|
EDITOR'S NOTE
China's National Day on October 1 saw many digital collectible platforms launching collections celebrating the development of New China and the history of Chinese Communism. This is not only a reflection of the industry's growing interests and presence in China's festival market, but also shows the efforts of digital platforms to gain acceptance and recognition from the mainstream and Chinese government.
If you have any feedback or Asia-related crypto news to share for potential coverage, please reach out to Yifan Liu at yifan@jingculturecommerce.com.
|
|
|
DIGITAL COLLECTIBLES
News about China-based platforms and digital collectible drops
|
|
MULTIPLE PLATFORMS MARK CHINA'S NATIONAL DAY
To mark China's National Day, a host of platforms have unveiled commemorative collectibles. There's Yishujia Digital Technology and Shenzhen Model's National Day 73rd Anniversary Commemorative Medal, priced at 10 million; Star Pocket's 3D digital collectible series My People, My Country, a celebration of historic moments since the founding of New China; and Shucang China's multiple digital collection series to celebrate Chinese "red culture." On September 26, a “Metaverse National Day Festival" was also unveiled by China's digital IP platform to highlight national identities.
TIME UNIVERSE BY YOUKU
Youku has launched its first cloud IP collection space Time Universe (时光宇宙)” where users can find digital collectibles corresponding to film and TV IPs. By watching related programs — from TV shows like Immortal Samsara to international films like Jurassic World — users can acquire unique identification numbers and redeem digital collectibles, which are packaged with other benefits.
DIGITAL COLLECTIBLES BY THE CAPITAL MUSEUM CHINA
The Capital Museum China recently launched a couple of digital collectibles on the Youwu platform. They feature the museum’s significant collections including Bo Ju Li (伯矩鬲) and Turquoise Green Pattern Jug, allowing the institution to digitize the nation's heritage. Along with these digital collectibles, Youwu is also hosting a series of games to reward its users and stimulate purchases.
|
|
|
IN THE METAVERSE
What's happening in China's billion-dollar metaverse industry
|
|
|
Image: Courtesy of the Confucius Cultural Festival
|
|
THE FIRST CONFUCIUS MEMORIAL CEREMONY IN THE METAVERSE
To pay tribute to Confucius' 2,573rd birthday, the Cultural Heritage Development Center in Jining, Shandong Province, home of Confucius, organized a VR ceremony in the metaverse on September 28. Participants could explore a 600-seat auditorium with a giant curved screen for video display, as well as a Confucius-inspired canopy that displayed 28 posters about Confucian culture.
A SIDE OF JADE-VERSE BY HYLINK AND PHOENIX DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
Chinese digital advertising company Hylink and Phoenix Digital Technology, which is affiliated with the Phoenix TV station, are jointly testing the metaverse A Side of Jade-Verse (一方玉宙). This space is themed after traditional Chinese culture, and based on ancient scrolls and other museum resources. It will function as a new virtual environment that integrates learning experiences, interactive exhibitions, information sharing, cultural dissemination, and open exploration.
MOUNTAINS AND SEAS OF CHINA BY XINHUANET
State media outlet Xinhuanet.com and the digital promotion company Shunya International have announced plans to jointly launch a metaverse called Mountains and Seas of China (山海中国). The metaverse will be dedicated to promoting Chinese culture and tourism, and will establish partnerships with museums, tourist sites, performance groups, tech companies, and brands. This space will provide various services including virtual performances, malls, exhibitions, and digital humans.
|
|
|
ELSEWHERE IN ASIA
How NFTs and the metaverse are taking root across the region
|
|
|
Image: Courtesy of Blake Kathryn
|
|
Æ GIRLS BY AESPA X BLAKE KATHRYN
K-pop group Aespa is launching a NFT collection with the Web3 artist Blake Kathryn that will give fans access to exclusive content, including the chance to meet-and-greet the group in Seoul. From October 13, NFTs from the æ girls collection will be auctioned on Sotheby’s NFT marketplace in three parts. The collection will also be on view at Sotheby's galleries in New York and Hong Kong.
BUSAN TAPS K-POP METAVERSE TO WIN 2030 WORLD EXPO BID
To promote its efforts to host the World Expo in 2030, Busan, South Korea has unveiled a virtual environment on Zepeto dubbed the 2030 World Expo X4 Entertainment World. Aimed at attracting young consumers, the space will encompass attractions such as a virtual entertainment agency fronted by Squid Game's Lee Jung-jae, and a virtual band featuring avatars of K-pop icons such as Zion.T and Wonstein.
|
|
|
IN THE STATS
The latest data and research into China's Web3 market
|
|
Image: Zhaopin.com
On September 27, Zhaopin, a leading recruitment website, released its 2022 Metaverse Industry Talent Development Report based on its online database. The report shows that from January to July 2022, the number of metaverse-related job recruitments across the platform has achieved significant growth of 16.6 percent year-on-year.
Image: Zhaopin.com
The report also shows that about 80 percent of respondents are eager to work in the metaverse industry, particularly Generation Z-ers. The majority foresee good prospects for growth, while more than half expressed personal interest in the industry. On the other hand, 70.3 percent of people who aren't keen to move into the metaverse sector are concerned about high threshold for technologies and skills required by the industry.
|
|
|
KEY VOICES
Quotable insights from industry players
|
|
|
Image: Shanghai International Blockchain Week 2022
|
|
|
"Many museums mint NFTs of their collections in virtual museums, but do they have the rights to do so? This is a question that needs to be asked."
— Li Ming (李鸣), Committee Chair, IEEE
At the 8th Global Blockchain Summit held by Wanxiang Blockchain Lab during the Shanghai International Blockchain Week 2022, Li discussed the potential risks and ethical issues of the blockchain and metaverse technologies, especially when it came to museums. Because regulatory requirements vary across different countries, the application of blockchain technology will certainly involve issues such as the flow of data across borders. He believes that any new technology with great prospects will inevitably be negatively exploited, hence the infrastructure of the metaverse should integrate systems, laws, and regulations.
|
|
|
|
|
