The world of Web3 continues to evolve at lightning speed. From foundational infrastructure upgrades to new funding milestones and innovative legal frameworks, today’s developments signal a maturing ecosystem built on decentralization, user ownership, and long-term sustainability. In this comprehensive morning update, we explore the latest moves from top-tier players like a16z Crypto, OpenSea, and emerging platforms such as Stacked and Koop—all shaping the next phase of the decentralized internet.
Whether you're a builder, creator, or enthusiast, staying informed on these shifts is key to understanding where Web3 is headed in 2025 and beyond.
a16z Crypto Launches “Can’t Be Evil” – A Free NFT Licensing Standard
One of the most significant announcements today comes from a16z Crypto, which is introducing a new open-source licensing framework called "Can't Be Evil"—a play on Google’s once-famous “Don’t Be Evil” motto. This initiative aims to establish clear, standardized rights for NFT creators and owners, addressing one of the biggest challenges in digital ownership: intellectual property (IP) clarity.
Under the Can't Be Evil license, NFT holders are automatically granted commercial usage rights to their assets—without requiring additional legal agreements. This removes ambiguity around who owns what and empowers creators to monetize their work across media, merchandise, and even metaverse experiences.
👉 Discover how new licensing models are reshaping digital ownership in Web3.
This move could become a core standard in the NFT space, especially as more brands and independent artists seek transparent ways to manage rights. By making the license free and publicly available, a16z hopes to encourage widespread adoption and interoperability across marketplaces and platforms.
Key benefits include:
- Clear IP transfer upon purchase
- No hidden restrictions or complex legalese
- Support for derivative works and commercial use
- Designed with input from legal experts and creators
With NFTs, digital ownership, and creator economy becoming central themes in Web3, this development marks a critical step toward mainstream usability.
OpenSea Confirms Full Transition to Proof-of-Stake Post-Merge
In a major signal of alignment with Ethereum’s evolution, OpenSea has officially announced it will support only Proof-of-Stake (PoS) chains following the Ethereum Merge. This means that after the network completes its transition from Proof-of-Work (PoW), legacy PoW-based collections will no longer be supported on the platform.
This decision reinforces OpenSea’s commitment to sustainability, scalability, and long-term ecosystem health. As the largest NFT marketplace, this shift carries significant weight and may influence other platforms to follow suit.
Why it matters:
- Reduces environmental impact associated with energy-intensive mining
- Aligns with Ethereum’s roadmap for improved security and efficiency
- Encourages migration away from outdated or forked chains
For users and collectors, this means verifying that your NFTs reside on the canonical Ethereum chain post-Merge. Collections on any PoW forks may lose visibility, liquidity, and community support.
As Ethereum solidifies its role in the decentralized web, marketplaces like OpenSea are helping drive consensus around what constitutes legitimate, future-proof digital assets.
Stacked Raises $12.9M to Power Web3 Live Streaming
Stacked, a rising Web3 live streaming platform, has secured $12.9 million in funding, led by legendary crypto investment firm Pantera Capital. The capital infusion underscores growing investor confidence in decentralized entertainment ecosystems where creators retain control and earn directly from their audiences.
Unlike traditional streaming platforms that take large revenue cuts, Stacked leverages blockchain technology to enable:
- Direct token-based tipping and rewards
- Ownership of content through NFTs
- Community-governed moderation and curation
This funding round highlights the expanding scope of the creator economy in Web3, where fans don’t just consume—they participate, own, and help shape the experience.
With this new capital, Stacked plans to expand its technical infrastructure, onboard top-tier streamers, and integrate deeper social token mechanics. The goal? To build a truly user-owned alternative to centralized platforms like Twitch or YouTube.
👉 See how blockchain is transforming content creation and audience engagement.
As decentralized streaming gains traction, platforms like Stacked could redefine how digital communities interact in real time—powered by transparency, ownership, and incentive alignment.
Emerging Web3 Protocols Secure Major Funding
Beyond Stacked, several early-stage Web3 protocols have also closed substantial rounds this week, signaling strong momentum across niche but impactful sectors.
Koop – $5M Raised for Creator Communities
Koop, a protocol designed to empower Web3 creator communities, raised $5 million in a round co-led by 1confirmation and Variant Fund. Koop enables creators to launch tokenized communities with shared treasuries, governance rights, and collaborative revenue models—blending social DAOs with sustainable monetization tools.
GoGoPool – $5M for Liquid Staking Innovation
GoGoPool, a liquid staking platform focused on enhancing capital efficiency, secured $5 million from investors including Framework Ventures and CoinFund. The project aims to reduce staking fragmentation across chains while offering yield-bearing liquidity tokens—critical infrastructure as multi-chain ecosystems grow.
Sei Labs – $5M Seed Round for High-Speed Blockchain
Lastly, Sei Labs closed a $5 million seed round led by Multicoin Capital, developing a high-performance Layer 1 blockchain optimized for decentralized trading applications. With built-in order-matching engines and parallelized transaction processing, Sei targets the growing demand for fast, scalable DeFi execution layers.
These raises reflect deepening interest in infrastructure, liquidity solutions, and user-owned platforms—pillars of a resilient Web3 economy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is the 'Can't Be Evil' NFT license?
A: It's an open-source licensing framework by a16z Crypto that grants NFT owners clear commercial rights to their digital assets. It simplifies IP usage and promotes standardization across NFT marketplaces.
Q: Why is OpenSea dropping support for PoW chains?
A: After Ethereum’s Merge to Proof-of-Stake, OpenSea is aligning with the official Ethereum network for sustainability, security, and long-term viability. PoW forks will no longer be recognized on the platform.
Q: How does Stacked differ from traditional streaming sites?
A: Stacked uses blockchain to give creators full ownership of content, enables direct fan payments via crypto, and allows community governance—removing intermediaries and platform fees.
Q: Is the Mt. Gox repayment happening in 2025?
A: While previous estimates suggested earlier distribution, recent updates confirm the repayment process has been delayed to mid-2025, affecting around 137,000 BTC owed to creditors.
Q: Are NFT licenses legally enforceable?
A: Yes—when properly implemented on-chain or linked to smart contracts, licenses like Can't Be Evil can serve as binding terms that govern usage rights and permissions.
Q: What role does Pantera Capital play in Web3 funding?
A: As one of the earliest institutional investors in blockchain startups, Pantera backs high-potential infrastructure and application-layer projects shaping the future of decentralized technologies.
Final Thoughts: Web3’s Foundation Is Being Built
Today’s headlines reflect a broader trend: the shift from speculation to substance. Projects are focusing on real problems—IP rights, platform sustainability, creator empowerment—and solving them with open, composable systems.
From NFT licensing standards to eco-conscious marketplaces and decentralized streaming, these developments are not isolated events. They represent coordinated progress toward a more equitable digital future—one where users own their data, creators capture value, and innovation thrives without gatekeepers.
👉 Stay ahead of the curve—explore how Web3 is redefining digital ownership and creator freedom.
As we move deeper into 2025, watch for increased collaboration between protocols, wider adoption of standardized licenses, and stronger integration between DeFi, NFTs, and social platforms. The building blocks are in place—the next era of the internet is being coded now.