Daniel Arsham's USA Basketball Art, Murakami's "108 Flowers" on Base, and Fortune 500's Onchain Surge

This week's roundup highlights an array of groundbreaking developments in the world of technology and digital culture. Coinbase teams up with renowned artist Daniel Arsham to celebrate 50 years of USA Basketball, while the role of cryptocurrency in the 2024 United States presidential election takes center stage. Takashi Murakami blooms on Base with "108 Flowers," and new data reveals Fortune 500 companies' increasing involvement in onchain projects. Christie’s prepares for its eighth Art+Tech Summit, and OpenAI's Project "Strawberry" aims to revolutionize AI reasoning. Visa and Wirex partner to enhance Web 3 payments in Europe, marking another step forward in the fusion of traditional finance and blockchain technology.

Coinbase is teaming up with renowned artist Daniel Arsham to commemorate 50 years of USA Basketball. Fans can own a piece of art and sports history for free by visiting seasonalerosion.xyz. Because fandom moves forward onchain, gas fees may apply. Save with Smart Wallet, available on the platform.

Cryptocurrency has emerged as a significant issue in the 2024 United States presidential election, influencing voter decisions and campaign strategies. Many voters prioritize candidates' stances on digital assets, advocating for clear regulatory frameworks to foster industry growth. Major crypto firms are heavily investing in political campaigns to support pro-crypto candidates, especially in key Senate races, highlighting the industry's growing political influence. The election's outcome could significantly impact the future of crypto regulation and the U.S.’s role in the global digital economy.

Takashi Murakami, the acclaimed Japanese contemporary artist known for merging fine arts with commercial media, is set to launch his latest project, "108 Flowers," on the Base platform. This unique onchain trading card collection will be available for a limited time of 48 hours starting Monday, July 15. Murakami's work, celebrated for its blend of high and low art and influences from Japanese tradition and postwar culture, includes notable collaborations such as album covers for Kanye West. Don't miss this chance to own a piece of Murakami's vibrant and influential art in a new digital form.

A survey by Coinbase and The Block reveals that onchain projects among Fortune 100 companies have surged by 39% year-over-year, reaching a record high in Q1 2024. Additionally, 56% of Fortune 500 executives report that their companies are engaged in onchain initiatives, spanning payments, tokenized assets, and consumer applications. This increased activity underscores the critical need for clear crypto regulations to retain talent and maintain the U.S.'s leadership in blockchain technology. The findings highlight the growing integration of blockchain across various sectors, from stablecoins and tokenized T-bills to top-tier financial products, driving widespread adoption and innovation.

Global auction house Christie’s is set to host its eighth Art+Tech Summit from July 17-18 at its Rockefeller Center flagship in Manhattan. The event features prominent speakers such as artists Refik Anadol, Beeple, and Sasha Stiles, and industry leaders like Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and Pace Gallery CEO Marc Glimcher. The summit will explore intersections of contemporary technology trends with the art and luxury sectors, covering topics like AI, the art market, and new technological paradigms. In partnership with MoonPay, the event aims to highlight the transformative power of technology in art, continuing Christie’s tradition of embracing digital innovation.

Optimism has announced SuperFest, an onchain celebration dedicated to the innovative builders across the Superchain who are developing DeFi applications and delivering value to the Optimism Collective. Unlike traditional festivals, SuperFest takes place entirely onchain, showcasing the latest advancements and activities within OP Mainnet, Base, Mode, and Fraxtal. To encourage exploration and participation, the Optimism Collective will allocate 1.5M OP rewards throughout the summer, highlighting the dynamic ecosystem and fostering community engagement across these chains.

OpenAI is reportedly working on a new initiative, code-named "Strawberry," which seeks to significantly enhance the reasoning capabilities of its AI models. According to internal documents and sources, Strawberry is designed to enable AI to autonomously navigate the internet and perform deep research, a breakthrough that has eluded current AI technologies. This project involves post-training techniques to refine AI performance and aims to address complex tasks requiring long-term planning. Although still in development, Strawberry could set a new standard for AI intelligence and functionality.

Visa is expanding its partnership with Wirex to enhance the adoption of Web 3 payments across the UK and the European Economic Area (EEA). Central to this collaboration is the introduction of Wirex Pay, a modular Zero Knowledge (ZK) payment chain designed to simplify the management and spending of both cryptocurrencies and traditional currencies. This integration aims to bridge the gap between blockchain technology and traditional finance, ensuring smoother and more secure transactions. Wirex, a pioneering crypto-native company with a Visa principal license, will leverage Visa's payment network to provide reliable payment services, furthering the shift towards Web 3 and decentralization.

Stay tuned to this weekly roundup for the latest and greatest in the world of Onchain Summer. With so much happening at the intersection of technology, art, and finance, it's an exciting time to be part of this innovative community. Don't forget to share these stories and let us know what you're building or excited about. Remember, this is not financial advice (NFA) – always do your own research (DYOR).