Animoca Brands has strengthened its position in digital collectibles by acquiring Somo, a gaming and collectibles company, as the NFT market begins to show early signs of recovery in 2026. The move reflects renewed confidence in Web3 entertainment after a prolonged market slowdown.
Animoca Expands Web3 Collectibles Strategy
The acquisition brings Somo’s playable, streamable and tradable digital collectibles into Animoca Brands’ growing ecosystem of blockchain-based platforms. Animoca plans to integrate Somo across its wider Web3 infrastructure, using cross-promotion, shared technology, and its global partner network to scale the brand and reach new audiences.
The deal aligns with Animoca’s broader strategy of building interconnected digital worlds where collectibles, gaming, and community engagement intersect.
The timing of the acquisition coincides with a notable rebound in the NFT sector. The global NFT market capitalization rose by around 20% in the first two weeks of 2026, increasing from approximately $2.5 billion on January 1 to over $3 billion.
A sharp $300 million increase in just 24 hours accounted for a large portion of the gains, alongside an 18.7% jump in daily trading volume. Market participants point to renewed interest in blue-chip NFTs, higher-value sales, and new token-linked NFT drops as contributing factors.
Despite the rebound, the sector remains under pressure. NFT valuations are still about 59% lower year-on-year, highlighting that the recent recovery, while significant, is unfolding from deeply compressed levels.
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