Crypto-friendly e-commerce giant Shopify has launched a suite of blockchain commerce tools to enhance the user experience of their web3-focused stores hosted by the platform. Announcing the move via Twitter on Feb. 9, Shopify blockchain team designer @ryancreatescopy noted that “we've launched some fresh tools to help you buidl tokengating apps for Shopify merchants.” In particular, expanded crypto wallet connect features and “tokengating” application programming interface (API) tools have been highlighted. The latter has been in early access beta access mode since June 2022 and was previously only available to a select number of merchants. With tokegating, all applicable Shopify …

Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin (BTC), originally envisioned cryptocurrency as a form of payment between two people. This is a key reason why blockchain, the underlying technology of the crypto ecosystem, found its best use cases within the payments sector. Blockchain-based payment solutions, widely known as crypto payments, allow for a truly global financial network. Cryptocurrencies are detached from geographical restrictions, allowing for seamless transactions between different regions across the globe. The robust technology and potentially minimal fees introduced with cryptocurrency make this type of payment an ideal fit for transaction-heavy digital sectors such as online shopping or e-commerce. …

Tezos blockchain partnered with Web3 automation platform Taco to allow Shopify users to access Tezos nonfungible tokens (NFTs) via Taco’s NFT loyalty program. The e-commerce giant has established itself as a growing destination for brands looking for Web3 engagements. Taco app allows brands to integrate Web3 solutions such as NFTs to increase engagement with customers and e-commerce platforms such as Shopify use Taco app plugins to offer these services to their merchants. The NFT loyalty programs aid brands in strengthening their bonds with consumers, boosting customer engagement and retention. The latest integration of Tezos NFTs would help the blockchain utilize …

Consumers in India are getting more options for a digital shopping experience as major local e-commerce platforms increasingly experiment with blockchain and metaverse. Indian shoppers can try out products from brands like Puma and Nivea in the gamified, interactive metaverse. That is thanks to local e-commerce giant Flipkart launching a metaverse space for consumers to discover products in a photorealistic virtual destination and shop. Flipkart officially announced the launch of Flipverse on Oct. 17, aiming to bridge the best of the online and offline shopping experience. Developed in collaboration with Polygon-incubated organization eDAO, Flipverse allows shoppers to create a metaverse …

Major global e-commerce platform Shopify announced a partnership with Novel, a no-code Web3 commerce platform, to make Web3 technologies accessible and approachable for all merchants. As part of the partnership, Novel launched an app on the Shopify App Store, which equips existing merchants on Shopify with tools to experience Web3 innovation in ecommerce without any technical knowledge or time and monetary commitments. The Novel Shopify app delivers two primary features, minting and distribution and utility. The minting and distribution feature allows users to generate art for a new nonfungible token (NFT) collection or upload an existing NFT collection. Novel can …

The last six odd months have seen the cryptocurrency market witness an unparalleled amount of financial volatility, so much so that the total capitalization of this fast-maturing space has dropped from $3 trillion to approximately $1 trillion. This comes after the industry hit all-time highs across the board last November, with Bitcoin (BTC) reaching a price point of $69,000. Despite the previously stated volatility, a recent report shows that small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across nine separate countries, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Russia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates and the United States, are extremely open to the idea of …

Global spending in the Metaverse could reach $5 trillion by 2030, according to a new report from international consulting firm McKinsey & Company. Published yesterday, the 77-page report titled “Value Creation in the Metaverse” analyzed current adoption trends and drew additional insight from two global surveys; one gathered data from 3,104 consumers across 11 countries, while the other polled a range of executives from 448 companies across 15 industries in 10 different countries. McKinsey used this data to predict that the future of consumer behavior in the metaverse will most likely be divided into five primary activities: gaming, socializing, fitness, …

Following the announced integration of the payment app Strike with e-commerce platform Shopify to accept Bitcoin (BTC) through the Lightning Network, the crypto community raised concerns over the legal implications of the move. Crypto researcher Matt Ahlborg believes that the event is a very significant development for BTC as it allows the offloading of BTC without the need to go through the know-your-customer (KYC) process. What Jack Mallers is really saying is that you will be soon be able to offload your Bitcoins in the real world without KYC'ing through an exchange first. If this is true, it is actually …

San Francisco-based e-commerce startup Bolt is moving into cryptocurrencies and nonfungible tokens (NFTs) by acquiring fiat-to-crypto and payment infrastructure firm Wyre. According to a joint announcement on Thursday, Bolt has reached definitive agreement to acquire Wyre, aiming to close the deal later in 2022. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the acquisition cost Bolt $1.5 billion. Bolt did not directly confirm or deny on the size of the deal to Cointelegraph. Bolt and Wyre are now planning to work together to create new commerce solutions for mainstream, including crypto usage by Bolt’s global merchants, retailers, shoppers and …

The Metaverse may be an emerging concept, but the impact that virtual game-like worlds can have on the trillion-dollar retail industry was recently demonstrated during Metaverse Fashion Week (MVFW). This entirely virtual experience was held from March 24–27, 2022, in Decentraland, a decentralized virtual social platform on the Ethereum blockchain. The online event attracted more than 70 brands, artists and designers including big names like Tommy Hilfiger, Estée Lauder, Philipp Plein, Selfridges and Dolce & Gabbana. Gigi Graziosi Casimiro, head of Decentraland’s Metaverse Fashion Week, told Cointelegraph that MVFW is a diverse event aiming to connect physical and digital fashion …

Cointelegraph spoke about the nonfungible token, or NFT, market with Halsey Minor, CEO of NFT publishing platform provider Vivid Labs (VID), which is the parent company of the Live Planet production company founded by actors Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. Vivid Labs offers the VIVID NFT platform that allows creators to build NFT marketplaces on its native blockchain. According to the company, they specialize in marketplaces that create NFTs with multimedia capabilities to bundle videos, images, audio and files into a single asset, called NFT+. Halsey argues that NFTs, however multimedia rich they may be, “can be more valuable if …

"Buy now, pay later" platforms have become increasingly popular among consumers who want a little flexibility when shopping online — and now, one project is bringing this concept to crypto. Uquid's Pay in 3 feature does what it says on the tin: spreading crypto payments on everyday purchases across three instalments. This means shoppers have 90 days to settle their balances in full — and they won't be charged interest. The DeFi-focused company says this approach offers a number of advantages. Not only can this ensure payments are timed with fluctuations in a cryptocurrency's value, but consumers can open up …