🍩 DONUT HOLES

• Why Apple x Goldman Sachs is the future of banking. Traditional banks are falling, and Apple’s offering 4.15% annual returns.

• Coinbase fires back at the SEC. This may crypto’s best chance at fighting against the Goliath.

• Cosmose AI, now valued at $500M, is working with Near’s crypto solution—even ditching Stripe.

• “Crypto is dead in America” - A Pomp article

• Forbes Blockchain 50 2023—some unexpected appearances include Estée Lauder, which uses blockchain to track its supply chain

NFT x WEB2

The sickest Air Force 1s you’ve ever seen

Ready for the rarest kicks on Earth?

The world of sneakers and NFTs is colliding, and Nike's making sure they're right in the mix. After acquiring the cutting-edge NFT and AR company RTFKT, they've teamed up with the legendary artist Takashi Murakami for an epic sneaker-NFT combo. Oh, and the best part? You can actually snag a pair of these ultra-rare virtual-turned-real kicks yourself 👟.

What on earth is RTFKT?

Pronounced “artifact”, they're this mind-blowing company that creates digital sneakers and other virtual wearables using blockchain and AR. They've been shaking up the sneaker and crypto realms with their innovative NFT designs. So yeah, they're making virtual kicks you can buy, sell, and even flaunt in both virtual and real worlds! 🤯

The coolest Air Force 1s to exist

Just a few months ago, RTFKT sold Air Force 1 NFTs based on the different traits for CloneX, their first NFT collection upon joining Nike. CloneX was a collab project with none other than pop artist Takashi Murakami—famous for his vibrant, smiling flower designs—so naturally, the Air Force 1s as well.

Now, for the big news: RTFKT launched a "forging event" this week, where NFT holders can turn their Air Force 1 NFTs into actual, wearable shoes! This epic event runs til’ May 8th on the RTFKT website. Each pair of real sneakers is only up for grabs during this limited time and is made to order.

Get your hands on them

Many think this may be a very sound investment, looking at past limited edition sneakers from Nike:

1. Nike Air Force Tiffany (1,837 pairs produced, $1,045 on StockX)

2. Nike G-Dragon Peaceminusone Paranoise (818 pairs produced, $1,600 on StockX)

So, want to join the action? You can get your own on OpenSea, where the NFTs' current prices range from about $560 to $9,200, depending on the style and rarity. The priciest pair, the Alien sneakers, have just 55 pairs available, which means no one knows how expensive they can trade for in the future.

And remember, you have to forge them before May 8, or else you’ll just be stuck with the digital pair of shoes.

ETHEREUM

ETH leaves Apple’s new savings account in the dust

Earn interest on your ETH

Do you have your ETH sitting in a wallet, doing nothing? Why not put it to work?

Just like you can earn interest by stashing your cash in a bank, you can stake your Ether and earn interest too! With a tasty 5% yield, it's a fantastic choice for those who are going to HODL their ETH. I mean, if Apple's new 4.15% savings account is shaking up traditional banking, then Ethereum staking is a total no-brainer!

Debate around the Shapella upgrade

So, should you give Ethereum staking a shot? Let's look back at the hot debate that kicked off on the 12th when Ethereum withdrawals from staking became possible. There were two camps: those who thought the total staked amount would drop due to withdrawals, and those who believed deposits would go up once withdrawals were allowed.

In the end, Team Deposits came out on top. Net deposits mostly stayed positive, and the total staked amount increased by around 400,000. With 15.42% of all Ethereum now staked and that percentage still rising, it's clear that more and more people see it as a solid medium to long-term investment.

Staking for the win

So, if you're looking for an alternative to traditional banking or even Apple's trending savings account, Ethereum staking could be your next go-to for higher returns. 

Visit Lido where they guarantee 5% APY on your ETH, with no minimum deposits.

Just make sure you're all in on Ethereum's potential before you dive in, since the price of ETH is still volatile. If it soars, though, then it’s a win-win!

🐦 TWEET OF THE WEEK

Did I mention? They absolutely nailed the design and graphics on this collaboration. It's obvious that the creative wizards at Nike and RTFKT had a blast concocting this visual extravaganza, mashing up artistic genius with cutting-edge tech.

We're stoked to see what other mind-blowing collabs Nike and RTFKT will whip up in the future 🔥👟