Personal Note
Hi Everyone đź‘‹,
Packed issue this week with some major announcements from Meta, Microsoft, Coinbase, Mastercard, and Second Life.
Also a lot of Brands in the Metaverse articles this week. With some great examples.
Unfortunately, also several brands & Clubs (Club Brugge) launching NFTs without having a clue what NFTs are really about. With furious fans as a result...
Tip of the week: don't fuck up your brand, seek help when launching an NFT project...
Best,
Trends & Game Changers
Facebook and Instagram Are Reportedly Exploring Plans to Make, Showcase, and Sell NFTS
If the company launches such tools, it would be the biggest show of mainstream support for NFTs to date, and help solidify the controversial assets’ place in the digital world. BUT the plans are at an early stage and could yet change. Exactly how far along these plans are is impossible to say, but it’s not the first show of interest in NFTs we’ve seen from Meta’s leaders
Coinbase and Mastercard Partner to Revolutionize NFT Purchase Experience
Coinbase wants to simplify the user experience to allow more people to join the NFTs community. That’s why Coinbase is working with Mastercard to classify NFTs as “digital goods”, allowing a broader group of consumers to purchase NFTs.
How the Metaverse Is Blurring the Lines between TV, Theater and Gaming
First, there was print, then radio, TV, internet, and, now, the metaverse. This article sums up some very good examples of how live theater, film, and TV can seize the fruitful opportunities the metaverse is set to bring to the entertainment market.
Explained: Why Microsoft Buying Activision Blizzard Gives It a Firmer Footing in the Metaverse Space
Microsoft on Tuesday announced it was acquiring gaming company Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion. With this, Microsoft will become the world’s third-largest gaming company by revenue, behind Tencent and Sony. The acquisition is also seen as a major push for metaverse.
Second Life Founder Returns to Take On the Metaverse
Second Life is a forerunner of the virtual worlds that big tech companies are now trying to create and that are often referred to as the metaverse. Mr. Rosedale is returning to the company he left in 2010 to serve as a strategic adviser and shepherd its expansion...
Brands in the Metaverse
Mercedes partners with NFT artists to celebrate G-Class series
Mercedes has teamed up with Art2People to create an exclusive Mercedes-Benz NFT collection based on its G-Class vehicle line, according to a tweet by the luxury automobile manufacturer.
Gap Is Launching Its First Gamified NFT Experience
For its release, the fashion retailer connected with Brandon Sines, the artist behind the NYC-based Frank Ape project, to create digital art featuring Gap’s iconic hoodies. The gamified experience encourages customers to collect iconic Gap hoodie digital art at the Common and Rare levels to unlock the opportunity to purchase the Epic – limited edition digital art by Brandon Sines and a physical Gap x Frank Ape by Sines hoodie.
Glenfiddich brings in Year of the Tiger with the launch of its first ever limited-edition Chinese New Year NFTs
Glenfiddich, the world’s most awarded single malt Scotch whisky, will launch 200 limited-edition Chinese Lunar New Year (CNY) NFTs to celebrate the Year of the Tiger.
The exclusive drop will be available on BlockBar.com, the world’s first DTC NFT marketplace for wines and spirits. Each corresponding NFT purchased is linked to a physical bottle of Glenfiddich’s 21-year-old Reserva Rum cask single malt Scotch whisky and serves as a digital receipt verifying ownership and authenticity.
Ralph Lauren CEO says metaverse is way to tap into younger generation of shoppers
Ralph Lauren CEO Patrice Louvet said that the fashion brand is chasing opportunities in the metaverse as a way to attract younger shoppers.
Budweiser VaynerNFT Partnership to Highlight Emerging Music Artists
Budweiser will partner with VAYNERNFT to release a new NFT collection that will feature emerging artists. The famous lager company will work with 22 of the world’s top up-and-coming artists to drop NFTs.
To buy tokens known as Budweiser royalty tokens, you must be over 21 and pay up a hefty $499. The tokens will mint at different degrees of rarity and reveal an NFT relating to one of the 22 artists. Overall, there will be 11,000 NFTs available, with each artist getting 500 tokens.
Lamborghini to launch NFTs linked to space exploration
Luxury automobile manufacturer Lamborghini is launching a non-fungible token (NFT) collection that’s out of this world. The initiative is a set of digital space keys.Â
In 2019, Lamborghini sent a piece of carbon fiber composite for research purposes to the International Space Station. Now, the material has returned from its space journey back to Lamborghini and will be shaped into five physical items branded as space keys. Each space key will have a digital twin piece of art as an NFT that will be accessible through scanning a QR code on the back of the physical asset.
Prada Teams up With Adidas to Launch First NFT: Hint, Its Beeple-style.
Prada is the latest luxury brand to jump into the metaverse with a user-generated, creator-owned art project in partnership with the German sportswear megabrand.
From 24 January, anyone can register to submit a photograph using a specially-designed filter, that will be manipulated, scrambled up, and 40 percent of the image removed, so as to be anonymized. Three thousand of the individual photographs will be selected by raffle and minted by Adidas as unique NFTs for free. The individual who submitted the artwork will remain the owner, able to sell their NFT on the secondary market.
Walmart Is Quietly Preparing to Enter the Metaverse
Walmart appears to be venturing into the metaverse with plans to create its own cryptocurrency and collection of non-fungible tokens or NFTs.
The big-box retailer filed several new trademarks late last month that indicates its intent to make and sell virtual goods, including electronics, home decorations, toys, sporting goods, and personal care products. In a separate filing, Walmart said it would offer users virtual currency, as well as NFTs.
Facts & Figures
Inside the Metaverse Economy, This Is What Will Be for Real in 2022
The baseline, widely agreed-upon prediction for 2022: more major brands will get involved in Web3 projects. The focus for brands, at least at this point, isn’t to win but simply to get involved. So far, brand engagement with blockchain projects has been about building community and staying relevant. The Nike and Adidas NFT drops, for example, generated more buzz than cash, and that's ok!
This Guy Sold His Lamborghini for an NFT, Saying Bayc Keeps Its Value Better
Twitter user @iCrimax has been making headlines for allegedly selling his Lamborghini to buy a BAYC NFT. Safe to say, CryptoTwitterers were equally shocked and curious about @iCrimax’s controversial decision.