Elon Musk’s Empire: SpaceX, Tesla, and xAI Merger Talks Spark Investor Debate 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Why a ‘rip-off’ degree might be worth the money after all – research study 
Weight-Loss Drug Ads Take Over the Super Bowl as Pharma Embraces Direct-to-Consumer Marketing 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Toyota’s Surprise CEO Change Signals Strategic Shift Amid Global Auto Turmoil 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Tencent Shares Slide After WeChat Restricts YuanBao AI Promotional Links 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
OpenAI Expands Enterprise AI Strategy With Major Hiring Push Ahead of New Business Offering 
Amazon Stock Rebounds After Earnings as $200B Capex Plan Sparks AI Spending Debate 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
Britain has almost 1 million young people not in work or education – here’s what evidence shows can change that 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Toy brand Mattel will turn its iconic intellectual property, such as Barbie and Hot Wheels, into avatar-like digital collectibles for use in games in a partnership with the non-fungible token (NFT) platform Cryptoys.
The developments show that NFTs are becoming more popular as children's entertainment products.
Using the Flow blockchain, Cryptoy is targeting the casual web game sector as opposed to a fully immersive 3D metaverse experience.
Mattel and Cryptoys want to see how NFTs can be used to build the "future of toys," where users can buy a virtual Barbie to play within a game.
According to Mattel’s president, Richard Dickson, their business leads them to wherever the consumer is, including the metaverse and NFTs.”
Mattel first expressed interest in NFTs in April 2021, and it became the first toy company to mint them in June. It released a Hot Wheels collection in November, followed by a luxury digital collection of Barbie NFTs in collaboration with fashion house Balmain.
The next two drops, Hot Wheels and Barbie's appeared to be aimed at wealthy collectors rather than children. This partnership with Cryptoys brings the conversation back to how digital collectibles can be engaging for kids or a preferential form of online play for parents.
