Welcome to This Week in Crypto, your go-to source for the latest developments in the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. In this edition, we dive into the enchanting collaboration between Disney and Dapper Labs, bringing beloved characters to the NFT space. We’ll also explore the gaming landscape’s growth, spotlighting challenges posed by automated bots and the increasing popularity of blockchain-enabled games. Plus, join us on the digital ice rink as we unravel the NHL’s breakthrough with the launch of NHL Breakaway, a platform that turns hockey highlights into collectible NFTs on the Polygon network. Stay tuned for a captivating journey through the week’s top crypto stories!
Disney Collaborates with Dapper Labs to Launch NFT Platform
In a strategic move into the NFT space, Disney has collaborated with blockchain firm Dapper Labs to launch Disney Pinnacle, an NFT platform set to tokenize beloved characters spanning a century of Disney’s history. The platform, built on the Flow blockchain, will feature collectible digital pins inspired by iconic figures from Disney, Pixar, and Star Wars. Fans worldwide will be able to collect and trade these unique digital assets easily on their mobile devices. Despite Disney’s earlier retrenchment from its metaverse division, this collaboration highlights the company’s interest in the digital collectibles market.
Inspired by the success of NBA Top Shot, Dapper Labs is expanding its offerings beyond sports with officially licensed NFT collectibles of Disney characters. Disney Pinnacle aims to replicate the popular physical pin-trading experience at Disney theme parks in the digital realm. The platform’s mobile-first design balances accessibility for everyday fans and exclusive limited-edition assets for collectors. This announcement comes amid signs of increased activity in the NFT market, and Disney Pinnacle’s public waitlist signals a promising development in bringing beloved characters to the forefront of the digital ownership experience.
The collaboration between Disney and Dapper Labs is poised to create a novel and engaging space for fans to connect with their favorite characters, marking a significant step in the evolution of NFTs beyond their initial stages.
Crypto Games See Growth Amidst Rising Bot Challenges
Crypto-enabled games have demonstrated continued growth, surpassing one million daily unique active wallets (DUAWs) on multiple days in October, as reported by DappRadar. While September witnessed blockchain games reaching the one million DUAW mark on three days, October saw a modest increase with four days surpassing the 1-million mark. Despite this growth, the report highlights a significant challenge faced by major crypto games in combating the surge in automated bots.
Games such as Alien Worlds, Sweat Economy, SecondLive, Splinterlands, and Battle Left Center Right recorded the highest numbers of daily unique active wallets in the past month, according to DappRadar’s findings. However, the prevalence of bots, particularly in Alien Worlds, has raised concerns about the accuracy of daily user figures. The report release coincides with ongoing discussions on social media about the reliability of these figures and their ability to accurately depict the genuine demand for blockchain games.
DappRadar’s report emphasizes that gaming constituted 33% of decentralized app (Dapp) activity in the last month. However, the challenge remains in distinguishing genuine human users from blockchain bots, prompting a broader conversation about the integrity of these statistics. As the crypto gaming space continues to evolve, addressing and mitigating the impact of bots will be crucial for ensuring sustained growth and authentic user engagement.
Hockey Highlights Meet NFTs: NHL Launches NHL Breakaway Platform for Collectors
The National Hockey League (NHL) has entered the NFT arena with the official launch of NHL Breakaway, a collectibles platform akin to NBA Top Shot, developed in collaboration with the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA), National Hockey League Alumni Association (NHLAA), and crypto startup Sweet. NHL Breakaway, built on the Polygon network, allows fans to collect, trade, and display digital collectibles featuring memorable NHL highlights.
David Lehanski, NHL Executive Vice President of Business Development & Innovation, expressed the league’s commitment to creating digital collectibles tailored for hockey enthusiasts, aiming to establish an authentic and engaging connection with fans. The platform offers features such as a Trade Lounge for collectors to interact, public profiles to showcase fandom, and gamification elements with challenges that unlock real-life rewards.
Much like NBA Top Shot and NFL All Day, NHL Breakaway’s NFT collectibles are derived from actual video highlights within the league, complete with multiple camera angles and audio components. To kick off its public launch, NHL Breakaway is offering a Series 1 starter pack, priced at $19, containing six NFT collectibles. The pack includes collectible moments featuring renowned players like Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, and Alexander Ovechkin, with a limited availability of 5,000 packs.
