Olympic(OLMP)

Soccer has the World Cup. Athletics and many other sports have the Olympics. Crypto has the halving. The milestone in the blockchain's 15-year history technically means a cut in rewards for crypto miners with each block – a feature designed to minimize inflation.

Coca-Cola has launched its new exclusive NFT collection on Coinbase’s Layer-2 network during the “Onchain Summer” festival. Coca-Cola’s Masterpiece Campaign On Sunday, August 13, one of the most recognizable consumer brands in the world, Coca-Cola, revealed its new non-fungible tokens (NFT) collection on Coinbase’s Layer-2 blockchain called “Base”. The collection is a part of Coca-Cola's global “Masterpiece” campaign which was partially created by the brand’s AI platform known as “Real Magic”. “‘Masterpiece’ is not a story in which Coke appears… Coke is the story,” commented Pratik Thakar, Global Head of Creative Strategy and Integrated Content for Coca‑Cola. “True to the spirit of the brand—and not unlike the way a synchronized supply chain collaborates to seamlessly deliver ice-cold Coca‑Cola to consumers at just the right time—a diverse collection of artwork spanning multiple genres, geographies and generations comes together to uplift a slumping teenager. Creating human connection and bringing enchantment to everyday moments is what ‘Real Magic’ is all about.” The Masterpiece NFT collection showcases the artwork featured in the brand’s campaign, including Andy Warhol’s iconic 1962 Coca‑Cola painting, classical pieces of timeless artists such as Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” and Johannes Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring,”, as well as works of emerging artists such as Aket, Fatma Ramadan, and Vikram Kushwah. Coinbase’s Onchain Summer Coca-Cola’s new NFT collection has been offered for a limited time and presented as a part of the Coinbase’s Onchain Summer event: “@CocaCola is bringing their Global Masterpiece campaign onchain with iconic works from leading artists,” Coinbase announced on X, formerly known as Twitter. Onchain Summer is Coinbase's month-long celebration of its Layer-2 Blochcian Base which became available to the general public on August 9. Each day, the festival offers numerous onchain mints, stories, and activities related to art, culture, music, gaming, and more. Coca-Cola is undoubtedly the most recognizable brand presented on the list of Base’s partners so far. Coca-Cola and NFTs This is not the first time the world-renowned soft drinks brand has ventured into the NFT space. Back in 2021, Coca-Cola auctioned off exclusive NFT collectibles with the aim of raising funds for Special Olympics International. At that time, the first Coca-Cola’s NFT loot box was sold as a single asset for over $575,000. Coca-Cola’s engagement with NFTs is meaningful for the whole cryptocurrency industry. As one of the largest global consumer brands, Coca-Cola could introduce many of its customers to the world of digital art and Web3. Besides, the beverage giant will likely play a big role in promoting Coinbase’s Layer-2 network Base. Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

Coca-Cola has launched its new exclusive NFT collection on Coinbase’s Layer-2 network during the “Onchain Summer” festival. Coca-Cola’s Masterpiece Campaign On Sunday, August 13, one of the most recognizable consumer brands in the world, Coca-Cola, revealed its new non-fungible tokens (NFT) collection on Coinbase’s Layer-2 blockchain called “Base”. The collection is a part of Coca-Cola's global “Masterpiece” campaign which was partially created by the brand’s AI platform known as “Real Magic”. “‘Masterpiece’ is not a story in which Coke appears… Coke is the story,” commented Pratik Thakar, Global Head of Creative Strategy and Integrated Content for Coca‑Cola. “True to the spirit of the brand—and not unlike the way a synchronized supply chain collaborates to seamlessly deliver ice-cold Coca‑Cola to consumers at just the right time—a diverse collection of artwork spanning multiple genres, geographies and generations comes together to uplift a slumping teenager. Creating human connection and bringing enchantment to everyday moments is what ‘Real Magic’ is all about.” The Masterpiece NFT collection showcases the artwork featured in the brand’s campaign, including Andy Warhol’s iconic 1962 Coca‑Cola painting, classical pieces of timeless artists such as Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” and Johannes Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring,”, as well as works of emerging artists such as Aket, Fatma Ramadan, and Vikram Kushwah. Coinbase’s Onchain Summer Coca-Cola’s new NFT collection has been offered for a limited time and presented as a part of the Coinbase’s Onchain Summer event: “@CocaCola is bringing their Global Masterpiece campaign onchain with iconic works from leading artists,” Coinbase announced on X, formerly known as Twitter. Onchain Summer is Coinbase's month-long celebration of its Layer-2 Blochcian Base which became available to the general public on August 9. Each day, the festival offers numerous onchain mints, stories, and activities related to art, culture, music, gaming, and more. Coca-Cola is undoubtedly the most recognizable brand presented on the list of Base’s partners so far. Coca-Cola and NFTs This is not the first time the world-renowned soft drinks brand has ventured into the NFT space. Back in 2021, Coca-Cola auctioned off exclusive NFT collectibles with the aim of raising funds for Special Olympics International. At that time, the first Coca-Cola’s NFT loot box was sold as a single asset for over $575,000. Coca-Cola’s engagement with NFTs is meaningful for the whole cryptocurrency industry. As one of the largest global consumer brands, Coca-Cola could introduce many of its customers to the world of digital art and Web3. Besides, the beverage giant will likely play a big role in promoting Coinbase’s Layer-2 network Base. Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

Six members of the United States Congress have called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to investigate crypto firm Prometheum. The members have alleged that the firm has close ties with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Republicans Step Up Attack On Prometheum The Republican members of Congress stated that the firm’s co-CEO, Aaron Kaplan, may have potentially given false testimony during a Jun. 13 hearing on regulatory clarity in the crypto space. They also alleged that the company may have violated securities laws. The lawmakers stated in a letter written on Jul. 10, stating, “We write to express great concern that Prometheum Inc. (Prometheum) may have provided false testimony to Congress or violated United States securities laws.” The lawmakers further claimed that Prometheum was connected with investors that had close ties with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the Shanghai Wanxiang Blockchain and HashKey Digital Asset Group. The group of lawmakers, led by Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville, called on Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler and Attorney General Merrick Garland to look into the matter. Apart from Tuberville, the letter was signed by Laine Luetkemeyer, R-Miss., Barry Loudermilk, R-Ga., Ralph Norman, R-S.C., Byron Donalds, R-Flor., and Mark Alford, R-Missouri. What Did Kaplan Say? On Jun. 13, Kaplan, the co-founder, and co-CEO of Prometheum, appeared before the US House to discuss regulatory clarity in the crypto space. During the hearing, Kaplan had argued that multiple frameworks put out by the Securities and Exchange Commission had laid out a clear path for crypto firms operating in the United States. Kaplan went so far as to call the Securities and Exchange Commission “the most capable financial markets regulatory agency in the world.” However, what caught the attention of Republican lawmakers were allegations that the company had links with the Chinese Communist Party. Tuberville alleged that Kaplan, during his testimony, had said that Prometheum was developed independently of Wanxiang and HashKey. Kaplan stated in his testimony, "In December 2018, as part of the investment from Hashkey into Prometheum, Prometheum, and Wanxiang agreed to jointly develop a blockchain trading system. Thereafter, in approximately one (1) year, it became clear to Prometheum that joint development was not viable. Upon such realization, Prometheum started to independently develop its own platform. All servers, code, data, and proprietary technology were created independently of Wanxiang and its affiliates. Prometheum does not use any resource, code, or other assets from Wanxiang or its affiliates in any of its systems." According to Kaplan, Prometheum terminated all strategic relationships with Shanghai Wanxiang Blockchain in October 2021. “Prometheum formally terminated all co-development work and strategic relationships with Shanghai Wanxiang Blockchain and its affiliates in October 2021 in an Omnibus Agreement, which was filed with the SEC in November 2021.” However, lawmakers alleged that this contradicted the information that the firm had provided in filings with the SEC, stating that Prometheum still relied on the HashKey partnership, as shown by the SEC filings from 2020-2021. Furthermore, they questioned why Prometheum did not make clear in the filings that the company was developing its own technology platform, entirely independent of its Chinese partners. The senators have yet to give the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice a deadline to respond but have said they hope to hear from them soon. Prometheum Responds While Kaplan has not commented on the developments so far, a Jun. 23 op-ed by Kaplan and co-CEO Benjamin Kaplan has claimed that Tuberville’s concerns regarding Prometheum and its alleged ties to China were without merit and relied on old information. “We formally terminated all co-development work and strategic relationships with Wanxiang and its affiliates on Oct. 21, 2021. Prometheum has severed all intellectual property and technology ties to Wanxiang, giving it and its affiliates no access to any information that could expose the U.S. or its citizens to risk.” Concerns About China Republican lawyers have consistently raised concerns about companies having ties with China-based entities or its government when it came to laws and regulations regarding digital assets. Minnesota Rep Tom Emmer and Former Senator Pat Toomey had issued warnings about the use of China’s Digital Yuan during the Beijing Winter Olympics. The current letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice comes a month after Tuberville brought forward a bill to ban companies from China from acquiring a stake in American digital asset companies. The bill was co-sponsored by Sen. Kristen Gillibrand, D-N.Y. Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

In a new global ad campaign, OKX appears to take a shot at Coinbase's earlier message, suggesting that the financial system needs more than just an update. OKX's campaign advocates for a complete rewrite of the system, while the crypto exchange's rival, Coinbase, had previously called for an update. The ad appears to highlight the difference in vision between the two crypto firms. OKX's 60-second video campaign, launched on May 9, tackles the issue of the centralized financial system's "broken ways." Although the video doesn't directly mention Coinbase, its tagline, "the system doesn't need an update; it needs a rewrite," could be interpreted as a subtle dig at the rival exchange. This comes just two months after Coinbase's campaign, "It's time to update the system," which emphasized the need for improvements within the traditional financial system. In collaboration with BBDO New York, OKX's creative agency of record, the campaihgn aims to expand the company's existing Web3 user base and its growing ecosystem. This includes the OKX Wallet, decentralized exchange (DEX), NFT Marketplace, Web3 Earn, and more. The campaign is being distributed globally via digital, print, and out-of-home formats. Coinbase's earlier campaign pointed out that American financial institutions, despite being an essential part of the traditional finance system, still rely on outdated technology to serve their customers. Coinbase argued that cryptocurrency could provide the solution to this problem. In a tweet from March 8, 2023, Coinbase stated: "American financial institutions are an essential part of the traditional finance system, but they rely on outdated technology invented before the internet that isn't serving them or their customers. Crypto can help." OKX's campaign, however, seems to go beyond Coinbase's suggestion for an update, emphasizing the decentralized nature of Web3. OKX argues that consumers should no longer need to be involved with centralized players at all. Haider Rafique, chief marketing officer of OKX, shared his thoughts on the matter in a statement: "There are two camps of thoughts. One side suggests we update existing systems to create a better world. The other believes we need a system rewrite. Our new campaign is a nod to those who believe we need to re-write the system into Web3.” The campaign follows last year's "What is OKX" global initiative, which introduced the new OKX brand to global audiences alongside Manchester City F.C. manager Pep Guardiola, Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo, and Olympic medalist Scotty James. "We envision a world where we all have more control, mobility and various ways to trade our assets. A world where software allows us to be our own bank, to be interoperable and to trade without any intermediaries. We are here to contribute to building this future," Rafique shares. The contrasting visions between OKX and Coinbase, as evidenced by their ad campaigns, highlight the ongoing debate in the crypto industry about the best way forward. While some argue for updating the existing finanncial system, others like OKX believe in a more radical approach of rewriting the system entirely, embracing the decentralized nature of Web3. Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

The country of Romania has made its first Web3 move with the launch of a new institutional NFT trading platform. New Romanian NFT Platform Romania is welcoming Web3 technology into the country. In the first step of its initiative, the country’s National Institute for Research and Development in Informatics (ICI Bucharest) will soon be launching and in-house NFT trading platform called ICI D|Services. The platform launch has been scheduled for April 26 and will provide a bridge between institutions and users in the private and public sectors. However, the platform will primarily function as an NFT marketplace, where individual and institutional customers will be able to mint, manage, and trade NFTs. The platform is being launched with five inaugural NFT collections, which have been designed in collaboration with some popular Romanian sportspersons, organizations, and institutions, namely, the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee, 18-year-old 100m freestyle swimming world record holder David Popovici, Romanian news agency Agerpres, national philately organization Romfilatelia, and Bucharest’s Central University Library. ICI Bucharest Exploring Web3 Tech The ICI Bucharest blockchain laboratory coordinator Paul Niculescu-Mizil Gheorghe spoke about the country’s efforts to adopt Web3-powered technologies. After focusing on research and development for five years, ICI Bucharest’s focus has shifted to actively exploring blockchain technology and the possibilities introduced by Web3. He said, “Blockchain technology increases the efficiency of the institutions, to approach solid use cases based on digital asset management, transparency, security in various institutional operations, such as in education, health, transport, land registration, supply chain management.” Gheorghe also highlighted the role played by high-value NFTs in recent years, because of their uniqueness and rarity, despite the multitude of roles played by these assets in different use cases. He believes that even national institutions like ICI Bucharest could benefit greatly from these high-value assets. Initiative Supported By Government Agencies As the coordinator working between the country’s government and the institution's efforts, Gheorghe commended the government for supporting Web3 adoption in the country. He has revealed that both the Romanian Ministry of Research, Innovation, and Digitalization and the Secretariat-General have extended their full support to the NFT marketplace. He stated, “Our institute wants to create a bridge between the young generations and the public institutions values, initiating a comfort zone for the interactions with the digital space.” Like many other countries, Romania has been dabbling in crypto and blockchain since 2020. However, the work on the NFT marketplace started more recently. It was first proposed by the ICI Bucharest in late 2021. The institution then went on to partner with MultiversX around mid-2022 to develop the platform architecture. Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.