XION "Web3 Must Penetrate People's Daily Lives" [Coin Interview]

Anthony Anzalone, XION founder

Known for the 'Banksy NFT'

"Will accelerate the popularization of virtual assets"

Starting market expansion in places like the EU

Strong intent to enter Korea

"In 5 years, the term Web3 will disappear. XION will provide a user experience so familiar that users won't be conscious of Web3."

Anthony Anzalone (Anthony Anzalone), XION founder, said this in an interview with Bloomingbit on the 1st. We asked Founder Anzalone about the value of virtual assets and blockchain technology, and XION's long-term goals.

'Banksy NFT' as the founding trigger

Founder Anzalone was first known in the virtual asset (cryptocurrency) industry as 'Burnt Banksy.' In 2021, Anzalone gained attention by burning the world-renowned artist Banksy's work 'Morons' and rebirthing it as a non-fungible token (NFT). He explained, "At the time, most people did not regard NFTs as genuine works of art," and added, "Because I liked virtual assets, I wanted to change that perception."

That experience became the reason for founding XION. Founder Anzalone said, "When we conducted the auction for the Banksy NFT, very few people had Ethereum (ETH), MetaMask wallets, or Coinbase accounts," and "the biggest obstacle currently blocking the spread of virtual assets is usability." He continued, "Virtual assets have many advantages such as fast remittance speeds and decentralization, but if the public ultimately cannot use them, they are useless," and said, "XION's purpose is to accelerate the popularization of virtual assets."

The background for developing XION's core technology, 'Generalised Abstraction,' is in this context. Generalised Abstraction is a technology that simplifies wallets, signing, fees, device accessibility, etc., at the protocol level so users can use Web3 services in familiar ways like email, Face ID, or credit card payments.

Partnerships with Apple, Amazon, etc.

XION's technology is currently recognized as highly valuable in the market. In a funding round last year, XION raised $25 million (about 35 billion won) from global investors such as Animoca Brands and Multicoin Capital. As of this article, cumulative funds raised amount to $36 million (about 50 billion won).

XION's flagship service is 'EarnOS.' EarnOS generates tamper-proof advertising metrics on-chain based on verified user data and targeted ads, and provides them to companies. Companies can obtain reliable marketing metrics through EarnOS, and users can receive direct rewards in exchange for providing their data.

Major global companies are already using XION's services. Uber, Amazon, and BMW are representative examples.

Additionally, XION recently became the first blockchain mainnet to support Apple ID login through a partnership with Apple. Founder Anzalone said, "Companies choose XION because they can adopt better CRM or marketing tools without learning complex blockchain technology," and explained, "Web2 users are already, knowingly or unknowingly, using Web3 functions through global brands."

"We will strengthen cooperation in Korea"

XION's short-term goal is market expansion. First, XION published a white paper related to MiCA, the EU's virtual asset regulatory bill, laying the groundwork for entry into the European market. Founder Anzalone said, "Confusion is inevitable in the process of regulating a new industry," but added, "Rather than opposing national regulators, we will respect regulations and seek ways to cooperate with local authorities."

He also showed strong intent to enter the Korean market. He said, "We will establish a bootcamp, 'Xion House,' in Seoul," and added, "We plan to implement locally tailored strategies centered on (Korean) community leaders." He also added, "I will soon visit Korea in person to identify the needs of companies and users, and expand the XION ecosystem in cooperation with Korean companies."

Jinwook, Bloomingbit reporter wook9629@bloomingbit.io