Weekly Digest: Space Tourism Boom, Game Industry Funds, New Metaverse Opportunities

Metaverse Everdome Introduces a Staking Platform

Everdome, the Metahero project, has presented the next stage of its development offering users a new incentive for staking. This is a way of earning rewards for holding certain cryptocurrencies.

From now on, users and early holders of the DOME token can place their assets for up to 52 weeks via the Everdome website.

The annual percentage yield (APY) for a weekly period is 100%, and for 52 weeks is 200%. Currently, there are more than $66 million at stake and the token is already available on PancakeSwap, OkX, and Kanga. The project allocated $60 million to receive remuneration for staking.

What is Everdome?

Everdome is a hyperrealistic metaverse project. Thanks to using Unreal Engine 5 technologies, the company can produce super realistic images and provide a total immersion into another world.

Metahero

The project was established with its own $10 million fund in early 2021. It is aimed at involving 10 million new users in the crypto reality. The mission of Metahreo is to upgrade cryptography by introducing the concept of metascanning, which is supposed to become an everyday part of the metaverse. 3D modeling and scanning technology generates ultra-realistic avatars and various virtual things for game universes using virtual reality, social networks, etc. This technology also allows users to generate NFT from real collectibles and works of art.

Metahero is also collaborating with Wolf Digital World (WDW) to develop 3D scanning technology. WDW has built and developed a life-size physical camera that will allow Metahero to scan and store the largest database of items. This way, people will be able to scan themselves, getting their own lifelike digital avatar. WDW has worked with such recognizable brands as Ferrari, Heineken and Disney.

Binance and Animoca Invest $200M in GameFi

There is a massive cash influx in the gaming industry, which actively boosts its development. Lately, GameFi raised $200 million from Binance and Animoca.

The brands have teamed up to make a contribution to blockchain games. Investments are aimed to accelerate the development of the Animoca blockchain interaction and help the company understand cryptography.

Animoca`s background

The company was founded by Yat Siu in 2014. Based in Hong-Kong, it develops and distributes free games and applications. Animoca is chiefly focused on licensing well-known brands, blockchain and artificial intelligence.

In January 2022, the company raised approximately $360 million in fresh funding at a valuation of over $5 billion. It’s great progress compared with the previous $65 million round when the company was valued at $2.2 billion. The amount is even more impressive considering that Animoca was valued at $1 billion in a $138 million funding in July 2021.

Aims of the Deal

As Venture Beat reports, a half of investments will be borrowed from Binance's recent $1 billion growth fund, and the other one comes directly from Animoca. The partnership will allow Animoca to work closely with Binance Smart Chain (BSC) to help incubate and stimulate new gaming ventures in one of the largest networks in the world.

"GameFi's early projects currently require funding to build their products," Animoca executive chairman Yat Siu explained. "They need support to enhance their industry experience in open-world gaming as well as network opportunities for the development of blockchain games and an open metaverse."

The investment in Animoca followed the startup's recent valuation of $2.2 billion in October. This move combines Animoca with BSC, which has the largest GameFi presence. Blockchain games are rapidly gaining popularity. However, they still need much time to be completed.

Space Tourism Boom

In the light of arising geopolitical problems, the demand for space tourism suddenly soared in 2022. Bob Smith, CEO of Jeff Bezos-owned Blue Origin, argued the company is intended to build more rockets to take everyone on a space tour.

While Virgin Galactic launched ticket sales last week, SpaceX announced that their billionaire client will make a spacewalk for the first time this year. Although space tourism seems to be an exciting adventure and highly profitable initiative, it still can be dangerous.

Current Space Leaders

There are relatively few companies in the space tourism market right now. The most prominent ones are Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic, and Elon Musk's SpaceX. In 2021, Roscosmos resumed private passenger flights, sending Japanese tourists to the ISS.

Bezos`s New Shepard VS Branson`s SpaceShip

In the meantime, the companies' packages of services are different. Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic are able to send tourists into space for three to four minutes. Though both of them provide suborbital flights, Branson's ship can reach an altitude of around 90 km while Bezos`s New Shepard exceeded 100-kilometer altitude last year.

In addition, Branson's SpaceShip can carry eight people — two pilots and six passengers whereas New Shepard presents a system of a booster rocket and a self-piloted capsule accommodating six passengers.

SpaceX`s Tours

Elon Musk offers a more interesting and lengthy tour. Last year, SpaceX sent a crew of four tourists into space on the Crew Dragon ship. It reached an altitude of 575 km above sea level and was in orbit for three days. Jared Isaacman, who led the team of astronauts on that flight, recently announced that he plans to buy three flights more from Musk's company. The first one is scheduled for this year.

How much does a space flight cost?

To purchase a ticket for the New Shepard ship, you now need to take part in an auction. Last fall, Bezos said the company had sold $100 million worth of tickets but did not disclose the number of tickets sold. It is known that the winner of the first auction paid $28 million for their ticket.

On February 15, the cost of a ticket from Virgin Galactic, Richard Branson's company, became undisclosed — the flight will cost $450,000. In terms of altitude and flight duration, the services of both companies are quite similar. Virgin Galactic added the possibility of booking tickets, announced that more than 700 tickets have already been sold, and promises to make three flights a month from 2023.

Space Prospects

The market size of space launch services was valued at nearly $10 billion in 2019. However, it can exceed $30 billion escalating at a CAGR of 16% from 2020 to 2027.

Cosmonautics has always been considered one of the most dangerous industries. The main risk at the moment is a high accident rate. From an emergency rescue system, spacesuits and braking propulsion system to depressurization, can fail. However, it is believed that new generations of rockets have lowered the accident rate.

Mobile World Congress to Open its Doors

This is one of the world's largest exhibitions of the mobile industry with the participation of heads of mobile operators, sellers and, content owners across the globe.

It was held in Barcelona and last from 28-th February until 3-d March. More than 2,400 companies presented the latest technologies, products, and services on 120,000 square meters of Fira Gran Via exhibition.

Participants explored the era of Intelligent Connectivity which remains the key area and describes a powerful combination of flexible, high-speed 5G, IoT, AI, and big data networks. Intelligent interaction marks the beginning of a new era defined by highly contextualized and personalized experiences provided whenever you want. They are shaping the future of the mobile industry and bringing new innovations that connect everyone and everything.

MWC Subjects

5G Technology

It will create speed, flexibility, and agility to deliver much higher services and performance with stronger reliability. The purpose of the connection is to highlight the requirements necessary for 5G to become a reality: from implementation, use of scenarios, business models, spectrum, and regulation to business and cultural challenges of working with diverse markets or industries.

Immersive Content

As expectations for AR, VR, and other forms of richer immersive content grow, so does the impact on networks, event venues, and overall consumer engagement. Immersive Content examines the problems, revenue generation models, as well as the relationship between consumption growth and network bandwidth.

Disruptive Innovation

Disruptive Innovation is woven into every aspect of the event as the speed of innovation and its spread continues to accelerate. Companies need to be vigilant as well as flexible to identify and then implement them in the mobile industry.

Digital Wellness

Digital technologies affect all aspects of our lives, mainly through our smartphones and, consequently, mobile networks. There is also growing concern about the addictive nature of technology, as well as the influence on mental health.