McDonald’s and Doodles Partner to Serve NFTs
McDonald’s is taking a significant step into the world of Web3 with a new partnership. The fast-food giant is teaming up with NFT brand, Doodles, for a holiday-themed campaign. This collaboration will blend physical and digital experiences, offering customers a unique way to engage with both brands. Starting November 18th, Doodles artwork will be featured on 100 million McCafe Holiday Cups across US McDonald’s restaurants. However, this is more than just a visual makeover. Customers who purchase a McCafe beverage through the McDonald’s app will receive a code, redeemable within Doodles Stoodio, an online platform where users can create and customize avatars. The code unlocks a digital pack of McDonald’s x Doodles branded collectibles. Doodles: From NFT Project to Mainstream Brand Doodles is known for its colorful, hand-drawn aesthetic and imaginative universe. From a popular NFT project, it has evolved to a broader entertainment brand. Again, the project has cultivated a loyal following of collectors and enthusiasts and collaborated with other major brands like Adidas. The project has also expanded beyond its original Ethereum-based NFT collection to include an avatar creation app on the Ethereum Layer-2 network Base. According to Tariq Hassan, McDonald’s USA Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer, “Beyond the web3 scope, we chose Doodles because they are an agent of change in the cultural landscape.” A History of Digital Innovation This isn’t McDonald’s first foray into Web3. The company has previously launched McRib-inspired NFTs and experimented with metaverse activations. This partnership with Doodles, however, represents a significant step forward in their digital strategy. By embracing NFTs and partnering with a prominent Web3 brand, McDonald’s is signaling its commitment to innovation and engaging with younger, tech-savvy audiences. This partnership signifies a growing trend. Major companies are increasingly recognizing the potential of NFTs to engage consumers in new ways. This creates unique opportunities for brands to connect with their audiences. Already, the collaboration has generated significant excitement within the NFT community. Doodles’ trading volume surged by 682% in the week following the announcement. The floor price of Doodles NFTs also saw a major increase.
Irish Authorities Seize $3.4 Million in Crypto Linked to Pig Butchering Scam
In a major crackdown on cryptocurrency fraud, Irish authorities have seized over $3.42 million worth of cryptocurrency linked to a pig butchering scam operated by a Chinese syndicate. The operation, led by the Garda Síochána (Irish police) in collaboration with Europol and other agencies, targeted a sophisticated money laundering network that spanned multiple European countries. A raid in Dublin led to two suspects being detained during while authorities also seized €20,000 in cash, digital devices, and documents. The investigation uncovered suspicious transactions across hundreds of bank accounts in over 15 European countries. This may mean there is an advance web of money laundering activities. The Nature of Pig Butchering Scams The pig butchering scam involves criminals cultivating relationships with victims over time, often through social media or dating apps. They “fatten up” their victims by gaining their trust and then persuading them to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes. These schemes often promise high returns but are ultimately designed to steal the victims’ money. “The scammers will spend weeks, even months, just building a foundation of trust with their victim,” explained FBI Supervisory Special Agent Keith Custer in a previous warning about these scams. Once the victims invest significant sums in the project, the scammers disappear, leaving them with nothing. A Growing Threat The Irish bust serves as a warning to both potential victims and perpetrators. Also, it highlights the dedication of law enforcement to pursuing these criminals and bringing them to justice. Likewise, it underscores the need for public awareness and education about pig butchering scams to prevent individuals from falling prey to these devastating schemes. Again, collaboration between law enforcement agencies across different countries is important to combat these sophisticated schemes.
Linea Charts a Course for Decentralization with New Association and Token Launch
ConsenSys, a leading Ethereum software company, is taking a significant step towards decentralizing its Layer-2 scaling solution, Linea. At Devcon in Bangkok, the company announced the formation of the Linea Association to guide the development and governance of Linea. This move marks a crucial milestone in Linea’s journey towards becoming a truly community-driven ecosystem. The Linea Association will oversee the growth and evolution of Linea’s technology and ecosystem. This includes supporting the Linea Mainnet, a zkEVM Layer-2 solution designed to scale Ethereum while preserving its security and decentralization. “Decentralization is at the core of Linea’s vision,” said Nicolas Liochon, founder of Linea and board member of the Linea Association. “Linea must be owned and governed openly by all as a public good, just as Layer 1 Ethereum is.” The Linea Token and Governance A key aspect of the Linea Association’s mission is to foster community-driven governance. To achieve this, the association plans to launch the Linea token in the first quarter of 2025. This token will empower holders to participate in decision-making processes, shaping the future direction of Linea. “We want to do this in a very sort of open and transparent way,” said Linea product lead Declan Fox, emphasizing the association’s commitment to community involvement. The Linea Association will provide a framework for token holders to exercise governance over various aspects of the platform, ensuring a decentralized and inclusive approach to decision-making. Building a Thriving Ecosystem Through The Linea Association Since its mainnet launch in August 2023, Linea has experienced rapid growth. With over 230 million transactions and a partner network of more than 420 organizations, Linea has become one of the fastest-growing zkEVM platforms on Ethereum. The Linea Association aims to further accelerate this growth by fostering a thriving ecosystem of developers, users, and partners. Likewise, the association will focus on supporting developers in creating user-friendly decentralized applications, particularly through integration with MetaMask. Joseph Lubin, founder and CEO of ConsenSys, believes that the Linea Association represents a crucial step towards achieving true decentralization for Layer-2 solutions. “We don’t believe that layer 2s that are overly controlled by a company or a very narrow group of actors […] will be very successful,” Lubin stated.
