Animoca Brands has taken a significant step in expanding its presence in the Web3 ecosystem with the acquisition of Somo, a company known for its streamable and tradable digital collectibles. The deal, announced on Wednesday, comes as the NFT market demonstrates early signs of recovery in 2026, with total market capitalization rising roughly 20% within the first two weeks of the year. By integrating Somo’s technology and assets into its existing blockchain infrastructure, Animoca aims to strengthen its position in digital entertainment and capture renewed interest from collectors and traders.
Yat Siu, co-founder and executive chairman of Animoca Brands, emphasized that the acquisition aligns with the company’s long-term vision for NFTs and Web3-native gaming. Somo, which specializes in interactive and tradable collectibles, complements Animoca’s existing portfolio, creating opportunities to expand user engagement and scale community-driven experiences across global platforms. The company plans to leverage its network of partners to increase the reach and visibility of Somo’s offerings while combining infrastructure and community support to drive growth in the NFT sector.
The acquisition coincides with an early 2026 rebound in the NFT market following a challenging 2025. Data from CoinGecko indicates that the total NFT market capitalization climbed from around $2.5 billion on January 1 to over $3 billion by January 10. Much of this growth occurred in a single 24-hour window on January 9, when the market jumped from just below $2.7 billion to $3 billion, representing a $300 million gain and an 18.7% increase in daily trading volume. Analysts note that this surge reflects renewed enthusiasm for blue-chip NFTs and the impact of high-value sales and fresh airdrops.
Despite this early recovery, the NFT sector remains well below its previous peaks. Market capitalization as of January 14, 2025, stood at approximately $7.3 billion, meaning the current level is still nearly 60% lower year-over-year. This ongoing correction underscores the volatility and uneven trading activity in the digital collectibles market, suggesting that while growth is returning, broader adoption and sustained trading remain key challenges.
Animoca’s acquisition of Somo positions the company to benefit if the NFT market continues its rebound. By combining innovative technology, platform integration, and strategic partnerships, Animoca could capture a larger share of the growing Web3 gaming and collectibles sector. As interest in blue-chip NFTs and interactive digital assets rises, industry observers will closely watch how Animoca leverages this acquisition to influence market trends and shape the next phase of the NFT cycle.
