Tag: NFT

Australia – Social-lifestyle app STEPN GO has reached a new milestone in its partnership with adidas, unveiling the first-ever co-branded physical running shoes—the ‘STEPN GO x adidas Ultraboost 5,’ featuring the STEPN GO logo.

The launch of the co-branded running shoes marks a pivotal step in the year-long partnership between STEPN GO and adidas, which began in April 2024 with the debut of the STEPN Genesis NFT collection. 

Building on the excitement from their digital NFT drops, the introduction of the STEPN GO x adidas Ultraboost 5 further demonstrates how the two brands are redefining the intersection of digital innovation and real-world fashion.

Following a successful collaboration, which included the release of the STEPN GO x adidas Genesis NFT Sneakers, the partnership now transitions from digital to physical with a limited edition of 1,200 adidas Ultraboost 5 running shoes.

Since its public beta launch in September 2024, STEPN GO’s innovative Haus System has stood out, enabling users to lend sneakers, share energy and earnings, and onboard new users into Web3 without a wallet. This feature enhances accessibility and highlights the platform’s commitment to community-driven innovation.

Shiti Manghani, CEO of STEPN by FSL, shared, “The launch of physical shoes is a defining moment in our partnership with adidas. We’ve moved from digital collectibles to tangible products that people can wear, showing just how far the Web3 space has evolved. This collaboration demonstrates the potential of merging fitness, digital assets, and real-world products.”

Erika Wykes-Sneyd, VP and GM of adidas /// studio, added, “We’re thrilled to offer a new digital experience for runners at the forefront of this exciting new era. This collaboration not only brings a fresh way to engage with fitness but also introduces rewarding experiences that push the boundaries of what’s possible in both the physical and digital worlds.”

Starting December 13, the limited-edition STEPN GO x adidas Ultraboost 5 shoes will be available exclusively on the MOOAR marketplace for holders of STEPN and STEPN GO x adidas Genesis Sneakers. With only 1,200 pairs released, the drop blends adidas’ performance excellence with STEPN GO’s active lifestyle ethos.

The STEPN GO x adidas collaboration marks a key step in integrating active living with everyday life, highlighting STEPN GO’s innovation in fitness technology and Web3 leadership. By blending digital and physical experiences, the partnership reinforces STEPN GO’s role as a pioneer in redefining Web3 possibilities.

Singapore – Starbucks has announced that it will close ‘Starbucks Odyssey’, its NFT loyalty programme, by March 31 this year. According to its FAQ page, Starbucks is giving its users until March 25 to complete its ‘journeys’, referring to playing interactive games or taking on fun challenges, within the platform.

“While the Starbucks Odyssey Beta program is ending, we are excited for you to see what comes next and are grateful for your consistent engagement and feedback. We are thankful to have had this opportunity to test into these different ways of driving community and loyalty at Starbucks and we look forward to bringing these learnings to a broader audience,” Starbucks said in an online statement.

The marketplace for the programme’s NFT selection will officially move to Nifty, another NFT marketplace. Moreover, its official Discord server was closed on March 19.

Starbucks Odyssey was launched in beta back in September 2022, and was launched in line with the global coffee chain’s desire back in May of same year to venture into NFTs as a way to venture into the Web3 space.

Manila, Philippines –  Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) has partnered up with Philippine Blockchain Week to create limited edition digital collectibles that pay tribute to PAL history while showcasing the airline’s dedication to embracing the future.

These digital collectibles mark the first time for Philippine Airlines to enter the blockchain industry, with these digital collectibles possessing customer benefits as well as access to the Philippine Blockchain Week event.  

Each PAL collectible, which consists of eight distinct images created by artist Trace Orozco and produced on the Ethereum blockchain network, is a well crafted work of art aimed at discerning collectors. Each collectible has artwork in addition to being encoded with $1,500 worth of consumable Mabuhay Miles that can be redeemed at the owner’s discretion.

Upon purchase collectors would also receive a Philippine Blockchain Week VVIP ticket every year for the next three years, granting them premium access to global thought leaders in a currently emerging technological landscape.

In a statement from Philippine Blockchain Week, they said, “As Philippine Airlines continues to soar to greater heights by growing its global network of nonstop flights, so does Philippine Blockchain Week work to elevate Philippine society by motivating Filipinos to embrace the infinite possibilities of Web3 and beyond.”

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Targeted at helping people keep their new year’s resolution, creators from digital marketing agency Lion & Lion launched Resolutions NFT Series, a limited edition art collection that integrates motion graphics, generative art, original digital music creation, and typography design.

The NFT artworks integrate global data on the 10 most popular new year resolutions from 2019 to 2022 that people fail to keep and are most likely to be repeated again in the following year. 

The limited edition NFT series will be released in various blockchains, debuting with Objkt.com, one of the largest CleanNFT art marketplaces. 

Cheelip Ong, regional chief creative officer of Lion & Lion, said “With the abundance of artists and creators in our network who are Web3 natives, it makes perfect sense for us to enter 2023 with a trend-jacking NFT Drop to showcase our creative and artistic abilities, across different blockchains and NFT Art platforms.”

He also added that the launch demonstrates Lion & Lion’s ability to clients and brands who are planning on transitioning from Web2 to Web3.

Jakarta, Indonesia – In conjunction with Indonesia’s Independence Day celebration, Kopi Kenangan, a local-based retail F&B chain known for its coffee products, has partnered with NFT creator Karafuru and digital service provider ADA Asia to launch a new campaign to honour the Modern Day Heroes.

Through the campaign, Kopi Kenangan Hanya Untukmu introduces eight modern heroes who are highly relevant for Gen Z. The eight characters are chosen to represent the everyday heroes of Indonesia from different walks of life, from courier drivers to corporate workers, and from medical frontliners to content creators. All of which are contributing to the country in their own unique way. 

Moreover, Karafuru NFT used its magic hands to bring to life the eight modern heroes of Gen Z. Each character is given its own character and attributes, making it unique and relatable to each of the modern-day heroes’ daily struggles.

The collaboration can be found in the limited edition of Kopi Kenangan Hanya Untukmu x Karafuru coffee bottles in Indonesia.

Faradi Bachri, country director at ADA Asia, shared that their findings show that Gen Z has a peculiar spirit in celebrating Independence Day, and they want to instil the true meaning of Gen Z spirit by inviting them to appreciate the battles and challenges of modern-day heroes from all walks of life.

“Through the modern heroes concept that ADA prepared, we want to remind Gen Z to not forget the spirit of perseverance, which is the essence of Independence Day,” said Bachri.

Meanwhile, Karafuru said, “It was fun to design the artworks that are highly relatable to the audience in Indonesia. Despite the fact that we merely portray eight modern heroes, I believe that hundreds of heroes were mentioned and celebrated by Indonesians aside from these eight individuals.”

Hong Kong – Insurance company Sun Life in Hong Kong has launched its first non-fungible tokens (NFTs) project, marking its 130th anniversary. This move follows the company’s new branding campaign ‘Change Into a Happier You’.

Until 30 September 2022, the top 130 Clients who pay the highest amount of Annualised First Year Premium1 and the top 130 advisors with the best performance will each receive one unique Sun Life Hong Kong limited edition NFT2 for free. 

Moreover, clients who become NFT holders can enjoy a premium rebate1 of up to HK$1,3003 in the next purchase. Sun Life Hong Kong will also be giving away the NFTs to 130 selected staff.

Clement Lam, CEO of Sun Life Hong Kong, shared that digital innovation creates new possibilities and changes people’s lives in often unexpected ways, and they always strive to stay ahead by enhancing the experience journey of their clients and advisors using digital technology. 

“2022 marks the 130th anniversary of Sun Life Hong Kong. We are thrilled to celebrate our special moment and share our joy with our stakeholders through the creation of this NFT collection,” said Lam.

Meanwhile, Chris Fung, chief client and marketing officer at Sun Life Hong Kong, said they will launch an exclusive NFT collection themed around ‘130th anniversary’ and ‘Hong Kong’ that will be co-created with Yobe, a local illustrator. 

“The design of the digital artworks will feature various aspects of living showcasing local culture and traditions. This series of digital collectibles marks our first step in entering the metaverse. In addition, we plan to include a number of different elements in the NFTs so as to create more exciting experience for our clients. We will also continue to integrate more online and offline interactions striving to take our innovation advancement to the next level,” added Fung.

New York – The One Club for Creativity has launched its NFT collection which will be given to its special awards winners. This will be awarded in addition to its iconic physical One Show 2022 Pencils to this year’s winners.

One NFT will be minted for each winner of a One Show Special Award, including ‘Best of Show’, ‘Best of Disciplines’, ‘CMO Pencil’, ‘Green Pencil’, ‘Fusion Pencil’, ‘SDG Pencil’, and global ‘of the Year’ winners.

The assets are utility NFTs, which qualify the holder to a series of perks and special offers including nominations for future One Show juries, complimentary tickets to One Club events, opportunities to speak at club events, exclusive access to One Club content and board members, and more.

The NFTs are minted on the VAST platform, which is powered by Polygon. They are automatically ‘mirrored’ to the wallet holder’s account on OpenSea, meaning One Show Pencil NFTs can be openly traded on the secondary market via VAST or OpenSea with the same eco-friendly smart contract.

Kevin Swanepoel, CEO at The One Club, said, “As a nonprofit organisation whose mission is to support the global creative community, we are constantly looking for ways to elevate and give back to the industry. Minting utility Pencil NFTs is more than just an exciting new way to celebrate the Special Awards winners. It’s also a creative new vehicle to engage the community, and a way to offer exclusive perks to creatives around the world.”

Meanwhile, Michael Jurkovac, VAST CEO and co-founder, commented, “VAST isn’t a technology platform built for creatives, it’s a creative platform built with technology. As an FCB and TBWA\Chiat Day alum, I’ve always considered The One Show to be one of the awards I valued most, so I’m thrilled to work with The One Club on this project. The One Show Pencil is also one of the most beautifully designed awards, period.”

Hong Kong – Insurance provider FWD Insurance has announced their foray into launching their first-ever NFT collection. They were announced during the 2022 Step Change leadership conference, which brought together the company’s management to explore leadership qualities and inspire innovative thinking.

By firstly engaging internal teams on this NFT initiative, FWD aims to further enhance customer experiences with a diverse suite of engagement activities extended to the metaverse so that people can pursue their passions and live life to the fullest at anywhere, anytime.

The NFT collection is now available on the popular NFT marketplace OpenSea, although they are not for sale.

Paul Tse, chief marketing and digital officer of FWD Hong Kong and Macau, said, “FWD is a fast-growing, innovative and dynamic insurer. Leveraging digital technology and our teams’ commitment to pursuing creativity to stay ahead of the curve, we continue to enhance the customer experience and drive our goals.” 

He added, “The virtual world is set to transform our lives in many ways, and we hope to discover new opportunities in the virtual space as we see this as a new and additional way to engage and interact with our customers. With a suite of fun and exciting online and offline initiatives in the pipeline, we’re committed to realise our brand promise to ‘celebrate living’ with the community in the metaverse.”

Hong Kong – Fruitpie, an avant-garde digital marketing consultancy, has launched its new NFT offering that first-ever combines traditional livelihood consumption and emerging virtual assets called ‘Fruit Pie NFT’. This campaign initiates and advocates the marketing concept of ‘Fruit to Earn’, which is the company’s inaugural attempt to make an exception and generalise the popularisation of NFTs with its in-house innovation team, signifying its first stand to show its edge in the field of ‘NFT Plus’ novelty fusion.

The purpose of the issuance of Fruit Pie NFT is to facilitate the integration of rising fintech tools and traditional livelihood consumption experience to lead a trendy lifestyle while offering fresh fruits to consumers. Its core marketing concept ‘Fruit to Earn’ is imbued with the hidden gambit, unlike the membership identities or pre-paid cards launched by other conventional fruit distribution companies, Fruit Pie NFT brings forward a bold breakthrough based on standardised marketing ideas by incorporating orchard farming games into the system. In addition, through the establishment and construction of Smart Orchard in the Metaverse, people’s traditional livelihood consumption scenarios of buying fruit will be ingeniously extended to the virtual space.

With this new offering, Fruitpie intends to leverage the inherent value attributes of NFT itself as an investment tool with the aid of fintech to endow a secure, novel, and distinctive investment significance to elementary consumption and entertainment behaviours, helping consumers understand and accept this newly-developing financial instrument in the accessible but profound terms.

Fruitpie said that after considering the NFT Plus integrated marketing tactic, the company’s technical and creative team agreed that the NFT about the fresh fruit consumption conception is an exceedingly ingenious and brand-new entry point and thus proposed ‘Fruit to Earn’, enabling consumers to invest at a reasonable cost and earn benefits while feasting fresh fruits. 

After the official release, in addition to two Fruit Pie Gift Boxes, Fruit Pie NFT holders can also enjoy four additional benefits as the project progresses, including member-exclusive discounts and free shipping for all orders on the e-commerce outlet, single-use participation right in the online raffle for once a month, join and share the profits generated in the Fruit Pie Orchard Game that will be launched in the upcoming first phase, and obtain extra right in the Smart Orchard that will be designed and built by Fruitpie in the Metaverse for the second phrase, attached to the unique NFT identity, amongst others. 

Abby, co-founder of Fruitpie, said, “This Fruit Pie NFT is an absolutely fresh attempt and a remarkable collision between fintech and traditional consumption. On the one hand, the concept of NFT can be vividly integrated into our daily life. On the other hand, it can help the industry bring up primary education for investors related to NFT, a type of ‘Edutainment’ that accelerates this emerging subject to take root in the mass market.”

Meanwhile, Charles Leung, founder of Fruitpie, shared that when NFT first appeared, it would only be linked to some world-famous paintings or out-of-print art collections, which means ‘too high-end to be accessible’, but now, ‘NFT plus 3D Games’, ‘NFT plus Beauty’, ‘NFT plus Social Avatars’, and so on, new dinguses are gushing out endlessly and changing with each passing day. 

“More and more technological innovations have come out and significantly improved our understanding and acceptance of NFTs. This time, in terms of innovative settings, we also specially added gimmicks such as game segment and Smart Orchard, which is generally familiar and easy to participate in. The company’s team has mastered quite mature technologies and hopes that NFT can be used extensively in traditional markets, helping various industries implement marketing reforms and pull through bottlenecks in innovation,” said Leung.

Sydney, Australia – Global visual content creator and marketplace Getty Images has announced a multi-year partnership agreement with digital collectible company Candy Digital that makes Candy Digital the exclusive developer and marketplace for Getty Images NFTs. 

This is Candy Digital’s inaugural arts and culture partnership, marking an exciting expansion into digital collectibles and experiences beyond sports. Both companies will collaborate and develop a diverse portfolio of NFT products and collections derived from Getty Images’ extensive library of more than 465 million images, including over 135 million analog images from Getty Images’ photographic archive.

Photography and NFT collectors will be able to seamlessly purchase, sell and trade official digital collectibles through the Getty Images marketplace on Candy, which will support primary and secondary market transactions and purchases using credit card or crypto payments. The NFTs will be minted on the Palm blockchain, a scalable, environmentally friendly, Ethereum-compatible side-chain.

Craig Peters, CEO at Getty Images, said, “With the very best content at our core, innovation is woven into the fabric of Getty Images and this partnership speaks to our mission to connect people with our high quality, exclusive visual content. We are proud to work with Candy Digital to expand our offering to the fast-growing global audience of NFT collectors, representing significant opportunities for the company and our global photographer community.”

Meanwhile, Scott Lawin, CEO at Candy Digital, commented, “The introduction of photography represented a seismic shift in how we were able to document, store, and share our history. We’re thrilled to be working with Getty Images to develop NFT products that creatively bring these iconic and rare photographs from the last two centuries to life for people to experience and collect in a new digital format.”

He added, “This partnership represents an exciting step forward in Candy’s evolution as we expand and diversify beyond sports and establish Candy as a leader in the worlds of digital entertainment, culture, and art.”

Many of Getty Images’ analog archival photographs have never been seen before by the general public and contained within this collection are exceptionally rare images from legendary photographers who first pioneered the field. As part of this new partnership, Getty Images and Candy Digital will unveil these works alongside contemporary images in a variety of different digital formats for people to view and collect for the very first time.