Ryan Hwang (Hwang Hyun-Ki), a pioneering figure and innovator in South Korea’s NFT market, has returned to the crypto and NFT industry in a way no one could have imagined. As the founder of the MetaKongz NFT project, he achieved monumental success, ushering in a new era for K-NFTs. However, following this success, he faced unexpected challenges. Baseless accusations of fraud in secondhand sales, misuse of corporate credit cards, massive tax evasion, and embezzlement plagued him. There were even rumors that he leaked crypto information to politicians, adding to the turbulence he faced within the crypto community. Despite his substantial achievement in creating MetaKongz, which received a valuation of $100 billion KRW from Mirae Asset, Hwang ultimately found himself ousted from his own creation.
Cleared of all charges and having regained his reputation, Ryan Hwang chose a new challenge, stronger than ever. Believing in the freedom, creativity, and decentralized power of NFTs and blockchain, he re-entered the market with ‘Punky Kongz,’ a second-generation project of MetaKongz. Hwang’s return to the market with a new creation based on his original project is unprecedented in the global NFT space. Punky Kongz was distributed for free to existing MetaKongz holders, symbolizing Hwang’s sincere apology and a proposal to move forward together.
MetaKongz, the project Ryan Hwang originally founded, was more than just an NFT initiative. Collaborations with major Korean corporations such as Hyundai Motors, GS25, Shinsegae Department Store, Shinsegae International, YG KPUS, and Larva Animation positioned MetaKongz as a leader in the K-NFT movement. With the floor price soaring to $30,000, it became a top NFT brand representing Korea. The return of Punky Kongz, MetaKongz’s second-generation project, has created waves beyond South Korea and is resonating throughout the global NFT market.
In October 2024, Ryan Hwang announced a new philosophy behind Punky Kongz called “Punkvism,” proclaiming a bold mission of “adventurers resisting an unjust society.” This philosophy, inspired by the cypherpunk ethos of Bitcoin founder Satoshi Nakamoto, aims to infuse the values of freedom and resistance inherent to the crypto world into the Punky Kongz project.
Separate from Punky Kongz, Snowseed, a company co-founded by Ryan Hwang, introduced a new technology this year called RWA (Real World Assets) NFTs, connecting digital assets with real-world assets to extend the tangible value of NFTs into real life. Snowseed is currently undertaking an RWA coin project involving a 10.9 million-square-meter city development in Banten, Indonesia. Recently, Snowseed also signed an agreement with Indonesian financial firm Sukses Artha Mandiri to support the issuance of the RWA coin.
Ryan Hwang’s journey is not just about restoring his personal reputation; it is also about demonstrating new possibilities for NFTs and crypto, inspiring the global crypto community. As he and his team set their sights on even higher goals, the global NFT market and crypto enthusiasts are watching closely to see what he does next.”
Media Contact
Company Name: PUNKVISM
Contact Person: Ryan Hwang
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Country: South Korea
Website: https://snowseed.io