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

David Horvath joins Claynosaurz to lead brand growth in Asia

Claynosaurz, an NFT brand known for its animated dinosaur characters, has hired David Horvath to lead brand management and consumer product growth in Asia. 

Horvath is best known for co-creating UglyDolls, a popular designer toy line that became a global franchise with movies, TV shows and merchandise. He has worked with companies such as Sony Music Japan, Coca-Cola Japan, Hasbro and Hyundai to launch products and build brands that connect with local culture.

At Claynosaurz, Horvath will help create physical products, grow retail partnerships and expand the brand’s reach in Japan, Korea and other Asian markets, the team announced Tuesday in a post on X.

Christie’s launches crypto division for real estate deals

Christie’s International Real Estate has launched a crypto division to handle luxury property transactions using digital currency, the company confirmed this week in an interview with The New York Times. 

CEO Aaron Kirman said the firm has already closed high-end sales in cryptocurrency and expects the trend to accelerate as demand grows among crypto-rich buyers. The division includes a dedicated team of lawyers and analysts focused on helping clients buy and sell homes without using traditional banks. 

Christie’s, active in some 50 countries, reportedly has more than $1 billion worth of listings from sellers willing to accept crypto.

PayPal launches crypto payments platform for U.S. merchants

PayPal has introduced “Pay with Crypto,” a new service that lets U.S. merchants accept more than 100 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, while reducing international transaction fees by up to a reported 90 percent. 

The platform allows customers to pay in crypto, which is instantly converted into stablecoins or fiat currency, with funds made available almost immediately. 

PayPal CEO Alex Chriss said in a press release the system is designed to help small and large businesses expand globally without high cross-border fees or complex integrations. 

The tool integrates with major wallets like MetaMask and Coinbase and is expected to go live nationwide in the coming weeks, the company said Monday.

Coinbase and JPMorgan Chase partner to expand crypto access

Coinbase and JPMorgan Chase announced a new partnership that is expected to give more than 80 million Chase customers easier ways to buy and use cryptocurrency. 

Starting this fall, customers will be able to fund Coinbase accounts with Chase credit cards. In 2026, they’ll also be able to convert Chase Ultimate Rewards points into USDC, a stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar, and directly link their Chase bank accounts to Coinbase. 

The companies say the collaboration aims to make crypto more accessible and integrated into everyday banking.

White House releases crypto roadmap aimed at U.S. leadership in digital finance

The White House released a report Wednesday outlining how the U.S. can lead in global crypto innovation, following President Trump’s January executive order to boost digital financial technology. 

The President’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets recommends granting federal agencies clearer authority over crypto markets, modernizing banking rules, encouraging stablecoin adoption, and updating tax guidance to reduce burdens on crypto users. The report also calls for legal protections around self-custody and privacy, while supporting anti-money laundering clarity for decentralized finance (DeFi) participants. 

Officials say the roadmap is designed to strengthen the U.S. dollar’s role in global payments and usher in what they call the “Golden Age of Crypto.”

MetaMask adds Stablecoin Earn feature for passive income

MetaMask has launched Stablecoin Earn, a new feature in its mobile app that lets users earn passive income by depositing stablecoins directly into the Aave lending protocol. 

Users can deposit USDC, USDT or DAI without paying MetaMask fees and receive interest-bearing tokens in return, which grow in value over time. 

The feature allows one-click withdrawals and does not require identity verification, giving users full control over their funds. In the announcement, MetaMask said the tool is designed for ease of use, with no lock-in periods and full integration inside the app.

NBA Top Shot NFTs now available from vending machines in Japan

Basketball fans in Japan can now buy NBA Top Shot NFTs directly from vending machines, thanks to a new partnership between Dapper Labs and web3 marketing firm 24karat. 

The smart machines, installed in train stations and shopping centers across the country, allow users to scan a QR code with their phones, create a Flow blockchain wallet, and purchase a mystery pack for about $6.70 using Apple Pay, Google Pay or credit card. No crypto knowledge is required.

The rollout aims to make NFT collecting as simple as grabbing a drink, which gives casual buyers an easier real-world entry point into digital ownership.

Play Solana and Pudgy Penguins limited edition gameboy now live

Play Solana has released a limited edition Pudgy Penguins-themed handheld gaming device, now available for pre-order at $349, the company announced Tuesday on X. 

For each PSG1 device sold, Play Solana said it will buy and burn an equivalent amount of $PENGU, the cryptocurrency tied to the Pudgy Penguins ecosystem.

The PSG1 features an octa-core processor, 8 gigabytes of memory, 128 gigabytes of storage, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. It also includes a built-in hardware wallet to securely store digital assets.

The device is aimed at collectors and crypto enthusiasts looking to combine gaming with web3 functionality.

Ethereum turns 10 years old

Ethereum celebrated its 10th anniversary this week with major events marking a decade of innovation in decentralized finance. The milestone included a global livestream featuring Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin and key contributors like Tim Beiko, Joseph Lubin, Tomasz Stańczak, and Hsiao-wei Wang, who reflected on Ethereum’s journey and its future.

In another nod to Ethereum’s birthday, Joseph Lubin, Ethereum co-founder and CEO of decentralized software company Consensys, rang the Nasdaq Closing Bell in Times Square to honor the network’s role in shaping web3.

Meanwhile, CoinDesk’s Tina Kuriyama shared a personal reflection on LinkedIn, discussing when Buterin spoke at the first-ever Consensus conference in 2015, just months after Ethereum launched. The one-day event hosted 500 people in a Times Square auditorium, and today, Ethereum powers a $460 billion ecosystem.

Note: The mention of a token is for informational purposes only nor is it intended as financial or investment advice.