Are digital swoosh NFTs really doing numbers for Nike? This week’s reports suggest so. Meanwhile, Solana has a crypto-beer coming out (first time we’ve written that sentence, I suspect) and power player Animoca Brands secured a hefty amount of fundraising for their Japanese division.
That’s just a few major stories that we saw over the past week around all things NFTs. Let’s review.
This Week’s Non-Fungible Token News
“Just do it.” The iconic mantra can only be associated with a sole brand, Nike. This past week, the athletic apparel leader made headlines for being the leader in generating revenues from NFTs. That includes beating out respectable competitors with established, high-paying audiences like Adidas, Dolce & Gabbana, Tiffany, Gucci, and more.
This of course has been spearheaded by Nike’s acquisition of RTFKT, and brought to life by the first release – ‘Cryptokicks’ – back in April. In all, the sneaker brand has collected a substantial $185M from NFT sales. Not bad considering the weight of the bear market this year.
Budweiser was one of the first major companies to show public interest in engaging with NFTs, but they’ll have to sit this one out this week as a new name in NFT beer is in town. This time it’s independent, as Solana-based barrelDAO, a self-proclaimed community-operated brewery, is slated to release a ‘Solana Summer Shandy’ beer.
The canned version of Solana summer will be host to some of the blockchain’s biggest NFT projects too, with projects like DeGods, Okay Bears and more donning the can’s branding.
It feels like Reddit gets mentioned practically once a month for their dialogue on NFTs, and we’re back again this week with more. Last year, we suspected that the social media platform was exploring building an NFT marketplace; by the beginning of 2022, that perspective shifted as reports emerged that Reddit was instead exploring NFT profile pictures. By mid-year, Reddit paired up with Polygon for ‘Collectible Avatars,’ their iteration of NFT engagement.
After seeing some small-scale engagement of the avatars in recent months, releasing them last month; this month, Reddit is airdropping them for free for eligible Reddit users with enough ‘karma’ on the platform. Funny enough, in the midst of the bear market, Reddit has seemingly skewed away from amplifying the idea of NFTs, and is instead leaning in hard to the ‘Collectible Avatars’ name – positioning them as something especially unique and avoiding grabbing on to the idea that ‘anything NFT will stick.’ Seems like a smart approach in today’s market.
Solana-based barrelDAO is dropping limited-edition 'Solana Summer Shandy' beers. Crack open a cold one with some of your favorite Solana-based NFTs on the can. | Source: SOL-USD on TradingView.com
Animoca Brands Japan raised $45M this past week, pegging the firm’s valuation at roughly $500M. The firm is most known for being the creators of The Sandbox, and has also formed partnerships with powerhouse IP owners, including the likes of Disney, AMC and their ‘The Walking Dead’ series, Formula E, and more. Animoca’s portfolio has grown to now over 300 investments, and this latest fundraising for their Japanese subsidiary will be put towards NFT business opportunities throughout the Japanese market.
It was a busy week for Bored Ape Yacht Club behemoth Yuga Labs and Ape owners alike. The leading name in NFTs nailed down a number of different deals over the course of the week, including a major brand partnership with legacy candy M&Ms and the BAYC ‘band’ KINGSHIP.
KINGSHIP is signed to UMG and is yet to release any music, but is certainly making some sort of effort with their publicity-focused attempts to secure deals and make moves that can garner some brief attention.
Meanwhile, in anticipation of the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), Yuga Labs announced a more formal relationship with hip-hop artists Eminem and Snoop Dogg, sharing that the two would be performing metaverse-inspired collab track “From The D 2 The LBC.”
Both artists have explored NFTs and both are BAYC holders, so it’s no surprise to see a more formal relationship beginning to bud.
Featured image from Pexels, Charts from TradingView.com
The writer of this content is not associated or affiliated with any of the parties mentioned in this article. This is not financial advice. This op-ed represents the views of the author, and may not necessarily reflect the views of Bitcoinist. Bitcoinist is an advocate of creative and financial freedom alike.
OCBC has introduced a blockchain-based payment system for Singapore's infrastructure projects, improving payment transparency, security, and efficiency. This system automates mobilisation advance payments, reducing delays and human error, with over S$22 million already disbursed for the Cross Island Line project.
Weatherly日本宝可梦公司在10月30日全球上线手机对战卡牌游戏《Pokémon TCG Pocket》。这款融合抽卡和策略对战的游戏在首周内收入突破2000万美元，凭借精致画风和有趣机制，吸引了台湾等多个市场的玩家热情参与。
WeiliangPresident-elect Donald Trump has vowed to replace SEC Chair Gary Gensler, whose strict approach toward crypto has defined his tenure. Who are the possible successors, and is Gensler’s position truly at risk?
CatherineWonderFi CEO Dean Skurka was recently abducted and released after paying a $1M ransom. Skurka confirmed his safety, noting that no company funds or data were impacted. Authorities are investigating, and the case underscores a troubling rise in kidnappings of crypto executives for financial gain.
KikyoTapSwap is launching its skill-based Web3 platform on 30 November 2024, with the aim of transforming the tap-to-earn gaming space by rewarding players for their skills. Despite delays, the platform has gained significant attention, with a growing community and ambitious goals to impact the Web3 gaming world.
AnaisAt this year’s Singapore FinTech Festival, Coinlive explores ZKPAY, an innovative payment method by PlatON, an open financial infrastructure led by the LatticeX Foundation. Using ZKP technology, it enables transactions independent of traditional banking systems and Visa's authentication, enhancing security, privacy, and transaction efficiency.
CatherineTelegram is set to become a decentralized super app, similar to China’s WeChat. As businesses increasingly use it for marketing and support, could it become the all-in-one app for the West?
KikyoCoinbase has launched its wrapped Bitcoin token, cbBTC, on the Solana blockchain, giving users a reliable alternative for Bitcoin in Solana's DeFi ecosystem. This move supports Coinbase’s goal of expanding beyond Ethereum, tapping into Solana’s fast-growing market where it ranks as the platform’s third most traded asset.
AnaisAnthropic's AI model will integrate with Palantir's classified data system through AWS, granting US intelligence and defense agencies access to Claude 3 and 3.5. This partnership enables secure, flexible use of Claude within Palantir’s AI Platform, enhancing its role in national security efforts.
KikyoDetroit will begin accepting cryptocurrency payments for taxes and city fees in mid-2025, making it the largest U.S. city to do so. This move is part of the city's broader effort to embrace emerging technologies and position itself as a tech-friendly hub.
Weatherly