Hey, it’s Marc. I write weekly, obsessively curated insights on crypto & Web3 to help you filter out the noise. ✌️ Happy reading!

NEAR isn't just a Layer 1 blockchain - it's the Blockchain Operating System for an open web. Unlike other next generation blockchains, NEAR was built from the ground up to be easy to build on for developers and accessible and simple to onboard for their users. Create and discover decentralized apps, and help build the future of the web, today.

"One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful." - Sigmund Freud

Punchline: This is significant. It’s the first time the SEC brought an enforcement action against NFTs – a category of digital assets that has avoided the eye of the regulators up to now (at least in the US). While the SEC bases its charges on specifics of the way Impact Theory sold its NFTs, this could potentially apply to a lot of other NFT projects too. It opens a lot of questions, as described in a personal statement by SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce (highly recommended!).

Punchline: This is a terrific example of a mass market ready, Web3 based loyalty program. Big brands such as Starbucks, Ticketmaster, Scotch & Soda, and Argentina's Flybondi are increasingly exploring interesting use cases for ticketing and rewards.