Introduction
Line, a widely popular communication software in Asia, announced this year its mainnet merger with the Korean public chain Klaytn. This strategic move indicates that Line will actively expand its presence in the Web3 field. Reflecting on the rise of the Telegram ecosystem, it successfully attracted a large number of Web3 projects and users through its strong user base and mini-program platform, becoming a bridge for the transition from Web2 to Web3. Today, Line also has similar development conditions and is expected to give rise to new Web3 phenomenon-level projects in the Asian market, injecting new vitality into the field.
The merger between Line and Klaytn will bring technological innovation and changes to the governance structure, issuing a new unified token and building an integrated network across Ethereum and Cosmos. This collaboration not only accelerates the development of Web3 technology but also indicates deep cooperation among 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 successful story of the Telegram ecosystem.
TG Ecosystem Review
Our previous article also mentioned the booming situation of the TG ecosystem mid-year.
The rapid development of the TG ecosystem has not only attracted widespread attention in the Web3 field but also injected new vitality into the entire industry with its unique advantages and innovative models. The successful listings of multiple projects, especially those that have been listed on mainstream trading platforms like Binance and have seen their market value soar rapidly, not only validate the commercial potential of the TG ecosystem but also attract a large number of new users into the Web3 world.
The TG ecosystem has achieved such remarkable success mid-year mainly due to its large user base and efficient dissemination mechanisms. Telegram itself, as a communications giant with 900 million users, provides a new service experience for users through its launched mini-programs and bot development features. These mini-programs can fully replace most websites, support seamless authorization and integrated payments, and greatly enrich user interaction methods through customized features such as automatically sending news, information services, and trending mini-games.
Additionally, Telegram has developed the TON chain, supporting convenient blockchain transactions, further lowering the threshold for users to enter Web3. This model, similar to WeChat's 'Traffic + Payment', has enabled Telegram to rapidly develop in the Web3 field, becoming a bridge connecting Web2 and Web3.
In this process, several projects within the TG ecosystem have performed particularly well. For example, gaming projects like NotCoin and Catizen quickly attracted a large number of users and successfully guided them to conduct on-chain interactions through their simple operation methods and viral mechanisms, achieving the transformation from Web2 users to Web3 users. These projects not only achieved success within the TG ecosystem but also saw their market value soar rapidly after being listed on Binance, demonstrating their strong market appeal and commercial value.
Projects like Hamster Kombat have enhanced players' understanding and recognition of virtual currencies through their unique game background settings and management elements. Additionally, by integrating a task system with video-watching tasks, they effectively directed traffic to their YouTube channel, further expanding the influence of the TG ecosystem.
The success of these projects has not only brought a wealth 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 also showcasing the application potential of blockchain technology in non-financial fields such as gaming and social interaction.
With the continuous maturity 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 also further expand into finance, education, business, and several other areas, ultimately forming a diversified and open Web3 ecosystem. With the participation of more innovative projects and users, 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 is also the most popular messaging application in Japan. As of 2024, it has 95 million monthly active users, covering more than 68% of the total Japanese population. The app's main functions are similar to WhatsApp, providing messaging and calling services, while it also includes many other unique features, such as stickers. Popular anime, celebrities, and creators even sell their paid stickers within the app. Businesses can open official accounts on LINE, and some even sell their own stickers to support marketing activities.
LINE also features a status update function, including a feature similar to Instagram stories and a seamless sharing button. Additionally, the app has a cashless payment feature called 'LINE Pay,' which allows 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 reachable ratio of male and female users through advertisements is 52.5% and 47.5%, respectively. The age distribution ranges from 8.3% for those aged 15 to 19 to 31.4% for those aged 50 and above, which is quite representative of the Japanese population.
In Japan, LINE is not just a tool for young people. It is widely used across all age groups and has become an important communication mechanism for 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 continues to increase in Japan, it provides an alternative to other marketing tools like email communication, offering many advantages for 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 official account of MHLW regularly sends health survey 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 when collaborating with the Japanese market, we highly recommend doing so. If you need any help, 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 enterprise digital transformation, particularly popular in Japan and Taiwan. It allows businesses to directly publish web services on the LINE platform, enabling users to enjoy convenient service experiences without downloading additional applications. Thanks to LINE's vast user base, enterprises can reach a huge potential customer group, and by integrating LINE Pay, users can make payments directly within the app, greatly enhancing shopping convenience.
With the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers are increasingly shifting towards 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), supporting common functions such as online ordering, reservations, and queue management, while also helping businesses improve service visibility and user engagement. Although in Taiwan, the development of LINE MINI Apps has not yet been fully opened, certified partners can apply in advance, and after development, they need 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. By providing a convenient user experience and strong backend support, it helps businesses stand out in a competitive market. As technology continues to develop and the market opens further, the LINE MINI App is expected to play a greater role in promoting the integration of online and offline services.
Additionally, as market acceptance of LINE MINI Apps continues to rise, their numbers are growing rapidly. Some companies, like DOTZ, have already launched no-code development platforms such as 'Mini App Maker,' further lowering the technical threshold, allowing more small and medium-sized enterprises to easily create and manage their own LINE MINI Apps. It is expected that in the future, LINE MINI Apps will play a larger role in e-commerce and online services, and may even push LINE to become a super app, providing users with comprehensive life services. This trend not only provides businesses with a new customer touchpoint but also offers 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 the South Korean internet giant Kakao, aimed at promoting widespread adoption of blockchain technology through its high performance, scalability, and reliability. Klaytn uses a Proof of Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism, which not only accelerates transaction speed and confirmation time but also maintains the efficient operation of the system.
One of Klaytn's main features is its integration of the advantages of 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 require high-frequency and large-scale transactions. Additionally, Klaytn supports smart contracts, enabling developers to build various decentralized applications (dApps) on the platform, commonly referred to as BApps (Blockchain Applications), to meet the needs of different industries and application scenarios.
Klaytn provides an accessible, user-friendly development environment, allowing even newcomers to blockchain technology to easily 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 it is also distributed as rewards to developers who contribute to the platform. Furthermore, KLAY is a popular choice among cryptocurrency traders and investors who profit from market price fluctuations through trading.
An important milestone in Klaytn's development history is the merger with Finschia, which led 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 merger of Klaytn and Finschia but also represents a commitment to partners and the community, aiming to unite developers, enterprises, users, and traders in a unified ecosystem.
The launch of Kaia signifies the rise of a network centered around cooperation, innovation, and users. It will simplify user experience and promote the popularization 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 will serve as a guiding star for Kaia in nurturing partnerships, engaging deeply with the community, and driving blockchain adoption.
Kaia's network structure is divided into three logical subnets:
Ⅰ Core Unit Network (CCN): Composed of core units (CC) responsible for transaction verification, execution, and block creation.
Ⅱ Endpoint Node Network (ENN): Composed of endpoint nodes (EN) that handle RPC API requests and service chain data processing.
Ⅲ Service Chain Network (SCN): An auxiliary blockchain independently operated by dApps, connected to the main chain through EN.
Image source: https://docs.kaia.io/learn/ Kaia Overview
The 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 marks a deep collaboration between two Asian tech giants, Kakao and LINE, aimed at promoting the development and application of Web3 technology.
Background
Klaytn is a blockchain platform launched by the 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 LINE's vision for blockchain and committed to promoting the popularization of public blockchain and Web3 technology. The merger of the two platforms is not only a technical integration but also a strategic deep cooperation aimed at building Asia's leading Web3 ecosystem.
Benefits 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, allowing developers to build applications on a platform compatible with various blockchain technologies.
2. User Base: The merged Kaia will integrate the advantages of Klaytn with KakaoTalk and Finschia with LINE, which means Kaia will have a potential user base of over 250 million, providing a huge user foundation for blockchain applications.
3. Ecosystem Expansion: Kaia will promote ecosystem expansion in the tokenization of real-world assets (RWA), GameFi, and DeFi fields in collaboration with partners from 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 globally leading enterprises to achieve permissionless validation, increasing 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 focal point of the global blockchain community's attention. The launch of Kaia signals the rise of a network centered around cooperation, innovation, and users, which will simplify user experience and promote the popularization and application of blockchain technology globally.
Moreover, Kaia's governance model optimization and support for AI-driven dApp discovery and promotion will make Kaia an important bridge connecting traditional enterprises 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, represents an important milestone in the development of blockchain technology in the Asia region, which will bring new values and opportunities to the Web3 industry. As Kaia continues to develop and mature, we have reason to expect it will play an increasingly 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 popularization 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 enormous development potential; it will not only provide developers with powerful tools and resources to build and deploy innovative blockchain applications but also offer users a richer and more convenient service experience. As more DeFi projects, GameFi applications, and other Web3 services join, Kaia's ecosystem will become more diverse and vibrant. Furthermore, Kaia's support for AI-driven dApp discovery and promotion will further foster innovation and user participation on the platform.
Kaia's global expansion plan, including partnerships with top gaming companies in several Asian countries and globally recognized IP Web3 projects, indicates that it will provide an unprecedented collaboration platform for developers, innovators, and users. The optimization of Kaia's governance structure and the realization 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 also has the potential to 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 global users with a secure, convenient, and rich digital communication and financial service platform.
