If you ever come across Elon Musk, or at least what appears to be, promoting a cryptocurrency called BitVex, just know that it’s just a deepfake of the Tesla and SpaceX CEO. What makes this deepfake so special among the millions of clips uploaded each days is the fact that Elon Musk actually Tweeted that this was definitely not him.
RTFKT and Nike partnered to debut CryptoKicks, which are essentially virtual NFT sneakers for the metaverse. These are so popular that some of them have sold for upwards of $80,000+ USD, thanks in part due to the customization features. Users are able to customize these sneakers using ‘skin vials’ from various designers, allowing one to change patterns and add effects such as flashing lights.
“Merry Christmas” is reportedly the first SMS ever sent, and it just sold for a whopping €132,680 ($150,094 USD) as an NFT at auction. This message was reportedly sent on the Vodafone network way back in December 1992 and all proceeds raised from this sale will be donated to the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.
Hamsters have been taught to play video games, and now, trading various cryptocurrency assets. Meet Mr. Goxx, the world’s first crypto-trading hamster, who spends his time in an apartment-like living space, complete with a separate office for his money making ventures. Put simply, the office consists of an “intention wheel” in which he runs on to select a currency to trade, while two tunnels allow him to buy or sell the currency selected with the wheel. Read more for two videos and additional information.
If you spend $280,000 CAD on this auction and managed to win, you’ll get a unique 1 of 1 non-fungible token (NFT). This digital asset is basically hosted on the blockchain, inspired by the brand’s GT-R sports car, and was created by Canadian artist Alex McLeod. Now the kicker is that it does come with a bonus in the form of keys to an accompanying 2021 GT-R NISMO Special Edition in an exclusive Stealth Grey exterior color, which makes the reserve price on the auction much more reasonable. Read more for a short video and additional information.
As of Tuesday (Sep. 7), El Salvador is now the world’s first country to recognize bitcoin as legal tender, according to President Nayib Bukele. The country hopes that the Salvadorans living abroad will be able to save millions of dollars in commissions on money sent home, which reached nearly $6-billion in 2020 alone. However, the government did warn that it could increase regulatory, financial and operational hazards for financial institutions. Read more for two videos and additional information.
The Malaysia department discovered that a Bitcoin mining farm was stealing electricity for their ASIC machines, so they not only shut down the operation, but also steamrolled 1,069 of their machines. This was a joint operation carried out by the police department and Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) in Miri that took place between February-April, 2021. An investigation was carried out after residents complained of frequent power outages. Read more to see these machines get steamrolled.
Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) in South Korea has unveiled a bizarre toilet that is designed to turn human waste into digital currency that can be used by students and faculty members. Called the BeeVi Toilet, designed by urban and environmental engineering professor Cho Jae-weon, essentially utilizes a vacuum pump to send excrement into an underground tank, reducing water use. Read more for a video and additional information.
Ukrainian authorities seized 3,800 Sony PlayStation 4 consoles being used for a cryptocurrency mining operation, and despite not being the most efficient machine for the task, the sheer number of them got the job done. Other hardware seized include over 50 computer processors and 500 graphics processing units (GPUs). The group of miners were charged with “theft of water, electricity or thermal energy through its unauthorized use.”
It’s true, cryptocurrency is taking over the world after already making its mark in the world of physical art and objects. Sotheby’s announced that they will accept cryptocurrency for one of the earth’s rarest treasures, a massive 101.38-carat pear-shaped D Flawless diamond. It has an estimated value of US$10-15 million (HK$78-118 million), and according to Sotheby’s, no other physical object with this value has ever been publicly offered for purchase with cryptocurrency. Read more for a video and additional information.