Brand Activity
Adidas Launches New Phase of Web3 Initiative (ALTS)
ALTS is a PFP project that required burning the Phase 1 and Phase 2 “Into the Metaverse” NFTs
It is being positioned as the final phase of the “Into The Metaverse” initiative which generated $20M in primary sales in 2022 and a reset for the Adidas web3 presence
The PFP project is an interactive storytelling project that will take place at the Rift Valley Motel - and hints at the ability to alter your PFP by interacting
The pre-reveal NFTs have a .417 FP (as of writing)
OpenSea Link: https://opensea.io/collection/alts-by-adidas
Adidas new web3 hub: https://collect.adidas.com/
Gucci re-signs with Yuga to continue their web3 push
They will continue to build off their 10KTF partnership (and work with Yuga at large as well)
Tommy Hilfiger launches virtual collection via Multiverse Clothing Hub
Virtual Collection is in partnership with virtual fashion brand: DressX
Hub allows you to claim your gear and wear it in metaverses such as Decentraland, Sandbox and via avatars like Ready Player Me
Hub Link: https://emperia.digital/TommyHilfiger/WMFW23/index.html
Ticket Master officially launches Web3 integration with Avenged Sevenfold
Holders of Deathbats Club will now receive early access to and discounts on Avenged Sevenfold tickets and merch
Artists that leverage Ticketmaster’s NFT program going forward will be able to take advantage of the following tools:
Face Value Ticket Exchange, a program that limits transfer and locks in resale prices at face value.
Verified Fan, a registration system that filters out scalpers and bot users who are looking to acquire tickets for the purpose of reselling at a high profit.
Ticketmaster Request, a service that eliminates the traditional onsale rush by allowing artists to sell tickets to high-demand shows through a request and fulfillment model.
Article Link: https://business.ticketmaster.com/business-solutions/nft-token-gated-sales/
NIKE X RTFKT redemption gets a face lift
RTFKT is gearing up for their long awaited exclusive Air Force 1 forging event
This event will include the limited edition designs by Murakami as well as other first of its kind Air Force 1 designs
This will be RTFKTS latest physical redemption after the disastrous crypto kicks and they are making a much bigger effort to market the forging event.
Article Link: https://rtfkt-x-nikeairforce1.rtfkt.com/
HUGO BOSS partners with Imaginary Ones NFT and integrates digital twin hoodies and caps
Leveraging NFC tech, owners of the physicals will also receive NFTs
NFTs
Moonpay partners with Julie Pacino for NFT Movie.
Moonpay has taken another step towards intertwining crypto with Arts and Culture
Not much is known about the film or how NFT’s are incorporated as of yet
Article Link: https://nftevening.com/moonpay-partners-with-filmmaker-julie-pacino-for-nft-powered-movie/?utm_source=os
Magic Eden launches Bitcoin market place
Magic Eden, the popular Solana based NFT marketplace has launched the first major marketplace to support Bitcoin NFTs
The craze over ordinals has simmered for the moment, but infrastructure for Bitcoin blockchain based NFTs is still being built
An “ordinal” is effectively a Bitcoin NFT. It is a fraction of a Bitcoin that has been inscribed to make it non-fungible
While this is a new breakthrough the rigidness of Bitcoin does not allow the easy user experience of Ethereum or Polygon
Article Link: https://decrypt.co/124078/magic-eden-ordinals-bitcoin-nft-marketplace-launch
Polygon Launches its long awaited zkEVM platform
This platform allows for significantly more transactions to occur on the Polygon network and will help it scale to many more users
AI News
ChatGPT incorporates plugins
In probably the biggest update since launch, ChatGPT has announced a variety of apps and plugins that it can now interact with
This allows ChatGPT to integrate directly with internet apps like Grubhub, Bing, Expedia, and Instacart and opens up its ability to help with tasks beyond the search box like getting reservations, ordering groceries and booking flights
Article Link: https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/23/23653591/openai-chatgpt-plugins-launch-web-browsing-third-party
Future of Life Institute calls for immediate pause of AI development and see support from many industry leaders
At the same time as ChatGPT rapidly goes mainstream, the Future of Life Institute has called for a 6 month pause on all AI development
Fearing we are heading into uncharted waters, and the speed in which recent AI developments have rolled out without necessary safety precautions, 1100 industry leaders are asking for a halt to everything AI for at least 6 months.
Signatories include, Elon Musk, Stevie Wozniak, Stability AI founder and CEO Emad Mostaque, and many engineers from Meta and Google
Future of Life open letter link: https://futureoflife.org/open-letter/pause-giant-ai-experiments/
Oncyber leverages AI allowing users to design their virtual space with simple text prompts
Popular NFT gallery site Oncyber is leveraging the power of AI to allow their users an even deeper level of customization
Oncyber is platform that allows users to design their own galleries and then decorate those galleries with their NFT’s
This new update incorporates a chatbot that will visualize your requests within in your gallery- no coding required
Article Link: https://nftevening.com/oncybers-ai-powered-tool-lets-users-customize-metaverse-with-ease/
AI models can now be trained to replace your vocals, allowing anyone to rap like Kanye
Metaverse / Gaming
Disney shutters its Metaverse division.
Disney like many companies is laying off a significant amount of its work force, the recently announced layoffs include the 50 person division dedicated to a Disney metaverse
Disney joins Meta and others who are seemingly stepping away from an aggressive metaverse strategy as economic conditions tighten
Article Link: https://thedefiant.io/disney-shutters-metaverse-division
Otherside launches its second “Trip”
Yuga Labs launched another trip to is upcoming metaverse platform Otherside allowing NFT and web3 gaming enthusiasts to get a taste of what their metaverse will hold
The last trip was able to simultaneously host around 4500 players- this trip was able to host 10,000
Some players have expressed disappointment at the bland gameplay- but the purpose of these trips is really to test a platform that is being built in real time.
This trip split players into groups lead by team captains with the winning team getting airdropped a helmet NFT asset after the trip
Article Link: https://venturebeat.com/metaverse/bored-apes-owner-yuga-labs-launches-2nd-trip-otherside-metaverse-experience/
Fortnite introduces creator capabilities to their platform
In probably one of the biggest events in the metaverse space over the last year Fortnite has announced it is adding a creative layer to its platform
Fortnite was formerly a completely closed ecosystem- this update turns the platform into a first of its kind hybrid. Creators will have the power to create and monetize their own games and experiences while Epic Games remains in the drivers seat of the central game experience for the time being
This update has been received with lots of excitement with many impressive user generated maps going viral upon the first two weeks of launch. This update also intertwines Epic Games Unreal Engine into the creator experience with users being able to upload Unreal Engine assets directly into Fortnite
As of now monetization is based on engagement rather than unique items sold. Epic has dedicated 40% of the proceeds of Fortnite’s digital store to creators.
It’s early days but this update will potentially shift the digital landscape as we know it.
Polygon and Immutable partner up to create a web3 gaming powerhouse
Eve Online creator is working on a web3 AAA project
Eve Online is a popular MMO that has an incredibly complex and decentralized economy and social system and is a ripe candidate for web3 infrastructure
Sony files patent for “cross-platform NFT trading framework”
More adoption from the bigger players… web3 gaming is heating up
Epic Games has close to 20 crypto enabled games in the pipeline
Epic Games is leaning into blockchain and developing a number of crypto-enabled games as web3 gaming continues to see adoption
Article Link: https://blockworks.co/news/epic-games-fortnite-store-crypto-blockchain
Crypto
Microsoft is dipping its toes into the Crypto world
Microsoft has announced that it is exploring a crypto wallet tool for its Edge browser that would allow users to safely keep and transfer crypto within the browser. Users would also be able to store NFT’s in the wallet.
No release date has been annouced.
Article Link: https://blockworks.co/news/microsoft-edge-testing-crypto-wallet
SEC threatens to sue Coinbase
The SEC has issued a Wells notice to Coinbase which generally pre-empts legal action
The SEC primarily seems to be going after the staking services offered on the Coinbase platform
Coinbase has refused to shutdown their staking services as of March 27 2023
At the same time, the US Government is using Coinbase to offload millions of dollars in seized Bitcoin (from the Silk Road)
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