Say Hello to the Solana Saga

If you’re tired of dealing with Apple and Samsung smartphones, take a moment and check out the Solana Saga. This flagship Android smartphone integrates with the Solana blockchain to manage Web3 digital assets like NFTs and tokens. Sounds pretty cool to us.

Today's Topics:

• Solana jumps into the mobile device market

• NHL launches its own NFT marketplace

• Cryptocurrency and fintech programs come to Cincy

• Quick Links

Solana aims to bring Web3 to mobile

Earlier today Solana announced that it is partnering with OSOM, a mobile hardware manufacturer that focuses on the fundamental rights to privacy and control.

The two companies will work together to produce the Solana Saga, a flagship mobile device that will focus on providing functionality and features tightly intertwined with Solana’s blockchain and web3.

So if you’re tired of watching Apple and Samsung own the lion’s share of the smartphone market, it might be time to turn your attention to an ecosystem that’s not tied to a legacy company. You can pre-order your Solana Saga with a $100 deposit via Solana.

NHL partners with Sweet to launch NFT marketplace

The National Hockey League shared its plans to launch an NFT marketplace with the rest of the world. League vice president David Lehanski said that the platform - which will be developed by Sweet - will “fall somewhere between a full-blown NFT trading platform and a site that offers limited-time NFT drops.”

However, there’s a bit of a catch (why wouldn’t there be). The NHL plans to gamify its NFTs. It will do this by creating a “questing and collecting” feature that will reward fans for engaging with the platform. No official announcement has been made as to which blockchain Sweet plans to build on, although early indications point to either Tezos (XTZ) or Polygon (MATIC).

It’s worth mentioning that the NHL is the last of the big four sports organizations (MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL) to launch an NFT platform. The NBA has its Top Shots NFTs and the NFL launched its “Play and Own” NFTs. Plus, Major League Baseball announced its own NFT platform that will launch later this year.

However, the NHL plans on creating NFTs that appeal to more than just blockchain and crypto collectors. The intent is to create NFTs that fans new to crypto will enjoy collecting. I guess we’ll have to wait and see if that’s the case.

Crypto courses added to the University of Cincinnati curriculum

When the fall semester starts at the University of Cincinnati, crypto will be on the curriculum. Thanks to long-time Cincinnati supporters Woodrow Uible and Dan Kautz, students will have two new programs available: new financial technologies and cryptocurrency.

Students will learn all about cryptocurrencies, how to manage them, and how they impact the world around us. By introducing the curriculum, the University of Cincinnati immediately establishes itself as the leader in its region with this type of program.

The donation from Kautz and Uible will see a lab named after the pair. The lab will be a public-private area that allows students to work with established corporations. Plus, it will feature its own crypto mining rig so students can get hands-on experience.

Professors at the university believe introducing courses that focus on cryptocurrency is important. They feel that it better prepares students for the jobs that will be available when they graduate.

We have to admit all this sounds pretty cool. Where do we sign up?

Quick Headlines

GOAL!!! - As sports become ever so popular in the world of NFTs, Cristiano Ronaldo launches a marketing agreement with Binance which he will offer iconic pieces of sports history.

Gotta catch ‘em all! - It only took Pokemon Go a matter of months to amass millions of users, but Stepn seems to be doing even better. So why is it down 97%?

Spidey Senses: Activate! - Spiderman may have gone into the Metaverse, but should we? Some tech giants are on board, but we’re not convinced.

Champions of freedom and privacy, unite. - John McAfee’s death is still a mystery one year later, and his body is still held in a Spanish morgue. His wife and others demand answers.

Spain is at it again - The whole point of the blockchain is to remain anonymous, but the Spanish government wants everyone to report their activity in 2023.

Paws up! - Dogecoin is connected to some pretty illegitimate activity, despite Elon Musk’s backing of the coin. What does the future hold in this bear market?

Hacks:

Potential Spam - We’re all too familiar with the phone calls, and hackers seem to be prevalent lately, but NFT collections and DAOs are getting hit hard with exploitation as well. Chatsight is moving AI to Discord.

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Disclosure: We are a newsletter for information only. We are not financial advisors nor do we claim to be. Consult your legal, investment or tax advisor. Crypto is risky. Do you own research.