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The 10 most expensive NFTs bought by celebrities
Snoop Dogg has spent the most money on a single NFT, according to a new study of celebrity NFT purchases.
CoinGecko, the world’s largest independent cryptocurrency data aggregator, used transaction data from OpenSea, SuperRare and Etherscan to find the most expensive NFTs that have been purchased by celebrities since the start of 2021. The study looked at 50 different celebrities who have reportedly purchased one or more NFTs, to find out who are the single biggest spenders.
- Snoop Dogg – Right Click and Save As guy ($7,088,229)
American rapper and personality, Snoop Dogg, takes the top spot with his purchase of Right Click and Save As guy which clocked in at a jaw dropping $7,088,229 (1,600 ETH) at the time of purchase. Snoop Dogg acquired the piece, which was listed on SuperRare by artist XCOPY, in December last year and added it to an ever-growing collection of NFTs.
Snoop is no stranger when it comes to acquiring expensive digital art, having revealed last year that he had been operating under the pseudonym of wealthy NFT collector, Cozomo De Medici. Considered a ‘whale’ among the crypto community, the rapper has a collection of extremely valuable NFTs spread across several accounts. This includes multiple CryptoPunks, Bored Apes and a second XCOPY piece that he bought for $3.9 million.
- Gary Vee – CryptoPunk #2140 ($3,953,216)
Serial entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk, or Gary Vee as he often referred to online, takes second place with his purchase of CryptoPunk #2140, which he bagged for a cool $3,953,216 (1,600 ETH). Despite transferring the same amount of Ethereum as Snoop Dogg’s purchase, Vee was an earlier adopter to the trend, purchasing this NFT five months prior when one ether was valued at $2,470.76.
Vee is an avid collector and advocate for NFTs, with his OpenSea account suggesting he has purchased around 7,000 NFTs from various projects. He has amassed a cult following, in part due to the hype he generated within the crypto community, later launching his own collection of cartoon NFTs called VeeFriends. This purchase features an ape in the Punk 24-bit art style wearing an orange beanie and sunglasses.
- Justin Bieber – BAYC #3001 ($1,301,550)
Pop music icon Justin Bieber takes the third spot with his purchase of Bored Ape Yacht Club #3001, which he acquired for $1,301,550 (500 ETH) on January 29, 2022.
Following his announcement of the purchase on Twitter, many users were quick to poke fun at the celeb, suggesting that he had overpaid for an ape with common traits and characteristics. The NFT’s floor price at the time of the sale was 104 ETH, or $270,908, meaning that Bieber paid nearly four times more than he needed, in order to add it to his collection. The NFT features a sad unshaven ape with dark brown fur, wearing a black t-shirt on a blue background.
- Steve Aoki – Doodle #2238 ($862,056)
American DJ and producer Steve Aoki takes the fourth spot with his purchase of Doodle #2238 which he purchased for $862,056 (269.69 ETH) on January 7, 2022.
Following the purchase, Aoki paused one of his live performances mid-way through to excitedly show fans the NFT, which was designed by Canadian illustrator Scott Martin. Aoki also notably bought CryptoPunk #6473 for 65 ETH ($160,599) in July 2021 which he later sold for 300 ETH ($974,034) a few months later. Aoki appears to have multiple accounts on OpenSea which he collects and moves his NFTs between including; SteveAoki, SteveAokiVault, SteveAokixTheUntamedVault and 29C1EC.
- Logan Paul – K4M-1 #03 ($624,669)
Logan Paul, the YouTube personality turned boxer, takes fifth position with his purchase of K4M-1 #03 from the 0N1 Force collection. Jumping into the NFT space all the way back in February 2021, he purchased this NFT for a pricey $624,669 (188 ETH).
Logan has a close affiliation with Gary Vee, and appears to have quite a diverse portfolio of NFTs, with at least two accounts according to OpenSea. In fact his two largest buys break the $1 million mark when combined. His two accounts ‘logz’ and ‘D50C2A’ reveal that he also owns several CryptoPunks as well as a Bored Ape.
- Neymar Jr. – BAYC #5269 ($569,531)
Brazil and PSG superstar Neymar comes sixth with his purchase of Bored Ape Yacht Club #5269 for $569,531 (189.69 ETH) on January 20, 2022.
Neymar bought #5269 and a second ape, #6633, from the BAYC collection on the same day for a combined amount of $1.05 million. The footballer made BAYC #6633 his profile picture on Twitter shortly after the purchase but has since changed his socials back to an image of himself.
- Marshmello – CryptoPunk #8274 ($504,069)
Masked electronic music producer Marshmello takes the seventh spot, with his purchase of CryptoPunk #8274 for $504,069 (130 ETH) on October 19, 2021.
Marshmello was also one of the celebs to ‘ape in’ back in September 2021, purchasing BAYC #4808 for 75 ETH. A few months later he sold this ape to user tommykethvault.eth for 150 ETH, which at the time was $403,371, netting the music artist around $183K in profit. Marshmello appears to possess a few crypto wallets, but his most prized NFTs can be found at his OpenSea account ‘itsmarshmello.’
- Madonna – BAYC #4988 ($466,461)
Pop legend Madonna comes in eighth, with her purchase of Bored Ape Yacht Club #4988, which she bought for $466,461 (180 ETH) on March 14, 2022.
As well as owning several NFTs, Madonna has created her own collection of digital art titled ‘Mother of Creation.’ These three NFTs were made in collaboration with famous artist Beeple, and feature a naked computer rendered version of the singer interacting with the natural world. Despite drawing some controversy for the bizarre nature of the content, one of the pieces sold for a staggering 170.5 ETH in May this year – around $350,000 at the time of purchase.
- Eminem – BAYC #9055 ($453,776)
American rapper Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, takes ninth place with his purchase of Bored Ape Yacht Club #9055 which he paid $453,776 (123.45 ETH) for on December 31 2021.
Eminem bought the ape, which somewhat resembles himself in appearance, from Twitter user @Gee_Gazza, who took to the platform to announce his excitement in a tweet. ‘I’m living in a simulation. Thank you @Eminem for buying my ape and joining the club! Madness. Let me write a lyric in your next single.’ The NFT features a white furred ape on a grey background wearing a gold jacket and chain as well as a boxy army hat similar to the one worn by the rapper.
- Tom Brady – BAYC #3667 ($453,062)
Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady rounds off the top ten, with his purchase of Bored Ape Yacht Club #3667 which he paid $453,062 (133 ETH) for on April 5, 2022. Brady’s Bored Ape can be seen wearing a WWII pilot helmet, smoking a cigarette on an army green colored background.
The NFL veteran is one of several famous sportspeople to have purchased an NFT, including Shaquille O’Neal, Steph Curry and LaMelo Ball.
“Celebrities buying NFTs are testament to how NFTs have begun to intertwine with popular mainstream culture,” observed COO and co-founder of CoinGecko, Bobby Ong. “Whether for investment purposes, used as a social signal or a means to gain access to exclusive communities, the NFT sector has a high growth potential that is still largely untapped today.”
Blockchain
Spielworks co-launches its Wombat X accelerator with Cronos, Newcoin, and more, fostering robust Web3 game development
Spielworks, a leading blockchain startup specializing in gaming and decentralized finance (DeFi) solutions, launches its Web3 gaming accelerator, Wombat X to empower Web3 gaming projects to enhance their gaming experience and grow their audiences with the Wombat ecosystem. Highlighting the list of partners in the accelerator are Cronos, the first EVM-compatible Layer-1 network built on Cosmos SDK supported by Crypto.com and more than 400 developers and partners, and Newcoin, a Web3 infrastructure integrating economic, social, and cultural exchanges into an intuitive flow, solving network fragmentation problems. Web3 games enrolled in Wombat X gain access to grants, education, and the Wombat community of gamers, the biggest Web3 gaming community.
Web3 gaming was still able to raise $4.5 billion in venture capital last year despite harsh market conditions. Still, an overall developer shortage and a flawed UX plague the industry, effectively holding the industry back in its efforts to poach traditional gamers. Furthermore, many critics also point the finger at the lack of sustainable models and solid content-creator strategies as reasons for Web3 not being able to be a reliable gaming ecosystem.
The Wombat X accelerator enables innovative Web3 games to register and to bootstrap Wombat’s audience. With Wombat’s massive audience and Cronos’s established Web3 ecosystem, each game will receive invaluable exposure to its gaming audience for free, coaching and fast-tracking in Cronos’s own grant program. For Newcoin, its Web3 graph infrastructure emphasizing high-end fashion and creators makes it a natural fit for Wombat X’s focus on gaming to enhance the user experience.
The program includes three yearly classes covering the industry’s best practices, with at least five games being accepted per class. Ultimately, Wombat X revolves around providing members with the tools to build a strong foundation, with a focus on furthering growth opportunities through user acquisition and developing superior infrastructures.
Other participants in the Wombat X accelerator include:
- Avicenne: a Web3 development studio creating digital products in a decentralized space, helping startups build and ship impactful MVPs.
- EOS Network Foundation: a nonprofit supporting the EOS Network, which powers the Web3 economy by providing a robust smart contract functionality that enables developers to build quality dApps.
- Lifty: a Web3 gaming platform providing analytics for numerous blockchain games, empowering users to assess projects before joining.
- Beamable: a Web3 gaming infrastructure platform allowing users to rapidly add social, commerce, content, and LiveOps features through an in-game marketplace.
To apply for Wombat X, applicants must meet these requirements:
- A playable demo release
- Integration with Wombat as preferred login option
- Integration with Cronos or one of Wombat’s supported blockchains (Wax, Polygon, BNB Chain, Ethereum, EOS, and more)
- A share of 0.3 percent of your token supply for Wombat’s audience
- Integration with Wombat’s Tracking software development kit (SDK)
Spielworks has built one of the fastest-growing blockchain gaming ecosystems in the market, featuring over of 3 million signups and 65,000 daily users. The ecosystem incorporates its multi-chain non-custodial Wombat Wallet, crypto rewards platform Womplay featuring 40 AA and AAA supported titles, and Top 20 NFT staking game Wombat Dungeon Master counting 1.5 million staked NFTs.
“Web3 gaming is in a beta stage currently and there is a pressing need to establish best practices around game development to ensure the industry’s long-term sustainability,” says Adrian Krion, Spielworks’ CEO and Co-Foudner. “By working with a wide range of promising Web3 gaming projects and startups, Wombat X aims to facilitate a more mature ecosystem. Our unique program provides a diverse educational curriculum while exposing our participants to Spielworks’ Wombat platform, the biggest Web3 gaming platform. Needless to say, we and all our partners can’t wait to launch.”
Gaming and Entertainment Europe
Metaverse Gaming Market is anticipated to reach US$ 1,300 billion by 2033
The metaverse gaming market is valued at US$ 51 billion in 2023 and is forecasted to jump to a size of US$ 1,300 billion by the end of 2033, expanding at an astonishing CAGR of 38.2% from 2023 to 2033. The purpose of the metaverse is to enthrall users and provide them with a remarkable experience. The metaverse helps create a more advanced, three-dimensional environment where user interaction and built-in gameplay are more individualized than in a two-dimensional setting.
The metaverse is, without a doubt, a fantastic way to create augmented reality, including a significant connection to the rest of the world, while participating in metaverse video games, live streaming of games, play-to-earn gaming with the non-fungible token (NFT) minting and trade, value exchange with crypto, etc.
Huge Role of Blockchain Technology in Transforming Metaverse Gaming”
The metaverse gaming industry in the United States is currently experiencing significant growth, which is driven by factors such as technological advancements, the popularity of gaming in virtual worlds, live streaming and e-Commerce possibilities, industry innovation, and the emergence of mobile gaming and high-speed internet connections.
The integration of blockchain technology is transforming metaverse gaming in the United States by allowing for the secure buying, selling, and trading of virtual assets, creating a new economy within the virtual world. The metaverse gaming industry in the United States continues to innovate with developers experimenting with new technologies and gameplay mechanics to create increasingly immersive virtual worlds.
What is Metaverse Gaming? What are its Technicalities?
Metaverse gaming is a form of gaming that takes place within a virtual world, where players can create, interact and engage with each other in a shared space. The concept of the Metaverse has been around for many years, but with advancements in technology such as virtual reality, blockchain, and artificial intelligence, it has become a reality.
The technical possibilities behind the Metaverse are rooted in the development of virtual reality technology. VR technology enables users to enter and interact with a fully immersive digital environment, where they can experience a range of sensory stimuli, including sight, sound, and touch. Additionally, blockchain technology and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) provide the infrastructure for unique digital assets and ownership within the Metaverse.
Key Takeaways from Market Study
- The global metaverse gaming market is valued at US$ 51 billion in 2023.
- Global demand for metaverse gaming is projected to surge at a CAGR of 38.2% from 2023 to 2033.
- The market for metaverse gaming is anticipated to reach US$ 1,300 billion by 2033.
- Hardware accounts for 48% share of the global market in 2023.
- North America is set to be the most lucrative market for metaverse entertainment.
Competitive Landscape
The competitive landscape for the metaverse gaming market includes a mix of established gaming companies and new startups. Some of the key players in the market include Roblox Corporation, Epic Games, Unity Technologies, Linden Lab, Decentraland, and Somnium Space. These companies are investing heavily in research and development to create more immersive and engaging virtual worlds as well as exploring the integration of new technologies such as blockchain and NFTs.
The market is expected to become more competitive as more companies are entering the space and existing players are focusing on innovation.
Some of the recent developments in metaverse gaming are :
- Epic Games and Haedan partnered in September 2022 with the intention of investing US$ 30 million in the creation of Haedan’s metaverse gaming infrastructure.
- Tencent Holdings Limited announced the opening of an F1 studio under the TiMi Studio Group subsidiary in October 2021 with a focus on metaverse development.
These insights are based on a report on Metaverse Gaming Market by Fact.MR.
The NBA 2K League and Meta announced today a multiyear partnership allowing fans to stream 20 nights of live NBA 2K League games in VR environments on Meta platforms beginning tonight and through the 2023 season. Earlier this year, the NBA and Meta announced a multiyear partnership extension for fans through Meta Horizon Worlds via Meta Quest.
During the season, 20 nights of live NBA 2K League games will be available on the Meta Quest VR Headsets in NBA Arena in Meta Horizon Worlds and in XTADIUM, a VR sports hub app that offers shared watching experiences in high definition.
“The NBA 2K League takes great pride in always seeking to be an innovative leader in sports,” said NBA 2K League Head of Business Development Lindsay Ullman. “Our partnership with Meta allows our fans, who are highly engaged and passionate about our product, an amazing new way to experience the NBA 2K League using the cutting-edge technology that is the Meta Quest VR Headset through Horizon Worlds and in the XTADIUM app.”
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