Harbor Treasure Hunt - Exploration of the Integration of NFT and Reality

At the end of August, the cryptocurrency payment provider MoonPay teamed up with the renowned real estate developer The Howard Hughes Corp to bring a "Web3 offline treasure hunt" that combines NFT with the real world, creating a gamified Web3 experience. This event integrates city treasure hunting games with NFT digital assets, providing participants with a real-world gaming experience and digital collectible value, and also allows a wider audience to participate in and understand the concept of Web3 in an easy way.

In this article, the veDAO Research Institute will introduce this treasure hunt event and explore the positive significance of this digital and real-world integration for the cryptocurrency field.

MoonPay

Founded in 2019, MoonPay focuses on providing payment infrastructure for the cryptocurrency ecosystem, lowering the barrier for cryptocurrency payments, and helping cryptocurrency service providers simplify transaction processes to increase cryptocurrency adoption. The company was founded by two young entrepreneurs, Ivan Soto-Wright and Victor Faramond. MoonPay's vision is to "bring 1 billion people into the crypto space by 2030" and it claims that its software "promotes the democratization of virtual currency," allowing any business to access the necessary cryptocurrency infrastructure while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.

MoonPay raised a $555 million Series A funding round led by Coatue and Tiger Global in October 2021, valuing the company at $3.4 billion. This round of funding also included $87 million from more than 60 celebrities or organizations in the music, sports, media, and entertainment industries, including celebrities such as Justin Bieber and Paris Hilton.

MoonPay not only provides support for individual users but also connects to multiple applications and payment solutions, making cryptocurrency more accessible and user-friendly. The company has established partnerships with over 300 partners in more than 160 countries and regions.

New York Harbor City Treasure Hunt: Integration of Digital and Real World

Background and Purpose of the Event

The harbor treasure hunt game held in New York City is a city exploration activity aimed at encouraging visitors to explore the sights in Manhattan. MoonPay ensures the secure storage of NFTs through its wallet. Meanwhile, the QR code technology promoted by Flowcode, a brand specializing in direct consumer connections, plays a crucial role in the treasure hunt. Behind this city treasure hunt is a broader vision of introducing NFTs into the real world, making the concept of cryptocurrency more approachable and tangible.

Ivan Soto-Wright, CEO and co-founder of MoonPay, stated that the purpose of the treasure hunt is twofold. The treasure hunt advertisement at the harbor entrance does not mention cryptocurrency, NFT, or Polygon (the NFT minting chain for this event). By simplifying and lowering the barriers, the aim is to encourage a wider audience to participate, allowing participants to enter the Web3 world through offline activities using digital wallets. Additionally, the activity gives winners more control: for example, if you win a concert ticket during the treasure hunt but cannot attend, you can directly sell the prize on OpenSea.

Another purpose of the treasure hunt is to have a positive impact on local businesses in Manhattan Harbor. The activity collects data from participants, such as their geographical origins, providing valuable market information for local businesses, such as foot traffic maps. Furthermore, this activity encourages visitors to interact with local businesses for the first time, injecting new vitality into the economy.

Event Details

From August 21 to October 31, locals and tourists can participate in the harbor treasure hunt game. The goal for participants is to find ten purple "pearls" scattered in the harbor area. Each pearl has a QR code, which, when scanned with a mobile device, grants the user a free NFT. These tokens are carefully crafted by 3D artist and NFT creator Johana Kroft, depicting interesting interpretations of iconic content from New York City.

The NFTs that can be obtained from the treasure hunt are divided into two types - daily NFTs and prize NFTs. On the "wallet" page, participants can see all the daily NFTs they have collected. Participants who successfully collect all 10 NFTs will automatically receive prize NFTs. Prize NFTs allow participants to qualify for a weekly draw, with multiple winners selected each week. Winners will have the chance to win various prizes, including VIP tickets to The Rooftop summer concert series at Pier 17, a carefully curated cooking box worth up to $350 from Tin Building, and other rewards. Additionally, individuals can participate in the activity every 24 hours. These NFTs can be both sold and purchased.

An Attempt to Integrate Digital and Real World

The harbor treasure hunt event is a typical example of enhancing traditional outdoor activities with modern technology, all driven by blockchain technology. By combining the physical search for pearls with digital rewards, MoonPay and Howard Hughes Corp provide the public with an opportunity to become familiar with Web3 and NFT concepts in an easy way.

For the cryptocurrency community, MoonPay's event demonstrates an attempt to integrate the crypto world with the real world, serving as a way to promote and popularize the crypto world. Like other situations in the cryptocurrency field, early user experiences may take more time to catch up with the vision. If everything progresses smoothly, MoonPay's treasure hunt game may become a successful template, and similar activities may expand from the harbor to Central Park and even beyond New York, becoming another location-based experience. This concept is rich, providing real-world use cases for NFTs and delivering expected benefits to all participants - it is a way to bridge the gap between cryptocurrency and the real world, and can be seen as another step towards broader Web3 participation.

Reference:

https://theseaport.nyc/events/seaport-scavenger-hunt/

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