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Fidelity Investments expands its offerings by focusing on the metaverse and ETFs

The international investment firm Fidelity Investments has decided to invest in companies from the metaverse. Fidelity Investments has now launched four new exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that would focus on two new products to take advantage of the nascent Web3 space.

ETFs will focus on three broad criteria, namely cryptocurrencies, metaverse and environment, society and governance (ESG).

The Fidelity Metaverse ETF (Ticker FMET) and the Fidelity Crypto Industry and Digital Payments (FDIG) ETF went live on Thursday, April 21.

The Fidelity Crypto Industry and Digital Payments ETF does not provide direct access to cryptocurrencies, but will invest in the companies that support the digital asset industry.

Fidelity Investments will be responsible for building and contributing to the “future state of the Internet”.

Competition in the already crowded metaverse?

Fidelity is entering an already saturated market, where a dozen ETFs are already trading on the market. In addition, there are many companies that have decided to launch “themed” funds for younger generations.

We continue to see demand, particularly from young investors, to access fast-growing industries in the digital ecosystem, and these two themed ETFs offer investors exposure in a family-friendly investment vehicle, said Greg Friedman, Managing Director and Chief ETF Strategy Officer at Fidelity. .

As mentioned above, younger generations have become increasingly familiar with the metaverse.

Along with that, a lot of awareness of where the metaverse could be headed has led the younger generation to explore further.

BlackRock Inc. is one of those companies that has focused on “themed” funds that cater to the younger population.

Fidelity may face stiff competition when it comes to the themed environment, with many companies already operating in the space. However, the size and scale of the company will likely give it an edge over its immediate competitors.

Bloomberg Senior ETF Analyst Eric Balchunas also mentions in his tweet that the investment firm reportedly entered the market at the lowest rate among the other four ETFs tracking the Metaverse.

Fidelity also recently released a Decentraland-based metaverse called the “Fidelity Stack”. This is intended to educate retail investors on the basics of investing.

Related Reading | How Crypto Company Circle Announces $400 Million Backed by Giants BlackRock and Fidelity

Fidelity also intended to launch a Bitcoin Spot ETF

Fidelity continued to push this revolutionary idea to democratize the investments that are ETFs. However, the Securities and Exchange Commission failed to comply.

The US financial regulator has yet to make a decision on this, which is now making the funds launch in other countries with much less difficulty.

For example, Fidelity has just successfully launched the ETF in Canada.

Australia would also receive two Bitcoin Spot ETFs that have been approved for launch in the country.

The asset manager continues to prepare to launch the Cosmos Purpose Bitcoin Access ETF, which refers to investing in the Canadian Purpose Bitcoin ETF.

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Crypto Giant Coinbase Makes Interactive Trilogy With NFT Collection Bored Ape Yacht Club

Coinbase, the major US-based cryptocurrency exchange, says it is making a three-part movie series featuring the Bored Ape Yacht Club non-fungible token (NFT) community.

In a new tweet, the cryptocurrency exchange says that members of the NFT-based community can help create the trilogy by submitting their Bored Apes to the cast.

According to Bored Ape Yacht Club, only monkeys will appear in the first part of the film.

“We are happy that Coinbase is making a series of movies with the Bored Ape Yacht Club community. Bored NFT APE holders, send your monkey to pitch. Mutants, don’t worry, this is the first film in a trilogy and you will have your own casting for the second part.”

Coinbase also reveals that owners of successfully launched monkeys will receive thousands of dollars worth of ApeCoin (APE) or Bitcoin (BTC).

“Compensation for the chosen monkey holders, worth $10,000 in ApeCoin or Bitcoin, will be deposited into their Coinbase account.

The license will be registered on the chain and will continue with the monkey in the secondary market. However, the fee will be a one-time payment to the original licensee (the owner who sent the monkey into the film).”

Coinbase says that any profit made from the films would be donated to charity.

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NFL’s First Crypto Partnership: Dallas Cowboys Partner with Blockchain.com

The Dallas Cowboys strike the first cryptocurrency deal in NFL history with Blockchain.com, becoming the team’s “exclusive digital asset partner”.

Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, and Peter Smith, CEO and co-founder of Blockchain.Com, emphasized the implementation of cooperation, which could lead to Blockchain.com being an “exclusive digital asset partner”.

Related Reading | Crypto.com is the official sponsor of the 2022 FIFA World Cup

Blockchain.com will be able to take advantage of promotional and branding opportunities and develop a space at AT&T Stadium with social and digital integration rights and access to radio, television and digital as a result of this commercial agreement.

In his statement, Jones said;

When you get the chance to really dive into the kind of future you have in the digital world, I wanted the Dallas Cowboys to be a part of that future in every way possible.

Blockchain.com is one of the oldest and most trusted digital asset platforms in the world. According to Jones, “they are bringing Wall Street to Main Street, making digital assets available to anyone, anywhere in the world.”

Since its inception in 2011, Blockchain.com has grown to host over 80 million customers in 200 countries with $1.2 trillion in digital transactions.

The Cowboys Are Making Big Business With Blockchain.com

Minutes of the Cowboys collaboration also include Blockchain.com, a digital exchange that would provide exclusive benefits such as fan experience and prizes. In addition, events held by players, video games and VIP trips are some of the rewards of the promotion.

According to Smith, Blockchain.com preferred the Cowboys because of their excellent experience in sports brands.

In a statement, Smith noted;

Having grown up in rural America, where football is deeply rooted in culture, I am incredibly honored to join forces with the world's most valuable sports franchise and the Jones family, who have dedicated their lives to building a world-class franchise.

The Dallas Cowboys are one of the most valuable sports franchises in terms of a $6.5 billion valuation. Additionally, Jones pioneered corporate sponsorships tied to his team, making them an excellent choice for selecting a shipping brand.

Bitcoin Trying to Hold $40,000 Support Level Down 1.72% | Source: Tradingview.com BTC/USD chart

Sports fans are a sensitive audience for digital currency, and cryptocurrency companies are becoming major sports advertisers and sponsors. For example, the Super Bowl garnered 101 million viewers in the United States and included promotions on five cryptocurrency exchanges.

Related Reading | Denver Broncos: These Crypto Fans Are Rushing To Get $4 Billion To Own The NFL Team

The purchase of the naming rights to the former Staples Center in Los Angeles, the King Hockey team, the Lakers and Clippers basketball teams and the Sparks women’s basketball team last year was Crypto.com’s biggest deal. According to Los Angeles Times reports in November, a Singapore-based cryptocurrency exchange paid over $700 million for twenty-year naming rights.

Last month, Crypto.com was named a unique digital currency trading platform during the FIFA World Cup, which is believed to be the biggest nomination deal in the history of the sport.

In October, the NBA signed its first sponsorship deal with Coinbase.com.

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MasterCard to incubate NFT-focused startups bitsCrunch through its “Start Path” startup engagement program

bitsCrunch, the India and Germany-based blockchain analytics company that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to secure and secure the NFT ecosystem, has revealed that it has been selected to participate in the pledge program. MasterCard called The MasterCard Home Path.

Designed to help post-escalation startups, the Start Path Program offers an extended suite of products that help startups reach a global consumer base. With MasterCard rapidly expanding into the cryptocurrency ecosystem, the Start Path program focuses beyond payment solutions, covering diverse areas such as fintech, blockchain, e-commerce, AI, fraud prevention, financial inclusion and more.

In the Start Path program, all selected projects gain full access to MasterCard’s ready-to-integrate fintech APIs, tools and solutions, as well as the opportunity to present their ideas to MasterCard’s global network of consumers, merchants and partners.

According to Vijay Pravin Maharajan, CEO of bitsCrunch, “With advanced technology tools, an incredible team and industry experience, bitsCrunch ensures consistent quality and security in digital asset startups. Collaborating with MasterCard Start Path helps us provide best-in-class solutions for emerging customers in the cryptocurrency industry and transform business landscapes. In addition, we are pleased that bitsCrunch will be joining the MasterCard Start Path program soon.”

BitCrunch’s main goals align with MasterCard’s goals of fraud prevention, financial inclusion and several other areas. BitCrunch currently offers a wide range of products, each designed to address the persistent challenges of the NFT ecosystem, including laundering trading, counterfeiting, and inefficient asset valuation, among others. By leveraging MasterCard’s infrastructure and global reach, bitsCrunch will be able to further expand its presence in the mainstream economy.

At the same time, MasterCard can leverage bitsCrunch to give its users direct access to the NFT ecosystem. The platform’s range of products will help non-crypto MasterCard users easily find, value and invest in NFTs and other digital assets. Using bitsCrunch’s trio of NFT security services (Scour, Liquify and Crunch DaVinci) along with its fast, accurate and reliable analytics services, MasterCard can ensure its global customers can make well-informed business decisions across a wide range of asset.

bitsCrunch analytics products and services run on some of today’s top blockchain ecosystems, including Ethereum, Avalanche, Polkadot, and Polygon. The platform recently raised $3.6 million from leading investment firms like Polygon Studios, Coinbase Ventures, Crypto.com Capital, Spark Digital, Bison Funds and Gravity X, to name a few. According to the bitsCrunch team’s tweet, these funds will help secure a presence on other prominent blockchains like Algorand, Solana, and others.

Emphasizing the need for credibility for widespread adoption of digital assets, a spokesperson for the MasterCard Start Path Program team notes, “With MasterCard, startups around the world can build platforms on open banking, predictive finance models for small businesses, more. Partnering with bitsCrunch allows companies to access MasterCard’s global ecosystem and reach new audiences through MasterCard customers. The collaboration will provide safe and secure transactions, which will increase brand credibility.”

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Japan Central Bank Wants Urgent Crypto Regulation, Warns Global Settlement System Could Be Overthrown

A senior Bank of Japan (BoJ) official said the group of 7 nations urgently needs a common framework to regulate cryptocurrencies before they “destroy” the global settlement system.

One of the main reasons given for this was the possibility that Russia used cryptocurrencies to avoid the sanctions that were imposed on it after the invasion of Ukraine.

According to a Reuters report, the BoJ believes that the cryptocurrency is under the spotlight due to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and that a loophole could be created that would allow Russia to avoid international sanctions by using it.

In fact, Kazushige Kamiyama, head of the BOJ’s Payment and Settlement Systems Department, says it would not be difficult to create an individual global settlement system using stablecoins, which could include the yen, the US dollar or the euro.

Kamiyama urges the group of seven advanced economies to move quickly to update current rules that will take digital currencies into account. kamiyama said:

“The G7 nations are now working together on this front, while sharing information on current developments,”

However, Kamiyama’s comments run counter to expert opinion on Russia’s ability to use cryptocurrencies with any degree of success. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) stated that the use of cryptocurrencies by the Russian government was “not necessarily practicable.”

It can probably be said that the BoJ is much more interested in designing and rolling out its own central bank digital currency (CBDC). Any development in crypto regulation could have knock-on effects for a central bank digital yen.

Kamiyama noted that the BoJ was keen to keep up with developments and did not want to be left behind.

“Given the number of advanced nation central banks collectively, dramatically and simultaneously moving into CBDC, this could cause major changes to the settlement system in the future,” he said. “Japan needs to make sure it’s not left behind.”