Sup, nerds!

Here’s what you’re getting in today’s edition:

• 💅 This is cool: Immersed ‘Visor’ vs. Apple Vision Pro

• 🔎 This seems important: 2023 - ‘Year of the pump n’ dump scheme’

• 🤝 Partner: The wine aisle is scary. Bright Cellars isn’t.​

• 🔪 Let's dissect this: What the hell is an ‘atomic swap’?

Terms used in this edition (click for an explanation, or ​ask Web(GPT)3!​):
Metaverse, Decentralized Exchange (DEX), Web3.

💅 This is cool:

Which Is Better: Immersed’s ‘Visor’ or the Vision Pro? (Who Cares! Both Benefit the Metaverse)

In one sentence: The more desirable VR headsets there are (like Vision Pro and Immersed’s ‘Visor’) → the quicker they’ll be adopted → the quicker ‘the metaverse’ will be realized.

DC Comics’ Superman/Batman movies of the 80’s/90’s, helped to prove the market for blockbuster superhero films.

Then, in the early 2000’s, Marvel came along and said “Thanks for warming ‘em up for us, we’ll take it from here.” (👈 ‘it’ = most of the profits).

It was a ‘vampire attack’ of sorts:

“You like ‘Thing A’? We’ll serve you up ‘Thing B,’ which feels much the same, serves many of the same functions, but is slightly different.”
— Marvel, to consumers.

We just noticed something similar happening with Apple’s Vision Pro, and Immersed’s ‘Visor’ AR/VR headset…

The Visor has the same 4k resolution screens as Apple, the same multi-display capabilities, and big screen entertainment features, but is lighter and cheaper (~$950 on pre-order).

This speaks directly to those saying “Vision Pro is cool, but WAY too expensive” → cuts them from the heard → and provides them with ‘Thing B.’

(Which feels much the same as ‘Thing A,’ serves many of the same functions, but is slightly different — and in this case, cheaper).

Here’s why this is exciting us:

• The more desirable/affordable VR headsets there are, the quicker they’ll be adopted →

• The more 3D virtual tools/apps/experiences will be developed →

• The quicker ‘the metaverse’ will be realized.

🥇 Want the news before anyone else?

🔎 This seems important:

YIKES! 54% of All Tokens Launched on Ethereum in 2023 Were Pump and Dump Schemes

In one sentence: Chainalysis just published some data that suggests 54% of all tokens launched on Ethereum in 2023 were pump and dump schemes.

Permissionless networks that allow anyone to create a tradable digital currency in just a few clicks:

Pros — there are no rules or barriers to entry.
Cons — there are no rules or barriers to entry.

Chainalysis just published some data that suggests 54% of all tokens launched on Ethereum in 2023 were pump and dump schemes.

Say it with us now: ‘YIKES!’

(Not a great look for the industry).

But there is some (kinda) good news here:

These pump n’ dump tokens only comprised 1.3% of total trading volume on Ethereum's DEX networks, which suggests most of these token launches fell on deaf ears.

Stay safe out there folks!

🤝 Partner:

The Wine Aisle is Scary. Bright Cellars Isn’t.

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Just take a quick and easy seven-question quiz to assess your taste preferences, and they'll deliver wines you're guaranteed to enjoy, directly to your doorstep.

Their promise extends further—with their full-glass guarantee, if you don’t like a bottle, they’ll replace it.

The journey doesn't just stop at the bottle; each wine arrives with education to elevate your wine knowledge.

With over 100 varietals sourced from 80 wine regions, you’re guaranteed to discover new wines you love.

No more trying to navigate the scary wine aisle — take the quiz today and get your first six bottles for just $55 ($150+ value).

🔪 Let's dissect this:

What The Heck Is an ‘Atomic Swap’?

In one sentence: Decentralized exchanges that use atomic swaps to facilitate exchanges are safer to end users. 

Let's acknowledge an ongoing problem: 

(And no, it's not Seb’s new found habit of working the word ‘rambunctious’ into professional communications for a laugh - though that is a problem...)

It's the ongoing transfer hacks in Web3. 

Many people would argue that hacks are just the teething issues of a new industry — and they are! But obviously, they need to be stopped ASAP.

One solution is to create a decentralized exchange (DEX) that uses atomic swaps to facilitate exchanges. 

…cool — what the heck does that mean?

Imagine this: You’re in the fourth grade and are planning to trade baseball cards with a classmate.

Instead of you each having to trust the other to play fair, you give your cards to a buddy, who verifies both cards are legit before completing the exchange.

Atomic swaps are kinda like that, but for crypto tokens — and they’re verified by computer code, instead of a (potentially corruptible) human middle man.

Good news for Web3 safety:

There’s a company called Portal which has just closed a $34M funding round, with plans on creating a DEX that supports atomic swaps.

We love to see it!

Atomic Swaps, Explained.