As crypto markets slow, NFT markets surge. [41]
Broader market slowdowns have infected crypto markets, but haven't yet seemed to have put the brakes on the NFT markets, which still see record highs.
Howdy, my friend!
It’s been another jam-packed almost month since we talked, and rest assured I’ve been tracking the most important news for you, I’ve been derelict in coming up with new educational materials and editorial.
With that in mind, I’m going to shift my focus on this newsletter a little so that I can continue to get this put together in a timely fashion and serve you, folks that are gracious enough to grant me space in your inbox and in your wallets (for those of you who support me). At the top of the newsletter, I’ll still be giving my regular short missives (and maybe, if the spirit moves me, elevating it to full on editorial).
For the most part, I’ll be using this space to keep you up to date with my professional output and projects I’m working with that are worthy of note.
In addition to my work with Lord of Monster and Geosyn Mining, I’m now also heading up media development for FreeRossDAO, which is a very interesting Digital Autonomous Organization that came together around collective ownership of a series of hand drawings by famous Dallasite and early cypherpunk Ross Ulbricht. The collective I’m now working with put together their capital to purchase one of the most expensive pieces of art to sell last year.
Right now that means I’ve just been helping them get a platform and a marketing strategy together, but as Slate noted yesterday, the project is just getting off the ground, and a lot of the work is yet to come (in the realm of freeing Ross, and the secondary goal of working towards broader prison reform).
I’m looking forward to sharing this stuff with you on a more regular basis as I get back into the swing of things this year.
As usual, all the good long form stuff is below the fold!
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Technical Analysis
From BaconDAO founder Dennis Liu.
As bitcoin breaks below 40k, I’m still HODLing, but 30k is a possibility. Alts are unlikely to pump, but NFTs continue to surge (follow my journey at BaconDAO as we explore the 1 ETH to Punk trek!).
Blockchain Bulletin
Collectors can now feature NFTs as hexagon-shaped profile pictures on Twitter.
Twitter began rolling out “soft hexagon-shaped” profile pictures for NFT art owners to show off their crypto graphics on the social media platform, reported The Verge.
Coinbase partners with Mastercard to simplify NFT market purchases.
Crypto wallet and exchange Coinbase partnered with Mastercard to make NFT market purchases as easy as using a credit card for its upcoming marketplace for digital assets, reported Decrypt.
Hackers hit OpenSea exploiting a bug to buy NFTs below market value and flip them
A bug discovered in late December is letting hackers buy NFTs at well below market value and then sell them again at current prices, reported CoinDesk. Using this technique hackers have made off with over $1 million in profits.
Square-Enix will join other major game publishers in NFT and blockchain development.
Game developer and publisher Square-Enix is the latest major company to join interest in NFTs and web3 gaming even in the face of user backlash, reported Eurogamer.
An NFT sunflower farming game is causing trouble for Polygon blockchain.
The sudden influx of players into the simple Sunflower Farmer blockchain game has clogged Polygon, slowing down transactions and raising gas fees, reported Decrypt.
“All my apes gone.” OpenSea freezes $2.2M in stolen NFTs.
Art gallery owner Todd Kramer became the target of a phishing scam, leading to the theft of $2.2 worth of NFTs stolen, reported CoinTelegraph; in response NFT marketplace OpenSea froze them.
Blockchain Behind the Scenes
Meta signals plans to integrate NFTs with Instagram and Facebook.
Unnamed sources have revealed that Meta is looking to integrate NFTs into some of its products, notably Instagram and Facebook, which will allow users to display their crypto artwork in galleries, as well as a marketplace.
Russia’s central bank calls for a ban on crypto trading and mining.
Citing fears of economic instability and criminality caused by cryptocurrency Russia’s central bank calls upon the government to ban crypto trading and mining.
OpenSea meets $13.3B in valuation after a fresh round of funding.
OpenSea continues to draw massive venture capital support as it raised $300 million in funding and met an estimated $13.3 billion in valuation showing trending interest in NFTs.
PayPal confirms its ‘exploring’ its own stablecoin.
After a developer discovered code in PayPal’s app, the company has confirmed that it is in fact exploring the possibility of developing its own stablecoin.
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