Weekly Web3 Tracker: Twitter Crypto Wallet, DC Comics Announce NFTs & More

🟠 Reddit NFT’s total sales volume has more than doubled in the past week. In last week’s newsletter, we reported on the popularity of Reddit’s Avatar Marketplace, which launched in July. It seems others were paying attention as well. Reddit Avatar trading volume has more than doubled, with over $3 million in sales volume since last week. The market value of the collection is now around 100 million dollars. Read more here.

🐦 Twitter is rumored to be working on a crypto wallet prototype. The rumor was ignited by one chirping by Jane Wong, who is known for reporting on upcoming technology features.

🍏 New App Store guidelines tighten web3 restrictions. Apple’s new App Store rules, introduced last week, place restrictions on NFTs and crypto exchanges. The guidelines, which restrict the NFT tool, aim to protect Apple’s revenue models and ensure exchanges are properly regulated. Read more here.

💸 Western Union files crypto-related trademark applications. The international money transfer company has filed trademark applications related to virtual currency exchange and transfer, commodity and cryptocurrency trading, token issuance and more. Read more here.

🦹🏽 DC announces DC Collectible Comics (DC3). DC3 involves dropping NFT comics on a weekly basis. The first collectible is Superman #1, which retailed for $9.99. DC3 is designed to merge the real-world comic book collecting experience with the digital and expand DC’s digital community. Read more here.

🥗 Thanx launches Loyalty 3.0 platform for restaurants. Loyalty 3.0 enables restaurants to easily upgrade and adapt their loyalty programs, without hurting their margins. The launch is designed to help restaurants more easily compete with loyalty leaders like Starbucks and Chipotle. Read more here.

🚘 Nissan will release NFTs along with a new game. Nissan plans to release up to 15 NFTs in partnership with Grease Monkey Games, a subsidiary of Animoca Brands. The car’s NFTs will be useful in the upcoming game, Torque Drift 2. Read more here.

⚽️ Umbro launches smart digital collectibles. UmbroID is an upcoming NFT collection influenced by football culture & Umbro’s influence in the sport, ahead of the upcoming World Cup. NFT holders will receive rewards, such as physical and digital giveaways. Read more here.

💍 Claire’s launches Halloween-themed Roblox experience. Fans can enter ShimmerVille and outfit their avatars with Claire’s jewelry, also available in real life. Claire’s also collaborates with similar brand partners through limited edition items and digital experiences. Read more here.

🤾🏾‍♂️ Warner Bros Discovery Sports forms a meta-verse partnership. The brand has formed an exclusive partnership with metaverse specialist, Infinite Reality. The partnership will enable Warner Bros to create immersive experiences for sports fans powered by Web 3. Read more here.

🔴 Gucci opens Gucci Vault Land in the Sandbox metaverse. The launch of Gucci Vault Land makes Gucci the first major fashion brand with a space dedicated to web3 products in The Sandbox. Gucci bought the site in February. The hub will feature Gucci NFTs, real fashion pieces and more. The experience lasts until 9 November. Read more here.

📣 The Voice from ITV Studios enters the metaverse. The Voice in the metaverse will give fans the opportunity to engage with the show in a whole new way. The experience will include social games, events, unique content, a web3 loyalty program and the development of a metaverse-based competition. Read more here.

🟡 Google launches Ethereum node service. Google’s Blockchain Node Engine offers fully managed node hosting for Ethereum applications. Running nodes is a data- and resource-intensive process. The new centralized service shifts the burden of running nodes to Google, allowing developers to focus their efforts on building applications. Read more here.

📶 Nokia believes the metaverse will replace smartphones. Nokia was one of the first companies to produce a consumer grade mobile phone. Powered by virtual reality and augmented reality glasses, the Metaverse will allow users to interact with new experiences.

Chief Strategy and Technology Officer Nishant Batra confidently stated that Nokia believes mobile devices will be overtaken by a metaverse experience in the second half of the decade. read more here.

🧳 RTFKT has seen successful trading volume since launch. TFKT is the Nike-backed NFT studio behind the CloneX avatars. They dropped a new collection on October 27 with LVMH’s luxury luggage maker Rimowa.

The collection has seen 1,123 ETH ($1.7 million) in volume on OpenSea alone. The 888 NFTs can be redeemed for hand luggage and 2,222 “robot collectibles” were sold through a virtual raffle. Read more here.

ELSEWHERE IN THE METAVERSE…

🟢 Almost half of young people want crypto in their 401(k)s. The findings are the result of a survey by the financial giant and signal significant long-term demand for crypto assets. More.

Vertu launches first web3 phone ever. Last week, the phone, which has a starting price of $3,300, announced the release of METAVERTU. More.

🟢 74% of institutions plan to buy crypto. A Fidelity survey shows that institutional appetite for digital assets has not been deterred by the market downturn. More.

LooksRare follows suit and drops mandatory NFT royalties. NFT Marketplace LooksRare has followed in the footsteps of others and made NFT royalties optional. LooksRare instead gives creators 0.5% of the 2% that previously went to LOOKS actors. More.