1. Meta sinks into NFTs craze
Meta is at its early stage of plans realization: implementing NFTs in its main planforms — Instagram and Facebook. The social networks are developing the feature enabling the display of tokens in users’ profiles. Also, the platforms are going to produce the solution for NFTs creation and issue by users. The opponents of the token theme consider the global NFTs market with last year’s $40bn as an economic bubble.
The NFT market leader OpenSea has attracted $300 million; the global cryptocurrency platform Coinbase to launch its own marketplace; Reddit has launched its own NFT avatars collection.
Annual Meta’s $10 billion investments for NFT and metaverse development hasn’t multiplied its global use — Insta and FB endure the decline in users activity.
Novi, a Facebook digital currency wallet released in October, can promote the realization of the plans.
2. The 1st blockchain art museum to be opened in Seattle
Virtual art in a physical museum is expected to open in Seattle at the end of January: visitors will be able to see exhibitions of digital blockchain art and NFT works accessible by QR code.
Museum co-founders with a tech background, Jennifer Wong and Peter Hamilton, hope the digital gallery will make Seattle an innovative hub for blockchain communities and NFT enthusiasts. The museum has been developed in collaboration with Samsung.
The gallery is presented as a collaboration between a traditional approach to art and an innovative one, where the focus will be on Seattle and local artists. Attention to detail and a “programmatic” approach to exhibitions are the main features of the digital art center.
The museum will exhibit works by NFT collector Aaron Byrd, generative art by Tyler Hobbs and Erick Calderon, and works from Larva Labs’ CryptoPunks series.
3. Turkey’s party discusses crypto regulation in the metaverse
Turkey’s ruling AK party made its debut into the world of metaverse on Monday, discussing cryptocurrency regulation in “such a format”.
Mahir Ünal, a TBMM group deputy chairman, told the news agency that financial and legal regulation of crypto assets is essential. At the same time, another deputy chairman Mustafa Elitaş expressed confidence in the future of the metaverse and that it will become part of our lives.
As blockchain technology has proven to be effective for digital ownership, Turkey has set out to adopt the metaverse as a part of life that can affect many industries.
The AK party intends to develop a policy framework for crypto assets and social media. In this way, the party’s representatives seek to lay the groundwork to protect its citizens and, in addition, to enhance the country’s innovation opportunities.
It is worth noting that Turkey’s president is hostile to cryptocurrency adoption.
4. Meet Lamborghini’s masterpiece: the Space Key
The world of NFTs has also taken hold of Automobili Lamborghini: the company has developed a real work of art with an as yet “incognito” artist. The artwork is available through the Lamborghini Space Key.
The unique feature of this space masterpiece is its material: a carbon fiber composite with a space story in the truest sense of the word. This “one-off” object is available in an edition of five, each representing the artist’s exclusive digital work, accessible by QR code. The enterprise white label solution NFT PROTM became a partner in developing the artwork.
5. G2 Esports team launches Solana-based NFTs
Esports is also getting into the NFT hype, with the League of Legends and Counter-Strike team launching NFTs on Solana in February.
Solana’s Metaplex protocol will be the basis for Samurai Army NFTs with a samurai-inspired logo. The Samurai Army NFTs act as a pass to G2 Esports exclusive membership. The lucky enthusiasts will receive special perks: “first-line” access to future G2 NFT releases, interaction with professional G2 players, access to a social club, participation in competitions, and much more. Besides, G2 Esports started the partnership with Bondly in 2021 and blockchain company Hdac Technology in 2019.
According to the DappRadar report, the NFT market has grown dramatically since the beginning of last year and has reached a record profit in 2021.
The Ethereum platform is considered an alternative to Solana, but the latter is famous for its low fees and fast transactions. Solana’s NFTs have already generated $1.2 billion in trading volume in six months.
6. Lindsay Lohan to launch “experimental NFTs” on Superfandom platform
Lindsay Lohan will join the list of entertainment stars and sell experimental NFTs. Also, she will become an advisor to Superfandom, a subsidiary of Rare Sense, to attract more stars.
With such NFTs, fans will be able to interact with their favorite artists in real life, meeting them virtually or personally. A TV star Karn, for instance, is delighting fans with NFTs that allows them to play golf with the celebrity. Other entertainment celebs offer fans gym classes and a bunch of other special entertainment “perks”.
The launch of the experimental NFTs sale is planned for the next two weeks. In the meantime, let’s wait to see what kind of experience Lohan will offer.
7. AMC gives away free WAX-based NFTs to 580K shareholders
Movie theater chain AMC continues to conquer the cryptocurrency world after last year’s surge in their share price due to the meme stock frenzy. The company has distributed an ‘I Own AMC’ NFT to shareholders registered through the AMC Investor Connect portal before December 31. AMC previously used WAX in collaboration with Sony Pictures, in which the companies spread 86,000 NFTs among people with “Spider-Man: No Way Home” film tickets.
Last year, AMS announced its plans for the acceptance of several coins as payments (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Bitcoin Cash). Later the company started to support Dogecoin. AMC intends to support the Shiba Inu token too. The company is also brainstorming the idea of launching its own cryptocurrency or AMC token, and that’s just part of their fabulous ideas — Aron told CNBC.
8. Crypto is passing through a phase of “tulip mania”
The rise of Metaverse and NFT contributes to cryptocurrencies going through a phase of Dutch “tulip mania,” said Hyundai Card Vice President Chung Tae.
Hyundai Card previously joined forces with Ground X (blockchain subsidiary of Korean mobile platform Kakao) to create NFTs for credit card issuance. According to Chung, NFT and the metaverse promote the proper usage of digital assets and the rise of crypto-investments (highlighting the digital culture and real estate).
Earlier, Chung shared on Facebook his concerns about the uncertainty of the cryptocurrency market and the precarious position of investors.
