Animoca Brands focuses on real-world tokenized assets, AI innovations, and Web3 gaming, according to Omar Elissar. The company plans to develop a Hong Kong dollar stablecoin with local banks and is also collaborating with Sony on a digital identification system. Notably, Animoca reported a 12% year-on-year growth in its bookings for FY2024.
Animoca Brands has its sights set on a variety of emerging trends this year, focusing on real-world tokenized assets, AI-driven innovations, and the gaming industry. This was revealed by Omar Elissar, the Middle East managing director and head of Global Strategic Partnerships of the company, during an interview with Sam Bourgi from Cointelegraph at Token2049. Notably, they are keenly exploring areas such as stablecoins, real-world asset tokenization, and the potential synergies of AI and cryptocurrency, along with wider applications like decentralised science and Web3 gaming.
Elissar emphasised that gaming is deeply embedded in Animoca’s identity. Reflecting on the current scenario in the Web3 gaming sector, he noted a lull in public relations activity recently. However, he also mentioned that there has been substantial behind-the-scenes progress. He highlighted that several newly released games genuinely deliver fun experiences, countering the earlier negative sentiments about the quality of Web3 gaming.
As a leading venture capital firm firmly entrenched in the crypto space, Animoca Brands provides valuable insights into market trends for investors. The company often acts as a bellwether for what’s gaining traction or fading away within the ecosystem, making their perspective particularly noteworthy.
In collaboration with Standard Chartered Bank and Hong Kong Telecommunications (HKT), Animoca Brands is also pursuing stablecoin development. A deal made in February 2025 aims to create a Hong Kong dollar stablecoin, which will be overcollateralized and pegged to the local currency at a one-to-one ratio. Of course, this initiative hinges on approval from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), as local regulators are still ironing out comprehensive guidelines for stablecoins.
In another significant deal on March 27, Animoca joined forces with Soneium, a layer-1 blockchain network from Japanese tech giant Sony, to create a digital identification system. This system would incorporate anime character images, which can be assigned to users on the blockchain to signify identity.
On a promising note, Animoca has reported a 12% growth in “bookings” during the 2024 fiscal year, showcasing the company’s resilience. “Bookings” consider total revenues alongside revenue that has been counted but not yet received, painting a positive picture of its financial health, yet showing how recovery is still a work in progress.
Interestingly, amidst all these developments in the crypto space, there’s been a surge of diverse sentiments. The realm of crypto investment is steadily evolving, but as echoed from other discussions, it remains a complex landscape, often viewed through a lens of mixed perception—there’s much potential and yet, an air of caution lingers.
Stay tuned as Animoca Brands continues to push forward in these innovative sectors.
