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LimeWire Launches Nostalgic Browser Game With Crypto Rewards
The legendary file-sharing service has been resurrected as a browser-based game where players download virtual files and try to avoid viruses.
LimeWire, the early 2000s peer-to-peer file-sharing service, reinvented itself last year as a creator membership platform and NFT marketplace with a Patreon-style paywall feature. Since its relaunch, LimeWire has experienced trading volumes of over $1 million, with a waiting list of 3 million users and 20,000 active creators.
Now, in a flurry of nostalgia, LimeWire’s original music-sharing app has been resurrected in Web3 format as a unique music-downloading game.
The browser-based game simulates an old Windows desktop with LimeWire software running. Players must enter an email address to play, and gameplay involves users pretending to search for music and movies to download, while avoiding viruses.
“Our approach in tapping into nostalgia to promote the new LimeWire was a conscious decision to acknowledge and celebrate our roots. The nostalgic connection not only resonates with those familiar with LimeWire in its early days but also introduces the younger generation to the rich history of LimeWire as we venture into the Web3 landscape,” says Julian Zehetmayr, LimeWire Co-CEO.
Also Read: A Guide To Digital Payment Methods In The Middle East
The game allows players to search for any musician, song, or movie popular in the early 2000s. When selected for a “download”, 10 points will be awarded. The simulation will continue until the timer runs out or a player accidentally unearths “a virus”.
It’s worth pointing out that we’re talking about a game here, so no illegal files or viruses are actually downloaded!
The LimeWire game will be available for one month, ending on May 15th. Players with the highest recorded scores will earn crypto rewards in the form of 150,000 LMWR (worth $30,000) — LimeWire’s upcoming ERC-20 token to be released next month.
News
Checkout.com Set To Launch Card Issuing In The UAE
The payment service provider’s expansion is a first-of-its-kind investment and could reshape digital transactions across the region.
Checkout.com is laying the groundwork to become the first global payments platform to introduce card issuing in the United Arab Emirates — a move that could reshape how businesses in the region manage financial transactions.
The company plans to roll out its domestic card issuance offering in the UAE by 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The launch would give businesses the tools to issue both physical and virtual branded cards. This, in turn, opens up new ways to reward customers, streamline expense processes, and handle B2B payouts efficiently.
Checkout.com’s CEO and Founder, Guillaume Pousaz, revealed the plans during Thrive Abu Dhabi, the firm’s debut conference in the Emirates. Joined on stage by Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA, Pousaz presented to an audience of over 150 partners and merchants at Saadiyat Island. Also in attendance was H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications.
Abbondandolo highlighted the strategic importance of the announcement: “As a global business, we focus on bringing products to markets that our customers want and need. Today’s announcement is proof of our commitment to the MENA region and its rising influence in the digital economy. The appetite for innovation here is real, and we’re proud to be building the infrastructure that powers it”.
One early adopter of Checkout.com’s UAE acquiring services is Headout, a travel experiences marketplace, which recently named the payment provider as its main partner in Europe. The company has already begun card issuing there and is keen to expand that offering into MENA once approval is granted.
The expansion of services in the UAE and beyond builds on Checkout.com’s track record in the region. It was the first global payments firm to secure a Retail Payment Services license from the UAE’s Central Bank and was instrumental in rolling out Mada and Apple Pay in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Also Read: Protecting Your WhatsApp Account From Hackers: Kaspersky Expert Tips
The firm has also been rolling out new products: One of the latest is Flow Remember Me, currently in beta testing. It allows shoppers to store their card information once and access it across Checkout.com’s entire network, potentially cutting checkout times by up to 70%.
Earlier this year, Checkout.com also introduced Visa Direct’s Push-to-Card solution in the UAE, enabling both domestic and international payouts. Its collaboration with Mastercard has grown as well, making it easier for businesses to send funds directly to third-party cards securely and quickly.
With regional tech ambitions on the rise — spurred by initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s 2031 Agenda — Checkout.com sees its role as one of a key enabler. “Our mission is to help ambitious businesses navigate the complexity of payments, so they can move faster, go further, and make the most of every opportunity,” said Abbondandolo. “In MENA, performance is personal. It’s local. It’s built on trust. And when payments perform, businesses thrive”.
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