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If you missed the news this week, we've got you covered. Here are the highlights and latest developments in blockchain technology, new projects, events, and more. Stay up to date on all things Web3 by subscribing to our newsletter, and let us know if there's anything you'd like to see covered in future issues.

TLDR

We understand your time is precious, so we've trimmed the fat and distilled each news piece to its essence. We've provided the full stories below for those looking to delve deeper. Let’s get you up to speed, one summary at a time.

Story 1: Justin Bieber’s 2015 hit, “Company,” transforms into a royalty-sharing NFT in collaboration with blockchain music platform anotherblock and co-producer Axident. This allows fans a 1% share of the song’s streaming revenue.

Story 2: Reddit celebrated the NFL season kickoff by releasing NFT-backed avatars for all 32 teams. Priced at $25 USD per "Snoo" NFT, the collection follows a similar free set dropped last February.

Story 3: Adidas introduces "Residency by Adidas," a Web3 program during Korea Blockchain Week, merging fashion, digital art, and blockchain. The event will showcase limited Ethereum NFT artworks by global digital artists.

Story 4: Yuga Labs introduced a 13-week cipher puzzle series centred on its Twelvefold Bitcoin NFT collection. Correctly solving weekly puzzles can earn participants 0.12 BTC, with a unique prize for the final week.

Story 5: MetaMask has launched a "Sell" feature, enabling users in select regions to convert their Ethereum holdings into fiat currencies, such as USD, GBP, and EUR, via banks or PayPal.

Story 6: Web3 sports platform Sorare has launched 3D digital football cards with augmented reality (AR) features. This update aims to heighten user engagement, offering an immersive experience for sports fans during live matches and gatherings.

Story 7: Casio is introducing its G-Shock brand to the Metaverse via "Virtual G-Shock" NFTs in collaboration with Polygon Labs. The program aims to co-create virtual watches and strengthen the brand's presence in virtual spaces.

Story 8: The Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute in Australia has shifted its enormous research data storage to Filecoin's decentralised platform, highlighting cost benefits and improved data security over traditional cloud solutions.

Story 1: Justin Bieber's "Company" Song Converted to Royalty-Sharing NFT

Justin Bieber's 2015 chart-topping song "Company" has entered the NFT world, giving fans an opportunity to earn from its streaming revenue. Collaborating with blockchain music platform anotherblock and co-producer Andreas Schuller, famously known as ‘Axident’, the NFT is poised for a limited release with only 2,000 copies available on September 7.

https://twitter.com/anotherblock_io/status/1699393178934108314?s=20

"Company" has an impressive track record, debuting at number 53 on the U.S. charts, making its way to Australia's Top 40, and accumulating over 500 million streams since its release. This endeavour is not new territory for anotherblock, previously associated with major industry figures like The Weeknd, Rihanna, and Martin Garrix for similar Web3 ventures.

The structure of this initiative is intriguing: while Axident retains the rights to "Company," NFT holders will enjoy a 1% royalty share from the song’s streaming revenues. Michel Traore, anotherblock's CEO, praised "Company" for its immense potential in merging blockchain technology with traditional music.

The initiative underscores an industry-wide challenge where music producers often find themselves unrecognised and undervalued. This NFT project aims to bridge that gap, introducing a novel revenue stream that directly connects fans with the talent behind the tracks.

Notably, Justin Bieber is not associated with this specific sale of Axident's streaming royalty rights. This undertaking, amid a series of NFT-focused efforts in the music world, signifies an evolving trend that is reshaping how music is monetised and how artists interact directly with their fans.

Story 2: Reddit Unveils NFL-Themed NFT Avatars for Every Team

In anticipation of the NFL season opener between the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs, Reddit has unveiled a new collection of NFT (non-fungible token) avatars celebrating all 32 NFL teams. These digital assets, priced at $25 each, reflect Reddit's iconic alien mascot, "Snoo," with a cap of 500 NFTs available per team.

https://twitter.com/Reddit/status/1699504671595868244?s=20

This isn't Reddit's first venture into the NFL-themed digital collectible space. The company previously introduced a free set of avatars during the league's championship game in February. The recent release, however, marks one of Reddit's largest batches of Collectible Avatars to date.

The digital collectibles serve as more than mere virtual fan memorabilia. Reddit's active NFL-focused communities, such as r/NFL and r/NFCEastMemeWar, witness vibrant discussions, especially on game days. These NFT avatars allow fans to symbolically support their teams during these discussions.

An early trend indicates that the New England Patriots-themed NFTs are leading in sales, with 41 out of 500 sold at the time of writing. Trailing close behind are the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles-themed NFTs. Conversely, the Carolina Panthers and Indianapolis Colts-themed NFTs have seen limited interest, with only five purchases each.

This venture builds on Reddit's growing association with NFTs, having previously collaborated with Polygon—an Ethereum scaling network—last summer. The company's commitment to NFTs is evident, with 22 million collectible avatars minted across 18 million unique holders so far.

Story 3: Adidas Debuts Residency Program for Digital Artists at Blockchain Week

Adidas has unveiled its innovative approach to supporting digital artistry with the launch of "Residency by Adidas," a unique Web3 residency program for artists. Premiering during Korea Blockchain Week in Seoul this September, this initiative stands at the crossroads of fashion, blockchain technology, and digital artistry.

https://twitter.com/altsbyadidas/status/1697238635266130114?s=20

Facilitated by Adidas's Three Stripes Studio, the program aims to spotlight international artists, granting them opportunities to display their work and engage in collaborations that span both the digital and physical realms with Adidas. As a part of this commitment, the event will highlight a spectrum of Ethereum NFT artworks. Some of these are limited editions, while others are openly available.

The debut digital art sale will spotlight artworks by two renowned artists: MonkeeMoto and Adra Kandil, also known as Dear Nostalgia. MonkeeMoto, hailing from Tokyo, brings his expertise from game development and digital concept design. Meanwhile, Adra Kandil, a Lebanese artist, integrates various creative elements – from photography and collages to typography and digital montages. Kandil's impressive portfolio includes collaborations with iconic fashion brands such as Gucci and Chanel.

In a limited release, both artists will make available just 100 exclusive NFT pieces, each priced at 0.15ETH. Notably, access to these exclusive NFTs will be limited to attendees of the Seoul event. Reflecting on this innovative endeavour, Stacey King, Adidas's Global head of communications and activation, expressed the brand's enthusiasm and commitment to diversifying their impact within the Web3 community.

Story 4: Yuga Labs Launches Bitcoin Cipher Puzzle Based on Twelvefold Collection

Yuga Labs, renowned for creating the Bored Ape Yacht Club, is reviving interest in Bitcoin ordinals. On Tuesday, they announced a cipher puzzle series that spans 13 weeks and is intricately designed around their Twelvefold Bitcoin NFT collection. Launched in February, Twelvefold is a generative art collection, which consists of 300 pieces configured on a 12x12 grid.

https://twitter.com/yugalabs/status/1699060446987485669?s=20

For the initial 12 weeks of this engaging event, Yuga Labs will introduce a Moon Puzzle every week. Participants can win 0.12 BTC (approximately $3,000 USD) if they successfully crack the puzzle. The grand finale will occur in the thirteenth week, where the last puzzle's quickest solver will receive a yet-to-be-revealed Twelvefold ordinal.

Yuga Labs specified the rules further, stating that each puzzle will have just one winner. In case of simultaneous correct answers in the same Bitcoin block, the answer with a lower inscription number will be chosen.

The inaugural puzzle has already been deciphered. With a hint that revolved around the concept of differences during hibernation, one astute participant reportedly identified the answer as “Jigsaw,” deducing it from the merging and differentiation of ordinal images. While Yuga Labs hasn't officially confirmed this solution, the intrigue around the entire event continues to grow.

Story 5: MetaMask Introduces Bank, PayPal Cash-Out for Crypto Holdings

MetaMask, recognised as the world's premier crypto wallet and internet browser extension, has made a significant stride in user convenience by rolling out its new "Sell" functionality. Now available to users in the United States, the United Kingdom, and parts of Europe, this feature offers a streamlined method for converting Ethereum (ETH) into select fiat currencies, including USD, GBP, and EUR. Users can access this service similarly to other platforms like Venmo or Cash App, by navigating to the Portfolio section in MetaMask.

https://twitter.com/MetaMask/status/1699062685550485743?s=20

Interestingly, this rollout comes only five months post the introduction of MetaMask's feature permitting crypto acquisitions using fiat from diverse sources such as bank accounts, PayPal, and debit/credit cards.

Despite its user base of over 22 million, MetaMask's new "Sell" feature currently faces geographical limitations due to state and regional restrictions. However, as stated in their blog post, the company aspires to broaden this service to a more comprehensive global audience.

To cash out, users must follow a series of steps, starting from connecting their MetaMask wallet to portfolio.metamask.io, selecting their region, and choosing the crypto they wish to sell. Once the fiat account destination is chosen, users receive real-time quotes from multiple providers. The transaction culminates in users confirming the transfer from their wallet to their selected fiat account.

However, users should be aware of the associated costs. The cash-out process involves a network gas fee and a transaction fee to partners like Moonpay. In a U.S. demonstration, the combined fees amounted to approximately 8% of the total transaction amount.

Story 6: Sorare Unveils AR-Equipped 3D Digital Football Player Collectible Cards

Sorare, the renowned Web3 fantasy sports platform, has taken a significant leap forward by releasing 3D digital football player cards equipped with augmented reality (AR) functionalities. The underlying goal, as expressed by Sorare's spokesperson, is to "bring more emotion" to their cards, thereby elevating their appeal to the vast sports fan base.

https://twitter.com/Sorare/status/1699090057066397915?s=20

Users, or Sorare Managers, will have the capacity to interact with these 3D cards in real-time settings, offering an enhanced experience while watching games in stadiums or even from the comfort of their homes. Sorare is poised to initiate the auction of these cards on their marketplace, spotlighting famed players like Erling Haaland and Marcus Rashford, to name a few.

In the words of Sorare's co-founder and CTO, Adrien Montfort, the company aspires to harmonise the online and tangible realms of sports fandom. Through the launch of these cutting-edge cards and designs, Sorare envisions providing a transformative experience for sports fans across the globe.

In addition to this significant launch, Sorare announced a global scavenger hunt, promising an extraordinary trip to the triumphant participant. This initiative is aimed at broadening Sorare's reach, targeting sports enthusiasts who may be unacquainted with the cryptocurrency domain. Furthermore, the endeavour dovetails perfectly with Sorare's recent introduction of an in-game cash wallet, further facilitating card transactions using conventional currency.

Story 7: Casio Launches NFTs for Virtual G-Shock Watch Community Co-Creation

Japanese electronics titan, Casio, is extending the reach of its iconic G-Shock watch brand into the metaverse by initiating the "Virtual G-Shock" program. This novel venture is a result of a partnership with Polygon Labs, leveraging blockchain for "community co-creation." As a kickoff, Casio is unveiling a collection of 15,000 free-to-mint G-Shock Creator Pass NFTs. Possession of these NFTs grants holders access to a newly established Discord channel, where participants can engage in a design contest to envision innovative designs for these passes. The winning design will be chosen based on community votes.

https://twitter.com/0xPolygonLabs/status/1699140423824916509?s=20

The distribution of these NFTs will commence on Casio's official website. Initially, users with a registered Casio ID can claim their NFTs between September 23-26. Subsequently, a public minting session will occur from September 26-29. These NFTs will be anchored on the Ethereum scaling network, Polygon.

Takahashi Oh, the senior general manager of Casio’s timepiece division, accentuated the company's goal of embracing the decentralised web, Web3, and reaching audiences that remained previously inaccessible. By doing so, Casio envisions a future where digital avatars don G-Shock watches in the metaverse, mirroring the real-world trend. This initiative aims to reinforce the brand's identity in virtual spaces and encourage a cultural shift towards adorning watches in digital dimensions.

Story 8: Victor Chang Institute Prefers Filecoin Over Traditional Cloud Storage

In a move that underscores the growing credibility of decentralised storage solutions, the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, an eminent Australian medical organisation established in 1994, has transitioned to using Filecoin for its expansive research storage needs. Boasting over 230 scientists and 23 laboratories, the institute has placed about 137 terabytes of its cardiac research data with the Distributed Storage Solutions (DSS) on the Filecoin network.

Todd Ryman, the Institute's IT director, marked the shift to Filecoin beginning in September 2022. He cited significant cost savings as a primary incentive, pointing out the absence of excessive restoration fees usually charged by traditional cloud providers.

Filecoin's decentralised structure and focus on data integrity appeal to organisations that generate vast amounts of data. For instance, the Institute's SyncroPatch machine, an advanced medical device, produces terabytes of data weekly. Filecoin's decentralised framework optimises data redundancy and resilience, minimising potential data loss risks, while its blockchain technology foundation ensures consistent data integrity.

Filecoin doesn't store data on-chain but instead stores its hash, which essentially acts as a unique access key for users. This approach ensures data isn't identified by IP addresses or names, bolstering security and privacy.

Furthermore, Filecoin's model promotes more accessible data sharing among researchers, streamlining collaboration while retaining data security. This move by the Victor Chang Institute isn't isolated; Filecoin's client list includes prominent entities like the University of California, Berkeley, Solana, and OpenSea, showcasing a growing trend towards decentralised storage solutions.

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