Google Opens First Retail Space and Blue Origin Sells First Space Seat in This Week’s Business and Crypto Roundup
While the Doge meme sold for $4 million USD as an NFT.
Many brands are starting to see a recovery despite the challenges initially brought on by the pandemic. Some businesses, especially ones that focused efforts on expanding e-commerce ventures, have even seen profits rise even higher than before.
HYPEBEAST has rounded up the top business and crypto stories of the week so you can stay in-the-know about trends across industries.
Business
1. Jeff Bezo’s Blue Origin sold the first seat on its upcoming spaceflight
The unnamed auction winner won a seat on the July 20 flight with a bid of $28 million USD. Bezos and his brother Mark will also be aboard New Shepard for its first official suborbital flight.
2. Saks recruited NBA All-Star James Harden as its new board member
Harden joins the board of luxury e-commerce platform Saks as an independent member. The multi-hyphenate Brooklyn Nets point guard has made a minority investment in the company.
3. Chanel’s revenue returned to double digit growth
Chanel reported on Tuesday that revenues climbed by double digits in the first six months of 2021. The company’s sales totaled $10.1 billion USD last year.
4. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has been named chairman of the tech giant’s board
Microsoft announced on Wednesday that Nadella will be taking over the position from the now-lead independent director John Thompson. Nadella has been the CEO of Microsoft for the past seven years.
5. Google opened its first retail space in NYC
The store opened in New York City‘s downtown neighborhood of Chelsea on Thursday. Google said that it chose Chelsea as the location of its flagship retail location because it views the store as “a natural extension of our longtime commitment to the city.”
We can’t wait to see you, NYC 🗽 https://t.co/2s13ok9q1g
— Google (@Google) June 16, 2021
Crypto
1. Mattel launched its first Hot Wheels NFT
The toymaker entered the digital collectors market by providing three unique NFTs from its Hot Wheels NFT Garage series. The collection will be available for auction from June 22 to June 29.
Introducing the next evolution of collecting, the Hot Wheels NFT Garage: one-of-one exclusive NFTs featuring iconic Hot Wheels die-cast cars, the Twin Mill, Deora II and Bone Shaker. Learn more at https://t.co/MN3daoEFks. pic.twitter.com/CFvO9YuQn8
— Hot Wheels (@Hot_Wheels) June 17, 2021
2. SpaceX will reportedly send space art to the moon
Elon Musk‘s SpaceX secured a deal with the Canadian engineering firm Geometric Energy Corporation (GEC) last month for the launch. It now includes Space Art, which will be sold as NFTs via dogecoin.
3. The Doge meme sold for record $4 Million USD
The NFT was reportedly purchased on Zora by the account @pleasrdao. Don Caldwell, editor-in-chief of Know Your Meme, said Doge is “one of the most iconic memes in internet history.”
4. MicroStrategy announced a $1 billion USD stock offering to fund further Bitcoin purchasing
On Tuesday, the company completed the sale of newly issued debt notes to institutional investors, which totaled $500 million USD. After deducting initial discounts and other expenses, MicroStrategy expects its net proceeds to be roughly $488 million USD, all of which will be invested into bitcoin.
5. This NFT fundraiser is spotlighting global black creatives for Juneteenth
Artist and activist Diana Sinclair is launching an art exhibition, public installation and NFT auction fundraiser in New York City titled The Digital Diaspora. The in-person launch event will take place at Superchief Gallery on June 19.
