Blockchain logistics firm the VeChain Foundation has signed a multi-year marketing partnership with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) worth nearly $100 million, becoming the UFC’s first-ever layer-1 blockchain partner. The UFC is the largest promoter and event organizer for Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and VeChain’s marketing assets and brand will be integrated across the UFC in live events, in-arena promotion, social media and other areas. The deal is reportedly worth almost $100 million over a minimum five-year partnership, according to an anonymous source quoted by Sports Business Journal. The UFC’s senior vice president of global partnerships, Paul Asencio, said the …

Crypto has taken over the world, and Formula 1 was no exception to the disruption. From nonfungible tokens (NFTs) and fan tokens to multi-year partnerships, the crypto community continues to support the F1 landscape in numerous ways. Monaco Grand Prix 2022 saw F1’s fastest pit crew, Oracle Red Bull Racing (ORBR), partner with crypto exchange Bybit to launch ORBR’s 2022 NFT collection — minted on the Tezos blockchain. The limited-edition NFT collection is made available via an auction, wherein bidders get to collect digital collectibles representing various aspects of Red Bull’s past, present and future. Speaking to Cointelegraph editor-in-chief Kristina …

Blockchain-based gaming, also known as GameFi, is an up-and-coming sector that could potentially be one of the primary catalysts for kickstarting the mass adoption of blockchain technology. WEMIX, a gaming protocol that operates on the Klaytn network, aims to get in on the GameFi revolution and this week, the project's native token (WEMIX) rallied even as the wider market continued to sell-off. Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView shows that since hitting a low of $1.27 on May 12, WEMIX price climbed 269% to hit a daily high at $4.70 on May 25 as its 24-hour trading volume increased …

Decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol Injective (INJ) has partnered with Wormhole to integrate “10 new blockchains” to its network. Injective is a Cosmos (ATOM) layer-2 decentralized exchange (DEX) that offers derivatives, token swaps and sports betting prediction markets. It is also focused on interoperability via cross-chain bridging, and currently supports digital assets from Ethereum (ETH), Polkadot (DOT) and IBC-enabled chains such as Cosmos. Injective Labs, the protocol’s developers, noted in a Wednesday announcement that the partnership will enable users to transfer and trade assets across any chain that is integrated with Wormhole. “The Wormhole integration will vastly enhance Injective’s capabilities with …

LGT Group, a top family-owned private banking and asset management group, is moving into cryptocurrency by launching Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) investments at LGT Bank in Liechtenstein. Managing over $292 billion of assets, LGT Bank has debuted digital asset custody and trading services in cooperation with Swiss cryptocurrency bank Seba, according to a joint announcement released on Wednesday. “LGT Bank has been offering direct investments in Bitcoin and Ether since May. The private bank has entered into a partnership with Seba Bank, which will act as broker and custodian to provide this service,” Seba Bank’s chief marketing officer Sandra …

Gemini, a major cryptocurrency exchange founded by the Winklevoss twins, has launched its crypto credit card. The company officially announced Thursday that its Gemini Credit Card is available in the United States across all 50 states. The new card is issued by the state-chartered industrial bank WebBank and features Mastercard as the exclusive card network. The card’s rollout comes more than a year after Gemini initially announced the project in 2021, aiming to reward users for using crypto for everyday transactions. Since launching the Gemini Credit Card waitlist last year, more than 500,000 users have signed up for the product, …

Whitehall Capital, a London-based loan provider, struck a deal with an American digital asset securities marketplace Securitize to enable its investors to hold their units as blockchain tokens. According to an April 11 announcement, Whitehall investors will be able to use buy and sell units in the Whitehall fund via Securitize platform. After registering on Securitize, an investor will see their assets as a number of tokenized units, with the performance markers, investment reports and other valuable information included. They could also trade the units with other investors by posting a bid to buy or sell a certain quantity. According …

Metaverse events at ancient and historical sites could soon shape up to be an alternate future for tourism. Owners of physical castles and villas who have drafted up augmented reality blueprints of their properties think their ambitious plans to attract visitors in the metaverse will work, as virtual events can help them pay the hefty maintenance bills for their aging properties and also offer a chance to change historical narratives. The metaverse tourism model was expedited by downturns in tourism brought about by COVID-19, but the industry may have already been heading that way. Currently, major metaverse platforms are clunky, …

Iconic former English Premier League footballer, David Beckham, has become a global brand ambassador for the DigitalBits blockchain, launching his own range of NFTs in the process. Beckham will release a series of NFTs and “other Blockchain-based digital assets” according to the brand ambassador announcement, with minting taking place on the DigitalBits blockchain. Excited to announce #DavidBeckham has become a Global Ambassador for #DigitalBits! Get ready to explore the world of #Blockchain, #NFTs and #Metaverse with Beckham. More details https://t.co/yafO7W2OuL Thread pic.twitter.com/n54BMeDsnE — DigitalBits (XDB) (@DigitalBitsOrg) March 24, 2022 Beckham said the NFT collections were an “opportunity to create new …

On March 21, mobile banking application Dave announced a partnership with FTX US to provide cryptocurrency payments on the platform. It also announced a $100 million investment from FTX Ventures. In the statement, Dave said the investment would aid its strategy for future crypto-related initiatives, with FTX US serving as its partner for cryptocurrencies. Both companies said they’re currently exploring ways to introduce crypto payments into Dave’s platform. FTX US President Brett Harrison commented that it looks to align with companies that can help drive widespread adoption of digital assets, believing Dave was a fit in that regard. Jason Wilk, …

Several cryptocurrency exchanges and advocacy groups across different countries have banded together to form a coalition intended to fight market manipulation. In a Monday announcement, market surveillance firm Solidus Labs and exchanges including Bitstamp, Coinbase, BitMEX, and CrossTower said they would be launching the Crypto Market Integrity Coalition, or CMIC, asking all other companies involved in the crypto space to follow their example. According to the CMIC, members must pledge to encourage “a fair digital asset marketplace to combat market abuse and manipulation and promote public and regulatory confidence” in crypto. The group’s 17 founding members includes U.S.-based crypto advocacy …

In a press release published Friday, three-time NBA champion and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James will partner with digital currency exchange Crypto.com to support educational and workforce development opportunities focused on Web 3.0. Specifically, as told by local news outlet Akron Beacon Journal, the partnership will help 1,600 kids in LeBron James' hometown of Akron, Ohio about the technology behind cryptocurrencies and how it will benefit their career paths in the future. "Blockchain technology is revolutionizing our economy, sports and entertainment, the art world, and how we engage with one another. I want to ensure that communities like the …