Introduction
LINE, a widely popular communication software in Asia, announced this year its mainnet merger with the Korean public chain Klaytn, a strategic move indicating LINE's proactive expansion in the Web3 field. Reflecting on the rise of the Telegram ecosystem, which successfully attracted numerous Web3 projects and users through its strong user base and mini-program platform, it has become a bridge for the transition from Web2 to Web3. Now, LINE also possesses similar development conditions and is expected to spawn new Web3 phenomenal projects in the Asian market, injecting new vitality into this field.
The merger of Line and Klaytn will bring technological innovation and changes in governance structure, issue a new unified token, and build an integrated network across Ethereum and Cosmos. This collaboration not only accelerates the development of Web3 technology but also signifies the deep cooperation of Asian tech giants in the blockchain field, bringing more innovation and opportunities to the entire industry. Therefore, Line has the potential to become a new engine driving the development of Web3, continuing the success story of the Telegram ecosystem.
TG Ecosystem Review
Our previous articles have also mentioned the booming situation of the TG ecosystem in the middle of the year.
The rapid development of the TG ecosystem has not only attracted widespread attention in the Web3 field but has also injected new vitality into the entire industry with its unique advantages and innovative models. Among them, the successful listing of multiple projects, especially those listed on mainstream trading platforms like Binance with rapidly rising market values, not only validates the commercial potential of the TG ecosystem but also attracts a large number of new users into the Web3 world.
The significant achievements of the TG ecosystem in the middle of the year are primarily attributed to its large user base and efficient dissemination mechanisms. Telegram itself, as a communication giant with 900 million users, has launched mini-programs and bot development features that provide users with a brand new service experience. These mini-programs can completely replace most websites, support seamless authorization and integrated payments, and greatly enrich user interaction through customized features, such as automatically sending news, information services, and popular mini-games.
Additionally, Telegram has developed the TON chain, supporting convenient blockchain transactions, further lowering the barrier for users to enter Web3. This model, similar to WeChat's 'traffic + payment,' has allowed Telegram to rapidly develop in the Web3 field, becoming a bridge connecting Web2 and Web3.
In this process, multiple projects within the TG ecosystem have performed particularly well. For example, game projects like NotCoin and Catizen, through their simple operation methods and viral mechanisms, quickly attracted a large number of users and successfully guided them to engage in on-chain interactions, thus achieving the transformation from Web2 users to Web3 users. These projects have not only succeeded within the TG ecosystem but have also rapidly increased their market values after being listed on Binance, showcasing their strong market appeal and commercial value.
Projects like Hamster Kombat have enhanced players' understanding and recognition of virtual currency through their unique game backgrounds and management elements, while effectively driving traffic to their YouTube channels through a combination of task systems and video-watching tasks, further expanding the influence of the TG ecosystem.
The success of these projects has not only brought a lot of fresh blood to the TG ecosystem but also provided new ideas and models for the development of the Web3 field. They demonstrate that through gamification and socialization, it is possible to effectively attract and convert Web2 users while showcasing the application potential of blockchain technology in non-financial fields such as gaming and social networking.
With the continuous maturation and improvement of the TG ecosystem, more application scenarios and business models will be explored and realized in the future. From the current development trend, the TG ecosystem will not only continue to delve into the gaming and social fields but may further expand into finance, education, business, and various other fields, ultimately forming a diversified and open Web3 ecosystem. As more innovative projects join and more users participate, the TG ecosystem is expected to become an important force in promoting the development of the Web3 industry.
Introduction to Line
LINE is not only a popular communication software in Asia, but it is also the most popular messaging application in Japan, with 95 million monthly active users as of 2024, covering over 68% of Japan's total population. The main features of this application are similar to WhatsApp, providing messaging and calling services, while it also has many other unique features such as stickers. Popular anime, celebrities, and creators even sell their paid stickers within the app. Businesses can set up official accounts on LINE, and some enterprises even sell their own stickers to support marketing activities.
LINE also has a status update feature, including a function similar to Instagram Stories and a seamless sharing button. Additionally, the app features a cashless payment function called 'LINE Pay,' allowing users to transfer money between each other and make payments in stores.
From 58 million monthly active users in 2015 to 95 million in 2024, LINE's user base has significantly increased. Among active users, the ratio of male and female users reachable through advertising is 52.5% and 47.5%, respectively. The age distribution ranges from 8.3% for 15 to 19 years old to 31.4% for 50 years and older, which is quite representative of the Japanese population.
In Japan, LINE is not just a tool for young people. It is widely used by people of all ages and has become an important communication mechanism connecting friends, family, and colleagues.
A unique feature of LINE is that over 3 million LINE accounts in Japan are owned by companies. If you want to set up a business account on the app, you need to fill out a registration form and submit an application. Once approved, you can start using it. As the number of business accounts in Japan continues to rise, it provides an alternative to other marketing tools like email communication, offering many advantages to businesses. Using it is free, and companies can send sales coupons to customers through the app, and even conduct surveys. Compared to email, it has a higher average open rate and click-through rate. This is why LINE is used by businesses of all sizes.
In 2020, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) reached an agreement with LINE to conduct a nationwide survey on COVID-19. The MHLW's official account regularly sends health questionnaires to all LINE users.
Today, LINE has become one of the most useful brand tools in Japan. If you are considering creating your own official LINE account while collaborating with the Japanese market, we strongly recommend that you do so. If you need any assistance, please feel free to contact us.
Current Status of LINE MINI App
The LINE MINI App, as an innovative service on the LINE platform, has become an important tool for digital transformation for businesses, especially popular in Japan and Taiwan. It allows businesses to publish web services directly on the LINE platform, enabling users to enjoy convenient service experiences without downloading additional applications. Thanks to LINE's large user base, businesses can reach a huge potential customer group, and by integrating LINE Pay, users can complete payments directly within the app, greatly enhancing shopping convenience.
With the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers are increasingly turning to planned purchases, requiring businesses to adapt to this change through digital means. The LINE MINI App has thus become a key tool for connecting online and offline (OMO); it not only supports common functions like online ordering, appointments, and queue management but also helps businesses improve service visibility and user engagement. Although the development of the LINE MINI App in Taiwan has not yet been fully opened, certified partners can apply in advance, and after development is completed, it needs to pass LINE's review before being published.
Currently, the LINE MINI App is widely used in industries such as dining, education, healthcare, beauty, and retail. It helps businesses stand out in a competitive market by providing a convenient user experience and strong backend support. With the continuous development of technology and further market openness, the LINE MINI App is expected to play a greater role in the future, especially in promoting the integration of online and offline services.
Additionally, as the market acceptance of the LINE MINI App continues to grow, its numbers are rapidly increasing. Some companies, like DOTZ, have launched no-code development platforms like 'Mini App Maker,' further lowering the technical barriers, allowing more small and medium enterprises to easily create and manage their own LINE MINI App. It is expected that in the future, the LINE MINI App will play a greater role in e-commerce and online services, and may even drive LINE to become a super app, providing users with comprehensive life services. This trend not only offers businesses a brand new customer touchpoint but also brings consumers a richer and more convenient service experience.
Introduction to the Korean Public Chain Klaytn
Klaytn is a blockchain platform launched by GroundX, a subsidiary of South Korean internet giant Kakao, aimed at promoting the widespread adoption of blockchain technology through its high performance, scalability, and reliability. Klaytn employs a Proof of Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism, which not only accelerates transaction speeds and confirmation times but also maintains the efficient operation of the system.
A major feature of Klaytn is that it integrates the advantages of both public and private blockchains, providing an environment that is both efficient and secure. This unique combination allows Klaytn to support a large number of transactions and users while maintaining low processing times and costs, which is crucial for business applications that need to handle high-frequency, large-scale transactions. In addition, Klaytn supports smart contracts, enabling developers to build various decentralized applications (dApps), known as BApps (Blockchain Applications), to meet the needs of different industries and application scenarios.
Klaytn provides an accessible and user-friendly development environment, making it easy for even newcomers to blockchain technology to build and deploy blockchain applications. Through a platform similar to web services, Klaytn simplifies the process of creating new blockchain environments, reducing the technical burden on developers. This design philosophy is particularly appealing to developers transitioning from centralized applications to decentralized applications, as it lowers the entry barrier and accelerates the realization of innovative applications.
Klaytn's native cryptocurrency is KLAY, which plays multiple roles in the system. As a payment method, KLAY is used in applications built on Klaytn and is also awarded to developers who contribute to the platform. Additionally, KLAY is a popular choice for cryptocurrency traders and investors looking to profit from market price fluctuations through trading.
An important milestone in Klaytn's development history is the merger with Finschia, leading to the birth of the new mainnet Kaia. Kaia combines the technological advantages of Klaytn and Finschia, aiming to create the largest Web3 ecosystem in Asia. The native token of the new mainnet Kaia, KAIA, not only symbolizes the integration of Klaytn and Finschia but also represents a commitment to partners and the community, aimed at gathering developers, businesses, users, and traders into a unified ecosystem.
The launch of Kaia signals the rise of a network centered around collaboration, innovation, and users, simplifying user experience, and promoting the adoption and application of blockchain technology globally. Kaia's vision is to make blockchain technology easy to use and accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or experience. This vision is guided by its core values - community, sustainability, and simplicity - which serve as guiding stars for Kaia in nurturing partnerships, deeply engaging with communities, and driving blockchain adoption.
The network structure of Kaia is divided into three logical subnets:
Ⅰ Core Unit Network (CCN): Composed of core units (CC) responsible for transaction validation, execution, and block creation.
Ⅱ Endpoint Node Network (ENN): Composed of endpoint nodes (EN) that handle RPC API requests and process service chain data.
Ⅲ Service Chain Network (SCN): An auxiliary blockchain independently operated by dApps, connected to the main chain through EN.
Image source: http://docs.kaia.io/learn/ Overview of Kaia
Merger of LINE and Klaytn's public chain
The merger of Klaytn and LINE's public chain Finschia has created a new blockchain ecosystem - Kaia. This merger signifies the deep cooperation between the two major tech giants in Asia, Kakao and LINE, aimed at promoting the development and application of Web3 technology.
Background
Klaytn is a blockchain platform launched by South Korean internet giant Kakao, aiming to provide a high-performance, scalable, and secure blockchain environment. Finschia, on the other hand, is a blockchain platform launched by LINE, inheriting the vision of the LINE blockchain and committed to promoting the adoption of public blockchains and Web3 technology. The merger of the two platforms not only represents technical integration but also deep strategic cooperation, aiming to create Asia's leading Web3 ecosystem.
Advantages of the Merger
1. Technological Integration: Kaia combines the technological advantages of Klaytn and Finschia, providing a high-performance blockchain network. It supports EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) and CosmWasm, enabling developers to build applications on a platform compatible with multiple blockchain technologies.
2. User Base: The merged Kaia will integrate the advantages of Klaytn with KakaoTalk and Finschia with LINE, meaning that Kaia will have a potential user base of over 250 million, providing a large user base for blockchain applications.
3. Ecosystem Expansion: Kaia will promote ecosystem expansion in the areas of real-world asset tokenization (RWA), GameFi, and DeFi with partners in Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia, further enriching Kaia's ecosystem and attracting more developers and projects to join.
4. Governance Structure: Kaia plans to expand its governance structure to include 100 leading global enterprises, implementing permissionless validation to enhance the decentralization and security of the system.
Impact of the Merger
The merged Kaia is expected to have a profound impact on the Web3 industry. It will not only bring new vitality to the blockchain field in Asia but may also become the focus of attention for the global blockchain community. The launch of Kaia signifies the rise of a network centered around collaboration, innovation, and users, simplifying user experience and promoting the adoption and application of blockchain technology globally.
Additionally, Kaia's governance model optimization and support for AI-driven dApp discovery and promotion will make Kaia an important bridge connecting traditional businesses and modern blockchain technology. The success of Kaia will depend on the competitiveness of its technology and ecosystem, as well as its influence on the global Web3 stage.
Overall, the merger of Klaytn and Finschia, along with the launch of the new mainnet Kaia, marks an important milestone in the development of blockchain technology in Asia, bringing new value and opportunities to the Web3 industry. With the continuous development and maturation of Kaia, we have reason to expect it to play an even more important role in the blockchain field.
Outlook
With the successful merger of Klaytn and Finschia, the birth of the new mainnet Kaia brings new vitality and innovation to the Web3 industry. Kaia's vision is to promote the adoption and application of blockchain technology by providing an inclusive, accessible, and technologically advanced platform. Looking ahead, Kaia is expected to become an important force in the blockchain field in Asia and even globally, and its development will have a profound impact on the entire Web3 ecosystem.
Kaia has great development potential, as it will provide developers with powerful tools and resources to build and deploy innovative blockchain applications, as well as bring users a richer and more convenient service experience. With the addition of more DeFi projects, GameFi applications, and other Web3 services, Kaia's ecosystem will become more diverse and active. Furthermore, Kaia's support for AI-driven dApp discovery and promotion will further facilitate innovation and user participation on the platform.
Kaia's global expansion plan, including collaborations with top gaming companies in several Asian countries and Web3 projects with globally recognized IPs, indicates that it will provide an unprecedented collaborative platform for developers, innovators, and users. Kaia's governance structure optimization and the implementation of permissionless validation will enhance the network's decentralization, improve the system's openness and security, and provide a fairer and more transparent environment for the global blockchain community.
In summary, the future development of Kaia is full of expectations. It will not only inject new momentum into the development of blockchain technology in Asia but may also lead the global Web3 industry into a new era. With continuous technological advancements and the increasing maturity of the ecosystem, Kaia is expected to become an important bridge connecting traditional internet and emerging blockchain technologies, providing a secure, convenient, and rich digital communication and financial services platform for global users.
