EU TO FIGHT FORGERY USING BLOCKCHAIN AND NFT
How can anyone say that Web3 isn’t going anywhere when big companies and world organizations are recognizing the value of blockchain technology? Yes, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) will use blockchain and NFTs to combat the counterfeiting of physical goods.
In EU’s official announcement, blockchain technology will be utilized to give Intellectual Property (IP) holders the ability to create their own NFTs that will serve as a method of authenticating goods and preventing instances of forgery. With the implementation, IP holders can also add their approved signatories to maintain overall cohesion. The new tracking system will be available by the end of 2023 and will serve stakeholders in all EU states.
REAL-WORLD REWARDS ARE HERE FOR BLUE-CHIP NFT HOLDERS
AssetDash, a portfolio tracker for investors, recently launched DashDeals, where hundreds of deals await NFT holders. Of course, not all NFT holders (as of this moment). As for their first wave, owners of high-end NFTs like Bored Apes, DeGods, CryptoPunks, Moobirds, and the likes are immediately eligible for rewards. The program is modeled after AMEX Rewards, and now, simply owning NFTs can unlock exclusive opportunities and perks from brands like Apple, Nike, and more. The project is set to expand to different asset classes in the future, and more deals will launch every week.
For some time, NFT projects have struggled to find tangible real-world use cases for their NFTs. DashDeals came to allow third-party brands to provide rewards for NFT holders, encouraging more brands to step into Web3.
STARBUCKS PARTNERS WITH POLYGON FOR ITS NFT LOYALTY PROGRAM
Talk about normalizing Web3. Starbucks will incorporate NFTs in its new program, “Starbucks Odyssey,” which is expected to arrive alongside its existing platform later this year. One of the things the prominent coffee company is known for is giving out pages meant to be filled with stickers that customers receive upon buying their morning beverages for rewards eligibility later. Starbucks Odyssey is set to introduce a new dimension to this system by ‘NFTizing’ its loyalty and rewards initiative, allowing for unprecedented experiences and ownership.
According to Stabuck’s VP and Chief Marketing Officer Brady Brewer, “By integrating into the Starbucks Rewards ecosystem and grounding the experience in coffee, connection and community, we are entering the Web3 space differently than any other brand, while deepening our members’ connection to Starbucks. Our vision is to create a place where our digital community can come together over coffee, engage in immersive experiences, and celebrate the heritage and future of Starbucks.”
Polygon is the chosen network to work alongside Starbucks’ dip into Web3, having very much aligned sustainability aspirations. As a carbon-neutral blockchain aiming to go further by achieving carbon-negative status, Polygon and Starbucks are going at it in a thoughtful and environmentally friendly approach.
ICONIC CHICAGO BULLS LOGO REIMAGINED IN WEB3
Heads up, Bulls fans! NBA team Chicago Bulls is diving into the space once again. This time, several well-known NFT artists were invited to redesign Chicago Bull’s NBA logo, which has remained unchanged since its founding 56 years ago. The collection will be released later this month carrying the name “The Aurochs.”
The legendary team has invited 23 artists already in the NFT industry. Each piece of art is a single 1-of-1 NFT to be minted exclusively through Coinbase’s NFT marketplace and auctioned off at 7pm UTC on September 22.
10% of the proceeds will go to the non-profit organization After School Matters, helping Chicago youths develop their talents through free programs.
UBISOFT IS BACKING AWAY FROM NFTS
Ubisoft’s relationship with the NFT space is hot and cold. Yes and no. In and out. Wait, are you singing? While numerous news of various industries diving into Web3, the influential game company is taking a different direction as of late. Last December, the company made its way into NFTs, but the move was met with strong backlash from NFT-hating gamers.
Back then, the Quartz platform allowed users to acquire skins for their Ubisoft games. Eventually, the project garnered criticisms from its community concerned about things like the environmental impacts of the blockchain and “milking” gamers off their money.
During an interview with gamesindustry.biz last week, CEO Yves Guillemot took the company’s enthusiasm back by saying, “So we are testing ground with some games, and we’ll see if they really answer the players’ needs. But we are still in research mode, I would say.”
With several projects like Rabbids in The Sandbox and a Cross the Ages collaboration surfacing covertly, the public may see more NFT stuff from Ubisoft in the future, be it in the form of Quartz or something totally different.
Gio Tang | NEST®
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