Welcome to the OpenSea digest. Let’s look back through the biggest NFT and web3 news of the week.

Musee d'Orsay Is Currently Showing Its First NFT Exhibition

Paris’ Musée d’Orsay museum just ushered in a new era of art with its first-ever showcase featuring blockchain technology.

The exhibition, entitled “​​Le Code d'Orsay,” is by artist and DJ, Agoria. The show is novel in that it doesn’t include any screens. Rather, “Sigma Lumina,” a steel sculpture, casts QR-code shadows that unlock interactive, mintable art on the Tezos blockchain. 

Meanwhile, another piece in the collection uses yeast cultures to interpret the life of French painter Gustave Courbet in five unique phases that mimic the biochemical processes of the microorganisms.

Agoria’s innovative blend of art and technology challenges traditional perceptions of what NFT artwork can look like while adding experimental generative art to the museum’s rich artistic history. 

Autoglyphs Dev Set Acquisition

On February 19, a set of 10 Autoglyphs by Cryptopunk creator Larva Labs sold for 5,000 ETH, or approximately $14.536 million at the time of purchase. The sale marks one of the largest on-chain digital art transactions to date. 

The rare “dev set” consists of early series artworks and was reportedly acquired by an anonymous collector who has the intention to present the works in traditional art museums and institutional settings. 

Brokered by the crypto art platform Fountain, this transaction comes on the heels of Larva Labs’ recent donation of Autoglyph #25 and Cryptopunk #110 to Paris modern and contemporary art museum Centre Pompidou.

Humanity Protocol Launches Privacy-Focused ZKP-Powered Palm Recognition Solution

The quest for a non-invasive proof of humanity continues with Humanity Protocol, a cutting-edge palm recognition technology. Launched by the AI identity organization Human Institute on the Polygon layer two (L2) chain and co-developed with leading web3 studio Animoca Brands, the tool uses zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs to perform secure identity checks with less data exposure. 

Unlike Worldcoin, an iris-scanning biometric cryptocurrency project founded in 2019 by a team that includes OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Humanity Protocol utilizes palm recognition technology. This method is being described by industry pros as less invasive while still resilient to sybil attacks in which hackers flood a system with false identities.

Americana Will Officially Launch Its Platform on February 28

Americana, a real-world asset management platform, is now opening its doors to applicants who want to create digital twins of their rare artworks and collectibles. 

Featuring blockchain-verified digital fingerprints, high-resolution surface topography, and 360-degree interactive models, Americana helps collectors maintain an inventory of their real-life valuables with digital certificates of authenticity accessible via crypto wallet. The platform utilizes an ERC-721A smart contract that links a physical item to its virtual counterpart. There’s also the option to store, or “vault,” the physical items in a facility with 24-hour security services.

While Americana is currently opening to newcomers on an approval basis only, it aims to open up to a wider range of collectors and items soon, allowing everyone to secure the items they value most.

Gmoney’s 9dcc Collection 01 to Debut at NFT Paris and Paris Fashion Week

Web3 fashion house 9dcc, the brainchild of NFT influencer gmoney, is set to reveal its first complete luxury fashion line at Paris Fashion Week and NFT Paris. Entitled “9dcc Collection 01,” the debut line will feature over 60 high-end pieces, including coats, hoodies, blazers, pants and undergarments crafted from globally sourced materials. Each item integrates a near-field communication (NFC) chip linked to an Ethereum NFT, thereby authenticating and adding unique digital functions like creator signatures and gamified experiences.

Inspired by Japanese Yakuza street style and classic gangster cinema, the collection is described as a reflection of the “crypto mob” comprised of proud, motley degens (short for “degenerate”) and modern “mavericks” who make up the innovative web3 world. 

Fittingly, gmoney’s NFC-enabled 9dcc clothing has so far been unlike any fashion experience ever before: The blockchain-linked NFC chips unlock memorable prizes and experiences like the city-wide scavenger hunt held during NFT NYC 2023 to distribute the line’s latest ball cap. The game rewarded participants with commemorative proof-of-attendance protocols (POAPs) in addition to the latest fashion items.

Recently honored as Phygital Brand of the Year at the Phygicode Impact Awards during Davos 2024, 9dcc’s latest unveil is reportedly part of the brand’s plans to expand from a line of 4,500 items to over 20,000 luxury total products in its catalog. 

Pudgy Penguin’s New Line of Pudgy Toys Debuts at Walmart

Pudgy Penguins are expanding their presence in Walmart, growing from 2,000 stores during the brand’s initial launch to a new tally of 3,100 locations — a significant 50% increase. The brand plans to roll out 30 different penguin toys, each mirroring an existing NFT. 

Launched in September 2023, the Pudgy Penguin toys are priced between $2.99 and $11.97. They feature QR codes linking to Pudgy World, an upcoming interactive online experience. The latest expansion reflects the brand’s rising popularity. It’s not only a cute move, but one that’s hugely validating to early supporters. 

World of Women Will Host Gala at NFT Paris on February 24

Happy WoW Gala week to all who celebrate! Get ready for the second annual gala celebrating World of Women holders and friends, held on Saturday, February 24 at the majestic Pavillon Gabriel in Paris’ iconic Champs-Elysées gardens.

In true web3 style, the night promises a blend of culture and tech, with side events leading up to the big night, such as a VIP luxury vintage tour, a private saunter through the Musée d'Orsay, a castle excursion, and, finally, an exclusive tour covering spots from Netflix’s Emily in Paris.

This year’s theme is “bioluminescent wonder.” As happened last year at the inaugural WoW Gala, the WoW Awards ceremony will recognize community members’ achievements. It’s an event not to be missed!

TASCHEN and Robert Alice Release 'On NFTS' Book

On February 22, famed publisher TASCHEN and artist/curator Robert Alice released the largest art historical survey of NFTs to date in a tome entitled "On NFTs." The book includes 3,000 of the most important NFTs across genres and time periods, and includes 10 essays from leading writers and art historians. The book comes in TASCHEN's signature extra-large Baby SUMO format, measuring 50cm tall. Other TASCHEN books published in this format include their books on David Hockey and Helmut Newton.

The book marks the first time TASCHEN has stepped into the world of NFTs and opens doors for additional publishers from the traditional art world to recognize and commemorate the art being created in the NFT space.

To read OpenSea's interview with editor Robert Alice, click here.