Ava Labs and EV maker Togg to build smart contract-based mobility services

January 8, 2022 Coin Telegraph

Avalanche

The partnership aims to fast-track Togg’s Use-Case Mobility initiative, which involves producing cars with more functionalities as compared to traditional EVs.

Turkey’s electronic vehicle (EV) manufacturer Togg has announced a strategic partnership with Ava Labs to design and build smart contract-based services aimed at improving autonomous mobility.

Togg’s collaboration with Ava Labs, a team dedicated to supporting and developing the Avalanche public blockchain, was revealed at the CES 2022 event in Las Vegas. As Cointelegraph Turkey reported, the partnership aims to fast-track Togg’s Use-Case Mobility initiative, which combines different technologies and transportation solutions to produce cars with more functionalities as compared to traditional EVs.

According to the official announcement, Togg has been exploring use cases around blockchain and related technologies in EVs for more than a year. With Ava Labs’ partnership, Togg intends to infuse Internet of things (IoT) and machine-to-machine (M2M) communication to expand and accelerate its EV capabilities.

Togg will implement smart contracts and blockchain technology for allowing users to pick up a reserved scooter or taxi while charging their EVs, enabling seamless mobility. Gürcan Karakaş, the CEO of Togg said:

“Our collaboration with Ava Labs is built on taking the experience of Togg users to the next level, going beyond automobiles to empower partners, users and non-Togg users across the mobility ecosystem to benefit from this platform.”

Moreover, Ava Labs’ partnership will allow Togg to store vehicle maintenance and parts information over the Avalanche blockchain, which will be foundational to a reliable second-hand market.

Back in December, Dogecoin (DOGE) price went up by 25% soon after Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced plans to accept DOGE for Tesla merchandise.

Tesla will make some merch buyable with Doge & see how it goes
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 14, 2021

As Cointelegraph reported, Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView showed DOGE/USD climbing over 25% to become the only major cryptocurrency to deliver gains on the day.

*DOGE/USD 1-hour candle chart (Bittrex). Source: TradingView*

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Crypto.com partners with Los Angeles’ Angel City Football Club

December 21, 2021 Coin Telegraph

Business

The exchange said the partnership was aimed at encouraging “financial education, independence and financial empowerment” for women.

Cryptocurrency exchange Crypto.com has inked another deal to expand its brand recognition in the United States with the professional women’s sports team Angel City Football Club.

In a Tuesday announcement, Crypto.com said it had partnered with the Los Angeles soccer team in an effort to increase the awareness of and access to crypto, blockchain and Web 3.0 among Angelenos, soccer fans and the athletes themselves. The exchange said it plans to continue looking for “unique and impactful ways” to invest in L.A., with the partnership aimed at encouraging “financial education, independence and financial empowerment” for women.

“Given the speed with which Web 3.0 and cryptocurrency is changing our world, we want to ensure that women are being brought along on the journey as investors and creators,” said Angel City Football Club co-founder and president Julie Uhrman. “We are excited to work with [Crypto.com] to educate our community and players on crypto and allow our players to use the power of NFTs to connect with and create a deeper relationship with their fans.”

The partnership is the crypto exchange’s latest expansion into Los Angeles. Crypto.com announced in November that it had secured the naming rights to the city’s multi-purpose Staples Center for 20 years in a $700 million deal. The venue — expected to officially change names on Saturday — has been home to the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers, as well as the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks.

I took some photos around Staples Center before the final changes to becoming Crypto. The iconic Staples Center letters are gone, and blue is the new theme. We're in the final stages of the conversion.https://t.co/wLEgslWpDR
— Farbod Esnaashari (@Farbod_E) December 21, 2021

As it grows, Crypto.com has been partnering with high-profile individuals and companies to promote cryptocurrencies and blockchain. In July, the company signed a $175-million sponsorship agreement with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Actor Matt Damon also appeared in ads released around the world beginning in October.

Crypto exchange FTX US partners with four Washington, DC sports teams

December 20, 2021 Coin Telegraph

Business

FTX US’ NFT platform will have exclusive rights to future token drops by the four teams and the exchange will be a partner for an in-game highlight series, “Big Block-Chain.”

The company behind four major Washington, D.C.-based professional sports teams has announced FTX US will be its official crypto exchange and nonfungible token partner.

In a Monday announcement, Monumental Sports and Entertainment, or MSE, said FTX US would be the official crypto partner of the Washington Capitals hockey team, the Washington Wizards men’s basketball team, the Washington Mystics women’s basketball team and the Capital City Go-Go basketball team as part of a multi-year deal. According to MSE, FTX US’ NFT platform will have exclusive rights to future token drops by the four teams and the exchange will be a partner for an in-game highlight series, dubbed “Big Block-Chain.”

“The integration of blockchain technology with the sports experience has only just begun, and together we are going to advance to an entirely new frontier, which will ignite fans beyond what they can even imagine today,” said Jim Van Stone, MSE president of business operations and the firm’s chief commercial officer.

The announcement is the latest partnership between FTX US and major sports franchises in the United States. In March, the crypto exchange’s operator, FTX, reached a $135-million agreement to secure naming rights for the Miami Heat’s home stadium, which will be called the FTX Arena until at least 2040. The firm has also been an official sponsor of Major League Baseball since June and partnered with the University of Kentucky to allow its Wildcats men’s basketball team to act as brand ambassadors.

One of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world, FTX had a valuation of more than $25 billion following a $420 million funding round in October. The company launched its NFT marketplace for U.S. customers in September.

Voyager Digital will be crypto brokerage partner for National Women’s Soccer League

December 16, 2021 Coin Telegraph

Business

The trading platform said a “significant amount” of the investment would fund rostered soccer players’ crypto accounts.

Crypto trading platform Voyager Digital has inked a deal with the National Women's Soccer League, or NWSL, aiming to provide players crypto education and financial support.

In a Tuesday announcement, Voyager said it would become the league’s first cryptocurrency brokerage partner as part of a multi-year deal. The trading platform said a “significant amount” of the investment would fund rostered players’ crypto accounts. There are expected to be 12 teams in the NWSL starting in 2022, so up to 312 players could benefit from the Voyager partnership.

"Voyager's investment in the league is especially innovative because we've collectively designed the partnership to include direct financial resources for every one of our players, as well as education on the revolutionary changes underway in digital assets,” said NWSL interim CEO Marla Messing.

As part of the deal with Voyager, one player from each of the NWSL’s teams will act as an ambassador, attending educational events and creating crypto-related content. The exchange said it would be offering “key lessons and tools” aimed at helping players develop long-term financial growth opportunities after their sports careers had ended.

Many crypto companies and platforms have formed partnerships with sports organizations across the globe as the space expands and seemingly becomes more profitable as a sponsor. Voyager is already the crypto brokerage and international partner for the Dallas Mavericks basketball team following an October deal. Crypto derivatives exchange FTX also announced it had become the official sponsor of Major League Baseball in June.

Founded in 2018, Voyager Digital currently offers more than 60 digital assets for trading on its mobile app, which also includes services such as yield farming. In October, the platform announced it had received a $75 million investment from crypto quantitative trading firm and liquidity provider Alameda Research.

Undefeated Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez Heads to the Ring With Bitcoin.com in His Corner

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Just did it: Nike enters the metaverse game following RTFKT acquisition

December 14, 2021 Coin Telegraph

Coin Telegraph

The new RTFKT acquisition confirms Nike’s interest in being a prominent contributor to the virtual world of the metaverse.

Sportswear manufacturer Nike announced the acquisition of virtual sneakers and collectibles brand RTFKT. Nike becomes the biggest U.S.-based athletic products manufacturer through this partnership to join the metaverse bandwagon.

A Cointelegraph report from Nov. 02 highlighted Nike's submission of requests for patenting the words — namesake, swoosh logo and just do it — for use online and in online virtual worlds." The filing was accompanied by two new job postings for virtual material designers, signaling the company's intent to enter the metaverse.

However, the new RTFKT acquisition confirms Nike’s interest in delving into the metaverse ecosystem:

RTFKT is now a part of the NIKE, Inc. family. ‍ pic.twitter.com/5egNk9d8wA
— RTFKT Studios (@RTFKTstudios) December 13, 2021

According to Nike, acquiring RTFKT will help the company “deliver next-generation collectibles that merge culture and gaming.” John Donahoe, the president and CEO of Nike believes that the move helps accelerate Nike’s digital transformation efforts:

“Our plan is to invest in the RTFKT brand, serve and grow their innovative and creative community and extend Nike’s digital footprint and capabilities.”

Supporting this vision, RTFKT co-founder Benoit Pagotto said that “we’re excited to grow our brand which was fully formed in the metaverse.”

On the other side of the world, German sportswear manufacturer Adidas announced entering the metaverse after partnering with nonfungible token (NFT) companies, including Bored Ape Yacht Club, gmoney NFT and PUNKS Comic.

Today we leap Into The Metaverse with @BoredApeYC, @gmoneyNFT & @punkscomic.

It’s time to enter a world of limitless possibilities.https://t.co/LmgtrRn20c pic.twitter.com/40kU8tayrS
— adidas Originals (@adidasoriginals) December 2, 2021

As Cointelegraph pointed out, an article on the Adidas mobile app said:

“The Metaverse is where anyone can express their most original ideas and be their most authentic selves, in whatever form they might take. And thanks to the blockchain [and NFTs], those pioneers can own a piece of what they create.”

Meta, who has also recently rebranded itself from Facebook, welcomed Adidas’ entry as it said “We can't wait to see Adidas in the metaverse.”

Robinhood partners with Chainalysis ahead of crypto wallet launch

December 13, 2021 Coin Telegraph

Business

The trading app will adopt Chainalysis' monitoring compliance solution Know-Your-Transaction as well as the Chainalysis Reactor, its investigations software.

Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis will be partnering with Robinhood to provide data and tools for trading in advance of the app launching its crypto wallet.

In a Monday announcement, Chainalysis said the integrated partnership with Robinhood Crypto will help the trading app meet compliance requirements ahead of the launch of its crypto wallet, expected to roll out for all users in early 2022. According to Robinhood, the platform will adopt Chainalysis' Know-Your-Transaction, the firm’s monitoring compliance solution, in addition to Chainalysis Reactor, its investigations software. The trading app also said its teams would be using Chainalysis’ certification programs to achieve compliance.

“Chainalysis works closely with regulators and law enforcement to develop industry best practices and that approach is aligned with Robinhood’s commitment to working with policymakers in a collaborative manner,” said Robinhood Crypto’s head of partnerships Ben Einstein.

According to Robinhood, more than 1.6 million people are on the waitlist for a wallet which will support depositing and withdrawing Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), Dogecoin (DOGE), and other tokens. The trading app has been testing its digital wallet feature since it was first announced in September.

First alpha transfer #WalletsAlpha https://t.co/nxOL23leGM
— VLAD (@vladtenev) November 22, 2021

Many government agencies and companies in the private sector employ Chainalysis as a solution to track both legitimate and illicit crypto transactions. When the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced it would impose sanctions on the Czech Republic and Russia-based business Suex OTC, it cited an investigation from the analytics firm.

After going public on the Nasdaq in July, the share price of Robinhood (HOOD) has steadily declined from an all-time high of $70.39 on Aug. 4 to $21.83 at the time of publication, a drop of roughly 70%.

Nifty News: Pepsi’s debut drop, 1inch expands P4 Metaverse and Tom Brady gifts NFTs

December 11, 2021 Coin Telegraph

Art

Pepsi and VaynerNFT drop free genesis collection, 1inch and Parts of Four partner to expand the P4 Metaverse, Tom Brady gifts NFTs on Autograph and Pantone releases the Color of the Year 2022 with Tezos

Cointelegraph has had a lot of NFT related news this week from pop culture to sports and gaming. Below is a roundup of stories you don't want to miss.

Pepsi and VaynerNFT team up

Pepsi launched their Mic Drop genesis NFT collection made up of 1,893 generative style NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain. The number commemorates the year Pepsi was born. Consumers will only have to pay gas fees, and to ensure more manageable fees, Pepsi implemented a waitlist process from now until December 14.

In homage to the brand’s history, the design of the NFTs are grounded in variations of a microphone visual and inspired by iconic Pepsi flavors including classic blue Pepsi, silver Diet Pepsi, red Pepsi Wild Cherry, black Pepsi Zero Sugar and more.

The Pepsi Mic Drop NFT collection was designed by and created with VaynerNFT, a consultancy under the umbrella of the VaynerX holding company. Gary Vaynerchuk, CEO of VaynerNFT told Cointelegraph, “NFTs will change the culture of value creation forever; this is an exciting moment for the brand to build loyalty & bring immense value to its community & fans."

Additionally, Pepsi is implementing a carbon offset program for the launch of the Pepsi Mic Drop NFT to ensure a net carbon footprint of zero.

1inch and Parts of Four drop Mystery Box

A joint collection of magic and industry by 1inch and Parts of Four will debut as a Mystery Box drop on the Binance NFT Marketplace on Dec. 13. In total, 22,000 NFTs with 31 versions will be minted across 7 levels of sophistication, and offered at 25 BUSD each.

Based on the Parts of Four catalog, the NFT collection of digital jewelry employs an alchemy-based NFT approach. The collection will also be part of a game focused on acquiring and forging rare wearables across P4’s upcoming Greater Metaverse.

The P4 Metaverse expansion will begin with an ERC-20 community token, P4C, and then towards an NFT platform running on the Binance Smart Chain, or BSC. The Parts of Four ecosystem plans to promote interaction with the physical world via embedded tech, AR and bi-directional swaps via the P4 platform.

Tom Brady drops Origins NFT Collection for the holidays

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady released a 16,000 collectible set on his Autograph NFT platform called “Live Forever: The Tom Brady Origins Collection.”

This collection that represents memories from the beginning of his football career includes a resume he created prior to his 2000 draft selection, a stopwatch, cleats, a jersey from the NFL combine, and more.

This is why we started @Autograph, to turn memories into collectibles that people can hold onto forever. The Origins Collection arrives today for pre season access pass holders and Thursday for everyone else…be ready LFG!! pic.twitter.com/TEGfSNjqIl
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) December 7, 2021

The catch however is that the NFTs will be a mystery at the time of purchase until Dec. 14 when token owners can unlock them to reveal a collectible in 1 of 5 possible styles and tiers of rarity.

Tezos x Pantone Color of the Year Initiative

Pantone, the global color authority, has chosen the energy-efficient Tezos blockchain to release the Color of the Year 2022 through a digital collection as NFTs.

PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri, is the Pantone Color of the Year selection for 2022. This year marks the first time a colour has been created specifically for Pantone’s colour of the year designation. Paris-based multidisciplinary artist, Polygon1993, will create artworks inspired by this periwinkle shade to develop a digital representation of the color.

.@Tezos x @Pantone

Pantone announces an exploration of the digital art world with #Tezos x Pantone Color of the Year initiative.

The initiative illustrates how color trends in the digital world are being manifested in the physical world and vice versa. pic.twitter.com/hM5fdBOY8E
— Tezos (@tezos) December 9, 2021

Tezos, with over 50 million transactions in 2021, had an average carbon footprint of just 17 individuals.

Other Nifty News

French gaming giant Ubisoft Entertainment SA is facing backlash from the gaming community after launching its new NFT platform Ubisoft Quartz. Ubisoft’s YouTube video introducing its NFTs got a 96% dislike ratio.

Virtual land sales in the metaverse have been dominated by NFT sales since the beginning of December reaching over $300 million. Of that total, almost a quarter has been for digital land in The Sandbox metaverse, outpacing all other items, art and collections.

Crypto.com and Silvergate enable institutions to buy and sell crypto with USD

November 30, 2021 Coin Telegraph

Coin Telegraph

Silvergate is a major crypto bank known for assisting the launch of El Salvador’s crypto wallet Chivo.

Major cryptocurrency exchange Crypto.com continues expanding its crypto on-ramp and off-ramp solutions with a new partnership with the California state-chartered bank Silvergate.

Crypto.com announced on Nov. 30 that it is working with Silvergate to allow institutional clients to deposit and withdraw from the exchange using the U.S. dollar (USD).

According to the announcement, bank transfers to and from the Crypto.com exchange are now available for institutional investors. With the help of Silvergate, institutional clients can transfer USD between their bank accounts and Crypto.com with no fees.

The new feature is enabled through the Silvergate Exchange Network, a payments platform enabling users to instantly send U.S. dollars at any time of the day. The feature will be available to institutional clients in all exchange available markets, the announcement notes.

Crypto.com co-founder and CEO Kris Marszalek said that the new feature is “highly requested” and supports the company’s vision of accelerating the world’s transition to cryptocurrency. “We are excited to work with Silvergate to provide an additional fiat on/off ramp solution to our institutional clients,” he added.

As previously reported, Crypto.com has been working with the USD Coin (USDC) stablecoin issuer Circle to provide USD deposits and withdrawals on its platform.

Crypto.com launched withdrawals through USD bank transfers for institutional clients across more than 60 countries via Circle API in August. The exchange previously partnered with Circle to enable USD deposits and USDC transfers for users in more than 30 countries.

Silvergate is a crypto-focused bank known as the issuer of Facebook’s not-yet-launched digital currency Diem USD and the manager of its reserve. The bank also assisted the launch of El Salvador’s government-backed Bitcoin (BTC) wallet Chivo, acting as a responsible entity for facilitating Chivo’s U.S. dollar transactions.

Partnership

Pepsi and VaynerNFT team up

1inch and Parts of Four drop Mystery Box

Tom Brady drops Origins NFT Collection for the holidays

Tezos x Pantone Color of the Year Initiative

Other Nifty News

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