The latest developments in the realms of NFTs and the metaverse feature Letsmint’s crowdfunding initiative for Non-Fungible Tokens, Carrefour’s foray into The Sandbox, and Atari’s historical venture into NFTs. Additionally, Pinterest is embracing Augmented Reality (AR) for furniture placement, while Meta is preparing to launch new 3D avatars on Instagram.
NFTs and Crowdfunding: Letsmint’s Initiative for Non-Fungible Tokens
Letsmint is a crowdfunding platform designed to equip artists with the necessary resources to finance their NFT collections, allowing them to concentrate on their creative work while also providing advantages to their supporters. The platform delivers a comprehensive suite of services that encompass financial support, marketing strategies, and technical assistance, including the development of smart contracts and dedicated landing pages for collections. Co-founder Darina Lysachkina articulated the various phases of Letsmint’s approach, accompanying the announcement with a promotional giveaway: the fifth fortunate member from the Product Hunter community to register or provide feedback will receive a mintpass for a random Letsmint collection.
Carrefour Group’s Entrance into the Metaverse with The Sandbox
The Carrefour Group, a major player in the French retail market, has made its debut in the metaverse by entering The Sandbox (SAND), a leading blockchain-based virtual world. This was confirmed through a tweet by Alexandre Bompard, the company’s Chairman and CEO, who expressed enthusiasm for the company’s initial steps into this digital frontier, emphasizing that innovation is central to Carrefour’s business model. Carrefour has acquired lot 33,147 within The Sandbox, an area reportedly equivalent to 30 supermarkets in the metaverse. Further details regarding their plans remain undisclosed, although Carrefour has previously employed blockchain technology for tracking various food products.
Atari’s Launch of Non-Fungible Tokens
The iconic video game company Atari is also stepping into the NFT space, unveiling a collection of blockchain-certified digital assets coinciding with its 50th anniversary. Founded in 1972, Atari’s new NFT series, dubbed “GFT” (short for gift), is developed in collaboration with Republic Realm, a prominent entity in the NFT industry. The collection is accessible on OpenSea, with Republic Realm previously offering a whitelist for a 10% discount.
Pinterest’s AR Furniture Features and Meta’s New 3D Avatars on Instagram
The rising consumer interest in immersive online interactions has prompted social media giants to enhance their offerings. Pinterest has launched a feature called “Try On for Home Decor,” utilizing Augmented Reality (AR) technology that allows users to visualize products from various US retailers, including Crate & Barrel and Walmart, within their own living spaces using the Pinterest Lens camera. This AR home decor experience is now available on over 80,000 purchasable Pins, while a beauty-related experience can be found on 14,000 purchasable Pins. Meanwhile, Meta, led by Mark Zuckerberg, has announced the rollout of its updated 3D avatars across Facebook, Messenger, and for the first time, Instagram Stories and DMs. The update allows users in the United States, Canada, and Mexico to represent themselves virtually through stickers, feed posts, and profile pictures. In a unique collaboration with the NFL, Meta is also enabling fans to customize their avatars to support their favorite teams during the Super Bowl LVI.
