LensLinks: Issue 66

A blockchain news roundup, brought to you by Regiment LLC

Author

Len Pacek
January 06, 2023

Today in LensLinks:

  • Massive Apple Headset Leak - New Killer App?

  • Gaming Giant Animoca Scales Back to $1B Web3 Funding Amid Weak Market

  • Sam Bankman-Fried pleaded not guilty to all charges

  • Crypto Leader Genesis Trading Lays Off 30% of Workfrorce

  • Media Days at CES 2023

  • Metaverse Platform Market Size 2023

  • Staked Ether in March?

  • Bitcoin with Apple Pay?

  • RETRO: Bieber's Bored Ape Plunge

  • And Much, Much, More...

QUOTABLE...

“There is serious cause for concern that the two additional sureties would face similar intrusions on their privacy as well as threats and harassment if their names appear unredacted on their bonds or their identities are otherwise publicly disclosed.” t

- The letter from SBF counsel

NOTABLE...

Massive Apple headset leak reveals new details and confirms earlier rumors

Apple's possible XR headset reportedly has a quick dial for changing realities and many other features. The killer app is said to be realistic avatar XR video calls.

https://mixed--news-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/mixed-news.com/en/massive-apple-headset-leak-reveals-new-details-and-confirms-earlier-rumors/?amp=1

The Information claims to have once again received insider information from sources close to Apple who are familiar with the development of Apple’s XR headset. The report contains numerous technical details about the headset, including new information.

 Metaverse & Gaming

Gaming Giant Animoca Scales Back to $1B Web3 Funding Amid Weak Market

Web3 funds have slimmed down after the FTX collapse. Gaming giant Animoca Brands has cut its fundraising target to $1 billion this quarter.

https://beincrypto.com/gaming-giant-animoca-scales-back-1b-web3-funding-amid-weak-market/

In Brief:

  • Animoca Brands hopes to raise a slimmed-down target of $1 billion for its web3 fund.

  • The previous target of $2 billion was reduced amid a weak crypto market.

  • Reports reveal that Animoca Brands executed the most web3 deals in 2022.

 Blockchain, Tokens & DeFi

Robert Mowry on LinkedIn: Sam Bankman-Fried pleaded not guilty to all charges today. A trial date… | 65 comments

Sam Bankman-Fried pleaded not guilty to all charges today. A trial date was set for Oct. 2. His parents pledged their home as collateral, but many were… | 65 comments on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/defi_sam-bankman-fried-pleaded-not-guilty-to-all-activity-7016155829657616384-4WL9/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios

Crypto Trading

Barry Silbert's Genesis Trading reduced headcount by 30%, or 60 jobs, as the crypto lender fends off a potential bankruptcy filing after the collapse of FTX.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/05/crypto-lender-genesis-trading-lays-off-30percent-of-workforce.html

KEY POINTS

  • Genesis Trading, a crypto lender, will eliminate 60 positions, or 30% of its workforce, as it attempts to economize and stave off a bankruptcy filing.

  • Genesis was hit hard by the collapse of crypto exchange FTX, a major client, freezing redemptions shortly after FTX filed for bankruptcy protection in November 2022.

  • Barry Silbert’s Digital Capital Group is Genesis’ parent company, and has been under fire from prominent investors over the length of the withdrawal freeze and a lack of action from executives.

Metaverse & Gaming - A Little More...

Media Days at CES 2023: Tech Trends To Watch Cover Gaming, Metaverse, Healthcare, Sustainability and More

The latest tech trends to watch from Media Days at CES 2023. Coresight Research presents insights from the Media Days preceding the event proper.

https://coresight.com/research/media-days-at-ces-2023-tech-trends-to-watch-cover-gaming-metaverse-healthcare-sustainability-and-more/

NFT influencer falls victim to cyberattack, loses $300K+ CryptoPunks

The influencer appears to have authorized a malicious DApp to transfer his tokens, leading them to be drained immediately.

https://cointelegraph.com/news/nft-influencer-falls-victim-to-cyberattack-loses-300k-cryptopunks

Metaverse Platform Market Size, Share 2023-Global Industry Analysis, Trends, Market Demand, Growth, Opportunities and Forecast 2028 - Digital Journal

Global Metaverse Platform Market research report provides an In-Depth analysis on the market status of the Metaverse Platform manufacturers with best

https://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/metaverse-platform-market-size-share-2023-global-industry-analysis-trends-market-demand-growth-opportunities-and-forecast-2028

Blockchain, Tokens & Defi - A Little More...

Ethereum Developers Target March 2023 for Release of Staked Ether

Staked ETH withdrawals are coming in the spring, while "proto-danksharding" will follow in the subsequent hard fork in the fall.

https://www-coindesk-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.coindesk.com/tech/2022/12/08/ethereum-developers-target-march-2023-for-release-of-staked-ether/?outputType=amp

Solana-Based Altcoin Explodes 1,374% As Ethereum Rival’s Ecosystem Bounces Back - The Daily Hodl

A newly launched altcoin based on Ethereum (ETH) competitor Solana (SOL) is in the middle of an explosive rally, defying the broader crypto markets.

https://dailyhodl.com/2023/01/03/solana-based-altcoin-explodes-1374-as-ethereum-rivals-ecosystem-bounces-back/amp/

Crypto Trading - A Little More...

Ethereum Investor Turns $7,000 Into $27,000,000 on New Years Eve Trade: On-Chain Data - The Daily Hodl

An Ethereum (ETH) investor recently turned $7,000 in ETH they received in 2014 into $27 million worth of another crypto asset.

https://dailyhodl.com/2023/01/05/ethereum-investor-turns-7000-into-27000000-on-new-years-eve-trade-on-chain-data/

Now-Defunct FTX Drawn to Hong Kong’s Crypto-Friendly Regulations

Ill-fated crypto firms chose HK out of difficulty of maintaining relationships with US banks

https://www.asiasentinel.com/p/defunct-ftx-hongkong-crypto-friendly-regulations

How to buy Bitcoin with Apple Pay?

Buy Bitcoin with Apple Pay using iPhone and iOS devices on various leading cryptocurrency exchanges including Binance, Coinbase, BitPay and more.

https://cointelegraph.com/news/how-to-buy-bitcoin-with-apple-pay

Industry Retro (How far we have come)

Justin Bieber's $1.3 Million Bored Ape Plunges in Value to Just $70,000 as NFT Prices Continue Their Free Fall | Artnet News

In January, Justin Bieber raised eyebrows when he paid $1.3 million for an unremarkable Bored Ape. Its value continues tumbling.

https://news.artnet.com/market/justin-biebers-bored-ape-value-plunges-2213196

One Year Ago... Pre-FTX

ESG (Environment, Social & Governance)

Cryptocurrency mining and trading devastating the planet

Financial regulators have often called out the environmental impact of cryptocurrencies and now a new study from Forex Suggest reveals 431.6 million trees would need to be planted to offset bitcoin’s pollution over the last year.

https://www.finextra.com/newsarticle/41556/cryptocurrency-mining-and-trading-devastating-the-planet

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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.