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Brock Pierce's Presidential Campaign Enlists Akon as Chief Strategist

Crypto entrepreneur and world-famous R&B and hip-hop singer Akon has announced that he will be endorsing Brock Pierce’s presidential election campaign and joining the crypto venture capitalist’s campaign team.

The Grammy-nominated artist is enthusiastic about this new partnership and will be serving as the chief strategist for Pierce’s campaign this election year. US Presidential election day is to be held on Tuesday, November 3 this year.

Brock Pierce for President

Brock Pierce’s announcement to run for president means big things for the crypto industry, as the former child star is a prominent influence in the world of technology and cryptocurrency. Being a huge entrepreneur himself, Brock Pierce has a track record of building companies up from scratch. In 2018, the former actor of Disney film “The Mighty Ducks” even made it onto Forbes list for wealthiest crypto investors in the world. According to a report by J.D. Durkin, the Bitcoin (BTC) billionaire disclosed his intentions behind running for president, during his campaign announcement:

“Entrepreneurs are essential to the rebuilding of this nation that we love, and I’m running in this race because I know that together we can help build a pathway towards the rebirth of the America we love so much.”

Brittany Kaiser, known for being the official whistleblower behind the Cambridge Analytica scandal of Facebook that erupted and helped the Trump campaign in 2016, touted Brock Pierce’s horn and said that it was “a breath of fresh air to have someone who has spent their life really understanding technology” running for President of the United States. A strong blockchain advocate, Kaiser vouched for Pierce and said that the crypto entrepreneur not only understood how to improve systems to make them more effective, but he also had a unique vision for creating a more inclusive, wholesome political platform.

Crypto Entrepreneur Akon to Build Akon City

Both Brock Pierce and Akon are happy to be collaborating for the crypto venture capitalist’s Presidential election run.

Akon, a huge crypto entrepreneur himself who is currently working on a massive crypto project in Senegal, seems to be the perfect chief strategist for Pierce, as they both have similar visions for crypto’s future. The Grammy-nominated singer and crypto philanthropist has been actively building a futuristic crypto city in Senegal. The crypto-run city, dubbed “Akon City” is to run on its full-fledged official cryptocurrency Akoin, as per the whitepaper released by Akon. Akon City will include a mall, a complex, a police station, residential units, hotels, a police station, a hospital campus, and more.

‘I Have a Dream’ – Akon and Brock Pierce

The addition of Akon to Pierce’s presidential campaign run may mean huge things for the cryptocurrency industry, as the spotlight will most definitely shine on digital assets and the benefits of blockchain for the advancement of world economy.

In speaking about his newly appointed position as chief strategist for Brock Pierce, Akon affirmed that Brock Pierce is a “real people’s person and he doesn’t operate between party lines.” He also said that both Pierce and he had the “same dream of pushing America forward for everyone without showing favoritism to one particular base.”

Polygon Selected for Joining Disney's Accelerator Program

Polygon becomes the only blockchain network selected to join Disney’s accelerator program, aiming to help the development of web 3.0.

Six companies in total were selected to join The Disney 2022 accelerator program. The program will focus on augmented reality (AR), non-fungible tokens (NFT), and artificial intelligence (AI).

In the same development of Web3 technology, there are two companies. A company called Flickplay- is a Web3 social app that enables users to discover NFTs tied to real-world locations with another Web3 platform called Lockerverse.

Three other companies selected include 3D e-commerce platform Obsess and AI-driven interactive avatar creation company Inworld and AR company Red 6,

All selected companies will receive mentorship from the Disney team and a dedicated executive mentor.

Polygon, a decentralised Ethereum scaling network to simplify supply chain operations. The ecosystem provides scalable, secure, and instant Ethereum transactions designed to use Plasma side chains and a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) network to solve the pain points of slow block confirmation and high gas fees.

Thanks to the latest partnership, Polygon’s native token MATIC has gained 15.37% in the past 24 hours, according to Coinmarketcap.

At the time of writing, MATIC was trading at $0.6368 with a market cap of $5,073,435,660 – currently the 16th largest cryptocurrency.

Three days ago, over 48 projects that used to run on the Terra blockchain were jointly migrated to the Polygon ecosystem, including the well-known Lunaverse (LUV) Metaverse platform, OnePlanet NFT marketplace, and Derby Stars play-to-earn (P2E) games.

Disney's new CEO Bob Iger and crypto

A believer in the Metaverse’s promise. Bob Iger has startled the business community by stating that he would immediately resume his prior position as Disney’s CEO. Iger will succeed Bob Chapek, who has already submitted his retirement from his position.

Iger gained the most of his renown during his 15-year tenure as CEO of the international entertainment giant, which is perhaps his most notable accomplishment. However, the Disney executive rose to prominence in the cryptocurrency industry after joining Genies as a director, consultant, and investor. Genies is a blockchain technology development company. The Genies platform is a digital avatar system that is powered by Dapper Labs’ Flow blockchain.

Iger remarked that he was “thrilled to be joining the Genies Board of Directors” to help Akash Nigam and his colleagues in their aim to “empower individuals to construct the mobile apps of Web3: avatar ecosystems.” This was done in order to further the objective of “enabling anybody to create mobile apps for Web3.”

When Disney submitted its metaverse patent application on December 28, Iger was still serving as CEO and chairman of the board.

The patent was for a “virtual-world simulator in a real-world venue,” and according to the application, it would allow attendees at Disney theme parks to build and project personalised 3D effects onto adjacent actual locations, such as walls and other objects, using their mobile phones. The patent was for a “virtual world simulator in a real-world setting,” thus this would be doable. This objective might be accomplished using a technology known as a “virtual world simulator in a real-world situation.”

Disney said at the time that there were “no present intentions” to use the “virtual-world simulator” patent into any of its products. Moreover, the corporation has not yet announced any items related with the patent.

According to reports, Iger’s return to Disney will be brief, and he has only committed to staying in his capacity as Disney’s CEO for the next two years. This information was collected from The Hollywood Reporter.

It has been reported that during his new tenure as CEO, Iger would seek to choose a successor and work with the board of directors to determine the company’s strategic future.

Despite his absence during the course of the year, Disney has maintained its attempts to develop initiatives involving the metaverse, nonfungible tokens (NFTs), and blockchain technology. The completion of these endeavours is planned.

Disney began searching for a senior counsel in September in order to work on transactions involving non-fungible tokens (NFTs), the metaverse, blockchain technology, and decentralised finance. Disney is actively doing research on all of these subjects (DeFi).

They are looking for a specialised professional to give “complete product life cycle legal advise and assistance for global NFT goods” and to guarantee that the products in question conform with all applicable laws and regulations inside the United States and internationally.

Steamboat Willie Enters Public Domain, Inspires NFT and Meme Coin Craze

As the calendar turned to 2024, a significant event in the world of digital art and copyright law occurred. The original version of Mickey Mouse, as seen in the 1928 short film “Steamboat Willie,” officially entered the public domain. This development marked the end of the Walt Disney Company’s copyright claim over this specific version of one of the most iconic characters in animation history. The United States law restricts copyright to a lifespan of 95 years, bringing Steamboat Willie into the public domain after nearly a century.

The Rise of Steamboat Willie NFTs

Following this event, a remarkable surge in the popularity of nonfungible tokens (NFTs) related to Steamboat Willie was observed. Three specific NFT collections, namely “Steamboat Willie Public Domain 2024,” “Steamboat Willie,” and “Steamboat Willie’s Riverboat,” quickly ascended to the top spots on OpenSea’s 24-hour trending list. The “Steamboat Willie Public Domain 2024” collection garnered significant attention, achieving around $1.2 million in trading volume and securing the number one position. Furthermore, this collection also ranked sixth on OpenSea’s 24-hour top charts, a notable achievement considering the presence of other popular collections like the Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) and Pudgy Penguins.

Disney’s Response

Disney, in response to the expiration of the copyright for Steamboat Willie, emphasized that modern interpretations of Mickey Mouse remain protected under copyright law. A spokesperson for Disney highlighted their commitment to safeguarding their rights in these modern versions and warned against potential consumer confusion due to unauthorized uses of the character.

Mickey Mouse Meme Coins

The entry of Steamboat Willie into the public domain not only sparked a trend in NFTs but also led to the creation of meme coins featuring the character. Crypto enthusiasts swiftly capitalized on this development, minting digital tokens and meme coins to commemorate the occasion. This movement represents a significant shift in the digital representation of cultural icons, as these tokens and coins symbolize a new chapter in the digital art world. Additionally, a dedicated website for “Mickey Token” was launched, offering crypto products related to this famed Disney icon.

OpenSea: A Glimpse into January 2024's NFT Landscape

The realm of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) continues to evolve with OpenSea at its forefront. The latest weekly digest from OpenSea for January 2024 provides a fascinating glimpse into the current trends, notable collections, and significant events shaping the NFT space.

Highlighting Key NFT Collections

One of the standout mentions in OpenSea’s January digest is the ‘Vibes’ collection. This collection, emphasized for its artistic value rather than utility, captivates with various elements like collection size, pricing, rarity, and an allowlist, catering to art enthusiasts and collectors alike.

Another noteworthy mention is Dmitri Cherniak’s tease of a physical ‘Ringers’ sculpture. Known for the digital ‘Ringers’ collection, characterized by its algorithmic creation of string and peg patterns, the prospect of physical sculptures represents an exciting crossover from digital to physical art forms, further blurring the lines between traditional and web3 art spaces.

Disney’s Steamboat Willie Enters the NFT Space

A significant event in the NFT domain is the entry of Disney’s 1928 classic, ‘Steamboat Willie,’ into the public domain. This transition sparked a surge in creative NFT interpretations, with various artists and creators like Beeple and calligraphy artist Sarah Script offering their unique takes on the iconic character. The entry of such a historic piece into the NFT world exemplifies the merging of legacy media with modern digital assets, offering a unique ownership opportunity to collectors and enthusiasts.

The Fabricant’s AI-Driven Digital Fashion

The Fabricant, a digital fashion house, reissued its ‘Deep’ collection using advanced AI technology. Originally launched in 2017, the collection now showcases new styles by designer Amber Jae Slooten. This reissue demonstrates the potential of AI in revolutionizing digital fashion, offering hyper-realistic designs available for virtual try-on and purchase.

It reflects the growing trend of combining traditional fashion with cutting-edge technology, appealing to a new generation of digital consumers.

OpenSea’s Ongoing Influence and Innovations

OpenSea continues to play a pivotal role in the NFT marketplace, as evidenced by its diverse collections and the significant attention it garners from the digital asset community. The platform’s ability to showcase a wide range of NFTs, from digital art to fashion and iconic media pieces, underscores its versatility and influence in the space.

Moreover, OpenSea’s commitment to improving user experience and embracing new technologies keeps it at the forefront of the NFT market. As the platform evolves, it consistently offers both creators and collectors novel opportunities to engage with digital assets in meaningful and innovative ways.

Looking Forward

The developments highlighted in OpenSea’s January 2024 digest suggest a vibrant and dynamic future for NFTs. From the convergence of digital and physical art to the integration of AI in fashion, these trends indicate a broadening scope for NFTs beyond mere collectibles. As the year progresses, the NFT space is poised to witness further innovations and collaborations that could redefine the boundaries of art, technology, and digital ownership.