The Hype Is Real
đ Chef curry enters the metaverse
Welcome to The Hype Is Real where we break down the latest news, stories & happenings around sports & web3.
Here's What You Need To Know This Week:
Steph Curry is diving deeper into the Metaverse
Chain Partners with the Miami Heat
Tyrese Haliburton partners with Autograph for Web3 video podcast
Sports betting exchange BetDex gets licensed on blockchain
Knights of Degen acquires LeagueDAO
Let's Dive Into It...
NBA Star Steph Curry Breaks Into The Metaverse With⌠âCurryverseâ Trademark
NBA star Steph Curry has filed a trademark for the âCurryverse,â indicating plans to create interactive âvirtual environmentsâ to sell NFTs and other products in the metaverse.
The filing includes rights for âentertainment services, namely, personal and virtual and metatarsal appearancesâ by Curry as well as âonline gaming services in the nature of virtual worlds.â
Itâs also the first known crypto-related trademark claimed by Curry, though the's has been an ambassador for crypto exchange FTX since September 2021.
Curry isn't a stranger to the NFT community either, purchasing a Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT in August 2021. The basketball starâs collection also includes other digital collectibles, such as a membership pass to Web3 golf startup LinksDAO.
He released his first official NFT collection in partnership with Under Armour in December 2021, grossing more than 2200 ETH (around $3.5 million) in sales volume, according to OpenSea. His second collection dropped in March 2022 as a tribute to him breaking the NBA's all-time 3-point record.
The Golden State Warriors have also embraced Web3 integrations with a series of partnerships to sell NFTs as part of the larger âtokenized fandomâ genre.
Blockchain Startup Chain Inks Web3 Sponsorship Deal With Miami Heat
Web3 and blockchain startup Chain sealed a partnership deal with the Miami Heat this week that will put the companyâs logo on playersâ shooting shirts and introduce Web3 programming into the Miami arena.
The deal makes Chain âthe exclusive Web3 and blockchain infrastructure partnerâ of the franchise. It's also the Heatâs second major crypto sponsorship after its $135 million stadium naming rights contract signed with crypto exchange FTX in March 2021.
Chain also recently announced a similar partnership with the New England Patriots. They did not specify what type of Web3 activations this partnership will involve, the length of the partnership, or the surrounding financial details.
Chain specializes in merging Web2 brands and properties with Web3 technologies, most recently gaining buzz through its NFT tie-up with jewelry brand Tiffany and NFT blue chip CryptoPunks that netted $12 million in sales volume.
While partnerships between crypto platforms and professional sports teams are no longer as in demand as they were at the peak of the bull run, deals like this have still been happening behind the scenes.
Autograph Debuts New Video Podcast With Pacers Guard Tyrese Haliburton To Onboard Mainstream Audiences To Web3
Autograph, the web3 brand co-founded by Tom Brady, launced a new video podcast series hosted by Indiana Pacers' point guard and web3 advocate, Tyrese Haliburton.
The podcast, which debuted on November 1st, is built to contribute to the education around web3, break down knowledge barriers to entry, and help more people holistically understand NFTs.
Each episode explores the power of NFTs through conversations with some of the most influential voices and players in sports, entertainment, music, and tech. The series will give web3 newcomers exclusive insights into the industry as Haliburton drives conversations on six different episodes weekly.
Guests include:
Tony Hawk on Etching His Skating Legacy into Web3, airing November 1st
Eva Longoria BastĂłn on Hollywood, Inclusivity, and Creativity in Web3, airing November 8th
Charli and Dixie D'Amelio for NFT 101: Introduction to Web3, airing November 15th
Justin Blau (3LAU) on The Future of Music in Web3, airing November 22nd
Arianna Simpson on What's Next in Web3, on November 29th
TBC on Web3's Influence on Sports, airing December 6st
Patrick Cassidy, CMO of Autograph says:
"Since Autograph's inception, our goal has been to bring NFTs to a mainstream audience and reduce barriers to entry for people new to web3. Autograph's new Autograph Presents: Get Minted podcast is one of the many ways we are working to create pathways for mainstream consumers to learn more about the value web3 provides across industries, from sports to music and entertainment. Tyrese Haliburton is a great advocate for the space, and we feel lucky to have him serve as our host."
Tyrese Haliburton, who is a first-round 2020 NBA Draft pick, 2020-21 NBA All-Rookie First Team, one of the most prominent web3 voices in the NBA, and a regular web3 contributor on JJ Redick's podcast, The Old Man and the Three, will host all six episodes of Autograph Presents: Get Minted.
He had this to say about the new venture:
"I am so excited to make my podcast debut alongside Autograph with Get Minted. I know firsthand how intimidating it can be to enter web3, and this podcast will give web3 and NFT newcomers a place to get started. I can't wait for listeners to hear all of the amazing guests, and to share bits of my own web3 journey along the way."
People who have created and minted their Autograph username as an NFT will also receive exclusive token-gated access to a live, interactive broadcast with Tyrese on the Autograph.io platform. Listeners will be able to tune in on podcast platforms: Apple, Spotify, and Google, as well as Autograph's YouTube channel.
Check out the first episode below:
BetDex Has Received A Licence From The Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC) To Become The First Sports Betting Exchange On Blockchain
BetDex, a decentralized sports betting protocol, has received approval for all forms of online gambling. All GSC licenses are held to account under the Online Gambling Regulation Act.
The BetDex Exchange is powered in-house by BetDex Labs, a web3 company founded by former FanDuel executives Varun Sudhakar, Stuart Tonner, and Nigel Eccles.
CEO and Co-Founder Varun Sudhakar had this to say:
"Today's news is an exciting step forward for the BetDex Exchange. With the licensing and regulatory approval, BetDex now boasts the first fully regulated sports betting platform in the web3 space, and we're excited to welcome bettors from approved regions. We're certain this is the start of growing our exchange and continuing the expansion of sports betting into the Web3 landscape."
BetDex says its exchange recently entered an Open Beta phase, accepting wagers from over 12,000 early access members in the past three weeks.
It already accepts wagers from select countries throughout South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Knights Of Degen Acquires Blockchain Fantasy Sports Provider LeagueDAO
Knights of Degen, the fastest-growing sports gaming community in Web3 has acquired the blockchain-based fantasy sports community, LeagueDAO.
This transaction accelerates the Knights of Degen competitive entertainment roadmap, enabling on-chain fantasy sports for its community of sports betting enthusiasts while positioning LeagueDAO's ground-breaking product suite for mass adoption. Financial deal terms are not disclosed.
LeagueDAO's apps and fantasy leagues - including Mega League, Nomo League, and Non-Fungible Brackets will continue to operate without interruption.
Launched in September of 2021, by way of its genesis NFT drop, Knights of Degen has positioned its brand, community, and applications as the Web3 destination for sports fans who always have action on the game.
Focused on delivering best-in-class competitive entertainment, Knights enjoy a social gaming experience, with always-on contests and competitions such as the KFFL and Degen Bracket Challenge, while experiencing community ownership of a growing list of Web3 sports and entertainment properties, such as a Fan Controlled Football team, a variety of community-managed play-to-earn games and KOD Media Network.
LeagueDAO, which was launched in August of 2021, was formed by a community of Web3 founders, developers, athletes, and fans that wanted to kickstart the development of fantasy sports in web3.
In less than 12 months, they've developed a suite of decentralized fantasy sports applications. Each app leverages LeagueDAO's core web3 infrastructure that utilizes, nfts, defi, and smart contracts to create a unique skill-based game experience.
Knights of Degen intends to launch an ERC-20 token in the coming months, by way of the Degen DAO, which will act as the currency for its game ecosystem, including LeagueDAO's fantasy products.
What To Watch:
How Web3 and NFTs can transform the sports sector
This is a quick, interesting video that discusses several practical use cases for how NFTs can be utilized by athletes and organizations. Many of them we've touched on previously or have already begun to see in the marketplace.
A few of the examples include:
NFTs for ticketing
Team and athlete memorabilia
Fan-controlled DAOs
Advertisement and sponsorship revenue streams
Check out the full video below:
What To Read:
That's all she wrote for this week. I'll check back in with you next Sunday.
Take care,
Malcolm
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