Leading Crypto Firm Blockchain.com Signs Lease At Tricera Capital and LNDMRK Development's Cube Wynwd

Leading crypto firm Blockchain.com has finalized a lease to occupy the top two floors of Tricera Capital and LNDMRK Development’s Cube Wynwd as its new Miami office. The ~22,000-square-foot lease brings Cube Wynwd to full occupancy less than 10 months after Tricera and LNDMRK acquired the Class A, 100,000-square-foot office and retail building. The deal also gave Blockchain.com naming rights for the building. Blockchain.com, one of the most widely used consumer crypto products and the leading institutional solutions provider, will soon begin designing its permanent office on the seventh and eighth floors.

Danet Linares, Tere Blanca and David Valdez of Blanca Commercial Real Estate, Inc. represented Blockchain.com in the Cube Wynwd lease. JLL’s Eric Groffman, Cameron Tallon and Edward Quinon represented Tricera and LNDMRK.

“We are thrilled to welcome Blockchain.com to Cube Wynwd and the Wynwood neighborhood,” said Tricera Co-Founder and Managing Principal Ben Mandell. “Blockchain.com’s leadership shares our long-term belief in Wynwood, which still has vast potential on top of the incredible growth and activity that has already occurred.”

In 2021, Blockchain.com announced its intentions to relocate its national headquarters from New York to Miami and aggressively hire throughout the local Miami job market. It also committed to make a significant investment to support the South Florida STEM community.

“As Miami solidifies its status as a mecca for crypto, we couldn’t be more excited to announce the location for planting our permanent roots in the city,” said Peter Smith, Blockchain.com CEO. “The speed at which our business is growing matches that of Wynwood and Miami itself, creating the perfect backdrop for us to continue scaling worldwide from our very own Blockchain.com building.”

Tricera and LNDMRK purchased Cube Wynwd, which also includes ground-floor retail space and a verdant rooftop terrace occupied by popular Japanese restaurant Kissaki, in an April 2021 off-market transaction. The 222 NW 24th St. Cube Wynwd, the neighborhood’s first boutique office-over-retail building, was just ~35% occupied at the time of Tricera and LNDMRK’s acquisition.

The joint venture partners rapidly stabilized the building with a compelling mix of tenants, including Ecuadorean fintech firm Kushki, Shaolin Capital Management, Brazilian footwear manufacturer Grendene, office supply and furniture online retailer Poppin, tech firm Transmit, and more.

Coworking operator Spaces occupies about 30% of the office space and about 1,700 square feet of the retail space in Cube Wynwd’s lobby. Renowned chef Gabriele Bonci’s Rome-based Bonci Pizza and Mini Market are among the existing retail tenants. The building features loft-style office space with expansive floorplates.

“Cube Wynwd is a case study for how we identify off-market opportunities and move quickly to execute our hands-on ownership approach,” Tricera Co-Founder and Managing Principal Scott Sherman. “We are proud of the building’s dynamic tenant roster, with Blockchain.com joining numerous new-to-market companies. Wynwood will continue to experience intense corporate relocation demand from the technology and finance sectors.”

Tricera and LNDMRK are frequent collaborators on real estate investments and developments. The companies are partnering with The Related Group to develop The Dorsey, a 12-story apartment building with a parking garage and nearly 95,000 square feet of office and retail space on a former Coca-Cola plant in Wynwood.

Image via Richard Novak

Miami Sees Second Highest Priced Crypto Sale As Marquis Residences Condo Sells For $7.2 Million

The Downtown Miami market is on fire amidst a number of building launches and splashy sales. Now the City of Miami has seen its first crypto sale of the year as Unit 5306 in Marquis Residences has sold for $7.2 million in Ethereum that was transferred to USD Coin, a digital stablecoin that is pegged to the United States dollar, for the transaction. The sale is the second largest in Downtown Miami behind a $7.2 million sale at the nearby One Thousand Museum and the third highest in the Miami area ranking behind a $22.5 million deal at Arte in Surfside, both last year. Madison Roberts and Zach Oppenheim with Oppenheim Realty represented the buyer in the transaction, and Enzo Rosani of Barnes International Realty represented the seller, along with Ricardo Assaf with Unblock Capital, who helped mediate the crypto transfer. Coral Gables Title & Escrow handled the closing. Roberts and Oppenheim also represented the buyer in the One Thousand Museum deal last year.

Marquis Residences is located at 1100 Biscayne Boulevard in Downtown Miami. The buyer is a business developer from Central America. The triplex spans 6 bedrooms 7 bathrooms and 6,952 square feet. The two-story residence offers floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the entire city and ocean, a movie room, designer kitchen, office, two laundry rooms. The lavish master bedroom features views of Biscayne Bay and a double shower, jacuzzi and sauna. The unit also features a full home automation system throughout and window treatment for efficient A/C and energy savings.

"I have been in the crypto industry since 2011, it is absolutely amazing to see where crypto is right now and where it is headed. The opportunities are endless and we have yet to begin," said Roberts.

Images via Barnes International Realty

First-Ever MetaReal Mansion Under Construction In Both Miami And The Sandbox Metaverse

The first ever MetaReal mansion is currently under construction in both Miami in real life and in the Metaverse and is expected to fetch millions when it goes to auction. Meta Residence, ONE Sotheby’s International Realty and Voxel Architects have aligned to build and sell the first real-world mansion using NFT technology. The luxury mansion is being constructed in Miami with a virtual counterpart coming to life inside of The Sandbox metaverse. The purchaser of the NFT asset will also acquire ownership rights of the physical home.

“We are building a rare lifestyle experience that blurs the lines between the metaverse and reality,” said Gabe Sierra, President of the joint venture. “Never before has a project like this been delivered, and we are proud to offer the buyer of this NFT a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own the first MetaReal mansion ever created.”

Located on a 1+ acre within one of Miami’s most sought-after neighborhoods, the 11,000 square-foot home will feature 7 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms. The virtual version will be a mirror image of the property. Michael Martinez with ONE Sotheby’s International Realty is the exclusive sales agent for the project and plans to execute the transaction on the Ethereum blockchain. The metaverse mansion is expected to list for auction in 2022 with a yet to be disclosed reserve price.

“Being able to leverage my expertise to pair a homeowner with real and virtual property is something I never imagined being a part of, it’s exhilarating,” said Martinez, the top agent at ONE Sotheby’s International Realty. “We look forward to finding a buyer for this spectacular property and being involved in a momentous deal in this new era of homeownership.”

The joint venture has also acquired the equivalent of over 40 acres in the metaverse for future projects which may include homes, as well as commercial properties, marketing, and gaming endeavors.

“As a company we push boundaries and constantly evolve with the changing dynamics of the industry—always on the cutting-edge of real estate, art and technology. We believe that the metaverse will play a role in the future of real estate in one way or another,” said Daniel de la Vega, president of ONE Sotheby’s International Realty. “This deal represents a bold move to support our clientele where the real and virtual worlds converge, and we look forward to presenting the property to our unrivaled global network.”

The Sandbox is a virtual world where players can build, own, and monetize their gaming experiences on the Ethereum blockchain using $SAND, the main utility token of the platform. The Sandbox offers a wide range of exploration across its metaverse, consisting of 166,464 unique pieces of LAND, each belonging to a user. The Sandbox was founded in 2011 and has partnered with 60+ companies to develop content based on their IPs on the platform, including brands like Square Enix, ATARI, The Smurfs, Care Bears, and more.

Chris Bosh's Former North Bay Road Estate Sells To Crypto Industry CEO Of MoonPay For $38 Million

Ivan Soto-Wright, the co-founder and CEO of crypto payment system MoonPay, has acquired Miami Heat icon Chris Bosh’s former Miami Beach estate on North Bay Road for $38 million. MoonPay is a London-based online payment system for cryptocurrencies which just recently MoonPay hit a $3.4 billion valuation following a new $555 million funding round led by Tiger Global Management and Coatue. Albert Justo and Mirce Curkoski with The Waterfront Team at One Sotheby’s International Realty were the listing agents and Dina Goldentayer of Douglas Elliman represented the buyer. No comment has been made about the method and terms of transaction.

Bosh sold the same home in January 2021 for $14.4 million to AquaBlue Group, led by Philippe Harari, who would renovate the home before relisting it for $42 million and selling to Soto-Wright for $38 million. The massive price increase reflects the strong demand for waterfront real estate in Miami.

Upon arrival into the lushly landscaped property, guests will be greeted by a living green wall and a garden courtyard area with water installations that highlight the home's perimeter. The gut-renovated home features seven bedrooms and eight bathrooms, with wood and stone finishes throughout. The double-height great room is surrounded in glass, highlighting the captivating views of the bay and garden. Each corner of the home is intentionally and perfectly positioned to flow seamlessly together with high-end finishes from custom millwork to Italian marble slabs.

The grand master suite offers large closets, oversized bathroom with tub and dual sinks, morning kitchen and of course, stunning views. The kitchen features a custom Italian expansive chef’s kitchen with a huge island. The outdoors offers a mosaic tile infinity pool, a detached outdoor kitchen and cabana bathroom plus a separate guest quarters. The fully automated smart home also features a commercial-grade elevator and more.

Celebrity neighbors include Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, Karlie Kloss and Joshua Kushner, with former star owners including Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union. The home is seeking an overall record, but still lower price per square foot ($3,500) when compared to other recent sales like the sale of Phil Collins and Jennifer Lopez’s former home at 5800 North Bay Road which sold for $39 million at about $4,000 per square foot.

Imagery via ONE Sotheby’s International Real Estate

Micah Johnson Debut's Aku World For Miami Art Week As Digital NFT Astronaut Enters Physical World In Partnership With FTX US

Aku, the digital explorer and crypto-native NFT IP created by artist and former MLB player Micah Johnson, will come to life for the first time since its inception with Aku World: Miami presented by FTX US from December 2-4, 2021 in the vibrant Wynwood Arts District. Aku World: Miami will be Aku's first introduction to the physical world, bringing friends and collaborators across art, music, fashion and technology together in one space. The visually-stunning, multilayered event will showcase the otherworldly dimension of Aku and allow guests to step out of reality and into the metaverse through carefully curated exhibits that blur the lines between NFT technology and IRL experiences.

“Aku World is a world built around dreams. It was imperative to incorporate talented artists and designers who have achieved their dreams into the world and it’s our mission to inspire everyone who walks through the door,” said Micah Johnson, creator of Aku. Through a partnership with leading cryptocurrency exchange FTX US, attendees will be able to sign up for their own crypto wallet, collect NFTs throughout the space via hidden QR codes, and purchase digital artworks by legendary 3D artist, Raf Grassetti, as well as unique Aku digital works. Top-tier ticket holders will have exclusive access to the Minting Room presented by FTX US, where they can create their own 4D-scanned avatar that lives within the Aku universe and mint them into NFTs, which they can later trade, sell or display in their digital wallets.

Attendees can shop on-site via the Merch Room, which will host three days of exclusive merch collaborations with VIP guest collaborators Pusha-T, Jerome LaMaar and Aleali May, with each day dedicated to a single limited time, limited edition collection, available for pre-order at the event and online.

Aku’s Collection, curated by Art Angels, will tell more of Aku’s story through an art installation for guests to explore and interact with. A special curation of young Black artists including Jade Yasmeen, Asiko, Floyd Strickland, and Solomon Omogboye will be exhibited alongside two new original paintings by Micah Johnson, as well as three screen prints by Jean-Michel Basquiat. Guests will have the opportunity to view and purchase original artworks on-site.

Conceptualized by renowned creative and experiential studio MATTE Projects, the 30,000 square foot space will house a futuristic lifesize art installation of Aku’s Helmet, where guests can experience three otherworldly dimensions of Aku. The Blue Room will host exciting, informal panel conversations led by leaders in art, fashion, music and crypto, and The Patio will provide food and beverages for guests. Aku World: Miami will also host an invite-only VIP opening party on December 2nd with an intimate live musical performance by Kehlani.

Conceived by Micah Johnson in February 2021, Aku has since become the first NFT to be optioned for film and television projects and is the first NFT to travel to space. Aku is a conduit to empower the next generation of explorers and dreamers.

Aku World: Miami will be held at Wynwood Arts 29 (95 NW 29th St, Miami, FL 33127). The ticketed event will be open to the public on December 2-4 from 12pm-7pm daily. Tickets are on-sale now. Visit aku.world for more information.

Follow Aku on Instagram @aku.dreams, Twitter @AkuDreams and Discord.

Meet Aku:

• Digital explorer conceptualized by Micah Johnson in February 2021

• Created to empower the next generation of explorers and dreamers

• First NFT to be optioned for film and TV projects & to travel to space

Explore the Dimensions of Aku World:

• Aku’s Helmet: A futuristic lifesize installation of Aku’s Helmet will invite guests to experience and interact with multiple different worlds of Aku

• Curated Exhibitions: by young Black artists Jade Yasmeen, Asiko, Floyd Strickland, and Solomon Omogboye, alongside two original paintings by Micah Johnson, and screen prints by Jean-Michel Basquiat

• The Merch Room: will host exclusive merch collaborations with VIP guest collaborators Pusha-T, Jerome LaMaar, and Aleali May. Each day will be dedicated to a single limited time, limited edition collection, available for pre-order at the event and online

• The Blue Room: will host exciting, informal panel discussions with leaders in art, fashion, music & crypto; including: special sit downs between Micah Johnson and Aku's merch design collaborators Pusha-T, Aleali May and Jerome LaMaar

• The Minting Room: visitors can create their own 4D-scanned avatar that lives within the Aku universe and mint them into NFTs, which they can later trade, sell or display in their digital wallets

• Crypto Wallet: visitors can sign up for their own crypto wallet, collect NFTs and purchase digital artworks by legendary 3D artist, Raf Grassetti and unique Aku digital works

Event Information:  

WHAT: Aku World: Miami

WHO: Micah Johnson in collaboration with FTX US

WHEN: December 2-4, 2021 | 12PM-7PM

WHERE: Wynwood Arts 29, 95 NW 29th St, Miami, FL 33127

TICKETS: https://aku.world/ (OPEN TO THE PUBLIC)