📝#99: AI Agents That Buy Your Sneakers
Crossmint launches AI agents platform for commerce. Cleveland Cavaliers enters Web3 fan engagement. Kraken launches layer 2. OpenAI launches Search, its biggest update yet. The end of "Google Search"?
Hey, it’s Marc ✌️
Crossmint has launched a platform that enables AI agents to autonomously buy and transact on behalf of users. Think: Buying a sneaker with ChatGPT.
Wait, what? Traditional commerce systems block AI bots with captchas, security checks, and giving AI access to credit card transactions doesn’t scale.
Now, Crossmint’s blockchain-backed platform should solve these issues with:
Smart Wallets: Allows agents to hold stablecoins with programmable spending limits and multi-party approvals.
Credentialing System: Provides secure authorization, letting agents act on behalf of users without typical blockers.
Crossmint also enables merchants to tap into this new AI-driven commerce by:
Tokenization APIs: Easily tokenizing inventory for AI purchasing.
Zero-Fee Checkout: Enabling API-based purchases with 0% fees and instant settlement, helping merchants and users save 2-3% from all purchases.
Let’s get real: You’d probably think twice about buying sneakers through ChatGPT.
What about industrial purchase automations? Maybe. These supply chains are highly repetitive and data-driven—ideal for automated purchasing. Instead of basic “reorder if low” logic, AI agents could automatically monitor inventory, compare supplier prices, and complete purchases securely and instantly.
Punchline: AI agents will change how payments, transactions, and even commerce itself operate. And this is just one of the many crypto x AI use cases that are popping up right now.
Here’s an amazing chart by Coinbase Ventures on the crypto x AI stack:
Plus: Keep up with our signals for Web3 execs on our Telegram channel.
Let’s dive in 🦈
📚 What we’re reading (& writing)
Demystifying the Crypto x AI Stack. Coinbase Ventures. Link
State of Tokenization 2024. Tokenized Asset Coalition. Link
Tokenized Fund Report 2024. BCG. Link
AI in Crypto Marketing, the AI Agent Cambrian Explosion. TPan. Link
The Luxury Tech Playbook: Digital Transformation with Antonio Carriero. Link
Cavs Level Up with Web3 🏀
Cleveland Cavaliers, the NBA team, launched its Web3 engagement program, Cavs Rewards in partnership with Avalanche and Uptop.
Why it matters: By integrating fan rewards across the city and in-stadium, Cavs Rewards brings fans closer to the action, enhancing loyalty with tangible, memorable perks.
What you should know:
Convenience: Fans link their credit or debit cards to automatically earn points on qualified purchases.
Reward Variety: Points can be redeemed for tickets, VIP experiences, merchandise, and autographed memorabilia.
You can sign up here.
Zooming out: Web3 is becoming a popular tool for sport-loyalty to:
Increase fan retention
Broaden revenue channels
Produce insights into purchasing patterns for more targeted offers
Drive engagement.
This isn’t just about rewards—it's about redefining the fan experience and building community through innovative partnerships.
Stepping back: Back in 2021, the Cleveland Cavaliers launched an NFT art collection, showcased on LED boards at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
The big picture: Sports with Web3 and cryptocurrency are becoming popular to attract and engage the new generation digitally. Recently:
The Warriors partnered with Coinbase to bring fans onchain with exclusive experiences, giveaways, and crypto-powered engagement at Chase Center. Link
Coinbase also partnered with the Canadian Football League for the 111th Grey Cup offering exclusive rewards and experiences. Link
Sheffield United FC teams up with Maneki for the 2024-25 season, featuring the cryptocurrency's logo on their kits and enhancing fan engagement with digital experiences. Link
🍏Today’s Top PRO Bite:
Web3 Isn't Dead, It's Evolving
Over 180 brands jumped into Web3 through NFTs to engage younger consumers—and most failed.
Why? Complex interfaces, wallets, private keys, and lack of standards created barriers that users—and brands—weren’t ready for.
We spoke to Otherlife, helping brands such as MasterCard or MoonPay move from experiments to strategic success in Web3. Here’s what we’ve learned: .
🚨 Other Highlights You Can’t Miss
Bastion has integrated with Borderless to enhance its stablecoin API. Link
BRABUS launched its Masterpiece supercars, featuring a DPP powered by Aura Blockchain. Link
OpenAI introduced ChatGPT search, its biggest update yet. Link
Moncler and Lulu Li merge AI Art with high fashion in the new collection. Link
💰 Money Moves
Glow: Blockchain solar company, raises $30M from Framework & Union Square Ventures. Link
Nillion: Privacy blockchain company raises $25M led by Hack VC. Link
Ellipsis Labs: Solana DEX raises $21M led by Haun Ventures. Link
That’s all for now, folks.
Talk soon,
– Marc & Team
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