NFT News: Find the Latest Updates in a Weekly Liveblog for the Metaverse (UPDATED 6:55pm ET)

The world is expanding, and DraftKings is expanding along with it. As NFTs continue to grow, this page will serve as a hub for the latest news and notes in the space.

Every week, we’ll publish a live blog that will be updated as news comes in, so you can stay up to date with a simple page refresh.

In case you are new to the Metaverse, check out Jeff’s quick breakdown on what NFTs are and how they work. Now, let’s get into this week’s news:

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CryptoPunk Goes for $10M — Dec. 10 at 6:55 p.m.

One of the largest NFT sales ever went down today, as CryptoPunk #4156 sold for 2,500 ETH, or $10,0110,700 at the time. Typically, “Punks” sell in the $350,000 to $500,000 range. However, this particular NFT was valued so highly due to its rarity, as one of only 24 ape CryptoPunks in the series and one of four that wear bandanas. This collection has taken over the NFT industry, with high-profile enthusiasts like Gary Vee, Serena Williams and Jay-Z becoming owners. With multiple transactions of over $10 million, the sky is truly the limit for CryptoPunks.

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Crypto to Congress — Dec. 9 at 10:03 a.m.

In a landmark hearing before the House Financial Service Committee on Wednesday, chief executives testified about the pros and cons of cryptocurrencies in the United States moving forward. The hearing, which lasted almost five hours, was called by California Representative Maxine Waters as Congress attempts to gain a better understanding of the Metaverse. As described by Lucky Trader, conversations ranged from potential regulations to financial innovations, with digital assets like NFTs being highlighted throughout the process. Government officials striving to learn more about the potential of crypto could signify an anticipated boom in the industry.

Crypto Twitter had fun following the hearing too.

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Reese Witherspoon Leading the Charge for Women in NFTs — Dec. 7 at 2:20 p.m. ET

According to @bobbyhundreds, women only make up 16% of the NFT market, with twice as many men investing in crypto as women. Academy Award winner Reese Witherspoon is determined to change that. Witherspoon is committed to backing women who have pioneered the NFT space, purchasing items from collections like World of Women. See the NFT enthusiast’s tweet about her support for women in the Metaverse below.

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Ubisoft Announces NFT Campaign — Dec. 7 at 1:51 p.m. ET

Earlier today, Ubisoft announced that it will produce NFTs for its games via Ubisoft Quartz on the Tezos Blockchain. The major entertainment company has produced a multitude of popular franchises, such as Far Cry and Assassin’s Creed. Earning these collectibles won’t be easy, however. The first drop will feature in-game items from Ghost Recon Breakpoint, and users will have to log 600+ hours to qualify for all NFTs. Find more information in the tweet below from Lucky Trader.

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DraftKings x NFLPA to Launch Gamified NFT Collections — Dec. 7 at 10:10 a.m. ET

News broke this morning that a huge NFT x NFL crossover is coming via DraftKings for the 2022-2023 NFL season. The two companies will partner with OneTeam Partners to launch gamified NFT collections that will debut next season on DraftKings Marketplace. This deal gives DraftKings licensing rights for active players, which includes name, image and likeness. It is anticipated that customers will be able to use these NFTs in games against others, which is a huge step towards unifying the Metaverse and sports community. As described by Beth Beiriger, SVP of product operations for DraftKings Marketplace, “the future of fandom is unfolding in front of us.” For more information, check out the official DraftKings announcement on Twitter below.

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Tom Brady Mystery Container Dropping on DraftKings Marketplace — Dec. 6 at 2:55 p.m. ET

DraftKings Marketplace is getting in on the action tomorrow. The Tom Brady Mystery Containers, created by Autograph, will be available for those with Brady Preseason Access Passes. Those with this preferential access will be able to purchase a mystery container starting at 5:00 p.m. ET tomorrow, two days before the public drop. Users can open their mystery container starting on the “Reveal Date”, which is seven days after the start of the Early Access Period. Check out the Autograph Regular Seasons Collection Breakdown for more info.

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What You Missed This Weekend

“The Merge”, a project by @muratpak, exploded this weekend after its initial release on Thursday. These dynamic NFTs accumulate mass over time and are available exclusively on Nifty Gateway. Total sales have surpassed $100 million with over 26,000 unique collectors. As described by the official Nifty Gateway Twitter account, the project “just achieved the largest-ever art sale by a living creator”.

Flower Girls, a 10,000-edition collection created by Varvara Alay, sold out in 30 minutes on Saturday. The portrait-styles NFTs were generated from over 950 hand-drawn elements by Alay, who is determined to give back with his earnings. Twenty percent of primary and secondary sales profits will be donated to a variety of children’s charities. Known NFT enthusiast @garyvee bought in and tweeted in support of the project, further adding to the hype.

The highly-anticipated Bored Ape Yacht Club game “Apes vs. Mutants” has been delayed by Apple. The official BAYC Twitter stated that the game had been approved for Test Flight without any concerns, but it has been pulled from the iOS store without an explanation, nevertheless. Stay tuned for updates on a potential new launch date.

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