The Web3 industry is steadily growing as more projects from various fields continue to build on the blockchain.

Today’s Web3 news roundup will feature established entities entering the space. This includes Bidstack, the California Department of Motor Vehicles, Enzo Ragazzini, the International Boxing Association, Irish Distillers, Michael Le, Prada, and Ziaohongsu.

Meanwhile, Web3-native projects are also making waves in the scene as of late. Names that made headlines include Avalanche, Binance, Bondee, Conflux, Liithos, Polygon, and Shilly, among others.

Last but not least, Web3 games continue to bring vigor to the nascent space. Projects that deserve the spotlight include Aavegotchi, Aradena: Battlegrounds, Ascenders, Ashfall, Crabada, My Pet Hooligan, Spider Tanks, The Bornless, and Thetan Arena.

Here are the stories that shape Web3.

Top Stories

• Superstar TikTok dancer Michael Le has formed a partnership with game company Liithos. The collaboration will enable Le to promote Liithos’ post-apocalyptic Web3 shooter game Ashfall to his 52.2 million followers. Liithos is founded by creative director John Garvin (Days Gone) and visual arts director Michael Mumbauer (Playstation) (VB).

• Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) recording artist Shilly’s NFT collection ‘Shilly: The Access Passess’ recently dropped on marketplace OpenSea. The release sold out within minutes, causing empty-handed fans to complain about the allegedly inconvenient minting process (CD).

• A new social media metaverse app called Bondee has recently been spreading like wildfire in Asia. Developed by Singapore-based tech company Metadream, the platform allows users to interact with their friends in a 3D virtual world using avatars (CNA).

• According to reports, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance, saw $16 billion flow back into the platform in January. The growth is largely due to the performance of the exchange. Binance is bigger than all existing platforms combined, boasting $67 billion worth of digital assets (per DeFiLlama) (BSCN).

• Italian luxury fashion brand Prada is launching on February 2, the ninth installment of its Timecapsule NFT collection. Titled ‘Interferenza Ottica Art Print by Enzo Ragazzini 1975,’ the project’s design features the acclaimed photographer’s work on a piece of digital clothing (FU).

• Avalanche blockchain’s Avalanche Summit is returning to Poble Espanyol in Barcelona, Spain from May 3-5, 2023. Tickets to Avalanche Summit II will soon go on sale. Now on its second installment, the annual Web3 conference will feature prominent guest speakers from the blockchain industry (AVA).

Web3 Games

• Ethereum-based collectible NFT game Aavegotchi has announced Web3 gaming platform Fractal as its launch partner. “Together we’re taking Web3 gaming to the next level,” the team stated on Twitter. Created by Twitch co-founder Justin Kan, Fractal joined the Polygon ecosystem to bring its suite of developer tools to the network (TW).

• Web3 gaming-dedicated blockchain Immutable X has introduced gaming company Aradena, as one of the latest entities to build on the network. Currently, Aradena is developing a “hex battler trading card game” called Aradena: Battlegrounds. The project is being produced in partnership with award-winning game studio Blowfish Studio and funding by Animoca Brands, among others (TW).

• Avalanche-based autobattler game Crabada has kicked off week 31 of its Arena Challenge. The tournament will run from January 30 to February 5. This edition introduces a maximum level cap of 130 and will reward Rubies and Material Chests to top-ranked Arena participants (TW).

• Spider Tanks, Gala Games’ multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game, has introduced a “major overhaul” to the project. The adjustments are intended to create a “healthy and sustainable” economy, by updating the rewards system in relation to Tank rarity (TW).

• Fans of fantasy MOBA game Thetan Arena still have until the 31st of January to obtain a piece from the Thetan184 NFT collection. Available on NFT marketplace OpenSea, 20% of the revenue from the “Gold” package will be donated to SOS Children’s Villages. SOS is a non-profit organization that provides humanitarian and developmental aid to children globally (TW).

• Ascenders, a sci-fi action role-playing game (RPG) on Avalanche, has announced a partnership with Web3 gaming hub Spintop. The game’s page is now live on the platform, with all the important information and links. Spintop describes Ascenders as a world where players can explore, battle aliens and own virtual land (TW).

NFT News

• Anime-inspired NFT collection Azuki’s Twitter account was hacked this previous weekend. According to its founder “Hoshiboy,” the attacker used the page to post a malicious link asking followers to “claim land” in Azuki’s metaverse platform The Garden. Subsequently, the team has already kept in touch with Twitter to resolve the issue (CD).

• Turkish carmaker Togg has unveiled the launch of 2,023 NFTs in celebration of the republic’ 100th anniversary celebration this year. Slated for release on Togg’s platform Trumore, the digital collectibles are designed by “cyber-physical” architect Güvenç Özel and “new media” artist Mehmet Ünal (HDN).

• Web3 entertainment company Hume has acquired multimedia interactive NFT project Blocktones. Essentially, the platform combines generative audio and 3D images of renowned producers and digital artists. Blocktones was created by Grammy Award-winning producer Gino Borri and show designer and director Michael Mauro (best-known for his works with ASAP Rocky, Diplo, Erykah Badu, to name a few) (BXR).

Into the Metaverse

• Irish Distillers, a subsidiary of French drinks conglomerate Pernod Ricard, has filed an application to the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The filings covered metaverse and NFT-related trademarks for their Jameson Whiskey products. Moreover, the company also mentioned plans for virtual bars, drinks, clothing, stores, and many more (ID).

• The International Boxing Association (IBA) has announced plans to launch its “Global Boxing House Metaverse” during Q4 2023. Essentially, the platform will include virtual reality (VR) boxing, training, and arenas, as well as “fantoken” NFTs and a cryptocurrency (ITG).

• Bidstack, a company that specializes in in-game advertising and monetization, has launched its dedicated sports division Bidstack Sports. Basically, the department will focus on utilizing metaverse technology for sponsorships and fan engagement. In addition, Bidstack has also forged a partnership with SimWin sports to create a virtual fantasy sports league (BIDS).

Around the Blockchain

• The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) recently started testing the digitization of car titles and title transfers on the Tezos blockchain. Moreover, the DMV also partnered with developer team Oxhead Alpha to build a blockchain-based version of the agency’s database (CT).

• Social media and e-commerce platform Xiaohongsu has integrated Conflux Network as a permissionless blockchain within the app. The new feature enables users to mint NFTs on the network and showcase them on their profile pages. Following the integration, community production Mimic Shhans dropped on Conflux, an NFT project designed by Korean artist SHHAN (PD).

• News of a $MATIC (Polygon’s native token) holder turning his $80,000 into $4 million has been making rounds on the internet lately. According to reports, the “whale” received 4 million $MATIC tokens from Binance in September 2020 for $84,000. Over the weekend, the owner moved $5.2 million worth of stablecoins from its wallet. Apparently, the transfer happened shortly after $MATIC experienced a 50% surge in price (DC).

Web3 Content Creators

Brycent: Twitch streamer Brycent stated on Twitter that “Web3 gaming needs more esports tournaments.” The content creator went on to cite DOTA 2’s International 10, which set a record crowdfunded prize pool of $39 million in 2020. “Tbh I want to host a crowd funded tournament with a Web3 game. With the transparency of wallets/blockchain tech this could be done so cleanly!” Brycent added.

Cagy: Web3 gaming YouTuber Cagy exposed some of the practices that usually lead projects to their own doom. The outspoken influencer expressed his belief that free NFT drops are “awesome” but don’t translate to increased user base. Instead, Cagy advised upcoming developers to focus on the “core community,” and deliver the product first before ramping up marketing efforts.

Hustle: Crypto Banter host Hustle tried to unravel more information on Amazon’s plans to invest in Web3 gaming. Although the e-commerce giant has yet to release an official announcement on the NFT initiative, influencers and gaming titles have been revealing more and more about the project. Additionally, a first-person shooter game called The Bornless, announced that it has been accepted into the Amazon Activate Startup Program.

Spike: Web3 game expert Spike has announced plans to host free seminars to help upcoming creators in the space. So far, the influential esports player has proposed three-course ideas including “Best Content Strategies and Techniques.” The two other courses are: “How to Get Your First 1,000 True Fans” and “How to Grow Your Web3 Community.”

Stache: In a recent episode on YouTube, Stache successfully ‘infiltrated’ animation and technology company AGMI Studios’s headquarters. In essence, the facility is home to interactive NFT project My Pet Hooligan (MPH). Stache got the chance to tour the studio and meet the talented creators in the building, while revealing “top secret intel” about MPH.