#5 What’s good in NFT/Metaverse

Alright… back in action after a week vacation, here is issue 5 packed with goodness. We’ve got: VR headset prices going up, you can now be served a lawsuit as an NFT, Disney ramps up on web3, Chipotle launches ‘Buy the Dip’, get into the web3 mind of a top CMO, my podcast appearance, my tips & insights and research I’m following.

News & Interesting Projects

Starting in August, the best VR headset goes up by $100

You’ve got 4 days to grab an Oculus Quest 2 if you don’t own one before the price increases. The 128GB version is $USD299 bumping to $399 and the 256GB is bumping from $399 to $499. Here’s Meta’s announcement.

MY TAKE: Meta says this price hike is to help them continue to invest in the VR space they’re all-in on. Hands down this VR headset is your gateway to the immersive metaverse. This device is a must have for any brand or agency building creative / technology experiences. In fact, leaders should be throwing these at their teams and saying ‘go and make stuff’ for the reasons I listed here “Company leaders: Your teams need VR headsets, yesterday!”.

Imagine getting hit with a lawsuit from an NFT. “You’ve been airdropped”. Yup.

An exchange was hacked for about $8 million in crypto earlier this year and a judge ruled that an airdrop to the hackers web3 wallet as an NFT was a legit way to deliver pertinent legal documents. Woah. Here’s how it went down. The UK also gives the ok to sue from the blockchain.

MY TAKE: With NFTs effectively gaining the status of legal documentation this is big news. With wallets still so new to so many, this will be an interesting way to serve notices. Don’t want to split your crypto 50/50 during a divorce? Check your wallet for those papers, you may have just been served!

Disney’s accelerator program goes big on web3 companies

‘To empower innovative collaborations with the Walt Disney Company’ is the mission of the Accelerator program. This time round six web3 companies made the cut and they offer an incredible mix of capabilities across augmented reality, NFTs, and AI.

MY TAKE: This is killer signal that the worlds best storytellers are cooking up some exciting experiences to say the least. Where’s those imagineers? With in-person attendance at parks and events ‘almost’ back to normal expect impressive experiences across location-based and virtual with ties to more modern views of 21st century loyalty using NFTs.

Chipotle launches ‘Buy the Dip’ for National Avocado Day offering 200k in crypto.

‘The market never sleeps but we do’ says the scrolling banner at chipotlebuythedip.xyz pointing to the next play starting at 1p ET today. The game runs for a few more days to 7/31 on National Avocado Day. They’re giving out out crypto prizes to over 500 players in cash value from $1250 to $35k awarded in Bitcoin, Eth, Dogecoin etc deposited to verified Coinbase accounts. There’s also free food vouchers to 700,000 others.“We want to build the next generation of Chipotle fandom by connecting with the Web3 community,” Chris Brandt, Chipotle’s CMO said.

MY TAKE: Although without an NFT drop yet (despite much pressure from influencers), Chipotle is making big moves into web3: last month they started accepting crypto as payment at nearly all 3,000 US stores, they launched their second metaverse experience in Roblox with the Burrito Builder, and now they’re giving away crypto with the ‘Buy the Dip’ promo. Love this cheeky play on the phrase ‘buy the dip’. The phrase originates from when crypto stocks are low many suggest it being the right time to buy in. Keep going, Chipotle, and let us know what you’re learning from these projects.

A reminder to big brands on how to prepare for web3: start accepting crypto like many are, buy some NFTs to work the muscle and set a strategic path. See tweet below for how:

A few of my tips & insights

I’m trying to bust the myth that metaverse is only VR.

Here’s my list of killer browser-based virtual spaces you must check out. No headset needed.

Technology, innovation & healthcare

Hear me talk about these spaces and how I landed in the world of creative agencies. A fun chat with Bruno Larvol (Linkedin live 20mins).

4 simple lessons learned from hundreds of launches and millions of users.

I’ve spent 20 years pushing some of the biggest brands and smallest startups into new creative territories. I spent some time distilling my favorite learnings into the bite size bits below:

Research I’m following

Still wrestling with the concept of bitcoin & web3? This clip is the best overview yet.

I love the clear, simple & relatable explanation on the power of Blockchain, Bitcoin & Decentralization from the Director of Research at Coin Center the non-profit focused on the policy issues facing cryptocurrencies. Please watch.

MY TAKE: This brings home the importance of removing full reliance on intermediaries, the problems with single points of failure and how blockchain offers banking to anyone anywhere. Likely a nightmare to banks & tech giants.

60 top web3/metaverse resources & white papers in one place for you

Deep dive into the list belowgraciously compiled by Denis Dybsky — so much value here:

Great thread on the value of Web3 from PepsiCo CMO Todd Kaplan.

Not a fad. More than just collectibles. Not all headline grabs. Tidal wave of innovation. This post (and most interestingly the dialogue in the 240+ comments) is a great read to see what goes on in the minds of top marketing figures. Todd leans into simplicity and examples delivered with empathy.

That’s it.

Thanks to my readers. Let me know if this was helpful and please share with 2 colleagues who would dig it 👍