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

Moonbirds Mythic NFTs are Hatching

In April, we covered the release of Mythic Egg NFTs, a new addition to Kevin Rose’s popular avian PFP universe, Moonbirds. Now, the 20,000 new Mythic eggs released in April have finally begun to hatch.

You might remember that Moonbirds described three types of egg NFTs that can hatch oddities to be burned and converted into Mythics. Each type of egg has its own associated lore: A Legendary Egg, for instance, can spawn three Mythic forms, while a Runic Egg only contains two potential forms and a Stone Egg just one.

Until now, the eggs have been in a dormant state. But on July 20, the mint began. Each day, 50 new eggs will become activated. Once activated, holders can burn their eggs to hatch Mythics. In accordance with their rarity levels, Stone Egg holders can receive a randomly minted Mythic in exchange for burning their egg, while Runic and Legendary eggs burn in two transactions: one to burn the egg, and a second that gives holders permission to select a Mythic from a set of randomized options. 

The original Moonbirds collection has had popularity within the NFT community since its launch in April 2022, and the new Mythics artwork is already receiving praise from collectors and fans alike.

Americana’s Phygital Vault Service Now Available to the Public

While vault company Americana originated as a niche project, the company has evolved into a comprehensive online marketplace that allows securely vaulted physical items to be digitally exhibited, shared, and transferred. With this unique approach, Americana collectors know they’ve stored their collectibles in a secure location while still preserving on-chain transactability.

What separates Americana from other art storage services is that, now, vaulting one’s physical items no longer removes them from market activity. Rather, Americana tokenizes physical collectible pieces on the blockchain, making it easy to digitally exhibit and buy or sell them using digital certificates. 

For each physical item, a digital title is minted as an NFT on Ethereum, which serves as a certification of authenticity that could one day satisfy documentation requests from art historians, appraisers, or even insurance companies. 

Presently, Americana houses a diverse range of collectibles, from vintage cars and limited edition sneakers to fine art and stamps. The platform caters to artworks from creators like Dustin Yellin and Tom Sachs, along with Rolex watches, jewelry, rare unopened Pokémon cards, and even a Moto Guzzi motorcycle. The platform has also partnered with renowned storage experts to ensure optimal climate and temperature controls for the vaulted items.

.SWOOSH Holders Can Now Download 3D Files of Their OF1 Sneakers

A few weeks ago, we covered Nike’s decision to introduce its .SWOOSH digital collectibles into gaming titles, which came on the heels of the Our Force 1 (OF1) NFT sale that attracted over 50,000 participants.

Now, sneaker enthusiasts and collectors can delight even more, because .SWOOSH has enabled the option for users to download the 3D files associated with their OF1 sneakers. This move opens up an exciting avenue of creative possibilities for design-savvy holders.

Owners can display their sneakers on their digital avatars, letting them run through the metaverse in style. Owning the 3D designs allows anyone to pop their sneakers into Photoshop or a similar design tool and create a rendering of their shoes’ image in minutes.

This move from Nike Virtual Studios empowers artists, creators, illustrators, and graphic designers to enjoy the perks of digital ownership in new ways. Check out this helpful how-to guide from .SWOOSH:

Reddit Digital Collectibles Enter Season Four

Reddit is back with season four of their digital collectibles. After having already made waves by onboarding some 13 million new crypto wallets to web3, the platform unveiled its latest series of Collectible Avatars in partnership with the NFT brand Cool Cats on July 26.

Dubbed "Retro Reimagined," this new collection represents Reddit's fourth generation of collectible avatars since it entered the web3 space in July 2022. The series features artwork from an impressive group of artists, including Aku World creator Micah Johnson, Nyan Cat creator Chris Torres, the pseudonymous Proof Collective illustrator penguitt, Reddit avatar illustrators Jas and Petio and Cool Cats co-founder Clon.

The latest drop features three avatars designed in the signature Cool Cats style: Blue Cat and Chugs, Shadow Wolf, and C4T Monitor. Like the previous collections, Reddit’s round four is also minted on Polygon, an Ethereum Layer 2 sidechain.

Puma and Roc Nation Release NFT Sneakers

A collaboration between renowned sportswear brand Puma and Jay Z’s Roc Nation has resulted in an exclusive NFT sneaker release.

The limited-edition digital RS-XL Mixtape sneaker series pays homage to the evolution of mixtapes while integrating cutting-edge NFT technology. A brainchild of designers Alexander John and Emory Jones, the series features three models: Cassette Tape, Disc. and Playlist.

The collaboration also tapped digital merchandise startup Legitimate to employ a unique “LGT Tag” concealed under the shoe’s tongue that links the physical sneakers to their record on the Avalanche blockchain.

And these phygital NFTs come with holder perks. Buyers will receive access to weekly mixtape releases from emerging Roc Nation artists, along with a behind-the-scenes documentary exploring the 50-year history of hip-hop. 

OpenSea introduces OpenSea Deals

Last week, OpenSea introduced a new tool: Deals. 

OpenSea introduced Deals as an alternative to making deals in DMs or on sketchy sites. Now, users can make Deals more securely using OpenSea.

Using OpenSea Deals, users can choose one or more of their own NFTs, select one or more of someone else's NFTs, and offer the deal to them. There’s also an option to also add WETH to an offer. Currently, the tool is only available to use on badged collections. The tool can be accessed at https://opensea.io/deals/create or through the “Deals” tab on your OpenSea profile.

FWB Fest 2023

OpenSea is teaming up with FWB to create a three-day exposition of new ideas, music, and culture. FEST is bringing together artists, creatives, and technologists to discuss and showcase the future of internet culture.

Experience intimate musical performances by Caroline Polachek, Yves Tumor, Helado Negro, Vieux Farka Toure, Nick Hakim, and other notable artists. Plus, hear from industry leaders including Charles Broskoski, Dean Kissick, Taylor Lorenz, Eileen Isagon Skyers, Mindy Seu, and Maria Paula Fernández among others!

The OpenSea gallery will be showcasing a series of works via the Build in Winter collection that’s on display.  Attendees will interact with a unique combination of digital and physical experiences, including an open edition drop that celebrates the completion of Dustin Yellin’s Psychogeography sculpture for Nouns DAO in collaboration with FWB Fest starting Thursday, August 3. 

Buy passes here! For a 25% discount on tickets, use code OPENSEA.