Led by investor and entrepreneur Fernando Garcia, Bridge 3 Labs (B3L) is an Austin-based blockchain startup focused on long-term wealth creation through disruptive Web3 technology. Founded in January of this year, the startup describes itself as “the 1st NFT Venture Studio bringing access to exclusive IRL assets through utility NFT projects.”

Born in Spain and now living in San Francisco, B3L’s CEO and Co-Founder Fernando Garcia has made a name for himself as an unstoppable leader and entrepreneur. He currently holds the position of Vice President of K2 Capital and Senior Vice President at Postlane Partners, having held similar leadership positions at Gladieux Energy, CKC Partners, and Search Fund Accelerator. Fernando is now channeling all of his experience on Bridge 3 Labs, which he is sure will outperform his previous $75M fuel automation technology and distribution business.

With this mission in mind, B3L is bringing together a private community of entrepreneurs and investors from different backgrounds to revolutionize how NFTs create wealth. By sourcing, identifying, and investing in promising teams, the startup not only helps new Web3 projects get off the ground but also brings value to its members. The B3L team has over 30 years of combined experience as founders and leaders of start-ups and mid-stage across the IT, Energy, Luxury Real Estate, and Wine industries.

The project uses its own NFT “B3L Pass” not only to grant its holder access to the exclusive community but also to advanced trading analytic tools, research, educational content, private IRL event invitations, and exclusive rewards. While the use of NFTs as a means to access a community is not new by itself, the highly professional nature of the B3L pass. In addition to this, the team will soon be adding value to the Genesis Collection via “Heirloom” NFTs.

Non-Fungible Tokens have been long criticized for their highly speculative nature and supposedly “lack of value”. Heirloom NFTs address this issue by using tangible high.end luxury experiences and commodities as their backing. At this time, these include a private Bitcoin mining operation, a boutique hotel chateaux, and a world-class winery. The high value and utility of the assets backing these NFTs mean that they will be especially beneficial to long-term holders, resulting in them being an heirloom of sorts as they continue to appreciate in value.

By taking the idea of NFT away from an art-focused technological tool, B3L is looking to make them a more effective and attractive wealth-generating tool. While this would be closer to the idea behind cryptocurrencies, Heirloom NFTs differ in their use of stable IRL assets instead of services and trust. B3L is bringing the best out of the worlds of crypto, NFTs, and luxury assets into a single product, a mix that is sure to be a game changer in the long term.

The post NFTs Changed Art and Gaming Forever: B3L Doesn’t Think That’s Enough appeared first on Grit Daily News.

“Phygital Love” is a convergence, merging digital with physical art. The event featured both Ruben’s NFT art on display in the gallery, as well as his physical paintings and sculptures throughout the event space. The drop included both elements when purchased with varied tiers for cost so that anyone- from a casual fan to a serious NFT collector- could participate. 

The ‘Lovers’ are 500 unique works of art that Ruben considers his “Love DNA.”  Each piece is one of a kind, randomly generated NFT, and as unique as you are! This item is a “Love” PFP (profile picture) priced at $250.

On display, there was also the  opportunity to purchase a Love digital animated video NFT with a corresponding physical  sculpture for $3000. Each digital sculpture, from the 1 of 1 ‘Genesis’ to the ‘25 to Love’ digital sculptures, was paired with a handmade physical sculpture.  The two unique pieces are paired with a Quantum Fingerprint Tag. The Quantum Fingerprint TAG (QFT) is a secure digital identifier that can be applied to both digital and physical assets via an NFC chip (like a digital fingerprint!) so that each retains its intrinsic value.

In addition, a bespoke 1 of 1, 8-ft. Love Statue (sculpture) was on display for photo opportunities and available for purchase for  $35,000 along with an accompanying digital video NFT.  

The event included signature cocktails curated courtesy of local venice bar Roosterfish, while DJ Wesley Weekends kept the music as vibrant as the NFTs on display.

If you weren’t able to attend, don’t worry! The drop is still open for purchase via the one-of-a-kind QFT by visiting here,. VCCESS, the tech partner for the event,  makes owning NFTs easy because you can purchase with a traditional form of payment (credit card, etc.)  and don’t have to have a digital wallet or cryptocurrency. 

Please view images from the event which can be licensed from Getty Images HERE.

You can claim a free NFT by Ruben Rojas by including this link. 

About Ruben Rojas:

In 2013, Ruben Rojas traded in his suit for a paintbrush and began transforming blank walls into unique empowering messages that today are uplifting communities and challenging the public to create new dialogues. Rubens’ mission is to ignite creativity and inspire others to see the world through the lens of love. Ruben partners with companies who aim to give back, enhance workspaces and raise awareness of important issues. Some of his collaborations include Reebok, Tom’s, American Express, and more. Visit RubenRojas.com. Follow on Instagram and Twitter.

ABOUT VCCESS

VCCESS is a marketplace that provides brands and artists the ability to capture their customers within a digital world experience where they can buy, sell, and trade physical and digitally authenticated consumer goods. 

About Kollectiff

Kollectiff is a web3 innovation and venture studio leveraging blockchain technology and NFTs to create engaging and connected brand experiences, focusing on utility and experiential design. The studio helps IP owners and brands understand and unlock the full potential of Web3, NFTs, and the Metaverse, from concept ideation to creative and technical execution. Kollectiff specializes in taking brands and industry into the Metaverse. Company advisors include Sebastien Borget (COO, The Sandbox) and Rodolfo Echeverria (former Global Head of Creative at The Coca-Cola Company.)

The post Ruben Rojas Debuted ‘Phygital Love’ NFT Collection with VCCESS at The Gall3ry by Kollectiff appeared first on Grit Daily News.

Concerns around the ethical implications of blockchain technology have been around since its early days. However, as the technology gained relevance, it would eventually become one of the major sources of both positive and negative criticism. Probably the biggest criticism that blockchain technology has had to face was when the New York Times published a piece on Bitcoin’s environmental impact.

The piece, titled “In Coinbase’s Rise, a Reminder: Cryptocurrencies Use Lots of Energy”, brought further attention to existing concerns on Proof-of-work’s energy consumption. Many articles and columns would show up over the next few days, with companies like Square and Citi weighing in. While the topic of Bitcoin’s use case is certainly not in the spotlight nowadays, it remains relevant.

More recently, Non-Fungible Tokens have also risen to prominence as celebrities and brands around the world started using and advocating them. During the NFT craze, thousands of people joined the discussion on how ethical NFTs really were. While supporters defended their potential use cases and their role in democratizing art, detractors pointed at the financial implications of speculation around them and their hypocrisy.

Debate on the ethics of new technologies is nothing new. The International Journal of Ethics published by The University of Chicago Press was already publishing about the topic back in 1923. In an article titled “Some Ethical Consequences of the Industrial Revolution”, Austin Freeman referred to the industrial revolution by saying:

“This ethical atrophy represents the subsidence to a lower level of essential civilization. For civilization, as we have agreed, is based upon the recognition by man of his duty towards his neighbour; of which none can be more obvious than that of honesty and fair dealing.”

Today, most of us don’t think of the technical revolution as a negative but quite the opposite. Just like that, most criticism toward NFT, blockchain, and crypto, is more about their current status… Not about the technology itself. When it comes to investing in a socially responsible manner, it is not about investing in crypto or not, but the how.

The “The Math of Socially Responsible Investing in Blockchain & the Metaverse” panel saw experts discuss this topic as part of Grit Daily House during Consensus 2022. Leah Callon-Butler, Director at Emfarsis; Evin Cheikosman, Policy Analyst at World Economic Forum; and Nisa Amoils, Managing Partner at A100x Ventures, took to the stage to share their insights, opinions, and experience with the attendees.

Moderated by Linqto’s Chief Strategy Officer Karim Nurani, panelists discussed topics such as environmental concerns around blockchain, the regulation of fintech, and the role of women in developing countries. If you want to know what these experts have to say, you can watch the entire panel in the video below. You can also find our other panels on Grit Daily’s official YouTube Channel!

The post Crypto Ethics: The Math of Socially Responsible Investing in Blockchain & the Metaverse appeared first on Grit Daily News.

LEAP is a sports discovery and endorsement platform that uses blockchain and Web3 to power its mobile app that helps to connect youth talent with talent seekers and fans. LEAP’s decentralized digital arena democratizes sports and grants all talents equal growth opportunities, motivating young athletes to develop their game and compete online in the “Tournament of Meta-Legends,” bringing their real-life skills to the digital playground.

It’s a noble cause. Across the world, children that grow up in impoverished communities dream of turning their passion for sports into an enriching professional career. In the U.S., home to many of the most prominent sports associations in the world and a high-class college and youth sports infrastructure, only one out of 16,000 high school athletes turns pro.

In regions like Latin America and Africa, where sports are just as popular, but resources are more limited, the chances are even lower. However, many athletes strive for a secondary route to stardom. LEAP uses decentralized economic models to make it possible for anyone engaged in real-life sports activities to play, grow, and earn.

With LEAP, young athletes showcase their skill-sets in short-form videos uploaded to the platform. By specifically working with young athletes from impoverished and isolated communities, LEAP brings together a digital community of sports talent, talent seekers, and fans to help the athletes gain recognition and get rewarded based on their skill levels. The app features a customized video editor – LEAP Studio – with filters, stickers, and add-ons to help talents better highlight their skills.  

Using a play-to-earn model, LEAP encourages athletes to improve their skills through competitions between its users. These one-on-one battles, known as DAREs, showcase individual talents through performing short-form videos highlighting specific skills. Think Tik Tok for talent, with a payoff for those that can outshine their rival. The LEAP Seekers community – consisting of fans, agents, hall of fame athletes, clubs and academies, brands, and journalists – vote for whoever they feel performed the skill best.

As the budding stars compete in DAREs, the higher their rating will be, resulting in the minting of unique player-card NFTs whose value, worth, and score will determine rarity. These NFTs can be bought and sold, allowing these young athletes to earn from their hard work while also serving as a potential investment if they develop into a star.

The platform rewards its users based on their accomplishments with LEAP’s in-game tokens. Users receive an allowance of in-game tokens backed by real crypto-assets and use them in the LEAP Meta-Market to purchase real-world products and services, further improving their athletic development.

“We are building an important platform that will enable young athletes to receive the visibility and rewards they deserve based on their talent level,” Omri Lachman, CEO and co-founder at LEAP, said. “For too long, athletes from certain backgrounds or geographic regions have seen ‘going pro’ as the only solution to better their lives, and we are here to show them that going pro is not the only win. We are bridging the traditional sports industry with emerging talents and fans to unlock a brand new universe where everyone has an equal shot at the title by bringing their physical skills into the digital space.”

It’s an intriguing idea and one that leverages Web3 and NFT technologies to help those athletes – that would typically be overlooked – grow into the next generation of superstars, get the backing they deserve, earn as they play, and be noticed by those that can propel their sports careers to the moon.

The post Move Over Messi: This NFT Platform Is Helping Disadvantaged Young Athletes Become Stars appeared first on Grit Daily News.

While the majority of the public is still trying to figure out what non-fungible tokens (NFTs), cryptocurrency and blockchain technology are, those who know the value of NFTs today and in the future are busy figuring out how to keep their digital artwork, property of increasing utility, and personal information safe from hackers, Lookie-Loos, and other ne’er-do-wells.

My stomach has dropped more than once as I’ve gone through the crypto looking glass and down the NFT rabbit hole. There’s much to learn and many ways to win and lose. The emerging Web3 global community is full of innovation, and no group innovates quite like scammers.

Let us be clear: Art collectibles are just the tip of the iceberg. Blockchain-verifiable ownership documents allow ownership to be authenticated by anyone. As a result, even homes are already being bought with smart contracts. Now imagine how the medical world will look and feel in a few short years. or sooner, when prescriptions and medical records will all be protected and sent seamlessly via the blockchain in the form of NFTs.

Other than simply shouting “Don’t get hacked!”, here are 10 key ways to make sure that only you have access to your NFTs and that you hang onto them for as long as you would like to.

1. Never give your seed phrase to anyone… ANYONE!

A seed phrase is a series of random words—usually a dozen or so—that identify your ownership of a crypto-wallet such as MetaMask, a fan favorite amongst NFT collectors. This string of random words is nearly impossible to crack without NSA-level tactics, and let’s face it, if the NSA wants access to your crypto wallet you’ve got bigger problems than keeping your art safe from pilfering. If bad actors get their hands on your seed phrase of random words, that’s it.

That’s all they need to take ownership of your wallet and steal your whole NFT collection.

2. Scammers are sophisticated, but basic precautions still work.

Scam artists can come up with duplicate websites as fast as legitimate websites can be created. Sending emails with similar addresses all looking to trick you into clicking and giving them access to your property is a time-tested tactic that still works in 2022. Not all wallets work off of seed phrases, but if you’re using one that does, be very careful. The tricksters are out there. They’re very smart and keep coming up with ways to dupe people into giving newcomers their passwords.

3. Your wallet should be as cold and hard as your heart.

I strongly recommend getting a cold wallet. I highly recommend Ledger for your wallet-needs because a cold wallet keeps your NFTs from being moved unless physically authorized by you on your cold wallet device.

4. It shouldn’t need saying, but…

Make sure you’re using official links. I know, we’re all so sophisticated we can’t be scammed by such simple phishery, right? But many Discord channels are riddled with scammers sending DMs, pretending to be mods or imitating the founders of projects claiming you’ve won something you actually might want, like a free NFT.

Double check that you are in the CORRECT Discord, then rub your eyes, shake your head like a cartoon duck and check again! THEN and only then, use the official links section to land on the correct page. The link on which you land should be the link that is posted in the NFT project’s Discord. Always double and triple check yourself. Make sure you are clicking on the correct links. Duplicate websites or Discord channels may fool you into thinking you’re buying the correct NFT, but it’s just a knock off. Be wary of all emails. OpenSea is one of the largest marketplaces for buying and selling NFTs. A recent migration on the platform saw scammers sending out counterfeit emails so close to the original that experienced collectors were fooled into signing contracts allowing them to take control over their wallet.

5. Use a tumbler or cryptocurrency mixing service.

Obfuscation methods are the best way to avoid making your entire transaction history available to anyone you ever sent money to on Venmo. It’s perfectly legal, even though it feels like money laundering. Wired.com published an article on April 5, 2022 stating, “NFTs are a privacy and security nightmare,” and they were correct. Much like virtual private networks, tumblers and mixers take your identifiable data—in this case crypto and NFT transactions—and lump it together in such a way as to make the original source unidentifiable. They may also use randomized payout times so a transaction you made in the morning might actually be paid in smaller increments later that day as well as the next.

6. Beware geeks bearing gifts.

Ask the Trojans. “Free” doesn’t necessarily mean “good.” Sometimes scammers will enter chat rooms and change their names to that of a moderator, then tell you you’ve won something. All they want to do is talk over DM, they say. Just a private little conversation to “hook you up with no obligations” and all that. Next thing you know, you’re being sweet-talked out of your seed phrase to “verify that your wallet is actually yours” by which time, it won’t be.

7. Scammers act fast so when necessary, act faster!

Scammers don’t wait long to take action. So if you compromise yourself, then suddenly get that tingling feeling like you may have made a mistake, DON’T WAIT. Quickly, while you still have access to your wallet, move its contents to a safe, uncompromised wallet. Preferably, this will be a backup wallet you have waiting in the wings for just such an occasion.

8. Do Your Own Research.

DYOR is a common phrase of parlance in crypto and NFT spaces, and it means exactly what it says. Read up. Articles, listicles and op/eds abound in über-legitimate publications like Forbes, Insider, Buzzfeed, CNBC and more. Many of those pieces will end up the subject of discussion in communities you can also trust as an aggregation of reviews. Instagram, Twitter and Discord channels are gathering places of the published and unpublished masses of everyday experts. There is essentially a process of instant peer review.

I currently spend a good deal of time on Metabillionaire. Community Director Aezeean has created a space for thousands of users participating in a civilized cage fight of ideas. Go there to read or ask a question and chances are you’ll not only get what you need, but faster than you thought possible.

Participate long enough in such a forum and you can become a recognized expert yourself one day. When working with NFTs, you’ll want to know who the creator is. Can you access the contract? Does your NFT have any utility, or is it just art? Where exactly things are heading is not predetermined. Expert opinions will vary as much as those of the average crypto bro on the street, so always DYOR! Trust, but verify. Even commentators may have their own agendas, so it’s best not to follow the advice of any single source. When a scam is happening, you will see fellow NFT collectors on Twitter and in Discord working together to figure out what’s going on. Follow experts, verify information, ask for sources, follow community opinions, and investigate on your own. This is especially important for the next point.

9. Be aware of pump-and-dump schemes.

NFTs and crypto are the new frontier, and in many ways it’s the Wild West out here. Regulators aren’t sure what, if anything, to regulate yet so it’s open season on easy marks. Schemes to artificially increase or decrease the value of crypto and NFTs rely on skittish buyers and sellers ready to panic when prices drop. Buying low and selling high may be the American Way, but the success of these schemes depends on people falling for them. Don’t get scared and sell low. Don’t invest your nest egg unless you can ride out a bear market. Seeing that pump-and-dump scheme coming in the first place is your best defense.

10. Use double verification wherever possible.

This is your stuff! Take a few extra seconds to send yourself a text or email to make sure even you can’t get at it without proving who you are and who you claim to be.

Once again because it’s so important: No one ever legitimately needs to see your seed phrase but you! I recently googled “SushiSwap,” and a counterfeit-but-realistic paid ad popped up claiming it needed to verify that I was the holder of my MetaMask wallet. I just needed to enter my seed phrase to verify. It was realistic enough to fool an intermediate collector, and definitely a neophyte. Had a red alert not gone off in my head I would have lost everything like so many others. The smarter we get, the smarter and slicker these scammers get. So please DYOR (do your own research), double check everything, and when in doubt back out.

Moving forward, NFTs will become fundamental everyday tools across wide areas of our society. Our most sensitive data, medical records, citizenship documents, real estate transactions, and investments of all kinds will become a permanent, verifiable, inviolable part of the blockchain. Keeping your information in your possession is the primary point of all of this so a little vigilance will go a long way toward keeping yourself out of trouble.

The post Dude, Where’s My NFT? appeared first on Grit Daily News.

An NFT whitelist is a spot saved for someone (typically a loyal or highly engaged collector), allowing them to mint an NFT before the public sale. Frequently, the whitelist is the only way a creator can decide who gets to mint an NFT in a project that is likely to have high demand. Whitelist spots are limited and sometimes are combined with gaming elements, such as guessing the price of the native token used on the NFT platform or inviting a certain number of friends to join in.

Adding these elements sounds fun, but unfortunately, it can mean that even the most engaged NFT followers are not guaranteed a spot on the list. Randomized minting also has its drawbacks, failing to reward any engagement by putting the bet only on chance.

That can cause an adverse effect and sentiment from the community – the opposite of what you’re trying to achieve when launching a project.

So are there any other options for NFT projects that can offer extended reach for the creator and give value to the collector?

Enter SparkWorld*. Yes, the asterisk is supposed to be there. A community-focused Web3 ecosystem, it focuses on what it calls Fair Prediction Launches (FPLs) as an alternative to whitelists.

SparkWorld* offers similar gamification to whitelists involving token price prediction, but the startup claims its FPLs are fairer. How does it work? SparkWorld* places users into ordered lists based on the accuracy of their predictions, giving every user a fair shot at landing a more valuable piece of the collection and abolishing first-come-first-serve whitelists and randomized minting.

“Users stake $SPRK and get the opportunity to make predictions,” Jolyon Horsfall, Co-CEO at SparkWorld*, told me. “More staked tokens mean more predictions and, therefore, more whitelist opportunities. Users predict the price of the native blockchain of the NFT (for example, AVAX) or the governance token of the game or NFT project – always before the mint day.” 

Unlike a regular whitelist, there are no losers due to this solution.

“Everyone gets staking rewards and prediction rewards,” Horsfall said. “SparkWorld* is non-punitive! The most accurate predictions get the whitelist spots and extra prizes.”

Does SparkWorld* limit creators when it comes to where they mint their NFTs?

“The NFTs are minted by the creators then verified and KYCd by the platform,” Horsfall said. “This means that the original minting address will be verifiable and that the NFTs will be distributed via our FPL protocol based on our gaming mechanics.”

It sounds great, but it is worth noting that whitelisting traditionally doesn’t cost anything other than the time spent promoting the project on social media sharing or other networking groups the collector may have. Why would a potential collector stake $SPRK to get their NFT before the public sale?

“The rewards are threefold,” Horsfall said. “Users will be obtaining guaranteed high yield staking rewards on entry to the prediction event and, based on the outcome of the prediction, be entitled to whitelist spots for the project’s NFT launch. In addition, they’ll earn prediction-based rewards (for example, AVAX, ETH, SPRK, etc.) over their staking yield.” 

It is indeed an interesting idea with benefits for both creators and collectors alike, and the startup is focused on providing balance throughout the process and in its future development.

“SparkWorld* has a level playing field, where the prediction sorting algorithm eliminates the ‘First Come First Serve’ process,” Horsfall said. “This allows users to have a more fair and efficient journey.” 

The post SparkWorld* wants to make NFT launches and whitelists fairer for all appeared first on Grit Daily News.

New York, NY – Entrepreneur Rod Turner is turning his passion project into a compassionate one. Known for his significant impact in the finance, tech, and startup world, Turner is taking his personal enjoyment of creating digital art and carrying it into his mission to make a positive impact in the world. Turner will be launching his NFT offering, ‘Our Beautiful World Project’ to benefit organizations providing care and support for the people of Ukraine.

The launch will take place this May Day, May 1, at midnight Ukraine time (5PM EDT, 2PM PDT). All proceeds from initial sales and all aftermarket fees will be paid promptly to the best entities active on the ground in Ukraine, with Turner himself covering the fees and associated expenses out of his own pocket.

Turner says, “Recently I discovered that many people like my art, many more than I would’ve thought or expected. I made this NFT series because I’d love to help the people of Ukraine on a far bigger scale than I am capable of doing on my own. I hope that together we will have a major positive impact, and help Ukrainians through the horrible journey of war that they’re experiencing.” 

Turner is the founder and CEO of Manhattan Street Capital with over three decades of experience in building startups and leading M&A combinations. His tech background and desire to help the ongoing crisis in Ukraine led to his launching of the Our Beautiful World project.

Six NFT pieces in the series are available to adopt now. Organizations to receive donations from the NFT Art sales include BStrong, United Help Ukraine, Libereco, and Voices of Children. Turner is also engaging all visitors to his website to provide their suggestions for the best organizations that are on the ground in Ukraine and could use donations. 

Rod’s website includes instructions for beginners on how to buy NFTs, and direct links so that visitors can easily make donations to the selected organizations helping the Ukrainian people.

For more on purchasing an NFT from ‘Our Beautiful World Project’ and/or how to get involved with its mission, visit ourbeautifulworld.io.

The post Serial Entrepreneur Rod Turner Launches ‘Our Beautiful World Project’ NFT Series to Benefit Ukraine appeared first on Grit Daily News.

Jonathan Almanzar is the CEO and co-founder of Chick’nCone, a restaurant chain with dozens of locations worldwide. He sees his restaurant as a “tech company that sells chicken,” and his innovative tech ideas are transforming the restaurant industry.

“Technology is simply utilizing scientific knowledge for practical purposes,” he explains. “In the restaurant industry, we are harnessing the power of NFTs to mobilize our customer base and facilitate franchise growth.”

Behind the ‘tech company’ serving chicken 

Almanzar launched Chick’nCone in 2014 as a family business where his children and community could work. “I grew up in Crowley, Colorado — one of the poorest counties in the US,” explains Almanzar. “Until you Google Crowley County or visit it yourself, you have no idea what this means. I believe the cosmos does a great job of distributing talent equally across the planet, but not such a great job at distributing opportunity equally. We have tried to bridge that gap at Chick’nCone by hiring the majority of our corporate team from Crowley.”

Chick’nCone’s menu is mouthwateringly simple — crispy chicken tenders tossed in savory sauces such as Kick’n Ranch, Yella BBQ, and Cinna-Maple, all served up in hand-rolled waffle cones. That delicious combination is unique in the restaurant space, and is gaining notable recognition. The growing chain has appeared on The Food Network’s The Best Thing I Ever Ate and Carnival Eats. It has also been featured on The Weather Channel, Buzzfeed, and Fox News. Most recently, Chick’nCone was included on the QSR 40/40 List for 2022 as a brand that is poised to be “the next big thing.”

Despite the franchise’s growing popularity, Almanzar isn’t banking on delectable recipes alone. “We are competing with every single franchise concept on the planet,” he remarks. “What differentiates us from the rest is our willingness to take risks by embracing technology and innovation.”

Almanzar first took note of NFTs as the NBA and Top Shots partnered to drop a series of digital tokens with exclusive perks for fans in October 2020. “I couldn’t help but notice the buzz surrounding possibilities for NFTs right now,” he mentions. “I loved the idea of being able to own something existing on the blockchain, and it got my mind working through ways to bring the technology to Chick’nCone.” 

After some hardcore brainstorming, the Chick’nCone team designed a series of digital tokens called Chick’nCoin. Each of the 862 tokens represents a geographic region where a Chick’nCone franchise currently operates, or may soon open. Anyone who holds a Chick’nCoin earns 50% of franchise fees when a Chick’nCone is opened in their region. They also bank 2% of that region’s sales for the first six years.

The current cost of opening a franchise with Chick’nCone is approximately $45,000. Almanzar claims that most regions can accommodate up to five restaurant locations. If the Chick’nCoin represents a region that already has a restaurant in operation, token holders begin receiving 2% of that location’s sales monthly.

Chick’ncoin is available to buy on the restaurant’s website and on OpenSea. The cost of minting a Chick’nCoin amounts to 3.5 ETH, and each mint gives the purchaser a Chick’nCoin representing one randomly selected geographic region. If buyers wish to choose their region specifically, the cost is $19,500. For a 10% royalty, Chick’nCoin holders can sell their tokens on OpenSea’s marketplace at any time.

While hundreds of restaurants closed their doors due to challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, like most in the fast-food category, Chick’nCone opened 26 new locations. 

This concept incorporates all the elements that draw investors and entrepreneurs to the future of an economy on the blockchain. “The project has reengaged us with our community,” says Almanzar. “These NFTs are an unbelievable opportunity. We’re already developing other NFT projects with different types of utility and perks for our customers. We will be releasing more as we get them ready. “

The post Fried Chicken Restaurant Chick’nCone Is the Latest to Tap NFTs appeared first on Grit Daily News.

Much has been written about DAOs, so I won’t retread old ground here.

But for those who haven’t yet dived in, the recent DAO landscape by Cooper Turley offers both an excellent description and an in-depth look at the landscape.

“DAOs are internet communities with a shared cap table and bank account.

Members work together to create, distribute and capture value relative to a shared mission. Ownership shares economic, social and political components, creating best practices for digital coordination.”

I spoke with Olga Vorobyeva, founder at Vox Consulting, international keynote speaker, tech entrepreneur and investor. Her expertise to grow a business has established Vox Consulting as a leader in the blockchain consulting industry for more than seven years, with a deep focus on marketing and business strategies for blockchain, DeFi, and NFT and DAO startups. 

What is impressive about Olga is her dedication to helping tech companies reach the supreme level through PR, Communication, Business Development, Product design, and more. Hackernoon has recognized her as one of the top 16 Most Influential Women in the NFT Movement of 2021. Along with her firm, Olga helped achieve success in dozens of companies and blockchain unicorns, including SwissBorg, Bitfury, Algorand, and multiple Silicon Valley startups. 

Olga shares her expertise with many blockchain startups and has helped launch over ten companies utilizing the DAO governance model. She has genuinely put herself forward in the communications industry, and in our conversation, Olga gave me her insights on why DAOs are here to stay, despite some significant challenges.

A promising start

“While the DAO has been around since 2016, it has started to trend with some impressive success stories in the last two years,” Vorobyeva said. “For example, DeFi’s largest central bank – MakerDAO – has also become vital for decentralized finance. Its DAI stablecoin market cap has skyrocketed from barely $1 billion in January 2021 to almost $9 billion by the end of last year.”

Along with the likes of Decentraland, BitDAO, MolochDAO , Metacartel, and PleasrDAO, there’s a fundamental shift in the way we build and run products, services, and organizations.

However, there are enough warning signs that DAO may not be ready for prime time.

Someone call security, and a cat herder

For one thing, DAO is still very new and untested. There have been a few high-profile hacks of DAO-based projects, which have raised serious questions about security.

In December 2021, the Bitcoin-to-DeFi bridge Badger DAO suffered a $120 million loss after scammers conned Badger DAO members into approving malicious transactions, letting them control users’ vault funds and move funds.

Additionally, since DAO is inherently decentralized, there is no central authority to make decisions or provide oversight. This could lead to DAO-based projects becoming chaotic and unmanageable.

“Projects being run under traditional hierarchical systems, with or without agile methodologies, are chaotic enough,” Vorobyeva said. “Now imagine adding a leaderless structure into that mix. If things are structured properly, it’s not just going to be like herding cats – as project managers like to say – but herding cats on a fleet of speedboats across 24 time zones.”

The cultural conundrum

But while those are valid concerns, comparing how DAOs work with how people interact with both systems and each other highlights issues that may be significantly harder to resolve.

“The biggest issue with DAO projects is that people are not ready for them without a seismic shift in how we interact with systems online,” Vorobyeva said. “Communities tend to progress into coalitions where a few people control the action while most are content to delegate responsibility. You see this on every social media platform. The 90-9-1 rule states that 90% of community members are lurkers who read or observe, but don’t contribute, 9% of community members edit or respond to content but don’t create content of their own, and 1% of community members create new content. If DAO-based projects follow the same rule, they will fail to remain decentralized – the 1% will decide the system’s fate.”

That doesn’t sound very decentralized. When you think of security concerns, chaotic organizational structures, and a culture of delegation rather than production and cooperation, DAOs sound positively archaic.

“If you think back to the early days of YouTube, people could upload absolutely anything,” Vorobyeva said. “YouTube realized that it needed to start governing, regulating, and moderating videos to ensure that minors and adults wouldn’t see things they shouldn’t. And other regulatory bodies put the platform under intense pressure almost from the moment it was created. In 2006 soon after Google acquired it, that pressure expanded to international bodies. For example, the Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers, and Publishers successfully issued DMCA takedown requests for more than 30,000 pieces of content. The current state of DAO projects is similar to those early YouTube days – while shared governance sounds exciting, we have a long way to go before we understand how those in current positions of power, regulation, and influence will react to their growth. Showing DAOs how to listen to their members and utilize mechanics that will make every voice and vote heard, analyzed, and then structured accordingly is essential because it’s the only way to deal with governance, delegation, and consensus. 

The way of the DAO

So what can be done to solve these issues quickly?

“Security issues are the least of my concerns,” Vorobyeva said. “The industry is working tirelessly to improve the situation, and I believe they’ll succeed. We need to focus now on how we build communities and the level and quality of interaction we have with every participant. DAO communities need much more in updates, news, idea inspiration, interaction, and facilitation than I see currently. And while news of DAO projects is common in our industry, it is not regularly discussed in mainstream media. If we’re going to change the way people do things currently, we have to see news of the benefits of DAOs in newspapers, on broadcast media, and non-tech news portals.”

While DAO is undoubtedly an exciting development, it’s not clear if the world is ready for it just yet. And with some significant cultural hurdles in the way of rapid success, it could be decades before they change the way we do things. 

But, if Vorobyeva is correct, there’s a chance to accelerate adoption with a concerted effort and a focus on drastically improving community management and mainstream news coverage.

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One artist who has developed his music and NFT artworks is Ronnie King, who hit #1 on the Billboard Chart 2019 Mass Manipulation /SteelPulse ranking. The multi-talented artist has grown his music and love for NFTs by combining both entities to birth a production that no one has seen before. Ronnie and his company, Ronnie King Group, are currently working on an album, Naughty Don, which he will follow up with the release of some NFTs in the series.

The Basics of NFTs

Non-fungible tokens are digital assets. They can be anything from a virtual asset, like a token in a video game, to a piece of digital art. They are unique and cannot be duplicated. NFTs are assigned to a specific person. When someone owns an NFT, they can trade it, use it, or even destroy it. Because NFTs are digital, they can be stored in a computer or on a blockchain. NFTs are useful because they are unique and cannot be duplicated.

NFTs are very important. They are like digital certificates. NFTs prove that something is real and not fake. They prove that something is unique and that it belongs to you. NFTs are for any digital thing. They can be for songs, pictures, videos, or even tweets. NFTs are important for the future of the internet.

The NFT Marketplace

In March of 2021, artists sold more than $250 million worth of artwork as NFTs on OpenSea and other platforms. As you can see, artists have a huge potential to make money selling NFTs.

Indie Musicians

This opens up a world of possibilities for indie musicians. While it’s certainly possible to make money in the music industry, it’s gotten harder and harder for indie musicians to do so in recent years.

The internet makes it easier to reach audiences worldwide, allowing major streaming services to control how people listen to music and who gets paid. There has been a shift away from record sales to streaming revenues, which have proven difficult for independent artists to generate at scale.

NFTs have several benefits for musicians and fans, some of which exist outside monetary value.

How musicians can use NFTs

Some musicians sell their work as NFTs, giving them more control over their work and getting paid directly by their fans without any transaction fees or middlemen.

The success stories of some artists selling items as NFTs have been very encouraging, showing that this is just the beginning of a revolution in the music industry.

Musicians have started using NFTs in different ways. Some have created merchandise such as autographed art pieces or limited-edition recordings that are only available with an NFT. Others have used it to sell customized artwork with songs attached, while others have sold concert tickets and front row seats as NFTs.

As stated by popular artist Ronnie King, who’s well known for his massive NFT and music collaboration:

“I will always advise you to do your research on many NFT companies before choosing one. It is always great to understand the NFT projects and the concept behind the company. After doing this, your NFTs must be unique and appeal to your audience, especially if you are serious about combining your NFTs and music. Most importantly, ensure that your NFTs are not overpriced so that it will allow the price to grow organically.”

NFTs can help artists take back control over their work

The industry has a long history of artists being taken advantage of by record labels and agents. Others often get rich from music sales while the people who create it struggle to make ends meet. NFTs could change that.

NFTs offer a new revenue stream for composers and performing artists

Musicians’ albums, songs, performances, and other works often sell for profit without the artists ever seeing a dime in royalties. NFTs represent an entirely new way for artists to monetize their work without intermediaries or dealing with traditional publishers.

NFTs offer transparency for buyers, sellers, and artists

Traditional music sales can be complex, with contracts that are difficult to understand and payment systems that are opaque and easy to manipulate.

NFTs offer a solution: A transparent system where everyone involved can see what’s happening. The blockchain technology used in NFT transactions makes it impossible to falsify information or misrepresent goods or services.

NFTs empower fans to support their favorite artists directly

The decentralized nature of NFTs is also useful for establishing direct fan-to-artist relationships. Fans can now support their favorite artists directly without going through any third party or labels. By bypassing these middlemen, musicians get to keep more of their profits.

Potential for Music Sales

Mainstream artists like Kings of Leon and Grimes have already used NFTs to sell music-related collectibles. Unlike with traditional music sales, there’s no limit on how much you can earn from each sale, so the potential is huge.

How NFTs Can be a Game Changer for Indie Musicians

The recent announcement that K-Pop superstars BTS are collaborating with South Korean fashion brand 8Seconds to release an NFT collection is the latest indicator that non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are here to stay.

An NFT is a digital asset that can be used to buy things. A famous singer named Grimes sold a collection of NFTs for $6 million, and another singer named Kings of Leon sold a collection of NFTs for $2 million.

But the use of NFTs is not just for pop music and fashion. This new technology can completely change how indie musicians market themselves and their music.

The NFT market is growing. NFTs are being used to sell music. The music is created on computers. Artists are using NFTs to make their music. NFTs are getting more popular every year.

Sometimes artists get paid for their work. Sometimes they don’t. With NFTs, artists can get paid for their work even if it’s shared or used by someone else.

The future of NFTs in the music industry looks bright!

The post NFTs Are a Game Changer for Indie Musicians appeared first on Grit Daily News.