How to Tweak Your NFT Strategy Amid Crypto Winter

velvetsea SUPERF3ST, Velvet Sea Ventures

The NFT party is not over; it’s just on ice. Here’s how to weather the elements. For NFT or crypto creators, the article outlines three ideas for building heat during the crypto winter. One idea is to “go beyond the NFT.”  Velvet Sea Ventures, for example, is helping the art community SUPERF3ST to launch a music festival for the growing NFT and Crypto community during NFT.NYC this year. The goal …

Crypto’s Role in Russia-Ukraine Crisis

velvetsea Elementus

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has challenged crypto exchanges on their commitment to immutable transactions. Elementus CEO and Co-founder Max Galka joined CoinDesk TV’s”First Mover” to share his take on crypto’s role in the Russia-Ukraine war, discussing ransomware, Russia, and how crypto asset exchanges can use blockchain analytics technology to proactively clean up the crypto space (segment starts ~2:40): Watch the segment here.    

How Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Is a Litmus Test for Cryptocurrency Exchanges

velvetsea Elementus

The exchanges have resisted blocking Russian users from using their services. But technology exists that might help them to maintain their principles and identify bad actors. Many companies have withdrawn from Russia to protest Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. So far, major cryptocurrency exchanges in the U.S. have resisted, saying they won’t do it unilaterally. Read more here.

Conti Ransomware Gang Threatens Costa Rica’s Government

velvetsea Elementus, Velvet Sea Ventures

Max Galka, CEO, founder, and chief data scientist at Elementus, agreed. While he didn’t think the threat of regime change was credible, ransomware inside a federal or national government is still a major crisis. “If I were in the shoes of the Costa Rican government, I would be extremely nervous,” he said. “And the truth is, even they probably don’t know the full extent of what the ransomware could do.” He …

Crypto Thieves Get Bolder by the Heist, Stealing Record Amounts

velvetsea Elementus

Cryptocurrency hacks are getting bigger.  On Sunday, a hacker exploited a new algorithmic stablecoin project called Beanstalk and drained it of $182 million worth of digital assets.  Hackers are finding larger exploits amid the increase of decentralized finance, or DeFi, projects. Hackers tend to target new protocols that haven’t been fully tested and vetted, said Max Galka, chief executive of crypto forensics firm Elementus. Read WSJ article here.

Tom Brady Autograph

Autograph x ESPN Collaboration Kicks Off with Man in the Arena: Tom Brady NFT Collection

velvetsea Autograph, Velvet Sea Ventures

ESPN and Autograph, the Web3 brand co-founded by Tom Brady that is pioneering a new era of digital experiences, today announced a multi-year deal for ESPN’s first NFT. The collaboration kicks off with a NFT collection based on Man in the Arena: Tom Brady, the 10-part ESPN+ documentary series produced by Religion of Sports, a media company in which Brady is also a co-founder. Read more.

Pixel Vault banks $100 million in funding to chase an NFT media empire

velvetsea Pixel Vault, Velvet Sea Ventures

Investors’ latest NFT bet is on a startup called Pixel Vault — a massive NFT collection of superheroes that has the goal of growing into a decentralized Marvel-esque empire. The NFT startup tells TechCrunch it has closed a whopping $100 million in funding from Adam Bain and Dick Costolo’s 01 Advisors and Velvet Sea Ventures. Read the entire TechCrunch article.