Kakao, South Korea’s largest messaging firm, announced Klaytn, a new public blockchain platform designed to expand the technology domestically and beyond its borders. The company also created a governance alliance council, staffed by 19 companies in a variety of sectors —including tech, finance, telecom, gaming and health industries – to help oversee the new platform. Members of Kakao’s governance platform include LG Electronics, LG International and Union Bank. IDG Capital participated in Klaytn’s earlier fundraising rounds in 2018.

Nasdaq-listed iQiyi, China’s dominant online video platform based in Beijing, has hit 100 million paid subscribers. Last year, iQiyi added 36.6 million new subscribers alone. Roughly 98.5 percent of iQiyi customers are paid, the company said. iQiyi is also planning to expand its North American and Japanese presence, a move designed to help the firm compete with Netflix directly in markets outside of China. Previously, IDG Capital joined iQiyi’s $1.53 billion financing round in 2017.