Author: Jeremy Ryan

With the recent introduction of the Forge, Aavegotchi, the well-regarded NFT collectibles ecosystem, has taken another step in its journey to becoming the premier gaming platform. This new addition has been eagerly awaited by members of the Aavegotchi community who are hungry for more customization options and a more dynamic marketplace for trading wearables.According to the upgrade’s whitepaper, “The Forge is a new mechanic of the Aavegotchi Protocol whereby a player can break down, or smelt, their undesired wearables into component materials and recombine them with new materials to create a new wearable.”The launch of the Forge was made possible…

Crypto scam revenue was slashed by almost half in 2022 due mainly to falling crypto asset prices, but two scam types managed to stay immune.Crypto scam revenue in 2022, which includes investment scams, NFT scams and romance scams, among others, amounted to $5.9 billion in the year — down 46% from 2021.The data came from a Feb. 16 crime report from Chainalysis, which attributed most of the decline in scam revenue to poor market conditions, as lower crypto prices generally result in lower scam performance.Yearly crypto scam revenues from 2017-2022. Source: Chainalysis.Chainalysis however pointed to two different scam types that managed…

Major nonfungible token (NFT) marketplace OpenSea announced a massive structuring around lower platform fees and greater creator earnings as competing marketplaces continue to drain away its once dominant user base.On Feb. 18, NFT marketplace Blur surpassed OpenSea in daily Ethereum (ETH) trading volume as users — anticipating greater returns on their NFT investments — are looking for a trading arena that works in their favor, shows Nansen data.Daily trading volume of major NFT marketplaces. Source: NansenAs a reactionary measure, OpenSea announced three major changes to win back its migrating customers. The measures include a 0% fee for a limited time,…

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission has filed a lawsuit against Terraform Labs and its founder, Do Kwon, for allegedly “orchestrating a multi-billion dollar crypto asset securities fraud.”In a Feb. 16 statement, the SEC said that Kwon and Terraform offered and sold an “inter-connected suite of crypto asset securities, many in unregistered transactions.” The agency pointed to Terraform Labs’ now-collapsed algorithmic stablecoin, TerraClassicUSD (USTC), and its connected cryptocurrency, Terra Luna Classic (LUNC).Today we charged Singapore-based Terraform Labs PTE Ltd and Do Hyeong Kwon with orchestrating a multi-billion-dollar crypto asset securities fraud involving an algorithmic stablecoin and other crypto asset…

Hadeswap, an NFT marketplace, has acquired one of the earliest and most prominent NFT projects on Solana. This is according to an announcement made at the start of the week. In a statement, Hadeswap notes that it intends to respect the legacy of the Solana Monkey Business while “bridging the gaps of its shortcomings.” Also, there are plans to make the project more accessible to a broader audience. And in the future, the project will be integrated with the Hades token ecosystem.Solana Monkey Business launched 20 months ago, initially releasing 205-pixel collectibles that showed a monkey in space. Then there…

Google-owned YouTube has appointed Web3-friendly exec Neal Mohan as its new CEO following the departure of Susan Wojcicki this week. Wojcicki stepped down from YouTube on Feb. 16 after nine years at the helm, outlining plans to start a “new chapter” focused on family, health and personal projects. During her tenure, she oversaw the pivotal introduction of the revenue-sharing model, among other things. Moving forward she will remain an advisor for Google’s parent company Alphabet Inc. Thank you, @SusanWojcicki. It’s been amazing to work with you over the years. You’ve built YouTube into an extraordinary home for creators and viewers.…

Judge Lewis Kaplan reportedly targeted Sam Bankman-Fried’s internet usage during a hearing reviewing the former FTX CEO’s use of a virtual private network, or VPN.According to a Feb. 16 tweet from NPR correspondent David Gura, Judge Kaplan seemed to suggest that Bankman-Fried be denied access to any electronic device and the internet as a condition of his bail. Though SBF’s lawyers reportedly said there was no television in Joe Bankman’s and Barbara Fried’s California home — where the former FTX CEO has largely been confined since his arraignment in the United States in December — the judge countered that a “garden…

NFT In the world of digital marketing, new technologies are emerging all the time, and businesses need to stay ahead of the curve to succeed. One of the most exciting new technologies to hit the scene in recent years is NFTs or non-fungible tokens. NFTs are unique digital assets that can be bought, sold, and traded like physical assets. They have quickly gained popularity in the art world, but their potential uses extend far beyond that. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of using NFT PR for marketing and why your business should consider incorporating NFTs into your marketing…

NFT OpenSea, the leading non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace, announced today that it will temporarily eliminate its 2.5% fee on sales, as well as cut down on creator royalty protections, in an effort to acclimatize the rapidly changing crypto market. This move comes in response to increasing competition from upstart rival Blur. OpenSea Brings New Changes On Friday, OpenSea announced through Twitter that it will only enforce a 0.5% required creator royalty charge on NFT trades for projects that do not have an on-chain enforcement method. However, sellers have the option to pay a bigger proportion if they so want. A…

Legal A draft law filed in the Russian parliament permits operators of platforms providing financial services to also run blockchain platforms. The legislation will allow them to combine their regular activities in the traditional financial market with issuing digital assets. New Law Opens Door to Blockchain Space for Russian Financial Service Providers The State Duma, the lower house of parliament in Russia, has adopted on first reading a bill allowing financial marketplaces, as defined by another Russian law, to also function as blockchain platforms facilitating the issuance and exchange of digital financial assets (DFAs). The legislative initiative comes from a…