NFT Now and Factblock To Showcase ‘The Gateway: Korea’ at Korea Blockchain Week
nft now and Factblock are collaborating to present The Gateway: Korea as part of Korea Blockchain Week, which will take place in Seoul from September 7-8. The two-day activation will feature an immersive audiovisual gallery showcasing digital artists, as well as fireside chats and keynote speakers. The event builds upon the success of last year's festival during Miami Basel and underscores the growing significance of digital assets in the realm of art history. Factblock, which is known for its dedication to enhancing the integrity of the blockchain industry, will act as a vital bridge into the Korean market.
Pudgy Penguins Co-founder's Twitter Account Appears to have been Hacked
Cole, co-founder of NFT project "Pudgy Penguins", had his Twitter account hacked and used to spread information about a token airdrop, reminding users to beware of phishing risks.
NFT Social Commerce Development Platform Oxalus has Raised a $1.1 Million Seed Round
Oxalus, a Vietnamese NFT Social Commerce Development Platform has completed a $1.1 million seed round of financing. IDGCVB and Kyber Ventures led the investment, and the new funds will be used to accelerate Oxalus platform data development and expand the engineering team.
UVL Design Studio Launches Unique “Choose-Your-Adventure” NFT Project With Evolving Beings and Collective Art Creation
Design studio UVL is launching a unique NFT project called "Axis Mundi" that offers a "choose-your-adventure" experience. The project consists of three components, including an open edition mint where users can acquire Energy elements, which are 20-second video loops of light and liquid. The primary NFTs, called Beings, will be sold in September and can evolve through the destruction of Energy NFTs. The project will unfold over eight chapters and encourages user participation in decision-making to shape their journey and the NFT they own. UVL aims to create a novel aesthetic and break away from typical NFT trends.
Ether: The Highly Anticipated Anime-Style Blue Chip NFT Launching Soon
Ether, a highly anticipated anime-style blue chip NFT, is set to launch on June 30th with a total supply of 10,000 NFTs. The mint price for the public is 0.65 ETH, while those on the whitelist can acquire it for a reduced price of 0.35 ETH or for free with a 10-week lockup period. The project boasts a passionate core community and a dynamic team led by founder and artist Viii, who has collaborated with renowned brands such as RTFKT, Sony, and FaZe. While some concerns have been raised about the team's professionalism and undisclosed identities, the project's captivating art and ambitious vision make it promising for investors and collectors.
DeFi Faces Competition from Ethereum's Annual Staking Reward, but Liquid Staking Derivatives Could Revive Network Activity
According to Glassnode analysts, the DeFi activity on Ethereum has decreased during the bear market and is facing competition from Ethereum's annual staking reward of 4%. However, there is a growing DeFi narrative around liquid staking derivative (LSD) tokens that could revive Ethereum's network activity. The percentage of gas consumed by DeFi protocols has dropped from 34% in 2020 to 8-16% presently, with NFTs commanding the maximum share of 25-30%. The DeFi "Blue-Chips" have lost 88% of their market capitalization from the all-time highs of $45 billion in May 2021. Staking has become popular among Ethereum investors, especially after the Shapella upgrade in April 2023, which enabled redemptions from the staking contract. LSD platforms like Lido and Rocket Pool account for one third of this massive market. These applications offer tokenized representation of staked ETH, allowing investors access to the staking yields without compromising liquidity. The liquidity of LSD tokens on Curve Finance, the largest stablecoin exchange in the market, has surpassed $1.5 billion.
NFT Thefts Reach $2.95 Million in May, Raising Security Concerns, While Blue Chips Experience Increased Demand
NFT thefts worth $2.95 million in May have raised concerns about the security of the market. Despite a decrease in overall NFT volumes, there has been an increase in demand for Blue Chips. The theft of NFTs has increased, with 50% of the stolen NFTs being sold on various marketplaces within 130 minutes. Despite the decline in NFT volumes, there has been a surge in demand for Blue Chips in the marketplace over the last week.
DeFi Still Faces Trust Issues Despite Potential for Revolutionizing Financial Industry
Despite the growing popularity of cryptocurrency and decentralized finance, DeFi still faces trust issues from insiders and outsiders alike. The total value locked in DeFi protocols decreased by over US$200 billion in 2022, reaching US$53 billion by year-end. However, ignoring DeFi is not an option as it is essential for the development of future blockchain applications.
South African Cricket Legend AB de Villiers Reveals How He Fell Victim to NFT Hack
AB de Villiers, the South African cricket legend, has revealed in an interview with Cointelegraph that he fell victim to an NFT hack last year. De Villiers held over 300 digital collectibles before he was tricked by a malicious NFT masquerading as a new Pudgy Penguin drop, which gave a hacker access to his wallet by signing a malicious contract. He ended up losing a good chunk of his collection before sending the remainder of his NFTs to another wallet for safekeeping. Despite this experience, de Villiers expressed his interest in exploring the Web3 industry and investing in Bitcoin, Ethereum, NFTs, and other promising Web3 projects.
Solana's NFT Ecosystem Registers Growth Despite Bearish Market Indicators
Solana's NFT ecosystem experienced growth last week, with Magic Eden becoming the top-performing NFT player. The number of NFT sellers and buyers increased by over 20%, and transaction volume also saw a marginal increase. Additionally, Solana's TVL, DEX volume, and daily transactions all showed upward momentum, indicating positive growth for the blockchain. Despite a bullish weekly chart, other market indicators for SOL remained bearish.
