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Nifty News: Yuga Labs to buy metaverse studio, Etihad NFT staking to take off and more

Roar Studios will be acquired by Yuga Labs as the latter looks to onboard talent for its still-in-development Otherside metaverse.

Yuga Labs accelerates Otherside plan

Nonfungible token (NFT) conglomerate Yuga Labs has agreed to acquire the metaverse-building startup Roar Studios as Yuga looks to bolster its Otherside metaverse.

Yuga tweeted the news on July 31 saying the impending acquisition was to “execute our expansive vision” for Otherside.

An accompanying release said Roar Studios' founder and CEO Eric Reid will join Yuga as the general manager of Otherside, charged with leading the development and production of the metaverse.

Yuga is also nabbing audio, game and artificial intelligence engineers from Roar’s team which is 14 strong according to LinkedIn.

Otherside has only been glimpsed through a handful of early access demos which started in August 2022 alongside a more recent “vibe check.” It’s unknown when the project will officially launch.

In mid-July Yuga chief Daniel Alegre said it's still hard at work building Otherside adding the project will take time as it's “audacious.”

Yuga also scooped up the CryptoPunks and Meebits NFT collections in March 2022 and in November 2022 it acquired the Beeple-founded NFT game 10KTF.

Etihad NFTs to offer priority check-in, lounge access

Abu Dhabi-based airline Etihad will soon take off with an NFT staking loyalty program called “Horizon Club” and is expanding its current NFT collection.

On Aug. 1, 300 new NFTs will be added to Etihad’s EY-ZERO1 collection, which will offer benefits like priority check-in, lounge access in Abu Dhabi and the ability to stake the NFT to earn flight miles.

Etihad isn’t launching the NFT staking platform until September but a trailer for the product shows users will be able to stake multiple NFTs to earn flight miles which are redeemable for various perks such as flights, upgrades and hotels.

As for the new NFTs, they depict an Etihad aircraft wrapped in branding for the latest Mission: Impossible film which the airline has a promotional partnership with.

NFT service platform Arcube collaborated on the collection and is one of the Web3 partners for the airline.

Lufthansa and Eurowings, two European airlines, have also flirted with Web3 integrations and are seeing how it could apply to their business models.

NFT Now cuts staff as crypto winter bites

NFT-focused news outlet NFT Now is reducing its staff count and restructuring, citing the ongoing crypto market winter.

NFT Now president Alejandro Navia tweeted on July 31 that it over-hired during the bull market and changing market conditions are forcing it to restructure and make cuts.

“Our company experienced rapid growth during the bull run, and we hired to service that growth,” reads Navia’s note.

“However, as we are building the business for the long term, we must adapt to changing market conditions,” he added. “Given the current climate, it is clear that this pace of growth was unsustainable and we over-hired.”

Navia said he takes “full ownership of this mistake” in his role as president. He did not disclose how many staff were impacted by the decision.

Sorare adds fiat in bid to boost adoption

The sports gaming platform Sorare has added support for fiat currencies to purchase its NFT-based digital trading cards, removing the need for users to pay in Ether (ETH).

As part of an update to its wallet users can now use U.S. dollars, euros or British pounds to buy the NFT cards which Sorare said eliminates a barrier to entry, according to a VentureBeat report.

Related: Shanghai implements plan for blockchain digital infrastructure system by 2025

A Sorare-affiliated account tweeted on July 31 that the rollout of what it calls the “Cash Wallet” will progressively start on Aug. 1 with more fiat functionality coming in September.

Other Nifty News

Two U.S. lawmakers stung Apple CEO Tim Cook with a letter asking for information on if its App Store’s guidelines are dampening the growth of blockchain and NFT technologies due to it limiting the functionality of Web3 apps.

A computer scientist and an archaeologist have developed a Web3-based verification-as-a-service model for recording the authenticity of cultural artifacts as NFTs.

NFT Collector: Interactive NFTs the future for sport, Vegas Sphere excites

Canadian court orders $1.2M Bitcoin loan repayment

NFT-styled debit cards the future of Web3 — Animoca founder on $30M hi investment

Animoca Brands partners with hi, a Web3 neobanking app that features cryptocurrency exchange services, conventional digital banking and customized NFT-styled debit cards.

Animoca Brands co-founder and executive chairman Yat Siu sees significant potential in the personalization of Web3-based services as his firm earmarks $30 million for the neobank platform hi.

Siu’s investment firm plans to invest in the Web3 app that combines a cryptocurrency exchange, digital banking services and a customizable nonfungible token (NFT)-styled crypto debit card offering as part of its growing ecosystem. 

Speaking exclusively to Cointelegraph, Siu said hi’s vision for its NFT debit card offering intersects with his views on the interplays of culture and Web3. Hi’s flagship crypto-friendly Mastercard debit card allows users to personalize their physical cards with an NFT avatar they own.

“It is an example of the ongoing shift toward personalization, where Web3 finally allows users the opportunity to express themselves and their individuality in new and exciting ways.”
Customizable NFT-style debit cards. Source: hi.com

A central feature of the agreement is the potential to amplify the utility of various Web3 tokens and NFTs. The hi ecosystem features Web3-integrated financial applications and its own hi protocol, which is an Ethereum Virtual Machine-compatible sidechain.

The two companies will also look to drive the adoption of a “unique-human authentication mechanism” through the hi protocol’s proof of human identity solution.

Related: Animoca still bullish on blockchain games, awaits license for metaverse fund

Hi co-founder Sean Rac told Cointelegraph that the protocol’s proof of human identity solution addresses shortcomings of the Web2 era, where a handful of companies gained control over user data and identity after establishing themselves as “dominant credential providers.”

According to Rac, hi’s solution addresses this by using a dual-node structure where one set of nodes serves as identity validators responsible for verifying accounts owned by humans. Meanwhile, block producers secure the network.

Rac added that the approach could open up possibilities for “human-only” networks and decentralized applications.

The partnership will allow users to send and receive Animoca Web3 ecosystem tokens, including The Sandbox (SAND) and ApeCoin (APE). The Web3 app is touted to have over 3.5 million users.

The card service is set to allow users to pay with a fiat or crypto debit card around the world, tapping into some 90 million merchants that use Mastercard services. 

The platform looks to move into a space that neobanks like Revolut and N26 have shaped, while its focus on Web3 might attract proponents and enthusiasts to get on board, even if it’s just to have a debit card to flaunt their prized Bored Ape Yacht Club, Meebit or Pudgy Penguin NFTs.

Siu added that the investment was driven by the belief that hi would bring a new set of users to Web3 and Animoca’s own brands like The Sandbox.

“We believe that hi’s core application will facilitate on- and off-ramp rails and therefore further drive mass adoption.”

There could also be significant value in the deal for Animoca, which has invested in several different NFT and Web3 projects. Siu also noted investment would begin once both parties signed definitive agreements.

The neobank has secured the green light as a virtual asset service provider (VASP) in Lithuania, while it’s also recognized as a digital currency operator by Italy’s payments service regulator. Hi’s presence in Asia is in progress, with the platform undergoing pre-registration to secure a VASP license through the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission.

Earlier this month, Siu told Cointelegraph that Animoca was still awaiting a regulatory license in Hong Kong for its proposed $1 billion metaverse fund. The company continues to invest heavily in blockchain gaming and Web3 projects. 

Magazine: Web3 Gamer: Earn Bitcoin in Minecraft, BGA’s 50/50 gender split, Oath of Peak hot take

Canadian court orders $1.2M Bitcoin loan repayment

Sproto Gremlins, Baked Goods & Evils, Cute Snacks, and Flightless Space Agency added to Kraken NFT

We’re thrilled to announce that we have added four new NFT collections to Kraken NFT for our clients to explore, collect and trade.  After revealing dozens of NFT collections over the past few weeks, we carefully selected these new collections so you can continue to build the NFT collection of your dreams with zero gas […]

Canadian court orders $1.2M Bitcoin loan repayment

Nifty News: Metaverse bank robberies, Trump NFT biz prefers crypto over cash, and more

The Bank of America’s metaverse trains staff on resolving customer disputes or helps them relax by riding a virtual unicorn.

Stick em' up! Bank robbery drills in the Metaverse

The Bank of America is mixing a virtual reality metaverse and artificial intelligence to train new employees on everything from handling angry customers to bank robberies.

Bloomberg reported July 13 that the bank’s 2,000 new hires undergo a week-long training regime that includes slipping on a VR headset to practice responding to a variety of simulated situations.

The VR modules include mundane situations like helping an upset customer or quizzing one which asks for a large swath of cash, and extreme ones, like a full-blown bank robbery.

The newcomers can also just chill out in VR by riding a unicorn or sitting on an island.

An upset virtual customer the new BoA staff have to calm. Source: Bloomberg

AI is also deployed in the training, the new hires practice conversing with a bot acting as a customer and are helped through the conversation by yet another AI bot.

Currently, over 200,000 global BoA staff have been privy to the virtual training. The bank’s call centers also have an AI coaching bot to assist in drilling conversations with clients. Managers can also handball further staff training to the bots.

The innovation and design executive of the BoA’s Academy, Mike Wynn, told Bloomberg that the training is advantageous as these scenarios are “hard to teach traditionally.”

“VR creates anxiety, it gets your heart rate up. It makes you nervous,” he added.

Use of its metaverse is also being mulled for use at job fairs in a bid to entice a younger audience for an enthralling career in banking by having them virtually live out the hum-drum of a bank associate.

Donald Trump’s NFT business opts to hold funds on-chain

Former United States president Donald Trump’s nonfungible token (NFT) licensing business is seemingly choosing to hold its funds on Ethereum, with recently updated disclosures showing next-to-nothing in its bank account.

The update disclosures filed by Trump with the Office of Government Ethics made public on July 13 provided more details on his finances and business dealings — a legal requirement as he again makes a bid for the presidency.

CIC Digital, the firm that gains the revenue from licensing fees for the NFT collections that use Trump’s likeness, has a U.S. bank account with a balance of less than $1,000.

Meanwhile, the company’s Ethereum wallet holds anywhere between $250,000 and $500,000.

In a previous April disclosure, Trump said he earned anywhere between $500,000 to $1 million from his NFT licensing deals.

Trump’s renewed bid for president legally requires him to file a “Personal Financial Disclosure” which can be broad in nature, but it's unclear why he updated his financial disclosures to be more specific.

Two rounds of NFT collections have been released bearing Trump’s image the last of which, released in April, sold out on their first day.

Siemens $560K campus to be built in the metaverse first

German tech conglomerate Siemens has committed to building a $560,000 (500 million euros) new tech campus in near Nuremberg, Germany, but will appear first digitally in the metaverse.

On July 13 Siemens said it’s spending $1.1 billion (1 billion euros) investment to make a “blueprint for the industrial metaverse” in the country. Half that amount is going to the campus with the goal of making it a hub for what it calls the industrial metaverse — a digital recreation of locations used for troubleshooting and analytics.

The campus will be built just north of Nuremberg and before construction begins the buildings will be planned out and simulated in the metaverse, then copied into the real world, according to Siemens.

The digital replica will allow for the layout to be optimized and adjusted before any ground is broken. The campus will sit alongside its existing factory that makes electronic components.

The funding is part of the firm's $2.2 billion (2 billion euro) investment plan announced last month which aims to build the company new education centres and regional hubs.

Puma sneaker NFTs let you listen to tracks, while on track

Sports shoe company Puma, NFT company Legitimate and rapper Jay-Z’s entertainment agency Roc Nation have teamed up for a sneaker collection integrated with NFTs.

The collection dubbed "The Evolution of the Mixtape" collection was released July 14 and features three sneaker models called “Disc,” “Cassette Tape” and “Playlist.”

The tongue of the left shoe features an NFC chip that can be tapped with a phone to grant access to an exclusive portal featuring unreleased music from Roc Nation artists, video content and a documentary.

Related: ZachXBT’s research cited in Canadian NFT rug pull class-action lawsuit

The shoes are priced at $130 a pair and Legitimate touts their NFC tags can be linked with an NFT that authenticates the real product.

Such “phygital” streetwear has proven popular, in June French luxury brand Dior shipped a new line of sneakers with one pair that came with a “digital twin” — an NFT.

More Nifty News:

NFT firm Dapper Labs had its third round of layoffs in nine months on July 13 with 51 full-time staff and contractors let go, which was around 12% of the company’s staff. In November last year and February 2023 it reduced headcount by 22% and 20% respectively.

An NFT collector shared how they secured a $35,000 decentralized finance (DeFi) loan by putting up a Patek Phillipe luxury watch as collateral which was then made into an NFT granting ownership of the watch to secure the transaction.

NFT Collector: Interactive NFTs the future for sport, Vegas Sphere excites

Canadian court orders $1.2M Bitcoin loan repayment

A new age in investing: The transformative power of asset tokenization

From real estate to franchising, and from renewable energy to Hollywood, tokenization has the potential to transform the way we do business.

Asset tokenization has long been regarded as one of the most compelling applications of blockchain technology. Back in June 2019, the United States investment banking giant BNY Mellon declared it has the potential to “dramatically change the dynamic” for investors and unlock opportunities that were previously out of reach. 

Real estate is an inevitable place to start. Tokenizing properties can open the door to fractional ownership, enabling individuals to purchase a small chunk of a building. The volatility of global markets has shown why diversification is crucial — but until now, the sheer cost of real estate has made it inaccessible for many.

The benefits might not stop here, either. It can take up to six months to close a purchase on a home, all thanks to a process that is time-consuming, agonizing and surprisingly paper-based. Tokenization has the potential to speed things up, all while offering a higher degree of trust and transparency. Enhanced liquidity could ultimately revitalize the market, making transactions frictionless.

There are also ramifications in the world of business. Franchising has proven an exceptionally popular way of expanding a brand — with McDonald’s, Subway and Chick-fil-A just some of the fast-food giants that allow entrepreneurs to open their own stores. Here’s the problem, though: there are huge expenses involved with this kind of investment. According to the HR company ADP, startup costs can be as high as $5 million — a sum that few individuals could summon up on their own. The fractional ownership achieved through tokenization can remove barriers to entry, delivering tangible benefits for every participant in such an ecosystem.

Elsewhere, tokenization could offer a modern twist on crowdfunding, which has allowed cutting-edge products to hit the market with the support of everyday consumers. Embracing blockchain can allow entrepreneurs to reach a wider cross-section of investors, all while delivering higher levels of liquidity. This could also transform the way pricey infrastructure projects get off the ground, especially in the renewable energy sector. Not only could this unlock fresh funding in the race to slash carbon emissions, but this could also bring down household bills.

Over on the star-studded streets of Hollywood, tokenization is already making its presence felt. From film productions to music rights, passionate fans can now take a financial stake in the creations they care about most. This can also free content creators from the confines of record labels and movie studios, allowing them to take risks and take control of their destiny. Better still, it also means anyone can become a celebrity. One compelling use case in this arena relates to Stoner Cats, an animated series backed by NFTs that was launched by Mila Kunis in 2021. It sold out in just 35 minutes.

Making tokenization usable

One could argue that this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the potential use cases for tokenization, but there are challenges that stand in the way. One of them is regulation, and fractured frameworks in jurisdictions around the world mean there’s a lack of cohesion for entrepreneurs who want to embrace this technology.

It’s also a very new space, with limited historical data and ties to a volatile market. That’s where platforms like Brickken come in. Similar to Shopify enabling customized e-commerce stores, Brickken enables tokenizing businesses to create their own custom Token Store, further enhancing the demystification of tokenization. This project’s goal is to help digital assets be created, sold and managed in a seamless way. By offering a series of user-friendly tools and features presented in an all-in-one platform, Brickken empowers companies to easily embrace tokenization and infuse a 21st-century twist into their business model.

One of the most significant use cases for Brickken’s platform is the tokenization of real estate. By leveraging blockchain technology, Brickken facilitates fractional ownership of real estate, making real estate investing more accessible and inclusive. Through tokenization, investors can acquire fractional ownership tokens that represent a portion of the property’s value. This approach opens new avenues for liquidity, reduces barriers to entry, and enables a more efficient and transparent real estate market.

Beyond real estate tokenization, Brickken offers companies the ability to tokenize their equity or debt instruments, revolutionizing the way capital is raised. Through the platform, companies can create digital tokens that represent equity or debt instruments, allowing investors to participate in the growth and success of the business. This approach opens up new opportunities for startups and established companies alike, providing greater access to capital and fostering a more inclusive investment ecosystem. 

Moreover, Brickken is addressing the challenge of limited capital in renewable energy investments by tokenizing projects, promoting fractional ownership and accessibility. Investors can now purchase fractional shares, overcoming financial barriers and supporting sustainable initiatives. 

Simplifying life through tokenization

Billed as a no-code solution that is white-label by nature, Brickken says it offers a global ecosystem of partners to ensure each client is supported at every step of their journey, holding their hand while assets are fractionalized. 

A key component of this ecosystem is the platform’s native token BKN, which provides users with access to a variety of services and benefits. Token holders can participate in tokenized investments, gaining exposure to real estate, art, intellectual property and other exciting asset classes. In addition, BKN tokens grant users exclusive access to premium features, discounts and rewards within the Brickken marketplace. Holders can also participate in governance decisions and shape the future direction of the platform. 

Brickken’s key point is this: While tokenization may not be in the mainstream yet, there are already compelling examples where tokenization is adding real value to people’s lives.

Ludovico Rossi, Brickken’s chief revenue officer, said: 

“Fractional ownership is the transformative progression of the sharing economy, and asset tokenization is its powerful enabler. This paradigm shift will shape our future, surpassing the impact of the sharing economy as we enter an era where fractional ownership becomes the norm. Brace yourself, the wave is imminent.”

To facilitate the adoption of tokenized assets, Brickken is launching its Token Issuer Academy, which provides comprehensive guidance, tutorials, and tools for successful enterprise tokenization for individuals and businesses. By joining the Academy, participants will gain essential knowledge on how to create, distribute, and manage tokens using the Brickken Token Suite, enabling them to harness the potential of blockchain technology and decentralized finance.

Learn more about Brickken

Disclaimer. Cointelegraph does not endorse any content or product on this page. While we aim at providing you with all important information that we could obtain in this sponsored article, readers should do their own research before taking any actions related to the company and carry full responsibility for their decisions, nor can this article be considered as investment advice.

Canadian court orders $1.2M Bitcoin loan repayment

Cardano price turns bullish, but is there substance to the ADA rally?

Cardano’s DeFi footprint and network activity show an uptick in users, but will it be enough to sustain ADA’s recent bullish price action?

Cardano (ADA) experienced a remarkable price surge of 23.9% on July 13, leaving investors curious about the potential for further gains. This significant rally comes on the heels of a favorable judicial decision regarding XRP, leading many to question if ADA has what it takes to break above the $0.40 mark.

Cardano 1-day price in USD at Coinbase. Source: TradingView

There are three reasons to support Cardano’s bullish momentum, including its potential to integrate other blockchains, increased activity in decentralized applications, and the decreased regulatory risk, although the latest XRP event requires a more cautious approach.

SEC actions specifically named ADA as a potential security

Cardano and its ADA token found itself in the spotlight as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) referred to it as a potential security during the recent court action against Coinbase and Binance exchange. However, it's important to distinguish that while the staking offering may be considered a security, it does not pose a direct risk to Cardano or its development companies.

Following the SEC's remarks in June, ADA faced a 36% correction, dropping to $0.24. However, the recent XRP ruling on July 13 helped alleviate regulatory risks, leading to a boost in the rally of ADA and other coins impacted by the regulator's comments.

The idea of implementing sidechains sparked additional interest

After a recent video shared by John Woods, CTO at Algo Foundation, Charles Hoskinson, co-founder of Cardano, proposed incorporating Algorand (ALGO) as a Cardano sidechain.

Although it may seem unlikely for the Algorand community to accept such a suggestion, the proposal gains relevance amidst AlgoFi's shutdown announcement on July 11. The decision followed the SEC's allegations of security-like characteristics against Algorand due to its ICO. This could provide a way for Algorand to avoid regulatory scrutiny, and it could also boost the adoption of Cardano's ecosystem.

It's worth noting that smaller altcoins could be incentivized monetarily to become a Cardano sidechain, leveraging Cardano's rich treasury and marketing potential.

Increased activity in Cardano DApps and NFT markets

Smart contract activity plays a vital role in the success of blockchains designed for decentralized applications, especially as Ethereum struggles with soaring transaction fees. Therefore, assessing ADA’s activity in terms of deposits locked on smart contracts and the number of DApp users becomes crucial in determining the sustainability of the current bull run.

Cardano smart contracts TVL, in ADA terms. Source: DefiLlama

According to DefiLlama, Cardano's Total Value Locked (TVL) in ADA terms increased by 10% month-on-month, reaching 550 million ADA on July 14. Additionally, DEX volumes saw a 6% increase over the past seven days.

Cardano's NFT sales, as reported by CryptoSlam, surged by 56% to $3.1 million, outperforming leading platforms like Solana and Ethereum.

Data sounds promising, but ADA could still face regulatory setbacks

The recent rally in ADA is certainly encouraging, but there are still some risks to consider before investing in the project.

Despite the beneficial XRP decision, it's important to note that Cardano's ICO was not explicitly cleared by the court ruling, as it solely addressed sales via exchanges and OTC desks. The ongoing XRP trial will further determine the fate of Cardano's regulatory status.

Related: Can XRP price hit $1? Watch these levels next

Additionally, ADA’s TVL of $200 million lags behind other layer-1 smart contract alternatives such as Tron ($5.9 billion), BNB Smart Chain ($3.4 billion) and Avalanche ($727 million). This suggests that there is still limited demand for ADA's services.

To solidify its position and potentially surpass the $0.40 mark, Cardano needs to continue growing and delivering on its promises, including the planned updates for 2023. Important upcoming updates include the Hydra layer-2 solution that uses sidechains to offload transactions from the main chain, and Basho, a layer-1 scalability and performance improvement proposal including improved block structure, parallelization, and pipelining.

This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.

Canadian court orders $1.2M Bitcoin loan repayment

Mad Lads, Bursted Bubbles, BODOGGOS, Azuki Elementals and more collections added to Kraken NFT

We’ve just added five new NFT collections to Kraken NFT for our clients to explore, collect and trade.  After revealing dozens of NFT collections over the past few weeks, we carefully selected these new collections so you can continue to build the NFT collection of your dreams with zero gas fees.*  We will continue to […]

Canadian court orders $1.2M Bitcoin loan repayment