The Rise of New Stars in the Web3 Field: Line and Klaytn Join Forces to Create Asia's Largest Blockchain Ecosystem

Introduction

As a widely popular communication software in Asia, Line announced this year its mainnet merger with the Korean public blockchain Klaytn. This strategic move indicates that Line will actively expand its territory in the Web3 domain. Looking back at the rise of a certain instant messaging software 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. Now, Line also possesses 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 of Line and Klaytn will bring about technological innovation and changes in 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 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 another ecosystem.

Review of a Certain Instant Messaging Software Ecosystem

The rapid development of a certain instant messaging software 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 with rapidly rising market values, not only validates the commercial potential of this ecosystem but also attracts a large number of new users into the Web3 world.

The reason why this ecosystem was able to achieve such remarkable results by mid-year is mainly due to its large user base and efficient dissemination mechanism. As a communications giant with 900 million users, its launched mini-programs and robot development features provide users with a brand new service experience. These mini-programs can not only completely replace most websites, supporting seamless authorization and integrated payments, but also greatly enrich users' interactive methods through customized features, such as automatic news sending, information services, and popular mini-games.

In addition, the platform has also developed a chain that supports convenient Blockchain transactions, further lowering the entry barrier for users to Web3. This model, similar to the "traffic + payment" of a certain social software, has allowed the platform to rapidly develop in the Web3 field, becoming a bridge connecting Web2 and Web3.

In this process, several projects within the ecosystem stand out particularly. For example, some gaming projects have quickly attracted a large number of users through their simple operational methods and viral mechanisms, successfully guiding them to engage in on-chain interactions, thereby achieving the transition from Web2 users to Web3 users. These projects have not only succeeded within the ecosystem but have also rapidly soared in market value after being listed on mainstream trading platforms, demonstrating their strong market appeal and commercial value.

Other projects enhance players' understanding and recognition of virtual currency through their unique game backgrounds and management elements. At the same time, by combining task systems with video watching tasks, they effectively direct traffic to their own video channels, further expanding the influence of the ecosystem.

The success of these projects has not only brought a lot of fresh blood to the ecosystem but also provided new ideas and models for the development of the Web3 field. They have proven that through gamification and socialization, it is possible to effectively attract and convert Web2 users, while also demonstrating the application potential of Blockchain technology in non-financial fields such as gaming and social networking.

As the ecosystem continues to mature and完善, more application scenarios and business models will be explored and realized in the future. From the current development trend, this ecosystem will not only continue to deepen in the fields of gaming and social interactions but may also further expand into multiple areas such as finance, education, and business, ultimately forming a diversified and open Web3 ecosystem. With the addition of more innovative projects and the participation of more users, this 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 messaging app 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 app are similar to other instant messaging software, offering messaging and calling services, while it also has many other unique features, such as stickers. Popular anime, celebrities, and creators even sell their own paid stickers within the app. Businesses can set up official accounts on Line, and some companies even sell their own stickers to support marketing activities.

Line also features a status update function, including a feature similar to the story function of certain social media apps and a seamless sharing button. In addition, the application has a cashless payment feature called "Line Pay," which allows users to transfer money between each other and make payments in stores.

The number of monthly active users of Line has significantly increased from 58 million in 2015 to 95 million in 2024. Among active users, the proportion of male and female users reachable through advertising 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 population in Japan.

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 for connecting friends, family, and colleagues.

One unique feature of Line is that more than 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 such as email communication, offering many advantages for businesses. Using it is free, and businesses 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, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) reached an agreement with Line to conduct a nationwide survey on COVID-19. The official MHLW account 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 while collaborating with the Japanese market, this is a choice worth considering.

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, particularly popular in Japan and Taiwan. It allows businesses to directly publish web services on the Line platform, enabling users to enjoy a convenient service experience without the need to download additional applications. Thanks to Line's large user base, businesses can reach a huge potential customer group, while, by integrating Line Pay, users can complete payments directly within the app, significantly enhancing shopping convenience.

With the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers are increasingly turning to planned purchases, which requires 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 such as online ordering, reservations, and queue management, but also helps businesses improve service visibility and user engagement. Although the development of the Line mini app has not yet been fully opened in Taiwan, certified partners can apply in advance, and after development is completed, it must pass Line's review before it can be published.

Currently, the Line mini app is widely used in industries such as catering, education, healthcare, beauty, and retail. It helps businesses stand out in a highly competitive market by providing a convenient user experience and robust backend support. With the continuous development of technology and further opening of the market, it is expected that the Line mini app will play a greater role in the future, especially in promoting the integration of online and offline.

In addition, as the market's acceptance of Line mini apps continues to rise, their numbers are growing rapidly. Some companies have launched no-code development platforms, further lowering the technical barriers, 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 greater role in e-commerce and online services, and may even propel Line to become a super app, providing users with comprehensive lifestyle 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 Blockchain Klaytn

Klaytn is a blockchain platform launched by a subsidiary of a certain internet giant in South Korea, aiming to promote 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 speed and confirmation times but also maintains the efficient operation of the system.

One of the main features of Klaytn is that it integrates the advantages of both public and private Blockchains, providing an efficient and secure environment. 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 handling high-frequency, large-scale transactions. In addition, Klaytn also 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 easy-to-access, user-friendly development environment that allows 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. Additionally, KLAY is a popular choice among cryptocurrency traders and investors, who profit from market price fluctuations through trading.

An important milestone in the development of Klaytn was 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 combination of Klaytn and Finschia but also represents a commitment to partners and the community, intending to bring together developers, enterprises, users, and traders in a unified ecosystem.

The launch of Kaia heralds the rise of a network centered on collaboration, innovation, and users, which will simplify the user experience and promote the widespread 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—values that serve as guiding stars for Kaia in its journey of fostering partnerships, engaging deeply with communities, and driving the adoption of Blockchain.

Kaia's network structure is divided into three logical subnets:

1. Core Unit Network (CCN): Composed of Core Units (CC) responsible for transaction verification, execution, and Block creation.

2. Endpoint Node Network (ENN): Composed of endpoint nodes (EN) that handle RPC API requests and process service chain data.

3. Service Chain Network (SCN): An auxiliary blockchain operated independently by dApps, connected to the main chain via EN.

Line and Klaytn's Public Blockchain Merger