Animoca Brands Sees 12% Growth, Focuses on AI, Gaming, Stablecoins
Animoca Brands, a prominent crypto-native venture capital firm, is focusing on several key trends in the cryptocurrency space for the year. According to Omar Elissar, the company's managing director for the Middle East and head of Global Strategic Partnerships, Animoca Brands is exploring opportunities in real-world tokenized assets, AI projects, and the gaming sector. These areas are seen as promising niches for investment and development.
During an interview at the Token2049 event, Elissar highlighted stablecoins, real-world asset tokenization, the intersection of AI and crypto, decentralized science, and Web3 gaming as areas of particular interest. He noted that while the Web3 gaming industry has seen less public relations activity recently, there has been significant behind-the-scenes development. Recent game releases that are genuinely enjoyable to play have addressed one of the main criticisms of Web3 gaming, which is the lack of engaging content.
Animoca Brands has been actively involved in strategic partnerships and deals that align with these trends. In February 2025, the company, along with Standard Chartered Bank and Hong Kong Telecommunications, signed an agreement to develop a Hong Kong dollar stablecoin. This stablecoin will be overcollateralized and pegged to the Hong Kong dollar at a 1:1 ratio, pending approval from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. This move underscores Animoca Brands' commitment to stablecoins and their potential to provide stability in the volatile crypto market.
Additionally, Animoca Brands has partnered with Soneium, a layer-1 blockchain network developed by sony, to create a digital identification system. This system will feature anime character images that can be assigned to onchain users to signify their identity, adding a layer of personalization and security to blockchain interactions.
Animoca Brands' financial report for the 2024 fiscal year revealed a 12% year-over-year growth in "bookings," which includes the sum of all revenue plus revenue that has been booked but not yet received. This growth indicates the company's strong performance and its ability to capitalize on emerging trends in the crypto space.
As a barometer for hot or emerging market trends, Animoca Brands' focus on these areas provides valuable insights for crypto investors. The company's strategic investments and partnerships reflect its confidence in the potential of real-world tokenized assets, AI projects, and the gaming sector to drive future growth in the cryptocurrency industry.