The NFT and Metaverse space is growing in interest, with companies entering the space and new collections being released.

As part of this week’s NFT news roundup, we provide a look at the most relevant NFT stories from this week.

1. NFT Stadium Launches New Marketplace That Connects Fans With Celebrities, Teams, Brands, and More

NFT Stadium has announced the launch of its new marketplace where fans can interact and connect with their favorite teams, athletes, gamers, musicians, and more.

The Genesis NFT collection was released yesterday, enabling NFT holders to benefit from a wide range of rewards and privileges, including early minting, reduced platform fees, and future in-person events.

1. Basketball Player LaMelo Ball is Headed to the Metaverse

LaMelo Ball, a professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA), has filed trademark applications for LAMELO BALL, 1 OF 1 and M.E.L.O., indicating his intention to enter the metaverse.

LaMelo Ball plans to create “Virtual and digital interactive representations of LaMelo Ball for use in virtual experiences, augmented reality experiences, and the metaverse.”

1. L’oréal Is Set To Enter The Metaverse With Virtual Cosmetics

L’Oréal has filed 17 trademark applications showing its interest in the virtual world and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Through its trademarks corresponding to well-known brands like Maybelline, NYX, and IT Cosmetics, the company aims to provide “virtual cosmetics, makeup preparations, cosmetic brushes and makeup brushes, digital animated and non-animated designs and characters” and much more.

1. Puma Changes Twitter Handle to ‘Puma.eth’ and Buys Feline-Themed NFTs

Puma has changed its Twitter handle to “Puma.eth”. The domain name was registered with Ethereum Name Service (ENS), a distributed and open naming service based on the Ethereum blockchain.

Also, Puma has shown its interest in NFTs by purchasing feline-themed NFTs from Cool Cats NFT, Lazy Lions, Gutter Cat Gang, IlluminatiNFT, and CatBlox.

1. Web3 Startup Fast Break Labs Raises $6M Seed Funding to Develop Virtual Basketball Association (VBA) Game

Image source: VBA

Fast Break Labs, an emerging web3 startup, has raised $6 million in a seed round led by early-stage venture firm Patron and blockchain fund Pantera Capital.

Fast Break Labs plans to use this fund to develop the Virtual Basketball Association (VBA), an online fantasy basketball game built on Solana that allows players to create their own virtual basketball team, then compete against other teams to win prizes.

1. CarForCoin is Auctioning Real Cars as NFTs

Image source: CarForCoin

CarForCoin, a marketplace where people can buy cars with crypto or cash, launched NFT-based auctions.

By participating in these auctions, people will be able to get NFTs while also buying real exotic cars.

1. Vivid Labs Launches Vivid NFT App for Shopify, Enabling Merchants to Mint and Sell Multimedia NFTs

Image source: VIVID NFT App

Vivid Labs, provider of the leading NFT publishing platform, VIVID, announced the launch of its VIVID NFT App on the Shopify App Store.

With the VIVID NFT App, eligible Shopify Plus merchants can mint, manage, and sell multimedia non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on their Shopify stores.

1. Nelson Mandela’s Paintings Depicting His Time in Prison Will Be Sold as NFTs

Image source: Bonhams

Next month, the first non-fungible tokens (NFTs) of the anti-apartheid hero and former South African president Nelson Mandela’s art will be sold worldwide.

The NFT collection, titled “My Robben Island,” contains five colorful watercolors painted by Mandela after he stepped down from the presidency in 1999, as well as The Motivation, a handwritten explanation of the harsh conditions on the island prison.

1. BitsCrunch Secures $3.6M in Funding for NFT AI-based Analytics and Security Tools

Crypto and non-fungible token (NFT) ecosystem analytics firm BitsCrunch has raised $3.6M in a funding round led by Animoca Brands, Coinbase, Crypto.com, Polygon Studios, and others.

The company will use the fund to further develop and refine AI-based analytical tools to determine the fair price of NFTs, identify wash trading warnings, and determine whether an NFT is a copy or forgery of a genuine asset.

1. Hugo Boss Plans to Enter the Metaverse with Virtual Clothing, Footwear, Watches, and more

Hugo Boss filed a trademark application titled “BOSS,” indicating its intention to sell virtual goods, such as clothing, footwear, jewelry, watches, backpacks, and much more.

These items will be geared towards online and virtual world usage.

The NFT and Metaverse space is growing in interest, with companies entering the space and new collections being released.

As part of this week’s NFT news roundup, we provide a look at the most relevant NFT stories from this week.

1. NFT Stadium Launches New Marketplace That Connects Fans With Celebrities, Teams, Brands, and More

NFT Stadium has announced the launch of its new marketplace where fans can interact and connect with their favorite teams, athletes, gamers, musicians, and more.

The Genesis NFT collection was released yesterday, enabling NFT holders to benefit from a wide range of rewards and privileges, including early minting, reduced platform fees, and future in-person events.

1. Basketball Player LaMelo Ball is Headed to the Metaverse

LaMelo Ball, a professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA), has filed trademark applications for LAMELO BALL, 1 OF 1 and M.E.L.O., indicating his intention to enter the metaverse.

LaMelo Ball plans to create “Virtual and digital interactive representations of LaMelo Ball for use in virtual experiences, augmented reality experiences, and the metaverse.”

1. L’oréal Is Set To Enter The Metaverse With Virtual Cosmetics

L’Oréal has filed 17 trademark applications showing its interest in the virtual world and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Through its trademarks corresponding to well-known brands like Maybelline, NYX, and IT Cosmetics, the company aims to provide “virtual cosmetics, makeup preparations, cosmetic brushes and makeup brushes, digital animated and non-animated designs and characters” and much more.

1. Puma Changes Twitter Handle to ‘Puma.eth’ and Buys Feline-Themed NFTs

Puma has changed its Twitter handle to “Puma.eth”. The domain name was registered with Ethereum Name Service (ENS), a distributed and open naming service based on the Ethereum blockchain.

Also, Puma has shown its interest in NFTs by purchasing feline-themed NFTs from Cool Cats NFT, Lazy Lions, Gutter Cat Gang, IlluminatiNFT, and CatBlox.

1. Web3 Startup Fast Break Labs Raises $6M Seed Funding to Develop Virtual Basketball Association (VBA) Game

Image source: VBA

Fast Break Labs, an emerging web3 startup, has raised $6 million in a seed round led by early-stage venture firm Patron and blockchain fund Pantera Capital.

Fast Break Labs plans to use this fund to develop the Virtual Basketball Association (VBA), an online fantasy basketball game built on Solana that allows players to create their own virtual basketball team, then compete against other teams to win prizes.

1. CarForCoin is Auctioning Real Cars as NFTs

Image source: CarForCoin

CarForCoin, a marketplace where people can buy cars with crypto or cash, launched NFT-based auctions.

By participating in these auctions, people will be able to get NFTs while also buying real exotic cars.

1. Vivid Labs Launches Vivid NFT App for Shopify, Enabling Merchants to Mint and Sell Multimedia NFTs

Image source: VIVID NFT App

Vivid Labs, provider of the leading NFT publishing platform, VIVID, announced the launch of its VIVID NFT App on the Shopify App Store.

With the VIVID NFT App, eligible Shopify Plus merchants can mint, manage, and sell multimedia non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on their Shopify stores.

1. Nelson Mandela’s Paintings Depicting His Time in Prison Will Be Sold as NFTs

Image source: Bonhams

Next month, the first non-fungible tokens (NFTs) of the anti-apartheid hero and former South African president Nelson Mandela’s art will be sold worldwide.

The NFT collection, titled “My Robben Island,” contains five colorful watercolors painted by Mandela after he stepped down from the presidency in 1999, as well as The Motivation, a handwritten explanation of the harsh conditions on the island prison.

1. BitsCrunch Secures $3.6M in Funding for NFT AI-based Analytics and Security Tools

Crypto and non-fungible token (NFT) ecosystem analytics firm BitsCrunch has raised $3.6M in a funding round led by Animoca Brands, Coinbase, Crypto.com, Polygon Studios, and others.

The company will use the fund to further develop and refine AI-based analytical tools to determine the fair price of NFTs, identify wash trading warnings, and determine whether an NFT is a copy or forgery of a genuine asset.

1. Hugo Boss Plans to Enter the Metaverse with Virtual Clothing, Footwear, Watches, and more

Hugo Boss filed a trademark application titled “BOSS,” indicating its intention to sell virtual goods, such as clothing, footwear, jewelry, watches, backpacks, and much more.

These items will be geared towards online and virtual world usage.