LensLinks: Issue 109

Is the Metaverse a Complete Failure, or Secretly Thriving?, brought to you by Regiment LLC

Author

Len Pacek
March 08, 2023

Today in LensLinks:

  • Is the Metaverse a Complete Failure, or Secretly Thriving?

  • Square Enix Replaces Long-Time CEO Who Supported NFTs

  • Investment Firm Republic Purchases 10M Astra Protocol Tokens in New Deal

  • Silvergate’s Struggles Will Likely Boost Stablecoins’ Role in Crypto Trading

  • Believer, a new approach to gaming, raises $55M from Lightspeed, a16z and more

  • 14 Web3 marketing strategies that can increase exposure and consumer trust

  • Why the esports industry is up in arms about the Olympic Esports Series

  • Thailand to offer tax breaks for investment token issuers

  • Crypto Basics Series: Distributed Ledger Technology 101

  • Trader Who Called Precise Bitcoin Bottom Updates Crypto Outlook After BTC Slides Below $23,000

  • And Much, Much, More…

QUOTABLE

❝

“Devices like the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and the PSVR (which sold around 5 million headsets by 2020) were adopted by consumers to play video games, not d**k around in a barely built metaverse.”

- The Verge

NOTABLE

Is the Metaverse a Complete Failure, or Secretly Thriving?

Steep price drops on Meta's Quest headsets are an ominous sign.

www.insidehook.com/daily_brief/personal-tech/metaverse-fail-meta-quest-price-drop

Metaverse & Gaming

Square Enix Replaces Long-Time CEO Who Supported NFTs

Square Enix is set to replace its long-time CEO Yosuke Matsuda with Takashi Kiryu in June. Matsuda was a vocal

blockzeit.com/square-enix-replaces-long-time-ceo-who-supported-nfts

Blockchain, Tokens & DeFi

Investment Firm Republic Purchases 10M Astra Protocol Tokens in New Deal

The fixed supply utility token will be locked for compliance usage.

www.coindesk.com/business/2023/03/07/republic-purchases-10m-astra-protocol-tokens-in-new-deal

Crypto Trading

Silvergate’s Struggles Will Likely Boost Stablecoins’ Role in Crypto Trading: Kaiko

Ailing crypto-friendly bank Silvergate closed its instant settlement SEN platform, which has been a key on-ramp for institutional crypto investors to transfer U.S. dollars to exchanges.

www.coindesk.com/markets/2023/03/06/silvergates-struggles-will-likely-boost-stablecoins-role-in-crypto-trading-kaiko

Metaverse & Gaming - a little more…

Believer, a new approach to gaming, raises $55M from Lightspeed, a16z and more

Founded by ex-Riot execs, Believer wants to build better gaming, and it's picked up $55M before getting a single piece of IP out the door.

techcrunch.com/2023/03/07/believer-a-new-approach-to-gaming-raises-55m-from-lightspeed-a16z-and-more

14 Web3 marketing strategies that can increase exposure and consumer trust

cointelegraph.com/innovation-circle/14-web3-marketing-strategies-that-can-increase-exposure-and-consumer-trust

Why the esports industry is up in arms about the Olympic Esports Series

Olympic Esports Series isn’t really an esports event — at least not in the sense that the word “esports” has been used by the multitude of stakeholders building the franchised leagues and competing inside them.

digiday.com/marketing/why-the-esports-industry-is-up-in-arms-about-the-olympic-esports-series

Blockchain, Tokens & DeFi - a little more…

Thailand to offer tax breaks for investment token issuers

Thailand lawmakers reportedly agreed to waive corporate income tax and value-added tax for companies that issue investment tokens.

cointelegraph.com/news/thailand-to-offer-tax-breaks-for-investment-token-issuers

Crypto Basics Series: Distributed Ledger Technology 101

From distributed databases to how linking data and adding in cryptography creates a blockchain, this article covers the foundations of crypto.

banklessdao.mirror.xyz/yOh0Xsxz7LYPurKCc1xQAj7CygX7AUGpYEEAelhGbzs

Crypto Trading - a little more…

Trader Who Called Precise Bitcoin Bottom Updates Crypto Outlook After BTC Slides Below $23,000 - The Daily Hodl

A crypto strategist who accurately predicted Bitcoin's 2022 bottom back in November (BTC) is keeping a close eye on the king crypto as it trades below $23,000.

dailyhodl.com/2023/03/07/trader-who-called-precise-bitcoin-bottom-updates-crypto-outlook-after-btc-slides-below-23000

Scott Shapiro, Senior Director at Coinbase, on Trading Platforms, Current Crypto Market, and Coinbase | Ep. 210

cryptonews.com/exclusives/scott-shapiro-senior-director-at-coinbase-trading-platforms-current-crypto-market-coinbase-ep-210.htm

Today in Crypto:

Pro-Russian & Neo-Nazi Militia Groups Promoting Digital Wallets for Crowdfunding on Telegram, Crypto Scams in Hong Kong up 67%, Thailand to Offer Tax Breaks for Investment Tokens Issuers

bit.ly/3F3MkhE

Retro:
A look back on how for we’ve come

ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance)

Hong Kong Fintech start-up On-us launches zero-waste voucher solution as event engagement tool to eliminate waste and promote sustainability

On-us Company Limited ("On-us" or the "Company") is proud to announce the launch of its innovative zero-waste event engagement solution aiming to drive participation and foster connections among communities, promoting sustainability and creating meaningful experiences for audiences at any events.

finance.yahoo.com/news/hong-kong-fintech-start-us-054900114.html

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Disclaimer: This note is distributed by Regiment, LLC for informational purposes only and is sourced from publicly available media reports. It is not an investment recommendation or solicitation for any investment. The information is current as of date and subject to change. In such case Regiment, LLC does not undertake to provide any updates. Recipients must be aware that any private, alternative investments discussed are speculative in nature, often illiquid, and subject to loss of capital.