Animoca – Earlybirds Invest https://earlybirdsinvest.com Latest Crypto News Wed, 27 Aug 2025 01:05:03 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.8 https://i0.wp.com/earlybirdsinvest.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/cropped-New-Project-2024-12-17T235703.455.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Animoca – Earlybirds Invest https://earlybirdsinvest.com 32 32 240146708 Animoca and Ibex Unlock Japan’s Anime IP for Blockchain Era https://earlybirdsinvest.com/animoca-and-ibex-unlock-japans-anime-ip-for-blockchain-era/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/animoca-and-ibex-unlock-japans-anime-ip-for-blockchain-era/#respond Wed, 27 Aug 2025 01:05:03 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/animoca-and-ibex-unlock-japans-anime-ip-for-blockchain-era/

Animoca Brands has partnered with Ibex Japan, part of Antler’s innovation division, to set up a Web3 investment fund focused on licensing Japanese anime and manga content for blockchain projects.

The new fund was announced at the WebX conference in Tokyo, with the details also shared by Animoca on X.

Leading the initiative are Sandeep Casi from Ibex Japan and Keyvan Peymani, a senior adviser at Animoca, according to a report by CoinPost, a local news outlet.

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Casi explained that much of Japan’s intellectual property (IP) is not currently being used, despite its value. He estimated that between 90% and 99% of the country’s IP remains inactive.

He also emphasized Antler’s global resources, which include a presence in 22 cities, $1.2 billion in assets, and a network of around 250,000 entrepreneurs.

According to Animoca’s co-founder and chairman, Yat Siu, the company already operates in Japan through its subsidiary, ABKK. Siu said the goal of the new fund is to bring Japanese IP to a global audience and highlighted that the use cases will not be limited to entertainment or gaming.

Siu noted that current market conditions are favorable, especially with non-fungible token (NFT) prices recovering. He said this improvement signals a good time to bring more IP onto blockchain platforms.

The project’s main objective is to connect overlooked Japanese content with blockchain developers who can use that IP in practical ways.

Recently, SBI Group partnered with Chainlink
LINK


$24.12

to explore blockchain-based tools for the financial sector in Asia. How do they plan to achieve this goal? Read the full story.

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/animoca-and-ibex-unlock-japans-anime-ip-for-blockchain-era/feed/ 0 55288 Animoca Brands Partners with DayDayCook to Manage $100M Bitcoin Treasury https://earlybirdsinvest.com/animoca-brands-partners-with-daydaycook-to-manage-100m-bitcoin-treasury/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/animoca-brands-partners-with-daydaycook-to-manage-100m-bitcoin-treasury/#respond Sun, 13 Jul 2025 12:53:03 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/animoca-brands-partners-with-daydaycook-to-manage-100m-bitcoin-treasury/

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Amin Ayan

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Animoca Brands Partners with DayDayCook to Manage $100M Bitcoin Treasury

Web3 powerhouse Animoca Brands has entered a strategic partnership with DayDayCook (DDC) Enterprise, a packaged food and meal-prep company, to oversee Animoca’s Bitcoin holdings and generate yield from its reserves.

Key Takeaways:

  • Animoca Brands partners with DayDayCook to manage up to $100 million in Bitcoin reserves.
  • Companies increasingly use Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation and a long-term store of value.
  • Institutional Bitcoin holdings surged in Q2 2025.

The agreement, a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) announced Thursday, marks a significant step in the growing trend of corporate Bitcoin treasury management.

Under the deal, Animoca plans to allocate up to $100 million worth of Bitcoin to DDC for management.

Animoca Brands Partnership Comes as Bitcoin Gains Ground as Treasury

The partnership reflects an emerging wave of companies integrating Bitcoin into their treasury strategies as a hedge against inflation and a long-term store of value.

DayDayCook first revealed its Bitcoin treasury ambitions in May, announcing a target purchase of 5,000 BTC over three years.

The company made an initial move by acquiring 21 BTC for its corporate treasury in the same month.

This aligns with a broader corporate shift toward Bitcoin adoption, as firms seek to diversify and protect their assets amid economic uncertainty.

While the rise of Bitcoin treasury companies signals growing mainstream acceptance, it has also sparked debate among investors.

Some see these entities as critical drivers for wider adoption, while others warn of the risks posed by overleveraged firms that could exacerbate market downturns.

Data from BitcoinTreasuries shows 268 institutions currently hold Bitcoin on their balance sheets, spanning public companies, private firms, government bodies, asset managers, and crypto-focused enterprises.

Public companies make up the largest segment, accounting for 147 of these holders.

The second quarter of 2025 saw these treasury companies add 159,107 BTC, valued at over $18.7 billion, marking a 23% increase in acquisitions from the previous quarter.

Blockstream CEO Adam Back described this trend as a “new altseason,” urging traders to shift investments into Bitcoin or Bitcoin treasuries.

Analysts Warn of Risks Ahead for Bitcoin Treasury Companies

However, despite the enthusiasm, caution persists. Analysts warn many treasury companies may falter when Bitcoin prices fall or when access to affordable corporate financing tightens, potentially leading to significant market corrections.

Last week, Glassnode lead analyst James Check raised concerns over the longevity of the corporate Bitcoin treasury strategy, arguing the easy gains might already be gone for new entrants as the market matures.

The warning echoes recent comments from Matthew Sigel, head of digital asset research at VanEck, who has voiced concerns over the Bitcoin treasury strategies adopted by some publicly traded firms.

Sigel singled out the use of at-the-market (ATM) share issuance programs, arguing that these can become dilutive if a company’s stock price nears its Bitcoin net asset value (NAV).

Meanwhile, New York law firm Pomerantz LLP has filed a class action lawsuit against Michael Saylor’s Strategy, accusing the Bitcoin-focused firm of misleading investors about the profitability and risks of its crypto investment strategy.


]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/animoca-brands-partners-with-daydaycook-to-manage-100m-bitcoin-treasury/feed/ 0 47399 Animoca Brands partners with DDC Enterprise to put BTC treasury to work https://earlybirdsinvest.com/animoca-brands-partners-with-ddc-enterprise-to-put-btc-treasury-to-work/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/animoca-brands-partners-with-ddc-enterprise-to-put-btc-treasury-to-work/#respond Sat, 12 Jul 2025 19:05:02 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/animoca-brands-partners-with-ddc-enterprise-to-put-btc-treasury-to-work/

Web3 company Animoca Brands signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with DayDayCook (DDC) Enterprise, a meal-prep and packaged food company that recently adopted a Bitcoin (BTC) treasury strategy, to manage Animoca’s BTC holdings and generate a yield on those reserves.

Animoca will allocate up to $100 million in BTC as part of the deal, according to a joint announcement from Thursday.

Animoca Brands co-founder and executive chairman Yat Siu told Cointelegraph that DDC Enterprise was chosen in part because of CEO Norma Chu and her ability to cultivate a “substantial non-crypto following,” introducing the asset sector to the general public, which may not have had an interest in crypto otherwise. Siu also said:

“Her background and her experience enable Norma to bridge the East and West to successfully navigate markets on both sides of the planet; she has good appeal and connections to the Chinese market, one of the largest for crypto adoption, while also running a NASDAQ-listed company.”

DDC Enterprise tipped its Bitcoin treasury plans in May, setting a goal to buy 5,000 BTC over three years. That same month, the company purchased 21 BTC for its corporate treasury.

Bitcoin Adoption
The top 60 publicly-traded Bitcoin treasury companies. Source: BitcoinTreasuries

The Bitcoin treasury narrative continues to gain traction, as corporations adopt the supply-capped asset as a hedge against inflation, and, in some cases, reorient themselves to become Bitcoin holding companies. 

The proliferation of Bitcoin treasury firms has left investors divided about the effects of these companies on the market, with some arguing it will boost mainstream adoption and others warning that overleveraged BTC companies could trigger the next market meltdown.

Related: Bitcoin treasury playbook faces ‘far shorter lifespan’ — Analyst

Bitcoin Treasury Strategy becomes a top trend in 2025

There are currently 268 institutions holding BTC on their balance sheets, including public companies, private enterprises, government organizations, asset managers, and crypto firms, according to BitcoinTreasuries.

Public companies account for 147 of these 268 institutions, making them the largest category of institutional Bitcoin holders by a wide margin.

Bitcoin Adoption
A breakdown of institutional BTC ownership. Source: BitcoinTreasuries

Bitcoin treasury companies added 159,107 BTC in Q2 2025, valued at over $18.7 billion using current prices, and representing a 23% quarter-over-quarter increase in acquisitions. 

In June, cypherpunk and Blockstream CEO Adam Back said the Bitcoin treasury trend is the new altseason for crypto traders and short-term price speculators. “Time to dump ALTs into BTC or BTC treasuries,” the CEO wrote in a June 22 X post.

Despite the growth of BTC treasury options and the market hype, some market analysts and crypto firms warn that most treasury companies won’t survive the next market downturn and will capitulate as soon as BTC prices begin to drop and cheap corporate financing options disappear. 

Magazine: NBA star Tristan Thompson misses $32B in Bitcoin by taking $82M contract in cash

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/animoca-brands-partners-with-ddc-enterprise-to-put-btc-treasury-to-work/feed/ 0 47256 Animoca Brands' Flagship Project Moca Network to Debut L1 for Digital Identity https://earlybirdsinvest.com/animoca-brands-flagship-project-moca-network-to-debut-l1-for-digital-identity/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/animoca-brands-flagship-project-moca-network-to-debut-l1-for-digital-identity/#respond Wed, 25 Jun 2025 16:40:09 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/animoca-brands-flagship-project-moca-network-to-debut-l1-for-digital-identity/

Moca Network, the identity ecosystem of Web3 investment giant Animoca Brands, is planning to introduce a layer-1 blockchain that will allow Web3 projects to identify and verify users without needing to rely on centralized platforms.

Moca Chain will enable user data to be verified by applications across any blockchain, similar to the way single sign-in platforms such as Okta and Google Sign-In operate in the Web2 environment.

The testnet is expected to start operating in the third quarter with the mainnet following by year-end, the Moca Foundation said in a Wednesday email. The project’s native token, MOCA, will be used for validator staking, storage, data generation and verification fees. MOCA rose over 6% to about $0.077 in the two hours following the announcement.

Moca Network is a flagship project of Animoca Brands, fully staffed by Animoca employees, a spokesperson told CoinDesk in a Telegram message. That reflects its central role in Animoca Brands’ investment strategy of advancing digital property rights through Web3 projects using non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and memecoins. Ownership of one’s personal data is integral to that, according to founder Yat Siu.

“Moca Chain is creating a digital ecosystem where users can finally own their data, reputations and contributions,” he said. “This aligns strongly with the mission of Animoca Brands to advance digital property rights and empower individuals to control and benefit from their online activities and their personal data.”

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/animoca-brands-flagship-project-moca-network-to-debut-l1-for-digital-identity/feed/ 0 44061 Animoca Brands Strike Strategic Partnership with Cross The Ages https://earlybirdsinvest.com/animoca-brands-strike-strategic-partnership-with-cross-the-ages/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/animoca-brands-strike-strategic-partnership-with-cross-the-ages/#respond Mon, 23 Jun 2025 13:27:08 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/animoca-brands-strike-strategic-partnership-with-cross-the-ages/

Web3 conglomerate Animoca Brands has struck a strategic partnership with popular blockchain-based TCG Cross The Ages, supporting the release of their upcoming action-RPG Arise, and purchasing $CTA tokens from the open market.

In addition, Animoca will leverage their network and expertise to bolster the wider Cross The Ages ecosystem. This includes marketing support for Blast – the new version of Cross The Ages’ core TCG – as well as advisory services for the project as a whole.

This is the latest move to strengthen what has been a developing partnership over the past several years, with Animoca Brands having led a $3.5M USD equity funding round in 2024.

Key Insights

  • Animoca Brands have struck a strategic partnership with Cross The Ages
  • The deal will see Animoca support the release of upcoming RPG Arise, purchase $CTA tokens, and provide ongoing support
  • This includes advice and support on the marketing for Blast – the new version of the Cross The Ages TCG
  • Animoca have also pledged to provide support to the wider Cross The Ages ecosystem
  • This deepens the relationship between Animoca and Cross The Ages, with the former having led a $3.5M equity funding round in 2024
Animoca Brands Cross The Ages - Arise
Source: Arise

What is Cross The Ages Arise?

Arise is an upcoming Web3 action-RPG, with the closed alpha build currently available on PC.

Developed by the team behind Cross The Ages, players can expect a rogue-like RPG experience, diving into dungeons to defeat waves of enemies and earn valuable loot and resources. By crafting increasingly powerful weapons, you get stronger with each run – and ever closer to learning the secrets of this world full of mystery.

As of writing, little is known about any potential blockchain-based features – such as NFTs or token rewards – that could be within Arise. Given that Arise is a part of the Cross The Ages ecosystem, we can expect interactions with the $CTA token, as well as NFTs that serve as core in-game assets – though any details are yet to be confirmed.

Animoca Brands Cross The Ages - $CTA Token
Source: Cross The Ages

How are Animoca Brands supporting Cross The Ages?

Through this strategic partnership, Animoca Brands has committed to assisting Cross The Ages in a number of ways:

  • Supporting the official release of Arise
  • Purchasing $CTA tokens from the open market
  • Giving advice and bolstering the Cross The Ages ecosystem as a whole

Both parties expressed excitement at striking this deal. Yat Siu, co-founder and executive chairman of Animoca Brands, said: “The team at Cross the Ages has consistently shown strong commitment to high-quality Web3 game development and we believe that the market has significantly undervalued the potential of Cross the Ages.

“This collaboration exemplifies our commitment to high-quality blockchain gaming that bridges traditional audiences and Web3. Arise’s development on Unreal Engine 5 truly showcases crypto gaming’s AAA potential.”

Sami Chlagou, CEO and co-founder of Cross the Ages, added: “We’ve been supported by Yat and Animoca Brands since 2021, during the launch of our first token and again in our first equity round in 2024. We’re proud to have the continued support of a Web3 gaming pioneer, and we’re convinced this partnership marks the next chapter in an incredible journey.”

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/animoca-brands-strike-strategic-partnership-with-cross-the-ages/feed/ 0 43660 Animoca eyes New York listing, cites Trump’s crypto-friendly stance https://earlybirdsinvest.com/animoca-eyes-new-york-listing-cites-trumps-crypto-friendly-stance/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/animoca-eyes-new-york-listing-cites-trumps-crypto-friendly-stance/#respond Tue, 13 May 2025 07:52:30 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/animoca-eyes-new-york-listing-cites-trumps-crypto-friendly-stance/

Hong Kong-based Animoca Brands is preparing for a listing in New York, citing US President Donald Trump’s relaxed regulatory stance on digital assets as a window of opportunity to enter the world’s biggest capital market.

Animoca executive chair Yat Siu told the Financial Times that an announcement may be made soon, with the company currently evaluating various shareholding structures.

Siu said the decision to pursue a US listing would not hinge on market conditions but rather on timing and strategic positioning.

Animoca, which was delisted from the Australian Securities Exchange in 2020 over governance concerns and the status of some cryptocurrencies, has since built a robust investment portfolio, including stakes in OpenSea, Kraken and Consensys.

The company reported unaudited earnings of $97 million from $314 million in revenue for the year ending December 2024, a sharp increase from the previous year.

Source: Animoca Brands

Siu told the FT that Animoca is the largest non-financial crypto firm globally, with $300 million in cash and stablecoins and over $538 million in digital assets.

He also hinted that other Animoca portfolio companies, including US-based Kraken, may follow suit with listings in the US in 2025 or 2026.

Related: Deribit eyes US expansion under crypto-friendly Trump admin: FT

Crypto firms consider US comeback

Under former President Joe Biden, federal agencies launched numerous lawsuits and enforcement actions against digital asset firms. Siu said this regulatory hostility stifled innovation and discouraged overseas companies from entering the US market.

In contrast, Trump’s return to office has been accompanied by pledges to support the crypto sector and a rollback of enforcement activity. Siu described this as “a unique moment in time,” adding that not taking advantage of it “would be one heck of a wasted opportunity.”

Since Trump’s election victory, the US Securities and Exchange Commission has dropped or paused over a dozen enforcement cases against crypto companies.

Additionally, the Department of Justice recently announced the dissolution of its cryptocurrency enforcement unit, signaling a softer approach to the sector.

This hands-on approach appears to be boosting industry confidence. OKX, for example, has announced plans to establish a US headquarters in San Jose, California, just months after settling a $504 million case with US authorities.

On April 28, Nexo, which left the US at the end of 2022, citing a lack of regulatory clarity, revealed that it is reentering the US market.

Magazine: Bitcoin eyes ‘crazy numbers,’ JD Vance set for Bitcoin talk: Hodler’s Digest, May 4 – 10

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/animoca-eyes-new-york-listing-cites-trumps-crypto-friendly-stance/feed/ 0 35947 Animoca Brands Partners with Soneium for Web3 Tool and Initiatives https://earlybirdsinvest.com/animoca-brands-partners-with-soneium-for-web3-tool-and-initiatives/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/animoca-brands-partners-with-soneium-for-web3-tool-and-initiatives/#respond Fri, 28 Mar 2025 16:55:36 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/animoca-brands-partners-with-soneium-for-web3-tool-and-initiatives/

Animoca Brands has announced a new partnership with Sony Block Solutions Labs to develop blockchain-based identity infrastructure and support anime-themed projects on Soneium—Sony’s Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain.

The collaboration introduces Anime ID, a decentralised identity system built by San FranTokyo, a contributor to the Anime Foundation. It will serve as the first implementation of Moca Network’s identity tools on Soneium. Moca Network will play a central role in enabling these features through its AIR SDK (Account, Identity, Reputation Software Development Kit), which provides account management and credential verification across applications.

The partnership also includes a cultural component: a series of anime-related campaigns led by San FranTokyo to attract anime communities to Soneium and explore blockchain-based experiences.

Animoca Brands Partners with Soneium for Web3 Tool and Initiatives
Source: Animoca Brands

What will this partnership bring?

Under the agreement, Moca Network will integrate its identity infrastructure into Soneium, starting with Anime ID. The AIR SDK will allow users to maintain a single identity and reputation record across different applications, while also enabling developers on Soneium to issue and verify user credentials.

“By integrating Moca Network’s identity infrastructure, we’re not just enhancing entertainment experiences; we’re creating a seamless digital ecosystem,” said Yat Siu, Co-founder and Executive chairman of Animoca Brands. “The partnership will empower Soneium users with unified digital identities, bridging anime, gaming, and blockchain technologies.”

Anime ID will act as a decentralised identifier system and reputation layer, offering support for features such as embedded accounts, persistent identity, and cross-platform engagement. These features are designed to make it easier for users to navigate and interact with various applications without needing separate profiles or verification steps for each service.

“By integrating Moca Network’s AIR SDK and Anime ID into Soneium and Animoca Brands launching anime-inspired cultural campaigns, we aim to onboard global anime fans to the blockchain, enabling them to collaborate, create, and infuse the world with emotion,” added Jun Watanabe, chairman of Sony Block Solutions Labs of Soneium.

In parallel, San FranTokyo will launch anime-themed campaigns intended to increase user engagement on Soneium. These campaigns are expected to connect anime communities to blockchain-based projects, though specific details on the campaigns or participating IPs have not been announced.

Animoca Brands Partners with Soneium for Web3 Tool and Initiatives
Source: Mocaverse

What’s next for Animoca Brands?

This collaboration marks a continuation of Animoca Brands’ strategy to build infrastructure for digital identity across blockchain ecosystems. Moca Network, one of the company’s key projects, is designed to work across multiple blockchains and support unified identity, asset ownership, and reputation tracking. Moca Network is powered by the $MOCA token, which is used to support identity verification, data storage, and network governance.

Animoca Brands continues to expand its presence in blockchain gaming, decentralised identity, and digital ownership through partnerships and investment. The company has built a large portfolio of web3-related projects and has been active in developing infrastructure intended to support long-term adoption of decentralised technologies.

No specific launch date for Anime ID or the upcoming campaigns on Soneium has been confirmed, but both companies say development is already underway.

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/animoca-brands-partners-with-soneium-for-web3-tool-and-initiatives/feed/ 0 27715 Animoca Brands Surges with DAA, Moca Network, and AI Innovations in 2024 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/animoca-brands-surges-with-daa-moca-network-and-ai-innovations-in-2024/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/animoca-brands-surges-with-daa-moca-network-and-ai-innovations-in-2024/#respond Thu, 06 Mar 2025 16:16:07 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/animoca-brands-surges-with-daa-moca-network-and-ai-innovations-in-2024/

Animoca Brands closed out 2024 on a high note, showcasing progress across its digital asset advisory services, Web3 operating businesses and investment portfolio.

We look at Animoca’s key achievements in Q4 2024 and throughout the Financial Year in 2024, highlighting its expanding footprint in gaming, education finance, identity solutions, and emerging AI initiatives.

Digital Asset Advisory: A Major Revenue Driver

Renowned by Deloitte Tech Fast, Fortune Crypto 40, and as a Top 50 Blockchain Game Company, Animoca champions an open metaverse with projects like Moca Network, The Sandbox, and Anichess. Beyond launching its own initiatives, it backs over 540 investments—including Yuga Labs and OpenSea—to grow the entire Web3 ecosystem.

One of Animoca Brands’ biggest accomplishments this year has been the strong performance of its Digital Asset Advisory (DAA) division. Delivering token advisory, tokenomics consultation, marketing support, and trading services for budding Web3 projects, the DAA unit experienced a 116% increase in annual revenue year-over-year.

Partnering with 21 innovative blockchain ventures—including PIXEL and PENGU—DAA generated US$68 million from token advisory alone. An additional US$97 million came from market-making, treasury management, blockchain node operations, and yield-focused trading strategies.

Moca Network: Pioneering Decentralized Identity

Among Animoca’s key Web3 initiatives is the Moca Network, the chain-agnostic infrastructure born from the Mocaverse project. In providing users with a single digital identity (Moca ID) that tracks assets, identity, and reputation across multiple ecosystems, Moca Network aims to make Web3 more accessible for everyday users. The Network’s utility token, MOCA Coin, powers data generation, storage, AI agents, and DAO governance.

Moca Network has secured US$10 million in additional funding, bringing total investments to US$41.88 million since December 2023.

Strategic partnerships with Square Enix’s SYMBIOGENESIS and SK Planet (home to 28 million KYC-verified members) highlight Moca Network’s focus on seamless onboarding for large user bases.

Source Animoca Brands

Open Campus & TinyTap: Revolutionizing On-Chain Education

In the educational space, Open Campus and its co-launch partner, TinyTap, continue to explore ways to democratize learning via blockchain. With a vision to tokenize the US$2.2 trillion student finance market, Open Campus has introduced an EDU Scholarship Fund that supports learners with up to US$1,000 in EDU credits.

The project’s EDU Chain operates as a Layer 3 blockchain on Arbitrum Orbit, powering consumer-facing education apps and financial tools (EduFi). During the testnet phase, the network recorded 2.3 million unique active wallets and 116 million transactions, culminating in the mainnet launch in January 2025.

By the end of 2024, Open Campus ID reached 850,000 holders, with a 578% spike in new users during Q4 alone—evidence of significant global interest in blockchain-based educational solutions.

The Sandbox & Anichess

Web3 gaming remains a cornerstone of Animoca Brands’ operations, illustrated by the continued success of The Sandbox, Anichess, and GAMEE.

  • The Sandbox completed Alpha Season 4 in December 2024, drawing 580,000 unique players who collectively logged over 1 million hours of playtime.

  • Anichess, collaborating with Chess.com, launched its public alpha and partnered with Yield Guild Games to tap into the Southeast Asian market, surpassing 100,000 monthly active players.

Investment Management & AI Initiatives

Investing in promising Web3 projects has always been part of Animoca Brands’ DNA. By Q4 2024, the Company’s portfolio swelled to 540+ investments, spanning diverse areas like decentralized finance (DeFi), infrastructure, gaming, and AI. Key entries in Q4 included 0G Labs, Cookie3, FLock.io, MyShell, and Talus.

Meanwhile, Animoca Brands took significant steps to integrate AI technologies across its product ecosystem. A partnership with Virtuals.io focuses on AI-driven gaming experiences while collaborating with FLock.io advances decentralized AI model development for blockchain applications. The Company also nurtures AI incubation projects such as HeyAni, an AI “venture capital agent” poised to revolutionize how entrepreneurs pitch blockchain ideas.

Final Thoughts

Animoca Brands’ 2024 achievements highlight its continuing influence in Web3 infrastructure, gaming, and beyond. From innovative digital identity solutions and on-chain education financing to strategic AI collaborations, the Company’s multi-faceted approach positions it at the forefront of next-generation blockchain development. With strong momentum heading into 2025, Animoca Brands appears set to maintain its leadership role in fueling the adoption of Web3 and AI-driven solutions worldwide.

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/animoca-brands-surges-with-daa-moca-network-and-ai-innovations-in-2024/feed/ 0 23611 Standard Chartered, Animoca, and HKT to Develop HKD-Pegged Stablecoin https://earlybirdsinvest.com/standard-chartered-animoca-and-hkt-to-develop-hkd-pegged-stablecoin/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/standard-chartered-animoca-and-hkt-to-develop-hkd-pegged-stablecoin/#respond Sun, 23 Feb 2025 04:54:39 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/standard-chartered-animoca-and-hkt-to-develop-hkd-pegged-stablecoin/

Standard Chartered Bank Hong Kong (SCBHK), Animoca Brands, and Hong Kong Telecommunications (HKT) have partnered to establish a joint venture (JV) focused on issuing a Hong Kong dollar-backed stablecoin.

The JV intends to apply for a license under the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s (HKMA) new regulatory framework.

HKD-Backed Stablecoin

According to the official press release, SCBHK, Animoca Brands, and HKT have engaged in HKMA’s stablecoin issuer sandbox since July 2024. The trio has been assessing how stablecoins can facilitate financial market development and payments by connecting Web3 and traditional finance.

The partnership is in line with Hong Kong’s ambition to strengthen its role as a global digital assets hub. By leveraging expertise across banking, telecommunications, and blockchain, the JV aims to create a secure and regulatory-compliant stablecoin framework.

The initiative aligns with the city-state’s broader strategy to boost digital finance adoption while ensuring compliance with evolving regulatory requirements. In an official statement, Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive of Standard Chartered, said,

“Digital assets are here to stay and the development of different forms of tokenized money is integral to the advancement of this industry. That is why we are actively involved in various Central Bank Digital Currencies, tokenized deposits, and, of course, stablecoins projects. We are introducing solutions and instruments that service this market and meet the growing client demand. As public chain instruments with proven use cases, stablecoins play a critical role in the overall digital asset ecosystem.”

Hong Kong Eyes Bitcoin as a Strategic Asset

Besides the ambitious stablecoin initiative, Hong Kong is also considering adding Bitcoin (BTC) to its fiscal reserves as a hedge against inflation and a store of value.

Wu Jiexhuang, a Hong Kong legislative council member, recently proposed using foreign exchange funds to acquire Bitcoin, citing potential benefits such as attracting talent, boosting the local crypto industry, and increasing tax revenue.

He said that leveraging China’s “one country, two systems” framework, adding Bitcoin to Hong Kong’s reserves could give the region an early advantage and help mitigate economic instability from its wider adoption in traditional financial markets.

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