Welcome back to the OpenSea digest, and happy new year! Let’s look back through the biggest NFT and web3 news of the week from the first week of 2024.

Vitalik Buterin Proposes Ethereum PoS Simplification

Shortly before the new year, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin proposed simplifying the Layer 1 blockchain’s Proof of Stake (PoS) system to reduce the network’s load. The current model, which supports some 895,000 validators, poses technical challenges due to the massive number of signatures processed per data block.

Buterin suggested three approaches to decrease signature requirements: using decentralized staking pools, implementing a two-tiered staking system, and adopting a rotating participation model. According to the proposal, these simplifications uphold the goal of maintaining decentralization while simplifying the consensus mechanisms and upgrading security.

As explained in the proposal, this new model helps Ethereum avoid centralizing power in a small group of validators, ensuring that a larger fraction of the network shares responsibility and potential penalties in the event of a 51% attack.

‍Amber Vittoria Announces New ‘Vibes’ Collection

On December 30, Amber Vittoria, the artist known for her ribbons of color, teased a new NFT collection: “Vibes.” The collection, limited to 300 pieces, is a tribute to Vittoria’s favorite numbers: 9, 6, and 3. According to her announcement, Vittoria crafted each piece individually in Photoshop, reserving 15 pieces for herself.

Vittoria emphasized that this collection is pure art, meaning there is no utility — a bold statement in the NFT market, which can often be driven by incentives and rewards. Notably, Vittoria also chose to forgo the common practice of adding rarity traits to any “Vibes” artwork. “All vibes are created equal,” she wrote.

If you’re interested in collecting, stay tuned: The public mint will be priced at 0.05 ETH and available for a brief 10-day window.

The minting process will include three phases. First, a Guaranteed Access public raffle phase will grant 50 individuals the chance to mint up to three “Vibes” NFTs at a discounted price of 0.045 ETH. Following the raffle, past patrons of Vittoria’s work will receive the chance to participate in an Early Access mint at the same discounted price of 0.045 ETH. Finally, the Public Access phase will open up to allow anyone to mint at the 0.05 ETH price.

‍Dmitri Cherniak Teases Physical ‘Ringers’ Sculpture

What’s that we see? A Ringers sculpture? On December 29, Dmitri Cherniak, the Canadian artist and coder behind the groundbreaking ”Ringers” collection, posted a photo on X that teased a physical sculpture version of his generative art.

Recognized for its unique algorithmic creation of string and peg patterns, the “Ringers” series became especially noteworthy after Ringers #879 — a piece that serendipitously resembles a goose — sold for just shy of $6 million, reportedly making it one of the most expensive NFTs ever sold.  

Hints of a possible Ringers sculpture collection suggest there is even more potential for an exciting crossover from the digital to the physical to come in 2024. IRL Ringers sculptures could further blur the lines (in all the best ways) between traditional and digital art forms in the web3 space and beyond.

‍Disney’s Steamboat Willie Enters the Public Domain and the World of NFTs

The classic 1928 Disney short film “Steamboat Willie,” featuring an early version of Mickey Mouse, entered the public domain at the stroke of midnight on January 1, 2024.

The event sparked a creative surge in the NFT space, with one Manifold edition by Truth Labs co-founder Alexander Taub selling out and trading over 611 ETH. “I think this is a cool opportunity to own a piece of actual history,” wrote Taub on X.

On OpenSea, search traffic from users looking for the Steamboat Willie Public Domain NFTs surged. Other creators like Beeple and the calligraphy artist Sarah Script celebrated with their own unique interpretations of the famous character.

The event also reportedly led to the emergence of new meme coins, $WILLIE and $MICKEY.

The Fabricant Re-Issues First AI Collection

The Fabricant, a trailblazer in digital fashion, has reissued its trendsetting “Deep” collection using cutting-edge AI technology.

First launched in 2017, the “Deep” collection originally used images and data from Paris Fashion Week as the training set for its foray into AI-generated fashion. Six years later, the Amsterdam-based fashion house is now revisiting its looks and showcasing seven new styles by designer and creative director Amber Jae Slooten.

The digital clothing pieces have been reimaged through advanced AI tools like Midjourney and Stable Diffusion to produce hyper-realistic designs. They are available for sale and virtual try-on through an AR lens on The Fabricant’s website.