Good evening (because it's always evening somewhere!). You're reading "To The Moon,"it’s Tuesday and we’re hitting the week running. Speaking of running, SEGA isn’t building web3 Sonic, but it IS venturing into web3. In today’s newsletter, we cover cool IPs, a physics-defying NFT project, and even an NFT contest!

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• ZachXBT: The Digital Sherlock Holmes

• SEGA Is Building A New Web3 Game, But It Isn’t Sonic

• Half Moons 🌗 - Daily tidbits

• NFTevening's Shooting Star 🌠 - Our artist of the day

• Dark Side of The Meme 🌚 - your daily dose of NFT laughter

To the Moon index

ZachXBT: The Digital Sherlock Holmes

An investigation conducted by crypto sleuth ZachXBT is cited in a Canada-based, million-dollar lawsuit regarding the Boneheads NFT rug pull.

The self-proclaimed crypto detective ZachXBT gains attention once more as their investigation of a $3.1 million NFT rug pull is presented in court.

In 2021, the Boneheads NFT project launched its collection of 10,000 NFTs, selling at 0.1 ETH each. The project's roadmap promised giveaways, real-life merch, and Web3 utility for holders, attracting buyers.

However, shortly after the launch, the project disappeared from social media and the Discord server. Six months later, ZachXBT revealed that the project founders had transferred funds to exchange accounts and purchased blue-chip NFTs. 

The co-founders, Alexandra and Ivan, were exposed by ZachXBT, with Alexandra even showcasing the NFT art before the project's launch. While the founders lived luxuriously, NFT holders were left stranded.

The project attempted to cover up the rug pull but failed, leading to the involvement of the Canadian court.

Read the full story here

SEGA Is Building A New Web3 Game, But It Isn’t Sonic

Line Next and Sega have partnered to create a Web3 game for Game Dosi, utilizing Sega's game IPs and Line Next's NFT expertise.

However, Sega is stepping back from developing Sonic The Hedgehog and Yakuza NFTs due to concerns over cryptocurrency-related crimes and scandals.

This reflects a growing trend among game companies to prioritize safeguarding their content and brand reputation.

Line Next will develop a Web3 game based on Sega's IP for the Game Dosi platform, while also supporting NFT production, digital payments, and marketing.

Sega's decision to avoid NFT projects for its franchises highlights the association of cryptocurrency with risks and challenges, influencing other game companies as well.

This also means there is a need for careful consideration and preservation of core values in the intersection of gaming and blockchain.

Read the full story here

Today’s edition is brought to you by Wildxyz

Most Accidents Happen at Home is a collection of 3D artworks by Jonas Lund, debuting on Wildxyz tomorrow, Wednesday, July 12. The collection explores the dissonance between real and imagined physics across both tangible and virtual environments.

Each artwork is composed of a series of teetering towers of common house-hold objects arranged in seemingly impossible or maybe just highly improbable balancing configurations. Each piece is uniquely generated from a library of common household items and stands perfectly balanced. However, when the artist (or anyone in his family) drops something at home, one of the stacks topples through an on-chain event.

Wading through the tension between perceived improbability, Most Accidents Happen at Home is concerned with finding the boundaries and limits of what we consider ‘real’ vs. ‘artificial’ in the world.

Half Moons 🌓

• ZenAcademy's Upcoming PFP: Everything You Need to Know [NFTEvening]

• Sorare Unveils Officially Licensed NBA Draft Picks NFTs: A Must-Have for Collectors and Gamers [NFTEvening]

• Step into the Anime Universe: Weebox Launches San FranTokyo for Digital Collectibles [NFTEvening]

• The Sandbox x Warner Music: Win 1000 $SAND & Unleash Your Creative Beats in AR! [NFTEvening]

Shooting Star 🌠

Zen0

Zen0 is a full-time artist creating lo-rez pixel art that tells stories in as few pixels as possible. With a background in Art Direction for the Video Game industry, he merges art and technology to create iconic pieces reminiscent of classic games.

Follow Zan0 on Twitter @zen0m to learn more.

Featured Art: The Frog Koko

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Dark Side of the Meme 🌚

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