Hong Kong-based blockchain gaming firm Animoca Brands Corporation Limited and Japan-based cryptocurrency exchange and non-fungible token marketplace Coincheck, Inc. have agreed to further strengthen their collaboration and promote a strategic partnership that has been continued and enhanced since 2020.

Animoca Brands said in a statement on Tuesday it will be responsible for intellectual property (IP) and content development as a blockchain gaming producer, while Coincheck will take the role of distribution and community development in the Japanese market.

Coincheck launched its own NFT marketplace named “Coincheck NFT (β version)” in March 2021.

The firm will strategically support NFT projects from Animoca Brands’ group companies and portfolio companies through its marketplace and contribute to revitalizing the project ecosystem.

Thus far, two NFT projects from Animoca Brands have been listed and traded on the Coincheck NFT marketplace, which are LAND NFTs in The Sandbox and Otherdeed NFTs representing virtual real estate in Otherside, the metaverse project by Yuga Labs and Animoca Brands that is connected to the Bored Ape Yacht Club.

In January 2022, Coincheck started the development work of the metaverse city ‘Oasis TOKYO’ in The Sandbox.

While expanding collaborations with artists, celebrities, and several apparel brands on ‘Oasis Tokyo’, Coincheck is preparing to open up the metaverse city to the general public in the near term.

In May 2022, Coincheck acquired Otherdeeds for Otherside and started development on the new metaverse city ”Oasis MARS” located in Otherside.

“It is a privilege to enhance our collaboration with Coincheck and deliver more premium NFT, metaverse and gaming projects to the mainstream audience in Japan. As Japan’s leading crypto asset and NFT exchange, Coincheck is an extremely important strategic partner for Animoca Brands,

“We have built up a deep and trusted relationship through several open metaverse projects and we look forward to working together even more closely in the future,” said Yat Siu, the Co-Founder and Chairman of Animoca Brands.

Kensuke Amo, Managing Executive Officer and the Lead of new Web3 businesses at Coincheck, commented: “We are very pleased to be working with Animoca Brands, a leading company in the NFT industry, to advance mass adoption based on the trust we have built up over the years.”

“The GameFi projects that Animoca Brands is developing have incredible potential. By strengthening our partnership, we hope to be a bridge to the Japanese market for both NFT and fungible token projects to boost the Web3 industry,

“In addition to NFT sales for the purpose of gaining recognition, we will create communities for creators and users. We look forward to continuing our joint efforts together,” he added.

Animoca Brands is a leader in digital entertainment, blockchain, and gamification that is working to advance digital property rights and contribute to the establishment of the open metaverse.

The company develops and publishes a broad portfolio of products including the SAND token; original games including The Sandbox, Crazy Kings, and Crazy Defense Heroes; and products utilizing popular intellectual properties including Disney, WWE, Snoop Dogg, The Walking Dead, Power Rangers, MotoGP™, and Formula E.

It has multiple subsidiaries including The Sandbox, Blowfish Studios, Quidd, GAMEE, nWay, Pixowl, Forj, Lympo, Grease Monkey Games, Eden Games, Darewise, Notre Game, TinyTap, and Be Media. Animoca Brands has a growing portfolio of more than 380 investments, including Colossal, Axie Infinity, OpenSea, Dapper Labs (NBA Top Shot), Yield Guild Games, Harmony, Alien Worlds, Star Atlas, and others.

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