Web3: Apple Signals Metaverse; $200MM into zkSync; Eaglebrook Advisors $20MM raise; Fantom 1MM+ daily transactions

Gm Fintech Futurists — welcome to our Web3 newsletter, focused on covering the overall progress in the metaverse, NFTs, and DeFi. To more closely manage which emails you receive, see this post. If you want to go deeper with our weekly long takes and develop a view on the space, check out our premium features below.

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NFT, Metaverse, and Gaming

⭐ Apple Signals Metaverse and AR Ambitions, Stock Gets a Boost - Be In Crypto, January 28

Source - Apple stock rises by 5.7% following Cook’s teaser

What Should Be Considered a Crime in the Metaverse? - Wired, January 28

The Sandbox and Warner Music Group to Create Music-Themed LAND - Coin Telegraph, January 27

YouTube Head of Gaming Ryan Wyatt to Resign and Join Polygon Studios as CEO - Coin Telegraph, January 25

OpenSea Is Adding Solana NFTs, Phantom Wallet Support: Leaked Images - Decrypt, January 25

NFT Startup Unblocked Raises Seed Round At $90 Million Valuation From Tiger Global, Dapper Labs, Jay-Z - Forbes, January 28

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DAOs and Token Engineering

⭐ 2022 Will Be The Year Of The DAO, But Practical Challenges Remain - ConsenSys, January 25

Source

Crypto Startup Syndicate Looks to Demystify DAOs with ‘Web3 Investment Clubs’ Product - Tech Crunch, January 25

Fantom’s “Curve Wars”: How Andre Cronje and Daniele Sesta are Changing Liquidity Provision - Crypto Slate, January 25

FriesDAO Wants to Start a Crypto-Crowdfunded Fast-Food Franchise - CoinDesk, January 28

Hector DAO Launches Lending and Borrowing Network Hector Bank - Coin Telegraph, January 25

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DeFi and Stablecoins

⭐ How Did a Former Quadriga Exec End Up Running a DeFi Protocol? Wonderland Founder Explains - CoinDesk, January 27

Source - TVL of Wonderland following the CFO scandal

Frog Nation Imperilled In Wake Of CFO Scandal - The Defiant, January 28

Urgent Considerations of Impact on Blockchain/DeFi of the SEC's Proposed Regulation ATS Amendment - Lex Node, January 27

Fantom Transactions Surpass Ethereum as Users Look to Farm Yields - CoinDesk, January 25

Can DeFi and CeFi Coexist? Three Takeaways From Experts Panel - Coin Telegraph, January 26

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Public Blockchains

⭐ Matter Labs, BitDAO Back $200M DAO for zkSync - CoinDesk, January 27

Source

The Bitcoin Mining Network - CoinShares, January 30

MetaMask’s New Inbuilt Multi-chain Institutional Custody Feature - Coin Telegraph, January 27

Nansen’s State of The Crypto Industry Report 2021 - Nansen, January 27

Solana Wallet Phantom Raises $109M to Rival MetaMask - CoinDesk, January 31

Decentralised Data Sharing Network ‘Project Galaxy’ Raises $10M - CoinDesk, January 25

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Crypto, Fintech and Institutional

⭐ Crypto-Focused Eaglebrook Advisors Lands $20M in Funding - WealthManagement.com, January 28

Source

FTX.US Scores $8 Billion Valuation in its First Funding Round - The Block, January 28

Visa Customers Made $2.5B in Crypto-Linked Payments in Fiscal Q1 - CoinDesk, January 31

IMF Asks El Salvador to Remove Bitcoin’s Legal-Tender Status - Blockworks, January 25

Grayscale Considering 25 New Digital Assets as Investments - Blockworks, January 25

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Enterprise Chains and CBDCs

⭐ EU Digital Passport Scheme: Using Blockchain to Decentralise Europe’s Circular Economy - European Scientist, January 27

Source

BMW Demos Recharging Cars Using EnergyWeb Blockchain - Ledger Insights, January 27

CBDC or Stablecoins: Why traditional Banks Must Adopt a New and Adaptable Policy - Yahoo Finance, January 30

Japan Should Collaborate With U.S., Europe on CBDC Standards: BOJ - Yahoo Finance, January 28

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More? More!

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