Web3 avec Anouk: Jan. 9–13, 2023
This post is written by Anouk Marin, Communications Assistant at Ditto PR, and a passionate Web3 and crypto enthusiast. Check back in every Friday for her take on the crypto news of the week!
Welcome to “Web3 avec Anouk.” I’m Anouk, a crypto enthusiast with a huge passion for the world of Web3, which I’ve been following closely since 2019. I’m excited to share my opinion on the latest developments in the space with you!
A Billionaire’s feud
Cameron Winklevoss and Barry Silbert are still going at it. On Tuesday, Winklevoss issued an open letter on Twitter calling for Silbert’s removal from Digital Currency Group’s board. Winklevoss stated that Silbert “defrauded” Gemini users and lied about the financial health of the company. Meanwhile, Silbert and Digital Currency Group fired back, calling Winklevoss’ claim a “desperate and unconstructive publicity stunt” and a strategy to “deflect” his involvement.
Who is telling the truth? Does it even really matter for now? The public display of the feud considerably increased the stakes of it all. Winklevoss is now under the SEC’s scrutiny and it’s only a matter of time until Gemini’s users get to know the truth.
What’s next for NFTs in 2023?
The NFT market isn’t dead, and — surprisingly — 2022 sales volume was almost on par with the market’s peak in 2021. As we usher into 2023, the NFT world has exciting innovations to offer: One is NFT ticketing and Proof of Attendance Protocol (POAP) — an effective way to show that you attended an event. More than just collectibles, POAPs offer founders and organizers a way to keep track of their biggest fans.
We can also count on gaming to keep the NFT market afloat in 2023: in 2022, players increasingly used NFT technology to own and trade in-game items.
The crypto market is still holding on.
Bitcoin reached $19,000 on Thursday, marking its highest level in 2 months! ETH also followed the same upward trend, hitting a peak of $1,427 on the same day. Ether’s price has risen 20% since the beginning of the year, following the anticipation of the next ‘Shanghai’ hard fork which is expected to go live in March. With this update, users will be able to unstake their ETH stored in ETH 2.0 smart contract, which could drive liquid staking opportunities.
The FTX debacle may have impacted the Web3 world, but the two main cryptocurrencies are still holding strong — showing signs of consistency and stability.
Check in next Friday for the next edition of this new weekly quick take on Web3, crypto and blockchain discussing the week ahead!
