The metaverse has been a buzzword inside and out of the Web3 world over the last year. Moreover, development in the metaverse is something that has remained strong relative to the overall turmoil of the decentralized space. It is also a hot topic at the 2023 World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. The WEF has been developing its own initiative, “Defining and Building the Metaverse,” with the participation of over 120 participants, for which it held a press conference on Jan. 18. The WEF panel highlighted the initiative’s first two papers, which cover interoperability, governance and the consumer’s role …

South Korean tech giant LG Electronics announced that it has teamed up with Oorbit, a cloud-based technology platform and PIXELYNX, a company building an integrated music, gaming, and Web3 ecosystem, to bring the metaverse directly into the living rooms of viewers. Announced just in time for #CES2023, we’re excited to announce that we have partnered with @LGElectronics to bring interoperable gaming and social experiences directly to your LG Smart TVs. READ: https://t.co/nppJZe650B — Oorbit (@OorbitOnline) January 4, 2023 The collaboration is set to allow viewers to be able to explore interconnected virtual worlds, concerts, and AI multiplayer games through their …

Subscription-based services have become so ubiquitous it’s hard to remember a time when they weren’t the norm. Streaming companies have sought to take advantage of that norm by fleecing consumers for everything they’re worth — just look at Netflix’s decision to start running advertisements. Another benefit of leveraging NFT technology is that streaming services can increasingly be used to create communities. As with all consumer culture in the digital world, we are what we consume. NFTs, however, have the potential to make the relationship between the consumer and what is consumed far more profound. There is a solution to streaming …

United States President Joe Biden’s Executive Order on Ensuring Responsible Development of Digital Assets was widely praised for acknowledging cryptocurrency and blockchain technology’s place in the world and setting the U.S. on a path toward more comprehensive regulation of the sector. The order, or EO, sets a research agenda that encompasses consumer protection, financial stability, crime and national security, U.S. leadership, servicing the underbanked and responsible development. With a number of reports being commissioned for delivery over the course of months and no specific actions prescribed, it is impossible to gauge the effect the order will ultimately have on the …

A crypto payments gateway says that it now makes it easy for online merchants in Africa to accept Bitcoin at the checkout. Paychant says its tool can be easily integrated into websites, WooCommerce, Magento, PrestaShop and an array of other online stores with a single line of code. This gives retailers access to a growing number of consumers who want to pay using cryptocurrencies. According to Paychant, its infrastructure is simple, secure and convenient — and is geared toward small and large businesses alike. Nonprofit organizations can also accept crypto donations with ease. Customizable widgets are offered that can be …

An adoption-focused ecosystem that is built to simplify the way crypto payments are made says its smart contracts have been successfully audited by an independent firm — with the beta version of its app receiving a warm reception since being launched in early June. Samecoin says more than $2 million was locked in its protocol within an hour of launch, and an extensive list of partnerships means that it delivers immediate utility. The project’s team is also growing quickly, with new hires being made on a regular basis. Permissionless asset creation is one of Samecoin’s strong suits, and these tokens …

An enterprise software company focused on mobile engagement has released a cryptocurrency wallet that is at the heart of a new blockchain ecosystem. PhunWallet will give consumers control of their personal data, while letting them earn rewards by engaging with brands. With 12 years of experience helping companies connect with consumers via mobile, publicly traded Phunware is building a dual-token economy by blockchain-enabling its data exchange and loyalty ecosystem. With its Multiscreen-as-a-Service (MaaS) platform, Phunware specializes in contextual mobile engagement, meaning content can be customized for a precise location, time and person. PhunCoin, a regulated security token, will let consumers …

The updated Consumer Safety Technology Act, which now includes the Digital Taxonomy Act and the Blockchain Innovation Act, has passed in the House of Representatives and is now headed for the Senate as of Tuesday afternoon. The Digital Taxonomy Act provides definitions for the terms "digital asset" and "digital unit" and would task the Federal Trade Commission with preventing unfair trade practices in both. The Blockchain Innovation Act would require the FTC to put together a report on blockchain's role in consumer protection. Regarding the news, the author of the two bills, Congressman Darren Soto (D-FL), said “As lawmakers, it’s …