OpenSea Smashes Monthly Record with $3.5B in NFT Transactions
OpenSea is off to a sprinting start to 2022. To date, the NFT marketplace has registered $3.5B in sales in January, setting a record for transactions with two weeks left to go in the month. With the total, OpenSea eclipsed its previous record of $3.42 million set in August 2021. On January 9, the site posted its busiest day in history with $261.6 million in trading volume.
Matsuyama Sinks Playoff Eagle to Secure $1.35M Purse at Sony Open
Hideki Mastuyama kicked off the year with a win at the Sony Open in Hawaii. The Japanese golfer shot 23 under par, sinking an eagle putt in the playoffs to beat American Russell Henley to secure the $1.35 million payday. Last year’s Masters champion will head to Torrey Pines next week as part of the star-studded field vying for victory at the Farmers Open.
UEFA Women’s Champions League Tickets Sell Out in Three Days
Barcelona and Real Madrid are set to face off in the Champions League quarterfinal in March, but it will be tough to come by tickets. UEFA reports that it sold 85,000 tickets in three days for the battle of the Spanish rivals which is set to take place at Camp Nou. The game will mark the second time that the Barcelona women’s team has played at the stadium, but the first time with fans.
Crypto.com Goes All in on Australian Football with $25M Deal
Crypto.com is expanding its sports portfolio down under. The cryptocurrency exchange has reportedly signed a deal with the Australian Football League to back its women’s league. Details of the deal indicate that it is worth $25 million over five years, making it the most valuable deal in the women’s league’s history. Crypto.com has assembled a deep portfolio of sports endorsements that includes Formula1, a patch deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, and naming rights for the former Staples Center among many others.
China Restricts Ticket Sales for Upcoming Olympics
We are just a few weeks out from the opening ceremonies, but Beijing officials are still monitoring the logistics of the upcoming Olympics. On Monday, they announced that ticket sales will not be made available to the public in order to defend against the current Covid-19 surge. Attendance will be limited to residents of mainland China, who can demonstrate adherence to “Covid-19 countermeasures.” The news comes as the first documented case of Omicron was recorded in Beijing on Jan. 15. The Games are set to begin on Feb. 4.
Walmart Sets Stage for Metaverse Launch
Walmart is venturing into the metaverse with plans to create its own cryptocurrency and a collection of NFTs. Josh Gerben reports that the retail giant filed for seven different trademarks at the end of 2021 that indicate its intent to create a virtual currency and more.
The Clock Strikes on Big Ben’s Career
The two-time Super Bowl champ went 29 for 44 for 215 yards and two touchdowns in what is expected to be his final game in the NFL. Roethlisberger played 18 seasons with the Steelers, and took home over $267.2 million in career earnings, making him the third highest-paid player in NFL history. The Chiefs overcame ferocious play from T.J. Watt, who forced an interception and hauled in a second, sealing the 42-21 win at Arrowhead Stadium. They will face the Bills in next week’s divisional round.