This Week in Web3 and NFTs

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

BAYC Launches New Intellectual Property Tool for Builders to Verify On-Chain Projects

Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) will soon drop a new tool for builders in the greater Ape and Mutant communities. The tool, Made by Apes, will reportedly serve as an on-chain verification tool and an official directory of projects featuring intellectual property (IP) from the BAYC collection.

Since the community’s launch in April 2021, eager BAYC collectors have been experimenting with new ways to use the artwork of their favorite NFTs, including licensed merch lines, a restaurant and beverage brands, but there has not yet existed an on-chain database for the numerous new projects sprouting up. BAYC has teamed up with SaaSyLabs to unveil this solution, which aims to make IP verification a breeze. The debut is anticipated to be just around the corner, with announcements expected later in July. 

This move by BAYC comes as a proactive step to protect creators and their work from potential infringements. You can find more information on the official BAYC Twitter account and read the recent announcement by Yuga Labs co-founder Greg Solano.

Wimbledon, Andy Murray and Refik Anadol Studio Unveil Digital Sculpture NFT Project Based on Sports Data

From the hallowed grounds of Wimbledon comes a new collaboration between tennis legend Andy Murray and the acclaimed generative art team Refik Anadol Studio.

Celebrating the historic 10-year anniversary of the end of the 77-year wait for a British Gentlemen's Singles Champion at Wimbledon, “The Exposition” combines sports data and digital art in a way that has never been seen before.

By leveraging proprietary tennis data from IBM, the collection’s artwork utilizes an algorithm to visually interpret data from Murray’s movements and strokes, along with video and audio input from the athlete’s impressive Wimbledon career. The artwork features striking color bursts that come together to form a dynamic, 3D digital sculpture.

The project launched on July 7 — exactly one decade after Murray’s first Wimbledon victory — on Manifold. Editions are available to purchase using a credit card or crypto, and collectors can enjoy the exclusive right to acquire a physical print of their NFT.

Azuki Community Votes Not to Change Background Metadata for Elementals

Two weeks ago, we wrote about the Azuki Elementals drop. Following our previous coverage, the Azuki community held a vote as to whether or not to change the background metadata for the recently dropped Elementals PFP collection. 

Holders of the revealed and unrevealed Elemental tokens could vote whether or not to change the collection’s metadata to display a modified background featuring subtle patterns and textures that would help differentiate it from the original Azuki collection. Voting opened on July 7 and ended on July 8 at 3 p.m. PT.

Despite debate among Twitter users, the Azuki holder community ultimately decided against making any alterations to the metadata. This decision sheds light on the importance of community involvement and decentralized decision-making in the NFT space — but is it enough to earn back the support of Azuki’s collectors, who argue the Elementals spinoff NFTs are too similar to the original blue-chip collection’s designs? 

Only time will tell, but for now, the vote has prompted a mixed reaction from holders.

Lacoste Kicks Off 'Quests' for UNDW3 Card Holders

If you’ve heard the recent buzz about dynamic NFTs, get ready for Lacoste’s new interactive rewards program kicking off this month. Previously known as The Genesis Pass, the new UNDW3 pass is a dynamic NFT that reflects customer loyalty and unlocks new levels of rarity through a highly experiential “quest” that gamifies brand engagement.

While the French apparel brand dropped the Genesis Pass last June, according to the company’s Twitter, the newly designed UNDW3 Card represents a new chapter in community building.  

 "Throughout the season, the NFT will reflect the points of each user in real-time,” reads Lacoste’s FAQ. “At the end of each season, after completing various missions, the NFT will undergo graphical changes.”

The first season is set to run from now through December 2023. Holders should expect to hear about distinct chapters that contain specific missions. Once completed, users can earn points and grow their unique ranking. At the end of each chapter, users will collect a badge, and once the results are in, the top 200 most engaged users will be eligible to receive rewards. Scores will be displayed directly on the NFTs, which customers can upgrade at the end of each season.

Ready to partake in the action? Holders can “kickstart” their points and rise in leaderboard rankings by participating in the Lacoste Discord, attending virtual and in-person events, and obtaining community roles. Learn more at undw3.lacoste.com.

OpenSea Now Supports Zora's L2

OpenSea is now one of 45 NFT platforms and marketplaces that support the purchase of art pieces minted on Zora, an NFT minting platform and protocol.  This collaboration allows artists to showcase and sell their NFTs on OpenSea, while also benefiting from Zora's cost-effective minting process. Additionally, OpenSea's array of NFT-related tools will now be usable on Zora's scaling network, expanding the options available to creators and collectors.

The Zora Network, which leverages the Ethereum scaling rollup Optimism, was originally established in 2020. The platform has since evolved into an open-source protocol enabling users to mint and sell NFTs. By migrating to a layer-2 scaling solution in June, Zora reportedly reduced minting costs by 25 times, thereby providing a more affordable option.

This partnership with OpenSea offers increased opportunities for artists to showcase their work to a wider audience.