Web3 Watch: Solana announces second ‘Web3 phone’

Over a year after debuting its first so-called “Web3 phone,” Solana unveiled new details about its second attempt at a DeFi-friendly smartphone: the Solana Seeker.

Initial reviews of Saga were mixed in 2023, with users complaining about the variety of dapps available and many ultimately deciding the crypto features were not enough to convince them to ditch their standard smartphone.

The Seeker, previously referred to as “Chapter 2,” will come with updated versions of the Seed Vault Wallet and Solana dapp Store. The phone will launch in 2025.

Demand for the Saga device surged earlier this year when owners were airdropped an exclusive “Saga Monkes” NFT, which quickly became more valuable than the phone itself. In early January, the NFTs were listed for around $1,250, more than double the price of the smartphone at the time. At time of publication, the floor price for Saga Monkes was 1.68 SOL, or around $240.

The Seeker experienced a similar phenomenon. Those who preordered the device were airdropped two memecoins that briefly surged in price and covered the value of the not-yet-launched phone.

Puma jumps into the gaming arena

German sports brand Puma has partnered with mobile game UNKJD Soccer to bring its brand into the virtual universe.

“Placing the Puma brand and products in digital environments is critical to our success and there is no more natural fit than UNKJD Soccer,” Ivan Dashkov, director of emerging market technology at Puma, said in a statement Thursday. “People are increasingly expressing themselves in games and digital worlds, so having the Puma brand available in these environments is a huge priority to us as gaming culture is a part of our all-encompassing culture.”

The collaboration is the latest of many that Puma has with various Web3 brands. Puma in 2022 announced it was joining forces with 10KTF to offer NFT PFPs.

One interesting stat:

Web3 security platform CertiK’s new venture capital business plans to invest $45 million in a new suite of products, both in-house and from outside companies. The investment will in part go to funding two free-to-use security tools: Token Scan and Wallet Scan, the company announced during the Token2049 conference in Singapore.

Also of note:

Animoca Brands’ The Motorverse has partnered with DeLorean Motor Company. The first joint venture between the companies will be a limited NFT collection featuring a DeLorean DMC-12 sports car in various Motorverse Web3 game settings.
BNB Chain announced Friday it would be integrating with Telegram, a feature they say will allow users to seamlessly manage BNB Chain assets within the messaging app.
In more SOL news, Play Solana announced it’s launching a physical gaming handheld device that will run on the Solana blockchain. Information about preordering the device will be announced this weekend at the Solana Breakpoint conference.

Start your day with top crypto insights from David Canellis and Katherine Ross. Subscribe to the Empire newsletter.

Explore the growing intersection between crypto, macroeconomics, policy and finance with Ben Strack, Casey Wagner and Felix Jauvin. Subscribe to the Forward Guidance newsletter.

Get alpha directly in your inbox with the 0xResearch newsletter — market highlights, charts, degen trade ideas, governance updates, and more.

The Lightspeed newsletter is all things Solana, in your inbox, every day. Subscribe to daily Solana news from Jack Kubinec and Jeff Albus.