Connect with us

Media OutReach

Hong Kong Institute of Chartered Digital Asset Analysts Officially Launched to Establish HK as Global Hub for Digital Asset Talent

Published

on

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 April 2025 – The Hong Kong Institute of Chartered Digital Asset Analysts (HKCDAA) held its grand inauguration ceremony at the China Everbright Centre in Wan Chai, marking the official opening of its headquarters. The event was led by Dr. Anthony Neoh, Honorary Chairman of HKCDAA, former Chairman of Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), and former Chief Advisor to China’s Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC). Distinguished guests from government agencies, financial institutions, and the virtual asset industry gathered to witness this milestone. Following the ceremony, participants engaged in a productive seminar on “Web3 Digital Asset Talent Standards in Hong Kong.”

Inauguration Ceremony: A New Chapter for Digital Asset Professional Certification
Established in September 2023, HKCDAA aims to become the premier global association for digital asset analysts, supporting the Hong Kong SAR Government’s strategic vision of building an international virtual asset hub. Guided by the principle of “leading global innovation in digital assets,” the institute is committed to establishing an authoritative professional certification system for the industry. The opening of its new headquarters represents a significant step forward in promoting standardized and professional development of Hong Kong’s digital asset sector.

Dr. Anthony Neoh stated during the ceremony, “As an international financial center, Hong Kong is actively embracing the future of Web3.0 and digital assets. The establishment of HKCDAA will cultivate more professionals with deep theoretical knowledge and practical expertise, reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as a leading global digital asset hub.”

Seminar: Advancing Web3 Digital Asset Talent Standards
Following the inauguration, HKCDAA hosted a high-level seminar on “Web3 Digital Asset Talent Standards in Hong Kong.” Discussions covered six key topics, including the current state of Hong Kong’s Web3.0 ecosystem, talent gaps and training mechanisms, corporate talent strategies, and policy recommendations. Attendees included government officials, financial institution representatives, academic experts, and industry leaders, all exploring ways to drive sustainable industry growth through standardized professional certification.

Dr. Yu Jianing, Director of HKCDAA, emphasized, “The rapid growth of the digital asset industry demands more interdisciplinary professionals. Through systematic training and certification, we aim to nurture experts with expertise in technology, finance, and legal compliance.” Participants also provided constructive suggestions on talent recruitment, qualification recognition, and tax incentives to support Hong Kong’s Web3 and digital asset policies.

HKCDAA’s Mission: Building a World-Class Digital Asset Certification System
The institute’s flagship program, the Chartered Digital Asset Analyst (CDAA) qualification, has been officially recognized by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA), placing it alongside prestigious global certifications such as CFA and FRM. The three-tier examination covers digital asset fundamentals, blockchain technology, investment analysis, and risk management, designed to cultivate professionals at all levels.

The first CDAA examination will take place on June 28, 2025, at designated HKEAA test centers. To align with the Greater Bay Area talent development strategy and accommodate growing demand from mainland professionals and university students seeking opportunities in Hong Kong, HKCDAA is actively evaluating the feasibility of adding test centers in mainland China to facilitate cross-border talent mobility.

Mr. Romeo Wang, Executive Secretary-General of HKCDAA, remarked, “Amid the trend toward institutionalization and compliance in digital assets, we aim to supply the industry with qualified professionals through rigorous certification and industry collaboration. This will not only address talent shortages but also advance Hong Kong’s Web3.0 policies, solidifying its leadership as an international virtual asset center.”

Looking Ahead
The successful launch of HKCDAA and its inaugural seminar mark a major milestone in standardizing digital asset talent development in Hong Kong. Moving forward, the institute will continue collaborating with governments, enterprises, and academic institutions to position Hong Kong as a global nexus for Web3.0 and financial innovation.

Hashtag: #HongKongInstituteofCharteredDigitalAssetAnalysts #HKCDAA #web3.0 #virtualassets #crypto

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About HKCDAA

Founded in September 2023, the Hong Kong Institute of Chartered Digital Asset Analysts (HKCDAA) is dedicated to becoming the world’s leading professional body for digital asset analysts, supporting Hong Kong’s vision as an international virtual asset hub. As a platform for “leading global innovation in digital assets,” HKCDAA provides authoritative certification to foster the professional and standardized growth of the Web3.0 and digital asset industry.

Media OutReach

A SIM Guide to Comparing Graduate Salaries and Employability in Singapore

Published

on

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 July 2026 – As students and parents in Singapore evaluate higher education pathways, employability, starting salary and return on investment are increasingly important considerations. A degree is often assessed not only by academic interest, but also by how it supports entry into the workforce and future career development.

Graduate salary data provides useful guidance, but it should not be read in isolation. Starting salary is one indicator of return on investment. It should be considered alongside employment rates, full-time permanent employment, industry pathways, career support, programme fit and long-term skills relevance.

For students considering Singapore Institute of Management Global Education (SIM GE), SIM’s Graduate Outcome & Employability page provides a reference point for understanding graduate outcomes. The page explains how SIM graduates have performed in the Private Education Institution Graduate Employment Survey (PEI GES), where they have worked, and how SIM supports students in building career readiness.

Why the PEI Graduate Employment Survey matters
For students considering private education pathways, the PEI Graduate Employment Survey (GES) is an important reference because it provides employment and salary outcomes for graduates from registered private education institutions.

The 2024/2025 PEI GES focused on economically active fresh graduates who graduated between May 2024 and April 2025 from full-time Bachelor’s level External Degree Programmes. The survey covered about 6,150 full-time graduates across 26 private education institutions, with a response rate of 61.6 per cent, and was conducted from October 2025 to January 2026.

Among 2,600 economically active PEI fresh graduate respondents in the labour force, 78.9 per cent secured employment within six months of graduation. The median gross monthly salary for PEI fresh graduates in full-time permanent employment remained stable at S$3,500.

This makes the PEI GES useful for students and parents who want to compare graduate outcomes within the private education sector. It also allows SIM’s graduate outcome data to be read against a broader PEI sector benchmark.

What SIM graduate outcome data shows
SIM’s Graduate Outcome & Employability page reports that SIM fresh graduate respondents recorded 81.0 per cent secured employment, 77.9 per cent currently employed, 47.0 per cent in full-time permanent employment and a median gross monthly salary of S$3,565. The page attributes these figures to Skills & Workforce Development Agency 2024/2025 PEI GES.

Indicator SIM Avg of All PEI (include SIM)
Secured employment 81.0% 78.9%
Full-time permanent employment 47.0% 46.9%
Median gross monthly salary S$3,565 S$3,500

This comparison places SIM’s graduate outcomes at the top spectrum of the PEI sector. It also shows why employability should be assessed through more than one indicator. Secured employment, full-time permanent employment and median gross monthly salary each provide a different view of graduate outcomes.

Secured employment indicates whether graduates entered work, accepted job offers or were taking steps to start a business venture. Full-time permanent employment provides a view of stable employment. Median gross monthly salary shows the middle salary point among full-time permanently employed graduates.

Where SIM graduates have worked
SIM graduates have entered a range of sectors, including aviation, aerospace and engineering, airline and tourism, banking and financial services, information and communications technology, cybersecurity, insurance, consumer services, public sector and government, consulting and professional services, healthcare, logistics, transportation, retail and manufacturing.

These employer destinations are relevant because students are not only selecting a degree. They are also considering possible pathways into industries, job functions and future career options. A business-related pathway may support roles in banking, consulting, retail, logistics or entrepreneurship. A technology-related pathway may lead to opportunities in information and communications technology, cybersecurity, data, digital services or business technology roles.

How students should compare salary, employability and ROI
A practical approach to comparing degree options is to consider four areas: relevance, return, readiness and resilience.

Factor What to consider
Relevance Does the degree connect to industries that are hiring?
Return What do employment and salary outcomes show?
Readiness What career support, internship guidance and employer exposure are available?
Resilience Can the skills support future career changes?

This approach helps students avoid selecting a degree based only on the highest salary benchmark. While starting salary is an important consideration, long-term value also depends on whether the student can build relevant skills, gain experience and adapt to changes in the labour market.

How SIM supports employability
SIM supports students through career preparation and employer engagement, including résumé writing, interview preparation, job search guidance, career fairs, employer talks, recruitment events, internship search guidance and workshops that build communication, teamwork, problem-solving and professional confidence.

Such support is relevant to return on investment because employability is influenced not only by the qualification awarded, but also by how prepared students are to enter the workforce. Career readiness, employer exposure and workplace skills can support the transition from study to employment.

Conclusion
Graduate starting salary is an important consideration for students and parents assessing higher education options in Singapore. However, it should not be the only measure used to evaluate a degree pathway.

A more balanced assessment considers employment rates, full-time permanent employment, median gross monthly salary, industry pathways, career support and long-term skills relevance. This provides a broader view of how a higher education pathway may support employability and future career development.

When read together with the PEI Graduate Employment Survey, national salary benchmarks and SIM’s Graduate Outcome & Employability page, graduate outcome data can help students and parents make more informed decisions about salary expectations, employability and return on investment.

References

  1. SIM’s Graduate Outcome & Employability page – https://www.sim.edu.sg/degrees-diplomas/parent-resource-hub/graduate-outcome-employability
  2. SWDA PEI Graduate Employment Survey 2024/2025 – https://www.swda.gov.sg/home/skills-career-resources/private-education-resources/graduate-employment-survey/2024-2025
  3. Employment Outcome for PEI Graduates – https://www.swda.gov.sg/home/newsroom/employment-outcomes-for-private-education-institution-graduates-remain-stable-in-2024-2025
  4. SIM Career Service – https://www.sim.edu.sg/degrees-diplomas/life-at-sim/career-services

Hashtag: #SIMGlobalEducation #SIMGE #GlobalEducation #InternationalDegree #CareerReady #FutureSkills

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About SIM Global Education

SIM Global Education (SIM GE) is a leading private education institution in Singapore and the region. We offer more than 140 academic programmes ranging from diplomas and graduate diploma programmes to bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes with some of the world’s most reputable universities from Australia, Canada, Europe, United Kingdom, and the United States. SIM GE’s cohort is made up of 17,000 full- and part-time students and adult learners, of which approximately 41% are international students hailing from over 50 countries.

SIM GE’s holistic learning approach and culturally diverse learning environment aim to equip students with knowledge, industry skills and employability competencies, as well as a global perspective to succeed as future leaders in a fast-changing, technologically driven world.

For more information on SIM Global Education, visit

Continue Reading

Media OutReach

SBI Global Asset Management and DigiFT Launch JX, Bringing a Japanese Asset Manager’s Equity Strategy On-Chain for the First Time

Published

on

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 July 2026 – DigiFT, a regulated digital asset exchange for institutional-grade real-world assets (“RWAs”), and SBI Global Asset Management Co., Ltd. (“SBI GAM”), a subsidiary of SBI Holdings, Inc., today announced the launch of the SBI Japan High Dividend Equity Strategy Token (“JX token”), a token designed to provide accredited or institutional investors with on-chain access to a Japanese high-dividend equity fund strategy managed by SBI Asset Management Co., Ltd. (“SBI AM”) which is a subsidiary of SBI GAM. The launch marks the first time a Japanese asset manager’s listed-equity strategy is brought on-chain through DigiFT’s regulated tokenization and distribution infrastructure.

The launch comes as investor attention returns to Japanese equities, supported by the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s continued push for listed companies to improve capital efficiency and demonstrate greater awareness of share-price performance. It also reflects a broader evolution in tokenization: the value of tokenized RWAs distributed on public blockchains grew from USD 5.9 billion to USD 21.9 billion globally in 2025, moving the category beyond cash-like instruments and into actively managed public-market strategies. DigiFT was an early mover in this shift, launching a tokenized U.S. equity income fund developed with BNY in January 2026. This shift is now extending directly into Japan’s own institutional market, where SBI Group has been among the country’s most active builders of on-chain financial infrastructure.

DigiFT holds Capital Markets Services and Recognised Market Operator licences from MAS, as well as Type 1 and Type 4 licences from the Hong Kong SFC – a dual regulatory standing that has made it a tokenization and distribution partner for global and regional asset managers, including UBS Asset Management, Invesco, BNY and Franklin Templeton. DigiFT’s roster now extends into Japan, through SBI GAM’s participation, adding a Japanese listed-equity strategy to that lineup for the first time. DigiFT is launching the JX Token on Solana, further expanding the availability of regulated RWAs on-chain, with ecosystem participants including Solana Company, Huma Finance and Plume.

SBI Holdings brings its own substantial on-chain track record to the collaboration. The group reported consolidated revenue of JPY 1.90 trillion for the fiscal year ended 31 March 2026, with its Crypto-asset Business segment generating JPY 89.6 billion in revenue over the same period. SBI Holdings has taken direct stakes across the region’s tokenization infrastructure, including leading a $50 million investment in Startale Group to build a blockchain purpose-built for tokenized securities, and holding a majority stake in Osaka Digital Exchange, operator of a secondary market for security tokens in Japan.

JX is structured around the underlying strategy managed by SBI AM. This authorized, manager-referenced model is critical as regulators are increasingly distinguishing tokenized securities developed with issuer or manager alignment from products that provide only indirect economic exposure. In a joint staff statement issued 28 January 2026, the U.S. SEC staff drew a formal line between issuer-sponsored tokenized securities, which can represent true ownership, and third-party products that typically offer only synthetic exposure or custodial entitlements – signalling an intent to encourage the former while curbing the spread of the latter.

Henry Zhang, Founder and Group CEO, DigiFT: “Our mission at DigiFT has always been to bring real, institutional-grade assets on-chain through infrastructure that investors and asset managers can actually trust. JX extends that mission to Japan for the first time, opening regulated, on-chain access to Japanese equities. We’re proud to build this with SBI Group, one of Japan’s most forward-looking financial institutions, and excited about what this partnership signals for the future of tokenization across the region.”

Hashtag: #DigiFT

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Continue Reading

Media OutReach

Smilegate LORDNINE Launches Pre-Registration for New Growth-Accelerated Server ‘Helena’ in Celebration of 1st Anniversary… 32,000 USDt Reward Event Underway

Published

on

  • Pre-registration for new server Helena opens July 14… Official launch on July 29
  • Sweeping new server growth-support systems, including 50% additional EXP via Mastery Buff
  • Rich rewards including a 32,000 USDt reward event, limited edition skins, and 1,111 summon tickets

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – EQS Newswire – 15 July 2026 – Smilegate announced on Tuesday, July 14 that pre-registration has begun for ‘Helena’, a new growth-accelerated server for the MMORPG 《LORDNINE: Infinite Class》 (developed by NX3 Games), in celebration of the game’s 1st anniversary.

Pre-registration for the new Helena server is available through the official LORDNINE page (https://l9asia.onstove.com/en), with the official launch scheduled for July 29 at 7:00 PM.

Helena is a growth-accelerated server designed to allow players to level up characters faster than on existing servers. Key features include a Mastery Buff that provides an additional 50% EXP gain and more than 40,000 ‘Fragments of Ancient Relics’ to support character progression, helping players settle in smoothly during the early stages.

To celebrate the launch of the Helena server, Smilegate has prepared a variety of events, including a 32,000 USDt reward event. Helena server users can participate in in-game attendance and mission events to obtain three Hero-grade avatars and three artifacts, as well as up to 1,111 summon tickets.

A pre-registration event will also be held. Users who sign up for pre-registration will receive a limited edition skin, and among users who refer 20 friends through the pre-registration page, a drawing will be held with winners receiving an iPhone 17 Pro.

image2

In addition, a skin design contest will be held to celebrate the 1st anniversary. Participants can freely submit skin designs they would like to see released in LORDNINE. In-game rewards worth up to 80 million KRW are up for grabs, and notably, the grand prize-winning design will actually be released in-game.

For more information about the game, please visit the official page (https://l9asia.onstove.com/en).

Contact Point Office Mobile Phone Email
Sangjik Oh, Team Leader 031-630-3142 010-5236-0571 sj****@*******te.com
Hyeran In, Deputy General Manager 031-630-3143 010-3291-6710 hr****@*******te.com
Jiwon Hong, Deputy General Manager 031-630-3144 010-4135-0298 jw****@*******te.com
Taehyun Park, Assistant Manager 031-630-3179 010-6805-1177 th****@*******te.com

Hashtag: #Smilegate

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Continue Reading