The story of Web3 gaming is beginning to resemble the broader cycles of technological disruption: hype, collapse, and eventual rebirth.
Jonathan Huang of Bitkraft Ventures highlights a crucial truth often missed in the first wave of play-to-earn experiments: games succeed only when they are fun. By treating blockchain as infrastructure rather than a selling point, the new generation of studios is shifting focus back to design, creativity, and long-term player engagement.
Huang’s dismissal of flashy but shallow narratives, like interoperable swords, reflects a welcome maturity. Instead, his emphasis on portable reputation and identity across games points to a far more meaningful use case for blockchain—one that addresses real gaps left by Web2 platforms. This pivot from gimmick to utility mirrors other industry resets, from the dot-com bust to the collapse of social gaming, which ultimately cleared the path for enduring innovations.
Southeast Asia’s evolving role is particularly noteworthy. Once the stage for speculative frenzy, the region fosters patient builders with multi-year visions. With its mobile-first gamers and openness to experimentation, it may again become the crucible for the next big wave. If history is any guide, sceptics should brace themselves: the real Web3 games are just getting started.
REGIONAL
ViSenze acquired by Nasdaq-listed Rezolve AI to power APAC expansion
ViSenze develops “breakthrough” visual search capabilities for retail and introducing multimodal AI search to revolutionise online and in-store product discovery | The move will transform ViSenze’s Singapore base into Rezolve’s regional headquarters for APAC expansion.
Temasek revamps into three entities in big shake-up
The three entities are Temasek Global Investments (TGI), Temasek Singapore (TSG), and Temasek Partnership Solutions (TPS) | It is in one of the biggest overhauls in the state-owned investor’s 51-year history, as it prepares for a new generation of leaders.
Atome defies market headwinds with 63 per cent income surge, US$4B GMV run rate
Net revenue surpassed US$500Min Q2 2025, driven by an over US$4B annualised GMV | The Atome PayLater Anywhere Card in the Philippines saw accelerated adoption, with the total number of cards issued exceeding 1.5M as of June 2025.
Tether, Binance, OKX join forces with police to halt US$50M crypto scam in SEA
This follows a similar high-profile case in November 2023, where Tether and OKX collaborated with the US to freeze ~US$225M in USDT | These funds were tied to an international human trafficking syndicate in SEA, which was also responsible for romance scams.
Atlas Consolidated scores US$18.1M to help banks escape legacy core systems
Investors are Getz, Inc. and Woodside Holdings | Atlas Consolidated will use the funds to accelerate the global expansion of its flagship platform, HugoHub, enabling financial institutions worldwide to embrace digital transformation.
Indonesian SaaS firm Mekari buys social commerce platform Desty
The deal will allow Mekari to integrate Desty’s inventory, order, and customer management tools with its existing financial, HR, and operational software | Mekari serves over 35,000 businesses and offers products for HR, payroll, accounting, CRM, and expense management.
Singapore’s Origgin Ventures debuts Japan arm for deeptech growth
The new initiative aims to connect research and startups between Japan and Southeast Asia by supporting commercialisation of university and corporate technologies | Origgin signed two MoUs with Japanese partners to support joint projects and strengthen the ecosystem.
Indonesian Web3 platform Hypr launches NFT-based F&B investments
The platform’s first portfolio company is DORÉ by LeTAO, a Japanese dessert brand known for its cheesecakes, which operates in Indonesia | Hypr uses NFT-backed smart contracts to secure investor profit rights and distributes monthly profits.
ZUZU Hospitality nets US$5.9M to scale AI-powered revenue platform for hotels
Investors include Wavemaker Growth, Velocity Ventures, Vulpes Ventures, and Latin Leap | The capital will accelerate the deployment and scaling of ZUZU’s AI-powered revenue management platform RevMate, expand data capabilities, and scale its go-to-market efforts.
Indonesia’s Bang Jamin secures US$4M pre-Series A to scale digital insurance
Investors include Braxton Capital, SBI Ven Capital, BNI Ventures, and BRI Ventures | Bang will use the capital to expand products, enhance technology, and penetrate underserved Indonesian markets through strategic B2B partnerships.
Bluente lands US$1.5M to scale AI-driven document translation worldwide
Lead investor is Informed Ventures | Singapore-based Bluente offers an AI-powered document translation platform that preserves exact formatting while delivering contextually accurate translations |Bluente’s AI preserves formatting across 120+ languages.
REPORTS, FEATURES & INTERVIEWS
Who uses AI-powered mobile apps? A closer look at audience and usage patterns
AI is no longer confined to experimental chatbots or specialist tools | It has spread across verticals, powering everything from calorie counters and editing software to lifestyle guidance platforms.
AI remains a travel underdog, but satisfaction soars among early adopters: Kaspersky
Only 28 per cent of travellers currently use the tech to plan their journeys, but a staggering 96 per cent of those who do report high satisfaction | 84 per cent of travellers plan to use it again.
Web3 gaming isn’t dead; it’s about to get good: Bitkraft’s Jonathan Huang
He says blockchain should be the infrastructure, not the value proposition | The design space only becomes interesting once you ask: are you solving a real problem in Web2 gaming, or unlocking a new kind of use case?
Asia leads global surge in AI-powered mobile apps, SensorTower finds
Beyond chatbots, AI has made significant inroads into categories such as health and wellness, jobs and education, financial services, and lifestyle | Over 200 apps in these sectors added AI references to their descriptions in just six months, signalling that developers are not only embracing the tech but also keen to highlight it to consumers.
Nakul Kothari on building, scaling, and the future of fintech
Nakul Kothari, Head of APAC & Middle East at Juspay, a global payments infrastructure platform, shares fintech insights from scaling payments across regions, urging startups to ground AI in real operational challenges.
INTERNATIONAL
SK Telecom fined US$97M over data breach affecting 23M users
The Personal Information Protection Commission imposed the penalty for inadequate protection of customer data and delayed breach reporting, and ordered SK Telecom to strengthen its data oversight | The Ministry of Science and ICT also recommended in July that the company waive penalties for customers leaving the network after the incident.
Alibaba in talks to refinance US$6.5B loan in 2026
The company is proposing a new five-year revolving credit facility, offering a rate of less than 80 basis points above the Secured Overnight Financing Rate to current lenders | Negotiations are ongoing, and terms may still change.
ByteDance said to eye US$330B valuation, plans share buyback
The repurchase, expected in autumn, will offer employees US$200.4 per share, up from US$189.9 about six months ago | ByteDance’s Q2 revenue reached around US$48B, up 25% year-on-year | In Q1, its revenue topped Meta’s US$42.3B, making it the largest social media company by sales.
SEMICONDUCTOR
Intel says it gets US$5.7B from US government for 10% stake
The government’s stake is intended as an incentive for Intel to retain control of its contract manufacturing business, known as its foundry | The White House said the deal is still being finalized by the Department of Commerce and remains under discussion.
Investors fear Trump’s Intel deal may affect private companies
Some investors and analysts warn that such deals could blur the lines between government and business interests, citing risks around insider trading, decision-making conflicts, and broader market implications.
US government has no plans to acquire Nvidia after Intel deal
Analysts and investors have expressed concern over the government’s growing influence in publicly traded firms, with some warning that such moves set a precedent for direct state intervention | Government stakes in strategic industries are more common in Europe and Asia, notably in China’s SMIC.
White House talks on China chip sales will take time: Nvidia CEO
Jensen Huang said talks had begun about selling a scaled-down chip that would be 30-50 per cent less capable than the original | Nvidia is seeking approval to access China’s estimated US$50B AI market.
Malaysian chip firm SkyeChip unveils first local edge AI processor
Edge AI processors are less powerful than advanced chips from companies like Nvidia, but the launch marks a significant step for Malaysia as it seeks to expand its role in the global AI sector | Malaysia already has a foothold in chip manufacturing and has recently increased its investments in AI.
Taiwan charges 3 in TSMC tech theft case
One of those charged is a former TSMC employee who later worked at Japanese chip equipment maker Tokyo Electron, and prosecutors are seeking a 14-year sentence for this person | Prosecutors allege the former employee persuaded ex-TSMC colleagues to share confidential technology, leading to indictments for two others.
GlobalFoundries says CHIPS Act does not involve equity
The announcement comes days after the US government converted CHIPS Act grants into equity at Intel, and made separate agreements with Nvidia and AMD to receive a share of their China sales revenue from advanced chips.
AI
Embracing AI evolution: The crucial role of data management and cybersecurity in AI success
In today’s hyper-connected digital landscape, the symbiotic relationship between data management, cybersecurity, and the success of AI cannot be overstated | As organisations increasingly rely on AI to drive business, the importance of robust data management practices and stringent cybersecurity measures becomes even more critical.
Glance AI wants to bring joy back to shopping with Generative AI
For years, online shopping has prioritised efficiency. Consumers search, browse, compare and, eventually, purchase. While effective, the process has often “lacked joy”| According to Mansi Jain, Senior Vice President of Glance AI, the company saw an opportunity to introduce creativity, fun and personalisation into the commerce experience.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Eric Trump is headlining a Bitcoin conference and China just silenced its top officials
While political pressures threaten to stifle innovation in hubs like Hong Kong, the inexorable march of corporate adoption of Bitcoin suggests that decentralised finance may ultimately transcend national rivalries, offering a hedge against traditional economic uncertainties.
The US$18.7B ghost market: Why Asia’s femtech revolution starts with listening
Asia Pacific’s femtech market is projected to reach US$18.7B by 2030, yet remains starved of funding and attention | While fertility apps dominate headlines, our region’s real pain points- menopause-driven talent attritionare where transformational change begins. Yet its true potential hides in “ghost markets” where stigma silences suffering.
How a team of women designed the perfect e-commerce tool for Vietnam’s rural sellers
Across rural Vietnam, thousands of women entrepreneurs were adapting mainstream social platforms to create micro-businesses | They were selling everything from handmade crafts to fresh produce, often during live sessions where they could build personal connections with customers.
Rails of fortune: How China’s US$124B BRI boom is creating new startup arteries in SEA
State-backed giants China Galaxy Securities and China International Capital Corp are rolling out over US$1B in new private equity funds targeting Southeast Asia—focused on healthcare, AI, advanced manufacturing, renewables, consumer products, and even a US$100M fund for Malaysia’s gaming sector.
Joanna Wong’s second act: Reinvention as a founder strategy
For over two decades, Wong was a brand builder | She started in agencies, then spent 16 years at Eu Yan Sang, where she rose to become Head of Corporate Communications and Brand Management | It was there that she shaped campaigns across Asia.
How digital banking is driving financial inclusion in SEA
As digital natives, digital banks can leverage technology to lower the cost of funding and provide a better customer experience | For instance, using AI for customer service reduces labour dependency, turnaround times and customer waiting times, resulting in better efficiency and higher customer satisfaction.
Why tomorrow’s data scientists need storytelling skills to succeed?
The ability to communicate the analysis of data with precise acuity and brevity will become one of the most valuable skill sets moving forward, as Singapore accelerates its Smart Nation efforts, and as more companies turn to data to inform business recovery and future growth.
How blockchain is optimising payments, assets and workflows
The technology opens doors to progressive audiences (millennials and Gen Z) who demand instant digital services, international partners from regions with limited banking infrastructure, and B2B clients from industries with elevated transparency requirements (pharmaceuticals, food production).
The post Ecosystem Roundup: Bitkraft’s Jonathan Huang on Web3 gaming revival | ViSenze joins Rezolve AI for APAC push | Investors wary of Trump-Intel deal impact appeared first on e27.