NewsLink: Issue 67

A blockchain news roundup, brought to you by Regiment LLC

Author

Len Pacek
January 09, 2023

Today in LensLinks:

  • No One Cares But Here Are PwC’s 2023 Metaverse Predictions Anyway

  • Crypto and DeFi Losses Hit $3.9 Billion in 2022, Says Report

  • Binance has Grabbed Two-Thirds of all Crypto Trading Volume – What Happened to the Decentralization of Finance?

  • Where is Tech Going in 2023?

  • Top Social Media Trends 2023

  • NFT Steez and Lukso co-founder examine the implications of digital self-sovereignty in Web3

  • Decentralized Crypto Trading Bots: A Crypto Revolution?

  • Crypto Winter "Gets Icier"

  • RETRO: A look back on Notice 2014-21

  • And Much, Much, More...

QUOTABLE...

“The crypto winter has been an incredible building opportunity for people working on web3 infrastructure and tools...”

- Shari Glazer, web3 investor and founder of web3 branding company Kalos Labs

NOTABLE...

 Metaverse & Gaming

No One Cares But Here Are PwC's 2023 Metaverse Predictions Anyway

What’s next for the metaverse and what — if anything — should you do about it? PwC answers a question no one asked.

https://www.goingconcern.com/pwc-2023-metaverse-predictions/

A lot of metaverse talk in 2022 was about consumers, especially younger ones: activities such as games, virtual experiences or shopping with cryptocurrency and other digital assets. These activities will continue to grow, but we believe that in 2023, business applications will take the lead. One sign? In PwC’s 2022 US Metaverse Survey, the metaverse use case that business leaders said they were most likely to explore (cited by 42%) was “onboarding and training.” Tied for second place were “interacting with work colleagues” and “creating virtual content for customers,” both cited by 36%.

 Blockchain, Tokens & DeFi

Crypto and DeFi Losses Hit $3.9 Billion in 2022, Says Report

2022 saw billions of losses to DeFi and crypto exploits. Only 5.2% of the losses were recovered, according to a report by Immunefi.

https://beincrypto.com/crypto-and-defi-losses-hit-3-9-billion-in-2022-says-report/

Despite the 2022 market crash, the crypto industry still presents a tantalizing opportunity for so-called “black hat hackers.” At the end of Q3 2022, the crypto space was worth $934.85 billion, according to CoinMarketCap.

Compared to the end of Q2, that represents an increase of 4% while only representing 43.56% of the market cap at the end of Q1. Approximately two-thirds down from the market’s peak of $3 trillion in November 2021.

Crypto Trading

Binance has Grabbed Two-Thirds of all Crypto Trading Volume – What Happened to the Decentralization of Finance?

Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, has remained the leader in the space, ending 2022 with a 66.7% market share compared to 48.7% at the start of the year.

https://cryptonews.com/news/binance-has-grabbed-two-thirds-of-all-crypto-trading-volume-what-happened-to-the-decentralization-of-finance.htm

According to a report from CryptoCompare, Binance accounted for 66.7% of all trading volume on centralized crypto exchanges in the last quarter of 2022 following the collapse of FTX, one of its biggest rivals. In comparison, the platform had a market share of 48.7% at the start of 2022.

Metaverse & Gaming - A Little More...

Where Is Tech Going in 2023?

A group of McKinsey’s technology practice leaders have taken a look at what 2023 might hold, and offer a few new year’s tech resolutions to consider: 1) Look for combinatorial trends, in which the sum impact of new technologies create new opportunities. 2) Prep boards for tipping point technologies. 3) Relieve the bureaucratic burden on your engineers to increase their productivity. 4) Look for new opportunities in the cloud. 5) Take advantage of how the cloud is changing security. 6) Take advantage of decentralized AI capabilities — and what this technology might mean for your business model.

https://hbr.org/2023/01/where-is-tech-going-in-2023

Ones to watch: Top social media trends to look out for in 2023 | What’s New in Publishing | Digital Publishing News

As YouTube launches its music library, virtual influencers sign NFT deals, and platforms battle to offer the best monetization options, 2023 is set to be a year of transformation across social media. Leading digital publishing studio, TheSoul Publishing, shares its predictions for the top social media trends in 2023 and tips on how publishers can …

https://whatsnewinpublishing.com/ones-to-watch-top-social-media-trends-to-look-out-for-in-2023/

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

Square Enix Sticks To Their Blockchain Investment Strategy And Focuses On Its Core Games

Square Enix, the Japanese publisher of the Final Fantasy game series, has announced its intentions to continue investing in blockchain-based

https://blockzeit.com/square-enix-sticks-to-their-blockchain-investment-strategy/

NFT Steez and Lukso co-founder examine the implications of digital self-sovereignty in Web3

NFT Steez chats with Lukso co-founder Marjorie Hernandez about how Universal Profiles onboards and empowers users with digital self-sovereignty.

https://cointelegraph.com/news/nft-steez-and-lukso-co-founder-examine-the-implications-of-digital-self-sovereignty-in-web3

Web3 brands are using TikTok and apps to reach mass consumers

Brands are realizing that consumers aren't in-tune with innovative web3 concepts, leading many to reign in their tools, marketing and language to engage the everyday shopper. Web3-native fashion brand RSTLSS, created by London-based designer Charli Cohen, is leveraging apps and TikTok to bring groups including Roblox gamers and trend-setting teens into its tech-forward world.

https://www.glossy.co/fashion/web3-brands-are-using-tiktok-and-apps-to-reach-mass-consumers/

Crypto Trading - A Little More...

The emergence of Decentralized Crypto Trading Bots: a crypto revolution

Know how decentralized crypto trading bots are ruling the digital world with automated trades that make informed and profitable decisions on behalf of investors and traders.

https://www.cryptonewsz.com/the-emergence-of-decentralized-crypto-trading-bots/

Crypto Winter Gets Icier Just Days Into New Year

Job losses, fines and chaos mount, undermining investor confidence.

https://www.investopedia.com/crypto-winter-gets-icier-just-days-into-the-new-year-7092293

Industry Retro (How far we have come)

Bitcoin Taxation: Understanding IRS Notice 2014-21

Written By: Christopher Rajotte, Andrew Ittleman, and Mitchell Fuerst, Fuerst Ittleman David & Joseph, PL, Miami, Florida From the recent collapse of the major

https://bitcoinmagazine.com/business/bitcoin-tax-understanding-irs-notice-2014-21-1396660800

A look back on Notice 2014-21 which “describes how existing tax principles apply to transactions using virtual currency.”

ESG (Environment, Social & Governance)

Have the crypto and ESG revolutions been canceled?

Crypto and ESG were supposed to transform the finance industry. At the end of 2022, they still hadn't — and prospects look even worse for 2023.

https://www.financial-planning.com/news/for-financial-advisors-the-crypto-and-esg-revolutions-never-arrived

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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.