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Crypto News DAO Metaverse

Sandbox Creator ‘Animoca Brands’ Launches DAO to Develop Metaverse Interoperability Standards

Animoca Brands has established an alliance with other prominent Web3 companies this week to create a new decentralised autonomous organisation (DAO) to prioritise users’ asset ownership capabilities.

The company behind smash hit metaverse game ‘The Sandbox’ has teamed up with a number of blockchain-based metaverse creators to establish the Open Metaverse Alliance for Web3 (OMA3). The DAO so far consists of popular names including Alien Worlds, Splinterlands, Dapper Labs, Upland, Star Atlas and, most notably, Decentraland. However, Animoca intends to invite many other creators on board.

Finer Detail Yet to be Revealed

The fine print of how this new DAO will operate, such as governance rules and voting power allocation, is yet to be revealed. However, it has been stated that OMA3’s main goals are to solve key challenges of the metaverse, such as the preservation of freedom of information owned by users:

We believe in a metaverse without restraining walls, where individual platforms are interconnected and fully interoperable … Users will immutably own these assets and transfer them to any OMA3 virtual worlds freely, without needing the platform’s permission.

OMA3 statement

This alliance would seem to be competition for the ‘Metaverse Standards Forum’ (MSF), which was announced earlier this week. Founded by big names in tech, such as Microsoft, Meta, Sony and Alibaba, all the companies in MSF are known for restricting user information usage and creating barriers when it comes to transfers.

OMA3 will set out to develop its infrastructure to ensure the metaverse operates as a unified system where digital assets and data are controlled by users, not platforms. Users of this infrastructure will own their assets and should be able to transfer them freely across the OMA3 world without requiring platform permission.

Animoca’s Recent Movements

‘Be Media’, an Australian digital marketing agency, sold a large stake of its company to Animoca Brands in April 2022. Animoca’s purchase is believed to be part of its incursion into Australia, as it hopes to induct more companies into Web3.

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Australia Blockchain Crypto News The Sandbox

Sandbox Creator Buys a Major Stake in Australian Digital Agency ‘Be Media’

Australian digital marketing agency ‘Be Media’ has sold a significant stake in the company to Animoca Brands, the crypto investment giant behind the Sandbox. Be Media is said to be already filling positions for blockchain-based development:

Hong Kong-based Animoca Brands now has a particularly large stake in the Perth-based digital marketing agency. This comes as the company pivots towards crypto after prioritising the provision of Web2 companies for its digital strategies.

Be Media Stake Part of Animoca Expansion Plan

Animoca appears to have purchased its stake as part of its incursion into Australia with aspirations of inducting more companies into Web3. Although Be Media is not strictly crypto-related, the agency makes a good starting point for Animoca’s expansion plan. Be Media has already begun “aggressive hiring” for project management and blockchain-based development positions.

Be Media founder and CEO Jordan Fogarty will retain his current role and a minor stake in the company. Fogarty is reportedly enthusiastic about the pairing and “honoured” to be a part of the introduction of Web3 to local companies.

High Performing Sales

The Sandbox’s token SAND has performed well since its release, hitting an all-time high in November 2021. Animoca announced its intention to release Metaverse Alpha the following month, which had a knock-on effect on token sales. The play-to-earn game hosted the event for just a month.

More recently, NFT gaming platform Balthazar raised US$3 million through an Animoca Brands token sale. The sale valued the DAO at US$30 million and elevated Balthazar to its status as one of the leading platforms in the metaverse.

Animoca has also partnered with the Australian Football League to mint its new NFT collection.

Categories
Fashion Metaverse NFTs The Sandbox Tokens

Gucci Moves into Sandbox Metaverse to ‘Host Immersive Experiences’

Gucci has announced plans to expand into The Sandbox metaverse. The luxury brand has bought an undisclosed quantity of lands within the virtual world in a project labelled Gucci Vault, and is seeking to appeal to Generation Z with the move.

Step Inside the Gucci Vault

The announcement accompanies a February 10 Twitter post introducing the Gucci Vault, which Gucci describes as an experimental space and is the brainchild of the company’s creative director, Alessandro Michele. Fans have already responded positively to Gucci’s corporate metaverse involvement:

In a blatant pitch to Gen Z, The Sandbox has stated that Gucci’s new endeavour is “inspired by childhood memories” and hopes to stimulate the conversation surrounding the metaverse and the designer fashion industry’s future. The company’s plans to enter the metaverse follow its mid-2021 release of a non-fungible token (NFT) collection.

The Gucci Vault Instagram account is up and running and while its posts remain cryptic, it is said that the project will also be a means for Gucci to sell vintage pieces alongside those from other notable designers. If you’d like to learn more about the Gucci Vault, the official Discord channel is now live.

Sandbox Moves from Strength to Strength

Gucci is not The Sandbox’s first partnership. The Ethereum-based game announced a collaboration last month with Warner Bros to launch the first music-themed metaverse. Purchasing lands within the game will allow the company to develop a musical theme park and concert venue.

https://www.sandbox.game/en/about/land/
The Sandbox lands description. Source: The Sandbox

The Sandbox token (SAND) skyrocketed at the end of 2021 as Facebook’s announcement of its rebranding to Meta had a butterfly effect on the industry. While the price of SAND is currently sitting at around A$6.25, further brand involvement could see it continue to rise.

By Lauren Claxton, Crypto News Guest Author