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Dworld, Monaco’s leading innovator in digital experiences, is releasing the beta version of its Monaco Metaverse. This technological marvel will be unveiled at the Marius restaurant on Port Hercule, where guests can embark on a virtual journey that includes Michelin-starred chef Sébastien Sanjou’s new Provençale table and Monaco’s immersive digital landscape. During the event, interactive sessions and presentations by the Dworld team will showcase the platform's cutting-edge capabilities, allowing users to explore, interact, and engage in new ways that blur the line between reality and the digital world. Features of the Monaco Metaverse The Monaco Metaverse, crafted by Dworld, features realistic virtual environments with detailed digital replicas of the Principality’s iconic locations, streets, and sights. It offers immersive social interactions, enabling users to connect, collaborate, and share experiences in a seamless virtual space. Unique virtual events, such as art exhibitions and exclusive entertainment, are accessible only through the platform, which also promotes low-carbon travel options. “We are proud to present the Monaco Metaverse, a project that embodies our commitment to pushing the boundaries of digital innovation,” said Manila di Giovanni, CEO of Dworld. “By combining the opulence of Monaco with cutting-edge virtual technology, we are creating an unprecedented digital experience that will captivate and inspire users worldwide.”

Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook) is in advanced negotiations to acquire a roughly 5% stake in EssilorLuxottica, valued at around 4.33-4.5 billion euros or several billion dollars. This deal aims to strengthen their partnership in developing Ray-Ban smart glasses and ensure Meta's exclusivity in design and distribution for future wearable tech and metaverse products. Meta is collaborating with Morgan Stanley on the deal. Neither EssilorLuxottica nor Meta have commented on the negotiations. The acquisition would give Meta greater control over the development of smart glasses, a cutting-edge gadget utilizing augmented and mixed-reality technologies, in which tech giants like Apple are heavily investing. Market analysts are optimistic about the growth potential of Ray-Ban smart glasses. Meta's focus includes developing wearable AI devices such as Ray-Ban smart glasses with heads-up displays and wristband controls. The company is also working on Orion, AR glasses with a holographic display, and has restructured its Reality Labs into Metaverse and Wearables divisions. Previously, Meta and EssilorLuxottica have released two generations of Ray-Ban smart glasses. The investment could provide EssilorLuxottica with financial support to combat pressures like global inflation and rising costs affecting profit margins. Meanwhile, Google is reportedly in talks with EssilorLuxottica about integrating its Gemini AI assistant into future smart glasses, potentially competing with Meta's partnership. This suggests a shift in Google's strategy away from building its own XR hardware. Speculations also suggest that Google may acquire more shares of EssilorLuxottica to gain greater bargaining and control power in their collaboration. Recent trends indicate that smart glasses sales could increase to millions of units in the coming years, driven by AI assistants and the integration of functionalities like voice interaction, audio output, and image capture.

Coach has made its debut in the metaverse, launching its Spring 2024 collection on the popular social platforms Zepeto and Roblox. This move supports Coach's "Find Your Courage" campaign, which aims to foster self-expression and allow users to explore their identities through themed digital wearables. On Roblox, these wearables are available in Fashion Famous 2 and Fashion Klossette, while Zepeto offers its own unique collection. According to a press release, this initiative provides users with innovative ways to engage with the brand, encouraging creativity and individuality in the digital realm. This strategic expansion into the metaverse comes at a time when Gen Z consumers are increasingly influenced by their digital avatars. Research from Roblox reveals that 84% of Gen Z users state their style is influenced by their avatars, and 50% even prioritize their avatar's style over their own physical appearance. By entering the metaverse, Coach is tapping into this trend, appealing to a generation that values digital expression and identity.

The 2024 Bitcoin halving event reduced the block reward to 3.125 Bitcoin, slowing the supply of new BTC and causing a sharp drop in mining profitability.\ A new report delves into the current state of the Bitcoin mining ecosystem, examining economic conditions and technical developments. It also highlights innovative approaches to make Bitcoin (BTC) mining accessible to retail investors, such as GoMining’s gamified mining using non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Historically, the Bitcoin network’s hashrate has shown volatility but follows an exponential growth trend. Significant deviations occur when miners upgrade to more efficient hardware before each halving event and retire older rigs afterwards. While the overall Bitcoin hashrate is growing exponentially, the performance of individual mining rigs improves at a slower pace. For example, the Antminer S19j Pro, released in July 2021, accounts for 34.3% of the total network hashrate with a maximum hashrate of 100 terahashes per second (TH/s). The latest Antminer S21 Pro, released in March 2024, boasts a hashrate of 234 TH/s. Energy efficiency has also improved, from 29.5 joules per terahash (J/TH) on the S19j Pro to 15.0 J/TH on the S21 Pro. However, with the S21 Pro priced at over $6,000, it remains inaccessible for most retail investors. Retail investors need alternatives due to high entry barriers in traditional mining, including capital costs and technical expertise. One option is cloud mining, which allows individuals to rent processing power from remote servers to mine Bitcoin. GoMining offers a different approach, enabling users to own a portion of Bitcoin hashrate perpetually. The company tokenizes the hashrate produced by its data center miners, minting it as NFTs with varying energy efficiency and power characteristics. These tradeable and transferable NFTs represent Liquid Bitcoin Hashrate. The GoMining project features a native Gomining Token (GOMINING) with a deflationary mechanism and multiple use cases, including NFT upgrades, all detailed in the report. GoMining provides two reward modes from NFTs: Solo and Pool Mining. Solo mode guarantees results based on the NFT’s characteristics, while Pool Mining mode simulates real-world mining practices. Users can launch their own pool or join an existing one to compete for block rewards, potentially earning more than in solo mining. These pools are internal to GoMining and rely on collaborative efforts. 4o

Kraken, a centralized cryptocurrency exchange, announced a global brand partnership with Tottenham Hotspur football club on July 16. As part of the collaboration, Kraken will become the first official crypto and Web3 partner, as well as the official sleeve partner, for both the men's and women's teams of the club. This partnership aims to enhance the fan experience and bridge the knowledge gap between fans and cryptocurrency. In a written Q&A with Cointelegraph, Kraken’s chief marketing officer, Mayur Gupta, highlighted the growing popularity of crypto in the United Kingdom. Ryan Norys, Tottenham Hotspur’s chief revenue officer, emphasized the club’s goal to “drive innovation” through this partnership, praising Kraken as “a true leader in its field.” Gupta also noted the shared passion between the club’s supporters and the crypto community. Recently, Jesse Powell, co-founder of Kraken, announced in an X post that he donated $1 million to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. The donation, primarily in Ether, was made in support of Trump’s pro-crypto policies, as he is seen as “the only pro-crypto major party candidate.” Despite a recent assassination attempt on July 13, Trump still plans to attend and speak at the Bitcoin Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. On May 29, Cristiano Ronaldo continued his expansion into Web3 with a new non-fungible token (NFT) collection in partnership with Binance. The “Forever Worldwide: The Road to Saudi Arabia” NFT collection aims to commemorate his career highlights, from humble beginnings to football stardom. The shift towards crypto in the football industry is accelerating as clubs increasingly use cryptocurrencies and NFTs to boost fan engagement.

Meta's new Quest Lifestyle App Accelerator is set to revolutionize extended reality development, offering developers a unique opportunity to innovate in the XR space. With the rise of new headsets and hardware, the potential for spatial computing and immersive experiences is expanding rapidly. McKinsey projects the metaverse could generate $5 trillion by 2030, further fueling enterprise adoption of XR technologies. For beginners and seasoned developers alike, the program provides seed-stage grant funding to create applications for Meta's Quest ecosystem. Participants not only receive financial support but also benefit from product resources, mentoring by venture partners, and guidance from Meta's own team. This initiative aims to foster organic innovation in XR, enhancing the Quest app store with fresh, engaging experiences beyond traditional gaming and business tools. Applicants can apply now, with Meta planning to select participants by the end of the year. The program spans six months, with funding disbursed across three paid milestones to help teams prototype concepts effectively. Additionally, developers in eligible countries may receive up to three Quest 3 developer kits to support their projects. Focused on "lifestyle" experiences, Meta encourages developers to explore applications that enrich users' daily lives through mixed reality, AI, and hand tracking technologies. Whether it's enhancing creativity, learning new skills, or exploring personal interests, the Lifestyle App Accelerator aims to elevate the utility of XR devices across diverse user demographics.

OORT, a leader in Decentralized AI and Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN), has secured a significant achievement with Microsoft granting them a follow-up grant, building on their initial support from a year ago. This partnership signifies Microsoft's confidence in OORT's innovative vision and technology. Beyond financial backing, OORT will benefit from integration and support from OpenAI, boosting their AI capabilities and enhancing their Datahub product's utility. This collaboration promises more robust and scalable AI solutions integrated into OORT's decentralized framework. Moreover, OORT plans strategic integrations for storage and computing with Microsoft, aiming to strengthen their OORT Storage and OORT Compute solutions. This initiative will elevate their storage and data processing capacities, meeting the rigorous standards of institutional clients. Max Li, CEO of OORT, expressed enthusiasm about Microsoft’s ongoing support: "We're thrilled about the future support from Microsoft. It’s a significant endorsement of our work in decentralized technology. With Microsoft and OpenAI’s backing, we're poised to elevate our solutions and deliver greater value to our users." This grant and partnerships arrive at a pivotal juncture for OORT as they expand their technological infrastructure and market presence. Microsoft’s support not only enhances OORT’s technical capabilities but also integrates them more deeply into the broader cloud ecosystem. OORT aims to transform data storage, validation, and utilization across decentralized AI networks. With strategic support from Microsoft, they are well-positioned to lead the evolution of decentralized AI in the future.

Opera, a prominent technology conglomerate, is advancing its cryptocurrency wallet within Opera Mini by integrating two of the largest stablecoins in the market: Tether’s USDT and Circle’s USDC. This enhancement, part of Opera's MiniPay initiative, introduces "Pockets," a feature enabling seamless one-click swaps between the Celo dollar (cUSD) and these newly integrated stablecoins. Launched in September 2023 on the robust Celo blockchain, MiniPay initially focused its efforts in Africa, where it serves as a pivotal tool for enabling mobile-centric, self-custodial transactions using stablecoins. This strategic move addresses prevalent challenges such as exorbitant fees, unreliable service uptimes, and opacity in transaction processes associated with traditional payment methods in the region. Opera’s Vice President, Arnesen, emphasized the importance of blockchain-enabled peer-to-peer solutions in Africa, particularly due to the continent's widespread mobile usage and the persisting issue of high mobile data costs. In addition to introducing Pockets, MiniPay has also unveiled a "Discover Page" tailored for decentralized applications (DApps) integrated within the wallet. This feature organizes various native DApps, providing users with direct access to a range of tools including Universal Basic Income protocols, savings applications, and interactive games. The platform ensures user-friendly functionality with minimal transaction fees and transparency, employing a drag-and-drop interface for seamless usability. Since its inception, MiniPay has garnered substantial traction, amassing over three million wallet activations across key African markets including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa. This rapid adoption underscores MiniPay’s emergence as one of the continent's fastest-growing digital wallet solutions, driven by its ability to meet the evolving financial needs of Africa's tech-savvy populace. Arnesen highlighted Africa’s status as a mobile-first continent with a youthful demographic and widespread smartphone penetration, making Opera Mini the most downloaded mobile browser across Africa, boasting nearly 100 million users. This demographic advantage positions Opera at the forefront of digital innovation within the region, leveraging its technology to empower users and foster financial inclusion through accessible cryptocurrency solutions. The growing interest in cryptocurrencies across Africa is palpable, with countries like South Africa, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Ghana emerging as key players in the adoption of digital assets. This trend reflects the continent’s burgeoning potential as a hub for cryptocurrency innovation and adoption, supported by initiatives like MiniPay that aim to democratize access to financial services and drive economic empowerment through blockchain technology.

The approval of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the United States has significantly boosted the cryptocurrency market, driving demand and transforming market dynamics. This landmark event has opened new avenues for institutional investors and increased mainstream acceptance of cryptocurrencies. Experts discuss the impact of this milestone and the potential for more ETF approvals in the U.S. The approval has not only sparked a surge in Bitcoin's popularity but also altered the landscape for other cryptocurrencies. “It’s not just about the U.S. market,” said Ophelia Snyder, co-founder of 21Shares. “Removing the uncertainty about the U.S. regulator’s stance on Bitcoin changes the asset's risk-return profile. This regulatory clarity is pivotal for the global market, influencing investor confidence worldwide.” Following their approval, spot Bitcoin ETFs have become some of the most successful ETF launches in history, drawing billions in capital. This highlights the strong demand for Bitcoin among institutional investors. “We’re probably going to see way more than $15 billion by the end of the year,” predicted Bloomberg senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas. This influx of capital demonstrates the growing interest and trust in Bitcoin as a valuable asset. As for Ether ETFs, while they may not achieve the same level of success as Bitcoin ETFs, they are expected to boost Ether's popularity among institutional investors. “It’s an invitation to understand more about the Ethereum ecosystem,” argued Michael Wursthorn, head of communication at Galaxy. This development could pave the way for a broader acceptance of Ethereum and its associated technologies. The approval of these ETFs marks a significant step towards integrating cryptocurrencies into the traditional financial system. It signals a maturing market where regulatory bodies and financial institutions recognize the potential and importance of digital assets. This progress is likely to spur further innovation and adoption in the crypto space, setting the stage for a new era of financial technology.

The Nigerian government’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced plans to establish research centers focusing on emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain, across the country’s six geopolitical zones. NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, revealed the initiative during the IoT West Africa Conference and Exhibition in Lagos. Represented by Aristotle Onumo, Director of Corporate Planning and Strategy at NITDA, Inuwa emphasized the agency's dedication to fostering a robust technology research ecosystem. These planned research centers will target critical areas such as IoT, blockchain technology, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), additive manufacturing, AI, and robotics. Inuwa stated: “We are establishing a special-purpose vehicle to focus on these key areas and set up research centers across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to address these emerging technologies.” NITDA also aims to support Nigerian startups in developing products using these technologies. The agency plans to create innovation sandboxes to help startups develop use cases, establish businesses, and bring their products to market. In addition to funding research, NITDA plays a crucial role in building talent through the Nigerian government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) program, which aims to technically train and empower three million Nigerians by 2027. Inuwa acknowledged that some trained individuals might leave the country, contributing to Nigeria’s talent exports and boosting foreign exchange through increased remittances. Shitij Taneja, managing director of Vertex Next, the organizers of the IoT West Africa Conference and Exhibition, highlighted Nigeria’s potential as “Africa’s next Silicon Valley,” citing the country’s vast youth population and vibrant startup ecosystem as key factors. The conference, co-located with the Africa Data Center and Cloud Expo Africa, aims to attract investors to Nigerian startups focused on emerging technologies. Additionally, the United States and Nigeria have recently announced plans to engage in discussions on the digital economy, emerging technology, and AI to explore potential partnership opportunities. These discussions aim to strengthen economic ties between the two countries and foster deeper collaborations in these areas. In a bid to take a leadership position in AI development in Africa, the Nigerian government has also launched its first multilingual large language model.

Concerns over intellectual property (IP) breaches have led major game developers, including Nintendo, to steer clear of using generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools in game development. Despite the creative potential of generative AI, its commercial use is heavily dependent on the datasets used to train these models. Consequently, Nintendo has opted not to incorporate generative AI in its upcoming games. During a shareholders’ meeting, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa expressed his hesitation regarding generative AI in game development. While acknowledging the historical relationship between AI technology and game development, Furukawa highlighted the risk of IP violations. He stated: “Generative AI, which has become a hot topic in recent years, can do more creative things, but on the other hand, we recognize that it also has problems related to intellectual property rights.” Furukawa emphasized that cutting-edge technology alone isn't enough to meet gamers' expectations. He stressed that Nintendo’s decades of experience are crucial in delivering the best gaming experiences. In a separate development, a group of enthusiasts known as onchain ninjas has inscribed an emulator for the Nintendo 64 (N64) console onto the Bitcoin network, aiming to preserve classic video games using blockchain technology. Trevor Owens, CEO of Bitcoin Ordinals portfolio tracker Ninjalerts, spearheaded the "Pizza Ninjas" project, using the Ordinals protocol to inscribe the N64 emulator on Bitcoin. Owens stated: “We want to advance the conversation with preservationists around classic games and hope that effort can be taken by the community to figure out how to put the critically endangered games onchain in a legal way.” Addressing copyright concerns, Owens advocated for finding legal methods to preserve these games on the blockchain.

The cryptocurrency market experienced a notable uptick, with its total market capitalization increasing by approximately 2% over the past 24 hours to reach $2.32 trillion on July 1. This rise reflects positive movements across major cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), which has been a significant catalyst. Driving this upward momentum are several key factors in the macroeconomic environment and market structure. Following the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on June 12, where the Fed decided to maintain the Fed Funds Target Range at 5.25%–5.50%, market sentiment improved as the outcome aligned with investor expectations. Moreover, recent economic data, such as the Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) print coming in slightly above expectations at 1.4%, contributed to a favorable market outlook. Additionally, the release of the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) report on June 28 and indications of a slowdown in certain economic sectors, such as the U.S. labor market, have raised expectations of potential interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve later this year, possibly in September and December. According to CME Group’s FedWatch Tool, there is now a 58.2% chance of a rate cut in September and a 43.3% chance in December, further boosting market confidence. Analyzing the crypto market's recent bullish trend over various timeframes reveals increased volatility with periodic corrections and consolidations. These fluctuations are typical in a dynamic market characterized by evolving supply and demand dynamics. A significant metric reflecting these dynamics is the flow of stablecoins in and out of exchanges. Data from CryptoQuant indicates a trend of reduced outflows of the top 10 USDT transactions from exchanges, suggesting that large-scale selling pressures have diminished. This reduction in outflows typically signifies that investors are more inclined to hold onto their assets rather than liquidating them, reflecting improved investor sentiment and potentially signaling a period of seller exhaustion. Meanwhile, Bitcoin's spot price recently dipped below the realized price of short-term holders (STHs), which was around $62,600. This metric historically indicates periods where short-term holders are experiencing slightly negative average profitability, often coinciding with reduced selling pressures and potential market reversals. From a technical analysis perspective, the recent gains in the crypto market have broken above the upper boundary of a descending parallel channel, marking a potential breakout from the previous downtrend. The current total market capitalization stands at $2.32 trillion, with indications pointing towards a possible move towards the $2.52 trillion area, which is aligned with the upper boundary of the descending channel. However, before achieving this milestone, the market will likely encounter resistance between $2.30 trillion and $2.358 trillion, where major moving averages are positioned. Overcoming these levels could pave the way for further upward movement and solidify the recent breakout. In summary, the cryptocurrency market's recent gains reflect a confluence of positive macroeconomic indicators, potential monetary policy adjustments, and improving market dynamics. These factors have contributed to renewed investor optimism and technical bullish signals, positioning the market for potential further gains in the near term.