Chairman of Kaia DLT Foundation explains how “Kaia+LINE NEXT” shapes the future ecosystem of Kaia | Disruptors Unplugged

Kaia DLT Foundation Chairman Dr. Sam Seo introduced Kaia’s vision of “bringing Web3 to the fingertips of millions in Asia,” the upcoming Mini DApps and DApp Portal in collaboration with LINE NEXT and its empowerment for $KAIA, the latest developments in Kaia’s ecosystem in areas such as DeFi and Memecoin, and Kaia’s presence in different global markets.

In this episode of “Disruptors Unplugged,” Starlabs Consulting conversed with Dr. Sam Seo, Chairman of the Kaia DLT Foundation. Dr. Sam Seo introduced Kaia’s vision of “bringing Web3 to the fingertips of millions in Asia,” the upcoming Mini DApps and DApp Portal in collaboration with LINE NEXT and their empowerment for $KAIA, the latest developments in Kaia’s ecosystem in areas like DeFi and Memecoin, Kaia’s localization strategies in different global markets, and the latest news on Kaia’s on-chain native stablecoin program.

On December 12, LINE NEXT Inc., a subsidiary of LINE focused on developing the Web3 ecosystem, and Kaia Foundation jointly announced the upcoming launch of Mini DApps and DApp Portal services in the first quarter of 2025. These services will be directly accessible through the LINE messaging app.

The collaboration between Kaia DLT Foundation (Kaia) and LINE NEXT aims to integrate its blockchain solutions into the mainnet, ensuring seamless operation of the Mini DApps and DApp Portal. These services will be integrated into the LINE Messaging super app in January 2025. As a comprehensive end-user platform, it will enable users to discover and engage with these high-quality Mini DApps directly within the LINE Messenger app.

Since September, over 800 teams have applied through the Kaia Wave program, with 30 DApps selected to be among the first Mini DApps launched on LINE Messenger. The Kaia Wave program is designed to identify, attract, and onboard competitive Web3 projects supported by Kaia into the LINE Messenger ecosystem.

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Starlabs: When comparing the integration of “TON + Telegram,” what makes “Kaia + LINE NEXT” unique?

Dr. Sam Seo: Unlike Telegram, the LINE messaging app serves as both a messaging platform and a lifehack for both crypto and non-crypto users. Dapp Portal and Mini Dapps within LINE will provide an unparalleled user experience (UX) bolstered by a hassle-free user interface (UI). In Mini Dapp, the keyless digital wallet, fee delegation for free-of-charge usage, and almost instant transactions work simultaneously. Additionally, Dapp Portal offers the Mini Dapp Discovery tools and its seamless functionality, while Mini DApps are thoroughly selected to offer high-quality, user-centric Web3 services. With all these factors, we are confident that the Mini DApp initiative will achieve remarkable success and transform Web3 usage.

Starlabs: According to Kaia’s roadmap, it seems that the collaboration between Kaia and LINE’s ecosystem is not as strong as that of TON and Telegram. Do you agree with this? If yes, is this due to compliance concerns?

Dr. Sam Seo: Kaia and LINE NEXT are collaborating within an exclusive, strong partnership. Teams from both entities engage in daily communications to enhance technological integrity, user experience, and marketing effectiveness. LINE NEXT’s Web3 services and blockchain-enabled LINE messenger initiatives will be developed and seamlessly operated on the Kaia blockchain.

Starlabs: Will $KAIA get more utility in the mini Dapp ecosystem brought by Kaia + LINE NEXT?

Dr. Sam Seo: The utility token of the Kaia blockchain, $KAIA, will serve a crucial role in facilitating payments, incentives, and rewards for the Mini DApps and DApp Portal within LINE Messenger. We will expand the utility of $KAIA by providing users with additional benefits, placing $KAIA at the forefront. We plan to establish an incentive policy tailored to the Dapp partners who help expand the utility of $KAIA by using $KAIA within their services. For example, if a DApp acquires $KAIA from the market to reward their users, we can offer substantial marketing support, such as an advertising placement on the homepage of the DApp Portal.

Starlabs: What services and applications in the Kaia ecosystem will help turn Kakao Talk and LINE’s huge Web2 users into active Web3 users?

Dr. Sam Seo: Kaia will introduce the inaugural batch of 30 Web3 services for the launch of Mini DApps and the DApp Portal within LINE Messenger. Our selection process focused on identifying the most entertaining and productive DApp services possible. Some of them have already proven successful within Telegram’s Mini App community. These services include Web3 gaming, healthcare, and more and you can find detailed information on Kaia’s Medium at LINK.

Based on my understanding, DApps can achieve success by providing entertainment through Web3 gaming. Additionally, healthcare gateway DApps like SuperZ empower individuals to reach their wellness potential by encouraging and rewarding healthy habits and active lifestyles. Some apps can also be successful with productive features by combining AI scheduling and assistant functions. In the future, we would be able to add more competitive Dapps that combine blockchain and AI to offer an AI agent service.

Starlabs: What infrastructure and services has the Kaia ecosystem set up for Memecoins?

Dr. Sam Seo: Kaia boasts a robust and dynamic memecoin ecosystem. We have recently rolled out KaiaFun — a memecoin platform similar to Pump.Fun. KaiaFun will kick-start a new memecoin cycle on Kaia, introducing hundreds of unique memecoins to our users. Additionally, Kaia’s DeFi infrastructure is fully equipped with essential money legos, driving the growth of Kaia’s meme economy.

Starlabs: What strategies do you have to attract more developers to join the Kaia ecosystem and boost its diversity? Is there a developer bonus program?

Dr. Sam Seo: In cooperation with LINE NEXT, Kaia has made huge progress with the Kaia Wave builder program. This initiative aims to identify, attract and onboard talented Web3 builders, implementing their services under the Mini Dapp brand within LINE. Instead of relying on financial grants to attract Web3 builders, Kaia Wave provides diverse practical support in user acquisition and growth opportunities, which are more crucial for the success of Web3 projects. As such, we have received more than 800 applications since September and went through heated selection processes.

Starlabs: What approaches is Kaia taking to draw the crypto community (marketing events, airdrops, etc.) to strengthen the ecosystem and community?

Dr. Sam Seo: Kaia strengthens its ecosystem and community with impactful marketing initiatives and airdrop campaigns like “Kaia Epoch 1,” which distributes $KAIA tokens upon reaching designated TVL milestones. Strategic partnerships with key players like the Hashkey Group also reward and incentivize community participation to further promote the growth of our crypto communities. In addition, Kaia has been actively hosting and participating in community events, including Hackerhouses, monthly meetups, AMAs, Town Halls, and ecosystem side events at major international Web3 conferences. These efforts have successfully engaged end-users and developers alike. Furthermore, our robust developer resources and integrations with messaging superapps like LINE Messenger streamline onboarding for millions across Asia and beyond, driving adoption and fostering technological innovation within the Web3 space.

Starlabs: Kaia envisions bringing Web3 to the fingertips of millions across Asia. Why did you set this goal?

“Kaia was formed through the merger of Klaytn and Finschia, initially developed by two different IT giants Kakao and LINE. Given the origins of our chains and manpower, we have solid expertise in creating sustainable digital products and services for end-users. ”

Dr. Sam Seo, Chairman of Kaia DLT Foundation

Dr. Sam Seo: Kaia was formed through the merger of Klaytn and Finschia, initially developed by two different IT giants Kakao and LINE. Given the origins of our chains and manpower, we have solid expertise in creating sustainable digital products and services for end-users. Continuing this corporate DNA in the Web3 area, Kaia works to offer convenience-enhancing Web3 products. Furthermore, we are in unparalleled relationships with Asia’s huge IT companies, which have superapps and infrastructure in tech, business, and more. This allows us to have quicker and easier access to the most significant user pools outside China.

Starlabs: While your vision focuses on Asia, Web3 inherently has a borderless nature. What global strategies do you plan to implement for the future?

Dr. Sam Seo: To further cultivate our ecosystem across various markets in Asia, we adopt a localization-first approach, recognizing that each market has distinct needs and preferences. For instance, Vietnam, one of our priority markets, has a developer-centric ecosystem. Through extensive market research and discussions with local partners, we discovered that many developers aspire to follow up on the success of Axie Infinity, even if they do not explicitly express this ambition. To support this vision, we established a local team in Vietnam to assist developers in building on the Kaia chain and achieving their goals.

In the Philippines, the focus is on a gamer-oriented market, where many gamers dream of creating large gaming guilds like YGG. In response, we prioritize collaboration with local game guilds, helping them expand their communities and integrate into our Web3 gaming ecosystem. This market-specific approach enables us to build ecosystems tailored to local needs.

Starlabs: From the post about the recent Kaia Townhall meeting summary, it appears that Kaia is planning to launch a stablecoin. Given the recent surge in interest in stablecoins and PayFi, could you elaborate on your plans in this area?

Dr. Sam Seo: We are now discussing with one of the major stablecoin providers regarding the issuance of a native USD-backed stablecoin on our chain. Once our discussion and negotiation end successfully, Kaia can supply its native stablecoin to its DeFi ecosystem while implementing a stablecoin payment mechanism in the Mini Dapp platform in LINE Messenger. This business advancement will lead to the seamless operation of the Mini Dapp and Dapp Portal of LINE and the further growth of our DeFi infrastructure.

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About Starlabs Consulting

Starlabs Consulting is a premier strategic and marketing consultancy specializing in the Web3 sector, established in 2018. Our mission is to empower visionary companies to navigate complex challenges across marketing, operations, and growth initiatives, enabling them to excel in a competitive market landscape. With our in-depth knowledge of the Web3 industry and extensive global network, Starlabs Consulting has become a trusted partner for leading Web3 exchanges and projects. Our dedicated team of professionals and their profound understanding of client needs have solidified our reputation as an industry leader.

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