Futureverse, a company developing an AI and web3 ecosystem, has acquired Candy Digital, a platform known for offering digital collectibles tied to brands such as Major League Baseball (MLB) and Netflix. The acquisition is part of Futureverse's broader strategy to integrate artificial intelligence into next-generation fan experiences and to strengthen its position in the digital entertainment and sports sectors.
About Candy Digital
Candy Digital operates as a fan engagement platform, focusing on connecting audiences with sports, entertainment, and cultural content. The platform has built a user base of more than 1.5 million accounts and holds a library of over four million digital collectibles. Futureverse aims to enhance this offering by applying its proprietary AI and metaverse technologies, helping brands deepen their relationships with fans in an increasingly digital media environment.
Futureverse Acquires Candy Digital to Advance AI and Web3
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Addressing the needs of modern fan engagement
The partnership comes at a time when consumers spend most of their hours interacting with digital content. With media becoming more fragmented and abundant, brands face mounting pressure to adopt new technologies that keep audiences engaged in ways that actually matter.
Futureverse plans to give these brands new tools for creating experiences that capture attention and build long-term loyalty. By folding Candy Digital into its ecosystem, the company wants to support digital interactions that match what audiences — especially younger, digitally native consumers — now expect.
Powered by Futureverse
Integration with The Root Network and IP protection
Candy Digital's existing assets and content will be integrated into The Root Network, Futureverse's Layer 1 blockchain. This integration addresses ongoing industry concerns around intellectual property rights, creative ownership, and how AI gets used in content production and distribution. Instead of relying on traditional legal mechanisms, Futureverse embeds IP protection directly into the blockchain infrastructure.
This approach gives brands more control over how their content and assets get used in web3 environments. It also creates new monetization possibilities through secure and transparent engagement channels, including gaming and immersive storytelling experiences.
AI Meets Metaverse
Strategic alignment and investor support
Futureverse CEO Aaron McDonald says this acquisition supports the company's objective to build immersive experiences that go beyond traditional fan engagement. He pointed out that brands like MLB and DC Comics already exist at the intersection of digital and physical fandom, and integrating Candy Digital will enhance how these relationships develop using Futureverse's tools.
Matt Novogratz, Senior Vice President of Candy Digital, said joining Futureverse aligns with Candy's mission to use technology for meaningful fan interaction. Candy's services include loyalty programs, on-chain games, digital ticketing, and marketplaces, all designed to strengthen community ties among fans.
Candy Digital brings a roster of backers including Galaxy Digital, ConsenSys Mesh, Microsoft, and Warner Brothers, among others. These investors now become part of the broader Futureverse ecosystem, expanding its reach and capabilities.
Futureverse Key Art and Logo
Looking ahead: new phase for digital fan experiences
With the addition of Candy Digital, Futureverse aims to build what it describes as the next generation of fan experiences. The vision centers on verifiable digital ownership, gameplay that's interoperable across platforms, and streamlined access for users.
Futureverse is also collaborating with Ready Player One author Ernest Cline on Readyverse, a project that envisions expansive digital environments. Folding Candy's intellectual property into this ecosystem should provide fresh opportunities for storytelling and interaction using AI and web3 technologies.
The acquisition reflects an ongoing shift in how media, sports, and entertainment companies approach digital engagement. By combining technology infrastructure with content and fan networks, Futureverse and Candy Digital are positioning themselves to play a key role in the future of immersive digital experiences.
