Web 3.0 is a topic which has generated a lot of excitement over recent years, with cryptocurrency, NFTs, decentralized finance (DeFi) and other blockchain technology going mainstream. But how are businesses taking advantage of this? This article discusses the issue with reference to Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX), Nike Inc (NYSE: NKE), Pearson PLC (NYSE: PSO) and WonderFi Technologies () ().

WonderFi Technologies () () operates as a DeFi software company and also an operator of licensed crypto trading platforms. It has developed a platform which integrates with the entire DeFi ecosystem, with the business serving customers around the world.

WonderFi’s most recent showed that it achieved revenue of CA$2.9m for the three-month period ended 30 June 2022, which demonstrates a substantial improvement over the past 12 months.

The company’s ecosystem seeks to allow users access to a wealth of web 3.0 and centralized crypto and decentralized crypto functionality under the same roof.

After combining with Bitbuy and Coinberry through, WonderFi Technologies has become one of the largest crypto exchange businesses in Canada by number of registered users and daily trading volume. This is far from the limit of the company’s ambitions though, as it aims to repeat the success it has achieved in its homeland by the Bitbuy regulated marketplace across the globe.

Indeed, Kevin O'Leary, a strategic investor in WonderFi recently appeared on Logan Paul's Impaulsive podcast and said "I believe WonderFi will eventually become a giant holding company for all these licensed exchanges around the world".

Therefore, the main value proposition for WonderFi is operating regulated cryptocurrency platforms. This blends well with growing institutional investor interest in the space, which became particularly evident at the Bitcoin 2022 conference in Miami earlier this year. These key players in crypto sense the world is changing and formal regulation could entice more investment to the space.

Starbucks Corporation (), which is headed by Howard Schultz, is the premier roaster, marketer and retailer of specialty coffee. The company offers packaged and single-serve coffees and teas, beverage-related ingredients and ready-to-drink beverages, as well as produces and sells bottled coffee drinks and a line of ice creams. The business serves customers worldwide.

Starbucks Corporation’s most recent showed that consolidated net revenues grew by 9% in the company’s third quarter, climbing to a quarterly record of $8.9bn.

The business attracted headlines for accepting payments in, though some critics branded the move a gimmick. However, it appears that Starbucks Corporation is more than committed to the idea of embracing Web 3.0.

For example, Starbucks Corporation announced in May that it plans to launch a series of branded. Ownership of these digital artworks will have access to exclusive experiences and perks.

The company’s web 3.0 ambitions don’t even stop there, with the business hinting that it wants to create a Starbucks Digital Community Web3 platform. The company claims this platform could have the potential to pioneer the combination of an approachable, widely accessible front-end, backed by the right blockchain technologies that are fast and inexpensive.

Other web 3.0 adopters include John Donahoe’s Nike Inc (), which designs, develops and markets athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessory products for men, women and children. The company sells its products to retail stores, through its own stores, subsidiaries and distributors, serving customers worldwide.

The sportswear giant’s most recent update showed a slight dip in fourth quarter revenues, which fell by 1% to $12.2bn. However, the company’s online service is expanding, seeing sales rise by 7% to $4.8bn. The impact of this was countered by difficulties in the business’ wholesale operation.

Nike Inc’s expansion of its online offering doesn’t just stop with a virtual storefront for sportswear purchases though, as the company is perhaps a surprise adopter of web 3.0 innovation.

Indeed, Nike Inc has even, an outfit specialized in leveraging game engines, NFTs, blockchain authentication and augmented reality to create virtual products and experiences.

It’s an acquisition which has likely aided the company on its route to becoming America’s top earning brand when it comes to NFT sales, with the company earning $185.3m in revenue from its various NFT drops.

Nike Inc appears to have identified that a serious collector culture around its sneakers can be transferred to the virtual world, with some examples of the most expensive NFTs it has peddled including digital artworks of the business’ iconic shoes. But it isn’t the only surprising brand capitalizing on the technology.

Pearson PLC () provides education products and services to institutions, governments, and individual learners in various countries. The company offers test development, processing and scoring services and a range of education services including teacher development, educational software and system-wide solutions, as well as owns and operates schools.

The company’s most recent showed that its underlying sales grew by 6% and adjusted operating profit increased by more than 20%. These improvements came as the business reported good progress in its digital strategy, noting that Pearson+ has now attracted more than 4.5 million users.

This digital arm of Pearson PLC’s business could be key to its ability to capitalize on web 3.0 technology.

Pearson PLC has raised concerns that its textbooks are often sold on by students after their schoolyear ends. However, the business has noted that and digital copies of its materials could allow it to continue to benefit from second hand sales.

With an already strong online presence, the company already looks well suited to embrace web 3.0 functionalities.

This online footprint looks set to increase further in scale too, with Pearson PLC having released its offering in early August. Aimed at college students, this platform is a free curated library featuring more than 10,000 short-form videos, produced, picked, and organized by experts into 16-course areas.

ValueTheMarkets News Commentary

IMPORTANT NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

This communication is a paid advertisement. ValueTheMarkets is a trading name of Digitonic Ltd, and its owners, directors, officers, employees, affiliates, agents and assigns (collectively the “Publisher”) is often paid by one or more of the profiled companies or a third party to disseminate these types of communications. In this case, the Publisher has been compensated by WonderFi Technologies to conduct investor awareness advertising and marketing and has paid the Publisher the equivalent of one hundred and ninety thousand US dollars to produce and disseminate this and other similar articles and certain related banner advertisements. This compensation should be viewed as a major conflict with the Publisher’s ability to provide unbiased information or opinion.

CHANGES IN SHARE TRADING AND PRICE

Readers should beware that third parties, profiled companies, and/or their affiliates may liquidate shares of the profiled companies at any time, including at or near the time you receive this communication, which has the potential to adversely affect share prices. Frequently companies profiled in our articles experience a large increase in share trading volume and share price during the course of investor awareness marketing, which often ends as soon as the investor awareness marketing ceases. The investor awareness marketing may be as brief as one day, after which a large decrease in share trading volume and share price may likely occur.

NO OFFER TO SELL OR BUY SECURITIES

This communication is not, and should not be construed to be, an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security.

INFORMATION

Neither this communication nor the Publisher purport to provide a complete analysis of any company or its financial position.This communication is based on information generally available to the public and on an interview conducted with the company’s CEO, and does not contain any material, non-public information. The information on which it is based is believed to be reliable. Nevertheless, the Publisher does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information. Further, the information in this communication is not updated after publication and may become inaccurate or outdated. No reliance should be placed on the price or statistics information and no responsibility or liability is accepted for any error or inaccuracy. Any statements made should not be taken as an endorsement of analyst views.

NO FINANCIAL ADVICE

The Publisher is not, and does not purport to be, a broker-dealer or registered investment adviser or a financial adviser. The Publisher has no access to non-public information about publicly traded companies. The information provided is general and impersonal, and is not tailored to any particular individual’s financial situation or investment objective(s) and this communication is not, and should not be construed to be, personalized investment advice directed to or appropriate for any particular investor or a personal recommendation to deal or invest in any particular company or product. Any investment should be made only after consulting a professional investment advisor and only after reviewing the financial statements and other pertinent corporate information about the company. Further, readers are advised to read and carefully consider the Risk Factors identified and discussed in the advertised company’s SEC, SEDAR and/or other government filings. Investing in securities, particularly microcap securities, is speculative and carries a high degree of risk. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This communication contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding expected continual growth of the featured companies and/or industry. Statements in this communication that look forward in time, which include everything other than historical information, are based on assumptions and estimates by our content providers and involve risks and uncertainties that may affect the profiled company’s actual results of operations. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause the actual results and performance to differ materially from any future results or performance expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others: the success of the profiled company’s operations; the size and growth of the market for the company’s products and services; the company’s ability to fund its capital requirements in the near term and long term; pricing pressures; changes in business strategy, practices or customer relationships; general worldwide economic and business conditions; currency exchange and interest rate fluctuations; government, statutory, regulatory or administrative initiatives affecting the company’s business.

INDEMNIFICATION/RELEASE OF LIABILITY

By reading this communication, you acknowledge that you have read and understand this disclaimer in full, and agree and accept that the Publisher provides no warranty in respect of the communication or the profiled company and accepts no liability whatsoever. You acknowledge and accept this disclaimer and that, to the greatest extent permitted under applicable law, you release and hold harmless the Publisher from any and all liability, damages, injury and adverse consequences arising from your use of this communication. You further agree that you are solely responsible for any financial outcome related to or arising from your investment decisions.

TERMS OF USE AND DISCLAIMER

By reading this communication you agree that you have reviewed and fully agree to the Terms of Use found here /terms-conditions/ and acknowledge that you have reviewed the Disclaimer found here /disclaimer/. If you do not agree to the Terms of Use, please contact valuethemarkets.com to discontinue receiving future communications.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

All trademarks used in this communication are the property of their respective trademark holders. Other than valuethemarkets.com, the Publisher is not affiliated, connected, or associated with, and the communication is not sponsored, approved, or originated by, the trademark holders unless otherwise stated. No claim is made by the Publisher to any rights in any third-party trademarks other than valuethemarkets.com.

AUTHORS: VALUETHEMARKETS

valuethemarkets.com and Digitonic Ltd and our affiliates are not responsible for the content or accuracy of this article. The information included in this article is based solely on information provided by the company or companies mentioned above. This article does not provide any financial advice and is not a recommendation to deal in any securities or product. News and research are not recommendations to deal, and investments may fall in value so that you could lose some or all of your investment. Past performance is not an indicator of future performance.ValueTheMarkets do not hold any position in the stock(s) and/or financial instrument(s) mentioned in the above piece. ValueTheMarkets have been paid to produce this piece by the company or companies mentioned above. Digitonic Ltd, the owner of valuethemarkets.com, has been paid for the production of this piece by the company or companies mentioned above.

ValueTheMarkets

0