Mar 18, 2022
Meta Digest #8
BAYC founder buys CryptoPunks and Meebits from Larva Labs
Yuga Labs, the company that created the Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC), has bought the rights to the tokens of the CryptoPunks and Meebits series — more than 400 CryptoPunks and 1,700 Meebits from Larva Labs. The company declined to disclose the sale price.
CryptoPunks is one of the longest-standing and most valuable brands in the NFT world, while Meebits also joined the list of NFT’s most valuable collections after launching last May.
In a statement, Yuga Labs stressed that its focus is on developing the BAYC collection, which “will remain the center of the ecosystem.” Yuga Labs hopes to create a “community of builders” that produces derivative works based on the two projects.
Former Disney CEO Robert Iger joins the metaverse
Former Disney CEO and chairman Robert Iger, who has been working for more than fifteen years, will join the board of Genies.
The metaverse-focused company offers services to create virtual avatars that can be used in the metaverse, as well as accessories that can be purchased as NFTs. Founded in 2017, the firm has received about $100 million in funds and employs more than 100 people.
Iger claims interest in the metaverse firms as new e-commerce opportunities — an important part of many metaverse-focused companies such as Decetraland or The Sandbox.
NFTs are coming to Instagram
About the introduction of NFT in IG began to talk in the summer with the “Creators Week” and gradually reinforced against the background of Meta’s interest in Web3.
Now it’s official: Mark Zuckerberg announced in an interview with SXSW that Meta plans to implement NFT in Instagram in the “near term,” once the team fixes technical issues.
“Over the next few months, it will be possible to use the NFTs you have in the app, and hopefully, over time, mint them within it.”
The UK’s largest bank enters the metaverse
HSBC, one of the world’s largest international banking and financial services providers, announced a partnership with Sandbox.
HSBC has purchased a piece of land at Sandbox, where it will hold events to interact with fans of sports, cybersports and computer games. Details of the partnership will be announced later.
Gucci, Warner Music Group, Ubisoft, Snoop Dogg, Deadmau5, Steve Aoki, Richie Hawtin, The Smurfs, Care Bears, Atari, CryptoKitties, Adidas, and other brands are already partnering with Sandbox.
American Express makes plans for the metaverse
American Express, the world’s second-largest payments processor, has filed seven trademark applications related to virtual services and its iconic Centurion logo. The company thus joined financial peers JP Morgan, Visa and Mastercard in exploring its possibilities within the meta-universe.
Thus, the company plans to offer cryptocurrency payment processing, banking services and concierge services in the metaverse.
Last summer, American Express began experimenting with NFTs by offering cardholders a limited edition of 14 NFTs with SZA artist involvement.
Rihanna enters the metaverse with her “Fenty” beauty company
A well-known singer is about to enter the metaverse with virtual cosmetics under her “Fenty” brand.
Rihanna has applied for a new trademark registration. Thus, she will offer virtual cosmetics and hair care products under Fenty. Details have not yet been disclosed, but it’s likely that Rihanna will take Fenty to Decentraland.
After her success in the music industry, Rihanna created a cosmetics and skincare brand in 2017. In just four years, she turned it into a $570 million company.
Johnson & Johnson enables virtual band-aid
The company has filed a trademark application for BAND-AID, referring to “virtual wound care and first aid products”.
By the way, in early March, the company filed trademark applications for their cosmetics brands NEUTROGENA and AVEENO. Thus, the company is going to present virtual cosmetics in the metaverse as well.
