Metaverse
Metaverse not the endgame, but ‘ongoing digital transformation’: Davos 2023
The metaverse has been a buzzword inside and out of the Web3 world over the last year. Moreover, development in the metaverse is something that has remained strong relative to the overall turmoil of the decentralized space. It is also a hot topic at the 2023 World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. The WEF has been developing its own initiative, “Defining and Building the Metaverse,” with the participation of over 120 participants, for which it held a press conference on Jan. 18. The WEF panel highlighted the initiative’s first two papers, which cover interoperability, governance and the consumer’s role in the metaverse of the future. Huda Al Hashimi, one of the panelists and the deputy minister of cabinet affairs for strategic affairs in the United Arab Emirates, framed the...
Seoul government opens city’s metaverse project to public
The Seoul Metropolitan Government has launched its Metaverse Seoul project, allowing residents of the South Korean capital city to access city services in a virtual environment. In a Jan. 16 press briefing, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon announced the launch of the first phase of Metaverse Seoul following beta testing of the project. According to the mayor, the online environment will be a “place of communication for citizens” of the capital city, allowing them to virtually visit many of Seoul’s attractions, access official documents, file certain complaints, and receive answers to questions on filing municipal taxes. ‘메타버스 서울’ 내놓은 오세훈 “독자적 구축이 바람직” https://t.co/7D6Jqmojni PK되면 갓겜될 듯 pic.twitter.com/s6ovgnDOQl — 돌으 (@fangdor) January 16, 2023 The city’s government reportedl...
Watch a Preview of Calvin Harris’ First-Ever “Immersive” Virtual Concert
Chart-topping DJ and dance music producer Calvin Harris is set to debut his first-ever virtual concert via TikTok LIVE. According to a press release, fans of Harris can catch him DJing as a virtual avatar during the “immersive” gig, which will feature audio-reactive visuals in a nature-inspired virtual world. They’ll also be able to tune into the “Calvin Harris Experience” in VR via PICO. The groundbreaking concert, which can also be streamed on Wave, marks Harris’ first foray into the intersection of music and the metaverse. “It’s an honor to host Calvin Harris’’ first-ever virtual concert, which will push the boundaries of what is possible for artists going LIVE on TikTok and PICO,” said Paul Hourican, Global Head of Mu...
Cointelegraph’s Accelerator Program launches and is seeking Web3 startups
The Web3 space is growing rapidly, and new startups are emerging daily. Overall investment into Web3 projects skyrocketed to $30 billion in 2021 and $36 billion in 2022, even amid the market crisis. While many projects have good ideas and a strong value proposition to bring to the space, this is a challenging field riddled with competition and a lack of trust from the broader audience. Cointelegraph has established itself as a leader in the digital asset, Metaverse and emerging technologies media business since 2013, and is now looking to help other rising stars reach their full potential. Cointelegraph is delighted to introduce its Accelerator Program — a startup booster leveraging Cointelegraph’s capabilities as a strong media and strategic partner for promising Web3 companies. Paul Soln...
Nifty News: Fake Pokémon NFT game spreads malware, ‘Jai Ho’ singer to launch metaverse and more
Hackers hide malware in fake NFT game A phishing website purporting to offer a Pokémon-branded nonfungible token (NFT) card game has been spreading malware to unsuspecting gamers, a cybersecurity firm has warned. The website, which at the time of writing was still online, also claims to offer an NFT marketplace, with a link to buy tokens, and even an area to stake NFTs — all based on the popular Japanese media franchise. However, an arm of the South Korean cybersecurity firm AhnLab warned the public about the website on Jan. 6, noting that instead of downloading agame, users were actually downloading a remote access tool that allows hackers to take control of their device. A screenshot of the phishing website. The “Play on PC” link at the bottom of the image downloads the malware. The...
Touch, smell become the next big thing for the metaverse at CES 2023
The sense of smell has been added to the virtual reality (VR) experience as showcased by metaverse-focused companies at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2023. A recent report from consulting firm McKinsey & Company predicted that the metaverse could potentially generate $5 trillion in value by 2030. However, the report noted that metaverse success would need a more developed human aspect that delivers positive experiences to its users. One of these catalysts may be the integration of the sense of smell and touch into VR experiences which were showcased at the recent CES. As reported by Fortune, one of the firms called OVR Technology showed a headset with a container for eight aromas that can be mixed together, creating various scents. The VR headset is reportedly scheduled to be rel...
Calvin Harris Announces First-Ever Virtual Concert
Chart-topping DJ and dance music producer Calvin Harris is set to debut his first-ever virtual concert via TikTok LIVE. According to a press release, fans of Harris can catch him DJing as a virtual avatar during the “immersive” gig, which will feature audio-reactive visuals in a nature-inspired virtual world. They’ll also be able to tune into the “Calvin Harris Experience” in VR via PICO. The groundbreaking concert, which can also be streamed on Wave, is Harris’ first foray into the intersection of music and the metaverse. “It’s an honor to host Calvin Harris’’ first-ever virtual concert, which will push the boundaries of what is possible for artists going LIVE on TikTok and PICO,” said Paul Hourican, Global Head of Music...
Using blockchain technology to combat retail theft
The retail industry is one of the most important sectors of the United States economy. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has left the trillion-dollar retail sector vulnerable to in-store theft. Findings from the National Retail Federation’s 2022 Retail Security Survey show that retail losses from stolen goods increased to $94.5 billion in 2021, up from $90.8 billion in 2020. Some retailers also have to lock away certain products to prevent theft, which may lead to decreased sales due to consumers’ inability to access goods. Retailers look toward blockchain to solve retail theft Given these extreme measures, many innovative retailers have started looking toward technology to combat retail theft. For example, Lowe’s, an American home improvement retailer, has recently implemented a ...
Metaverse to possibly create $5T in value by 2030: McKinsey report
While the 2022 bear market grazed off the excitement around the budding crypto sub-ecosystems such as nonfungible tokens (NFTs), the Metaverse remains well-positioned for long-term disruption. Considering the myriad consumer and business-centric use cases the metaverse could cater to, a McKinsey & Company report highlights the technology’s potential to generate up to $5 trillion in value by 2030. For the Metaverse to reach its full potential, the report highlighted the need for four technology enablers — devices (AR/VR, sensors, haptics, and peripherals), interoperability and open standards, facilitating platforms and development tools. However, the success of Metaverse is weighed by a greater focus on maximizing the human experience aimed at delivering positive experiences for consume...
CME Group to launch 3 metaverse reference rates
Derivatives marketplace CME Group is planning to launch reference rates and real-time indexes for three metaverse crypto assets, allowing investors to track pricing data more reliably using a methodology commonly used in traditional finance. Beginning Jan. 30, CME Group and CF Benchmarks will launch reference rates for Axie Infinity Shards (AXS), Chiliz (CHZ) and Decentraland’s MANA (MANA), the company announced on Jan. 5. The reference rates and indexes are not tradeable products but instead can be used by investors to “price sector-specific portfolios, develop structured products […] and manage price risk around various Metaverse-based projects,” said Giovanni Vicioso, CME Group’s head of cryptocurrency products. The reference rates and real-time indexes for AXS, CHZ and MANA will ...
Redeeming physical NFTs: Easier said than done?
Despite the crypto winter, nonfungible tokens (NFTs) continue to draw interest. This has become apparent as many brands and retailers have started to offer digital NFTs attached to physical products. Known as “phygitals,” these offerings allow real-world products to be tied to digital NFTs. For example, RTFKT — a digital fashion and collectible company — recently launched a project called Cryptokicks iRL. According to sources, RTFKT is creating digitally-designed sneakers backed by a physical product. RTFKT’s official Twitter account recently tweeted that Lace Engine NFT holders will be able to reserve a pair of Cryptokicks iRL, which can then be redeemed for its physical version starting May 1, 2023. 1/ We are allowing all Lace Engine holders to reserve their sneakers in the RTFKT I...
An overview of the metaverse in 2022
Recognized as one of the most turbulent years for the cryptocurrency and blockchain industry, 2022 has still been vigorous for the metaverse. With over $120 billion invested in the first half of the year alone — according to a McKinsey report — the industry is anything but broken. Some of the most significant partnerships to date were sealed throughout 2022, with even a few unexpected institutions — JP Morgan, for instance — embracing the Web3 revolution despite their proverbial distaste for the decentralization concept. Here’s what you need to know about the influential developments, projects and events that shaped the metaverse in 2022. The metaverse, first coined by Neal Stephenson in his 1992 sci-fi novel Snow Crash and described as a computer-generated universe accessible through high...
