HSBC has filed a series of trademarks related to metaverse banking and NFTs. The move signals the company’s interest in exploring the virtual world alongside other financial institutions such as JPMorgan, Visa, PayPal, and Western Union. Queen Productions Ltd, the production company managing the intellectual property of British rock band Queen, has also filed patents related to the metaverse and NFTs. The band plans to offer NFT-authenticated media, virtual merchandise, and develop virtual and mixed-reality software.
Meanwhile, Yuga Labs launched its latest NFT game called HV-MTL Forge, marking the ninth iteration of its ten-step gaming-focused storyline. The event involves users building homes for their respective NFT characters. According to Yuga, competing in the game unlocks further upgrades for the Mechs, which are part of the 30,000-piece collection of “Mech” NFTs that stands adjacent to the company’s flagship collection, the Bored Ape Yacht Club.
In addition, American snack brand Slim Jim announced its first step into Web3 with the launch of its humorously named “Meataverse” that includes NFTs and a cryptocurrency. The upshot is a total of 10,000 NFTs called “GigaJims” up for grabs on its website. The NFTs, free-to-mint, provide holders with access to perks and benefits that are set to be unveiled in the near future.
Overall, these announcements signal the growing adoption of virtual reality, cryptocurrency, and NFTs, with more companies exploring the potential of the metaverse and blockchain-based technologies.