in the Gelephu Mindfulness City,” Nimah told the media.
Despite the Tourism Department’s crypto push, adoption remains a work in progress. Several local merchants onboarded into the program told Cointelegraph that they have yet to see many customers using the payment option.
A local tour guide also told Cointelegraph that he would not recommend a purely crypto approach when visiting Bhutan. The guide said that a combination of crypto, cash and credit cards was still the best way to get around.
Magazine: Chinese Tether laundromat, Bhutan enjoys recent Bitcoin boost: Asia Express
Web3 Gamer – Cointelegraph Magazine
CZ Questions TON’s UAE Golden Visa as Official Sources Stay Silent
Creator Say Bitcoin Bollinger Bands Setting Up BTC Price for ‘Upside Breakout’
Bhutan Embraces Crypto Payments to Attract Modern Tourists
CZ Questions TON’s UAE Golden Visa as Official Sources Stay Silent
