The largest client manufacturers that engaged with crypto in 2021

2021 was an thrilling 12 months for crypto, with a number of well-known — some sudden — manufacturers coming into the crypto sector. Here’s taking a look at you, Charmin, and your bathroom paper nonfungible tokens (NFTs). The 12 months noticed its justifiable share of moments that had crypto fans on the sting of their seats.

While many individuals continued to speak usually concerning the revolutionary energy of cryptocurrencies and blockchain, it appears as if 2021 was the 12 months when the concepts underlying these applied sciences really took maintain of the consciousness of the mainstream. From NFTs to Web3, there has by no means been extra curiosity expressed from conventional gamers in relation to this fast-expanding ecosystem.

Here are among the largest strikes made by main client manufacturers to interact with and undertake numerous crypto-centric applied sciences — be it merely shopping for Bitcoin (BTC) or releasing an NFT assortment. 

Tesla makes waves by shopping for Bitcoin

No checklist of this nature will be full with out mentioning the information that most likely bought most of right now’s youthful — and certain older, too — crypto traders within the house. In February, Elon Musk’s Tesla made a bombshell announcement, revealing it had invested a whopping $1.5 billion {dollars} in Bitcoin. This was almost 8% of Tesla’s $19 billion money and money equal reserves, the quantity it held in accordance with a 2020 Securities and Exchange Commission submitting.

As quickly as Musk made his foray into the world of cryptocurrencies, the worth of Bitcoin shot up meteorically — rising from $38,000 to over $57,000 inside roughly two weeks. Not solely that, however over the course of the 12 months, Musk revealed to the world that he had additionally made sizable acquisitions of different belongings like Ether (ETH) and Dogecoin (DOGE), though he didn’t disclose the precise quantities.

Dallas Mavericks begin accepting Dogecoin

Another choice that had crypto traders everywhere in the world fairly intrigued was Mark Cuban’s transfer in March to permit followers of his NBA franchise, the Dallas Mavericks, to purchase tickets and different licensed merchandise utilizing Dogecoin, the favored meme cryptocurrency. And whereas the transfer got here as a shock to some, for these following the crypto market intently, the choice was fully consistent with Cuban’s all-encompassing imaginative and prescient for the fledgling altcoin sector.

Over the course of 2021, Cuban repeatedly referred to himself as an “Ethereum maxi,” claiming that the blockchain’s fast-expanding ecosystem may simply be one of many largest tech revolutions of the twenty first century. He additionally publicly hailed Dogecoin as a superior medium of change than Bitcoin. 

Nike enters the Metaverse

In December, sportswear producer Nike made its crypto debut by revealing its acquisition of digital sneakers and collectibles model RTFKT. As a results of the partnership, Nike formally turned the biggest producer of athletic-based items inside the United States and one of many first big-name attire manufacturers to enter the burgeoning Metaverse ecosystem.

Nike CEO John Donahoe stated that the corporate will have the ability to “serve athletes and creators at the intersection of sport, creativity, gaming and culture” and “extend Nike’s digital footprint and capabilities.”

Adidas refuses to be left behind

Around the identical time as Nike’s aforementioned transfer, Adidas introduced that it was coming into the Metaverse in collaboration with various outstanding NFT initiatives, together with Bored Ape Yacht Club, Gmoney and Punks Comic. 

The first enterprise featured items of the Bored Ape NFT household redrawn to function Adidas’ iconic tracksuit. Meanwhile, the Gmoney tokens had been designed to leverage the affect of the outstanding NFT proponent, who was lately featured on Fortune NFTy 50. 

Adidas’ Punks Comic NFTs sought to carry collectively the world of nonfungible tokens and bodily comedian books to create a novel providing of so-called crypto comics.

Clinique launches NFT-based buyer loyalty program

Estée Lauder-owned cosmetics model Clinique launched choose NFTs final 12 months to assist improve the efficacy of its present buyer loyalty system in addition to add extra advertising and marketing weight to its present line of merchandise. 

The outstanding magnificence model allowed purchasers signed up for its rewards program to acquire these collectibles by merely sharing their “stories of optimism” through Instagram, TikTok and Twitter following a big buy.

Coca-Cola’s novel NFT program

Last 12 months, one of many world’s most recognizable model names, Coca-Cola, launched a particular NFT program to boost cash for Special Olympics International.

As a part of the charitable effort, digital collectible market OpenSea hosted the public sale of Coca-Cola’s NFTs over a three-day interval from July 30 to Aug. 1. The NFT collections had been devised along side famend digital artist and designer Tafi.

Luxury public sale home Sotheby’s accepts cryptocurrencies

Sotheby’s, one of many world’s most well-known public sale homes, introduced on May 4 that it could settle for Bitcoin and Ether bids (along with conventional fiat ones) for Banksy’s well-known art work “Love Is In The Air” as a part of its “Contemporary Art Sale” exhibition, making it the primary main public sale home to simply accept digital currencies for bodily items of artwork. 

Earlier, in April, Sotheby’s launched an NFT assortment titled “The Fungible” created by digital artist Pak. Each of the collectibles was offered through NFT platform Nifty Gateway.

Asics cashes in on the worldwide NFT mania 

July noticed main sports activities attire model Asics launch its first NFT assortment, “Sunrise Red,” to the plenty. A complete of 189 collectibles spanning a complete of 9 totally different Asics digital footwear merchandise — together with among the firm’s hottest types, akin to Gel-Lyte III, Gel-Quantum 360 and Metaracer — had been made accessible to prospects.

The firm revealed that proceeds from the public sale can be poured proper again into the Metaverse through its Digital Goods Artist-in-Residence Program, which has helped facilitate numerous collaborations between the corporate and various established and rising digital artists to design its subsequent wave of NFTs.