📝#87: Apple Opens to Crypto 💥
📝#87: Apple Opens to Crypto 💥
Apple to bring USDC payments to 1.4B iPhone users. AC Milan teams up with Bitpanda. MBL launches NFT marketplace. Lamborghini teams up with Animoca Brands in its biggest Web3 leap yet.
Hey, it’s Marc ✌️
We’re in week two of our Field Notes experiment, and the feedback has been great. Your responses to the poll show that you prefer the split format:
Web3 consumer + gaming on Fridays
Crypto, Macro + AI on Tuesdays
Here’s to another week of testing. Let us know if this new format works for you:
Today we will cover:
Consumer: Apple enters crypto. AC Milan teams up with Bitpanda. MBL launches NFT marketplace.
Gaming: Lamborghini teams up with Animoca Brands in its biggest Web3 leap yet.
🚨We’ll host a live session on Web3 gaming with Solana Labs and Dracoon Ventures this Monday. Save your spot & join us for free (limited to 100 participants).
Let’s dive in 🦈
⏱️ Read time: 3min
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📚 Our Top Reads
The State of Web3 Growth 2024. By Safary Club. Link
Brands: Social Media is Dead. Long Live Gaming. By GEEIQ. Link
Web3 Game Report covering Market Fluctuations and Performance. By Footprint Analytics. Link
Karate Combat: Reinventing Fan Engagement. By Marc Baumann & Tanisha Kohli. Link
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✨ Web3 & Consumer
Apple enters crypto
Apple to bring USDC payments to 1.4B iPhone users 💥
Apple's decided to open its NFC chip to third-party apps with iOS 18.1
This could be a watershed moment for crypto payments 🌊🤯
Here’s what this means:
Apple's move essentially democratizes NFC access on iPhones. Previously, only Apple's Wallet and Apple Pay could leverage this technology. Now, crypto wallet apps can use it too.
It also paves the way for alternative payment methods like USDC tap-to-pay. Circle (USDC) CEO Jeremy Allaire has already announced that it's coming soon.
USDC, the leading dollar-backed stablecoin, is poised to become a mainstream payment option on iPhones 🛍️
How this will work: 💡
Imagine tapping your iPhone at a point-of-sale (PoS) terminal to pay directly with USDC.
The PoS would communicate the necessary transaction details to your wallet app, you'd confirm with FaceID, and the USDC payment would be settled on-chain.
Zooming out: This will have enormous implications for the consumer payment landscape, merchants (brands), and wallet providers.
The best part?⚡️
This development isn't just about USDC. It extends to other stablecoins, NFTs, and many other use cases.💥
Yes, but:
Both wallet providers and merchants (PoS device providers, like Worldline) need to ship software updates to enable this. And they will.
Circle has no relationship with Apple and this has nothing to do with Apple Pay.
So what?
The combo of NFC capabilities and high-performance, low-fee blockchains like Solana, Avalanche etc., creates a pathway for frictionless, direct-to-merchant crypto payments.
Many waited for the moment Apple enters the crypto game. Now it happened.
This will be a massive step for global crypto adoption.
👉 We’ll soon publish a deep dive on this and its impact on brand and business leaders. Make sure to subscribe:
AC Milan Teams Up with Bitpanda
AC Milan, one of Italy’s biggest football clubs, has partnered with Bitpanda, a crypto exchange.
This partnership is all about boosting brand visibility, reach a new demographic, and expand the clubs digital footprint.
Starting with Serie A’s first match, Bitpanda’s logo will be prominently displayed at San Siro stadium, raising brand awareness.
They’re also rolling out exclusive perks like VIP match access and special content to engage current and new users.
Why it matters: Crypto companies are seeking visibility, and sports teams have found a new avenue for funding (crypto-sports sponsorships could hit $5 billion by 2026).
Sports fans are more than just spectators—they’re potential traders and tech enthusiasts. This partnership is a smart way to engage them. Both AC Milan and Bitpanda are betting on this deal to keep their brands relevant.
The bigger picture: This isn't happening in a vacuum. We're seeing more and more sports teams partnering with crypto companies. Remember Wolves and LAKE or Crpyto.com and UEFA Champions League. Same playbook.
The big question: These deals looks promising on paper, but are often not enough to fuel fan engagement. If it comes off as just another sponsorship, fans might lose interest quickly.
👉 Read our deep dives:
More Web3 Highlights:
Immutable is shutting down its NFT marketplace to focus on growing its ecosystem through partnerships, urging users to explore other platforms within the Immutable network. Link
Telegram introduces new ways for creators to earn TON Tokens. Users can now send reactions to creators, which can be converted into crypto. Link
Mastercard and Metamask team up: With MetaMask Card, users can now spend their crypto anywhere Mastercard is accepted. Link
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🎮 Brands & Gaming
Animoca Brands x Lamborghini
Luxury car maker Lamborghini and Animoca Brands has teamed up to enhance brand engagement through digital experiences, leveraging Web3 technologies and immersive platforms like Motorverse.
This partnership positions Lamborghini as one of the leading luxury car brands in deploying Web3 tech, gaming, and community to create unique experiences for Lamborghini fans.
Motorverse, a platform for digital vehicles and motorsport culture, will play a central role in this initiative.
Stepping back: Lamborghini's journey into NFTs began in 2022 with the "Space Time Memory" project. Recently, it returned to PUBG Mobile, featuring four classic models and the new limited-edition Invencible, offering exclusive in-game rewards until September 9.
Why it matters: Lamborghini, in partnership with Animoca Brands, is blending luxury cars with digital experiences in the metaverse. Embracing NFTs, metaverse experiences, and digital solutions is a necessary step for luxury car brands like Lamborghini to remain relevant among younger audiences.
What they’re saying:
“Racing is the ideal genre for blockchain gaming as the vehicles can be transformed into NFTs, allowing players to own and trade their assets and even use them across different titles. Players can also level up and customize their vehicles, adding unique features and enhancements that increase their value. This integration provides a dynamic and engaging experience, blending gaming with the benefits of blockchain technology.”
David Nadal, Co-founder, Eden Games (Acquired by Animoca Brands)
The big picture: Animoca Brands is building a complete Web3 ecosystem for brands supercharged with loyalty points. It is deeply integrated with Animoca Brands' vast network of over 450 Web3 projects and investments.
The punchline: Lamborghini is constantly launching new digital experiences. This collab is its biggest step into Web3 yet.
More Gaming Highlights:
Web3 gaming was highlighted at the Blockchain Futurist Conference as a key driver for player economies and broader crypto adoption, with industry leaders emphasizing the value of in-game asset trading and the potential of platforms like Telegram to onboard new users. Link
MLB is teaming up with Momental to launch MLB Armory on Hedera, a custom NFT marketplace to elevate fan engagement. Link
Manchester City and OKX are debuting 'Unseen City: Echoes of Blue,' a virtual escape room that offers fans an interactive and rewarding online adventure. Link
Five of the world's top ten companies, including Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Nvidia, are actively developing metaverse hardware, despite doubts about the metaverse's future. Link
🎙️ Introducing Power Lunch : The Future of Gaming in a Tokenized World
Get ready for an exciting episode of Power Lunch. We're diving into the future of gaming in the Web3 space with two industry heavyweights.
Joining us are Dr. David An from Dracoon Ventures and Ryan Day from Solana Labs. These experts will break down:
The shift from Web2 to Web3 gaming
The rise of on-chain games and its impact on players and developers
Why community building is key for onchain games
What's next in this fast-moving space
Don't miss out—register now and get ready to learn where gaming's tokenized future is headed.
💰 Money Moves
Funding rounds:
Sahara AI: A decentralized AI network, has secured $43 million in funding, with Pantera Capital, Binance Labs, and Polychain leading the round. Link
Essential:The First Declarative Blockchain announced a $11M Series A Round led by Archetype, Spartan, Amber Group and others. Link
Other:
That’s all for now, folks.
The next edition on crypto, macro & AI will follow on Tuesday.
Talk soon,
– Marc & Team
PS: Follow us on LinkedIn and X for shorter insights.
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