A smartphone for the metaverse is now available

GM. Have you been waiting for a phone that incorporates NFTs, crypto, and the Metaverse? If so, you’re in luck. The HTC Viverse lays claim to the first Metaverse-compatible smartphone, which means you can own a device that offers all the crypto-goodness of the blockchain in one place. What more could you possibly want?

Today's Topics:

• Metaverse compatible smartphone launched by HTC

• Axie Infinity sidechain to Ethereum restored

• Will changes to staking lead to mass adoption?

• Quick Links

HTC ups its crypto game

We haven’t heard much from HTC recently but that all changed as the smartphone manufacturer announced the launch of its Viverse device. With this device, users will have access to crypto applications, NFT functionality, and the Metaverse, all in one place.

Of course, HTC is no stranger to blockchain phones, having released several iterations of crypto-compatible devices in the past. Its newest option, the Desire 22, will work with HTC’s wireless VR headset to give users their own taste of the Metaverse.

While the Desire 22 isn’t going to compete with high-profile iPhone or Android devices, it’s still a solid option if you want to get more involved in mobile blockchain. Its 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage are more than enough for the average smartphone user. Of course, you early adopters may not agree.

Regardless, the Desire 22 is the next step for a company that has been involved with blockchain devices since 2018. Unfortunately, its stranglehold on that market may not last much longer. There are rumors that both Samsung and Apple are working on crypto-friendly devices, which means HTC’s moment in the sun might be growing dimmer by the day.

The Ronin Bridge is back online

If you read our newsletter, then there’s a good chance you’ve read about Axie Infinity at some point. For those that don’t know, Axie Infinity is a very popular NFT-based game. Unfortunately, the game suffered a massive hack in March, where the hackers attacked the sidechain between Ethereum and Axie Infinity, making off with over half a billion dollars.

However, there’s good news. After being offline for three months, the Ronin Bridge is back and better than ever. More good news is that all users who were impacted by the Ronin attack have been reimbursed. Axie Infinity developer Sky Mavis announced that “All users have been made whole.”

Let’s hope this is the beginning of the road back for Axie Infinity. Official post from Ronin here.

Will the bear market change the way we stake?

As we prepare to turn the calendar to July and continue to slog through the current bear market, we have to wonder if it’s time for a change in the crypto market. For example, many believed that locking up funds while staking them would prevent a bank run while simultaneously promoting Defi.

Unfortunately, things backfired when the market took a turn and investors couldn’t withdraw their money. As a result, a lot of people lost both their funds and faith in the crypto market. Arguably the biggest problem lies with digital assets that have long lock-up periods. Most notably LUNA, which required users to wait twenty-one days to remove their funds. LUNA went down in an epic fire and the new token is barely treading water.

This and other projects have caused hesitancy among investors who may consider joining the Web3 market. However long unbonding periods, or project inflexibility, may deter these types of investors from contributing. What’s the answer? We’re not sure. But it might be time to start looking for serious solutions.

Quick Headlines

Check out this flex by CoinFLEX - Mark Lamb, the CEO of the crypto trading platform CoinFLEX, puts the blame for his company's struggles squarely on the shoulders of Roger Ver.

D-O-DOUBLE-G-Y, D-O-DOUBLE-G - Snoop is at it again and this time he means business. Especially if you're a record label not storing its IP on the blockchain.

Pack your bags! - Switzerland-based crypto mining company White Rock Management, is partnering with NGON (Natural Gas Onsite Neutralization) and moving its headquarters to Texas. Yee-haw! 

Eviction notice served - Dynamic Mining, a crypto mining facilities owner, terminated its contract with Compass Mining when the latter failed to pay its bills. Don't play if you can't pay.

Funding News:

What bear market? - Not everyone is having trouble raising funds in the current crypto downturn. Crypto data firm Kaiko raised $53M in its Series B funding round.

Jobs:

Addition by addition - While other crypto exchanges are cutting back and laying off, OKX is thumbing its nose at them by adding 30% to its total workforce.

Getting started in Crypto - Interested in finding a crypto-related job? These professionals will tell you what you need to know.

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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.