Among the 12 startups CV VC has already invested in are Leading House Africa, a startup from Nigeria that will allow land registration on the blockchain, and Mazzuma, a mobile payments platform from Ghana. According to Olaf Hannemann, co-founder and CIO of CV VC, most startups are expected to originate from South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and Egypt but it is open to funding projects from the entire continent. Source
A16z has launched a new fund that seeks to invest $600 million in gaming experiences including Web3 and metaverse. The fund, which seeks to build the future of the gaming industry, aims to back several startups and projects in different areas including gaming studios, the intersection of gaming and consumers, and infrastructure. This move complements the investments that the VC has made in other gaming and metaverse-involved startups. A16z Doubles Down on Gaming Executives at a16z seem to be enticed by the intersection of metaverse, Web3, and gaming…
Nonfungible token marketplace OpenSea has announced the launch of a Web3 marketplace protocol for “safely and efficiently buying and selling NFTs.” In a Friday blog post, OpenSea said the marketplace protocol, dubbed Seaport, will give users the option to obtain NFTs by offering assets other than just payment tokens like Ether (ETH). According to the platform, a user “can agree to supply a number of ETH / ERC20 / ERC721 / ERC1155 items” in exchange for an NFT, implying bartering a combination of tokens as a method of payment. In…
Fireblocks, a crypto custody service provider, is expanding its services with the launch of an institutional suite of Web3 services. This suite will allow customers to leverage liquidity from different exchanges, and mint NFTs. The service, which has already onboarded several names in the industry, also includes gaming asset management for blockchain games on Ethereum and other smart contracts-enabled blockchains. Fireblocks Debuts Web3 Services Offering Fireblocks, a cryptocurrency custody company, is seeking to expand its suite of services to onboard different kinds of customers. The company announced the…
Crypto exchange FTX is jumping into equities trading, launching the beta phase for FTX Stocks. The Bahamas-based exchange has launched FTX Stocks, offering trading and investing in hundreds of US exchange-listed securities, including common stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The platform is integrated into FTX’s existing trading app and is available for select US customers who were selected from a waitlist. FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried says the exchange’s new equities trading platform won’t charge any fees. “We’re opening stock trading with no Payment for Orderflow and no fees. So what…
The new funding included $20 million from institutional investors IV Ventures, Cobo and Mirana, among others. More than half of that total came from a voucher sale on the bond-focused Solv Protocol. iZUMi also sold $4 million BUSD worth of the vouchers and an additional 5,000 in BNB, which is equivalent to about $2 million. Source
A newly established blockchain association aims to help Vietnam promote its digital economy and position the country on the world’s technology map. The organization looks to unite Vietnam’s experts in the field and seek cooperation with blockchain communities around the globe for the research and development of blockchain solutions. Vietnam to Expand Implementation of Blockchain Technologies Vietnam Blockchain Association, the first such entity in the country’s crypto space, was launched in the capital city Hanoi on Tuesday, when it held its first congress. The new body’s main purpose is to…
FTX US announced on Thursday that the firm has launched an equities trading platform called FTX Stocks which will give U.S.-based customers the ability to purchase stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The launch is currently in a private beta phase for select U.S. customers and equities can be purchased with fiat-backed stablecoins. FTX US Launches Beta Equities Trading Platform FTX US customers phased in through the firm’s private beta waitlist can now leverage the platform to purchase stocks and ETFs. The company says the new feature offers hundreds of select…
Switzerland’s southern city of Lugano will host a blockchain- and cryptocurrency-focused school as part of a partnership between the local government and Tether. In a Thursday announcement, Tether and Lugano said they will be launching the Plan ₿ Summer School in an effort “to bring blockchain and crypto education to the masses.” The education center is part of Tether’s ‘Plan ₿’ initiatives with the Swiss city, which have included making Bitcoin (BTC), Tether (USDT) and the LVGA token legal tender in the area. @luganomycity @Tether_to @FranklinSwitz @USI_university announced today the…
Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has created a “crypto native think tank” in an attempt to help shape the global conversation around policies for digital assets. The newly formed Coinbase Institute will also publish research on crypto and Web3. Coinbase tapped its Director of Policy Hermine Wong to head the institute. She previously served in the Division of Economic and Risk Analysis at the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and before that worked at the Department of State. The related Coinbase Institute Advisory Board has also been formed and will…