Meta expands its Instagram NFT features to 100 countries

Instagram

After launching a non-fungible token (NFT) pilot on Instagram for American users earlier this year, Meta has announced plans to expand its NFT features to as many as 100 other countries.

The test launch for the NFTs on Instagram went live in May to select creators in the United States.

The planned expansion will let users from the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific to get in on the action.

With the enhanced allowance, users will now be able...

5 August 2022 | Development

Australian competition watchdog sues Meta over crypto scam adverts

Facebook (Meta)

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is suing Meta for allowing alleged scam advertisements for cryptocurrency investments.

Australia’s competition watchdog said the adverts used local celebrities and fake media articles to promote and endorse their schemes.

Entrepreneur Dick Smith and television presenter David Koch were amongst the Aussie celebrities used to trick users into trusting the promotions, despite having never personally approved...

22 March 2022 | Cryptocurrency

Meta pilots WhatsApp integration for its digital wallet Novi

WhatsApp Logo

Meta has begun trialling its Novi digital wallet through its WhatsApp messaging platform.

Novi is Meta’s take on a digital wallet, allowing users to send and receive money internationally with no fees.

The wallet uses the Paxos Dollar (USDP), a stablecoin developed by New York blockchain firm Paxos, instead of Meta’s own Diem stablecoin.

Meta originally announced the wallet alongside Diem in June 2019, when Novi was called Calibra, Diem was called Libra,...

9 December 2021 | Digital Assets

Gemini raises $400m as Winklevoss twins gear up metaverse plans

Gemini

Gemini, the New York-based cryptocurrency exchange, has raised $400 million (£298m) through growth equity financing led by Morgan Creek Digital.

This is the first time the company has received external financing from other companies, with private equity firm 10T, blockchain investor ParaFi, and even the Commonwealth Bank of Australia getting involved.

Gemini, which was launched by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss in 2015, now sits at a $7.1 billion (£5.28bn)...

22 November 2021 | Cryptocurrency