📝113: Are you a fan?
Memecoin celebrity scams. OpenAI's $40B SoftBank deal. Alo Yoga upgrades Alo Sanctuary on Roblox. Ondo introduces L1 for RWAs. Tether expands USDT in real estate. OpenAI launches "Deep Research".
Hey, it’s Marc.
Our weekly is two days later as we launched our big report on the future of fan engagement on Thursday:
“We’re building a scalable, blockchain-powered loyalty network where teams, brands, and fans interact seamlessly. If McDonald’s sponsors the Cavs, that same rewards system works for Real Madrid. One system. Infinite monetization opportunities.”
— John Timoney-Gomez, Co-Founder, Uptop
This week’s question:
👉 Keep up with all our signals for Web3 execs on our Telegram channel.
📚 Our Top Reads This Week
How Web3 is Unlocking Billions in New Revenue for Clubs & Brands [videox]. Link
Web3 Gaming, AI & The Rise of Telegram [Podcast]. Link
The State of AI in 2025 [Report]. Link
Another current state of AI. Chamath Palihapitiya. Link
The Irony of DeepSeek vs OpenAI. Jason Calacanis. Link
DeepSeek is Paving the Way for Web3 AI. Paul Veradittakit. Link
DeepSeek and the New AI Energy Paradigm. Maja. Link
The Future of Fan Engagement
The best loyalty programs print money — sports teams are missing out. Programs like Delta SkyMiles generate billions through partner rewards networks. Sports teams could do the same—but they’re stuck in outdated discount-based models that only reward their most loyal customers instead of monetizing their entire fanbase.
In our recent report we have unpacked how brands and corporates can unlock millions in revenue & create entire loyalty economies with new tech.
Memecoins Are the New Celebrity Exit Scam – And Kanye Just Exposed It
Kanye West just turned down a $2M deal to promote a memecoin on Solana. The pitch?
Fake a hack, tweet about $YE, then deny involvement. He’d get $750K upfront, another $1.25M after the stunt.
The big picture: This isn’t just one shady deal. It’s the playbook. Crypto’s latest wave of celebrity-driven memecoins is milking hype, extracting cash, and leaving retail investors holding the bag.
And it’s working: First, it was Caitlyn Jenner. Then Doja Cat. Then 50 Cent. Then Dean Norris from Breaking Bad.
Suddenly, a bunch of celebrities are getting “hacked”—and every single time, their accounts start promoting memecoins.
Coincidence? Please.
If hackers really wanted money, they’d demand a ransom, not launch a pump-and-dump scheme on Solana.
What they’re saying: “If people want to buy a token or product that lacks a clear long-term value proposition, they should feel free to—but should not be surprised if someday the price drops”, Hester Peirce, SEC Commissioner.
Punchline: For now, memecoin markets are still a wild west. But make no mistake: We're early. Businesses, creators, and investors will be using memecoins to raise capital, drive engagement, and weaponize virality.
Read our report below👇
Alo is Back in Metaverse Game
Alo Yoga’s virtual experience on Roblox, Alo Sanctuary, is getting an update in partnership with Sawhorse.
What you should know:
The updated version includes new wellness adventures, challenges, and rewards.
Players can unlock exclusive virtual gear by scanning an NFC sticker at Alo’s 150 retail locations.
They have also added paid items, including the mesh duffle bag and Alo Runner.
Why it matters: Alo Yoga knows where the next generation is—and they’re showing up. With an updated Alo Sanctuary on Roblox, they’re doubling down on digital wellness, gamified engagement, and the future of retail.
By the data: 117M+ visits have been recorded so far on Roblox.
SoftBank x OpenAI
SoftBank is finalizing a $40B investment in OpenAI at a $260B pre-money valuation, making it OpenAI’s largest backer—surpassing Microsoft.
The deal includes:
$40B investment paid over 12-24 months, starting this spring.
$15B for Stargate, an AI venture with OpenAI & Oracle, backed by Trump.
$3B/year to use OpenAI tech across SoftBank companies, including Arm.
SB OpenAI Japan, a joint venture to bring OpenAI’s AI to Japanese businesses.
OpenAI’s valuation surge: From $157B (October 2024) to $300B post-money.
Why it matters: OpenAI is cash-hungry and burning billions to keep ChatGPT running. With Deepseek’s popularity, it requires serious revenue growth. The $3B annual spend from SoftBank helps, but price hikes and enterprise adoption are crucial.
Also: OpenAI’s recent moves align with U.S. interests, securing government contracts (ChatGPT Gov) and backing from political leaders.
🚨 Other Highlights You Can’t Miss
Story Protocol, the IP layer 1, introduced its token IP 0.00%↑ . Link
Tether is expanding USDT adoption in the UAE through real estate. Link
OpenAI launches “Deep Research”, one of its biggest updates yet. Link
Ondo Finance is building L1 for tokenized RWAs. Link
Czech Republic exempts long-term crypto gains from taxes. Link
SEC's Hester Peirce says speculative token investments may crash. Link
👉 Keep up with all our signals for Web3 execs on our Telegram channel.
💰 Money Moves
Irreducible: ZK startup raised $24M co-led by Paradigm and Bain Capital Crypto. Link
Elastos: Infrastructure company raised $20M led by Rollman Management. Link
That’s all for now, folks.
Talk soon,
– Marc & Team
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