As well as prominent NFT collectors like PleasrDAO, Pranksy and 888, the list also includes crypto-friendly celebrities like DJ Steve Aoki and self-proclaimed “Boss-Babe” Paris Hilton. Several of the collectors have been involved in the digital art and media sector for a long time before the term “NFTs” became popular, and they have contributed to the creation of a thriving ecosystem.
Payments may be made using Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), USD Coin (USDC), credit cards, and wire transfers. The platform accepts all of them. Powered by Mojito, an NFT studio and blockchain technology platform, the Sotheby’s Metaverse uses the NFT markets developed and operated by Mojito for brands and IP owners.
Projects such as Yuga Labs (the Bored Ape Yacht Club), Dapper Labs (CryptoKitties), Art Blocks (Chromie Squiggle), and Ponderware may be found in the ND1.2 collection (MoonCats). Since its founding in London in the mid-1700s, Sotheby’s has evolved into a global conglomerate with offices in 80 cities across 40 countries worldwide.
Welcome to Sotheby’s Metaverse. 🖖🖖 https://t.co/hZvYIkO3xx pic.twitter.com/9Wl9fUwibe
— Sotheby’s Metaverse (@Sothebysverse) October 14, 2021
In April, the company held its first-ever NFT auction, collaborating with digital artist “Pak” to auction tokenized art valued $16.8 million. After selling CryptoPunk #7523 (also known as “COVID Alien”) for a whopping $11.8 million in June, the auction house held a sale with Yuga Labs in July of 101 Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs, which brought in $24 million.
The earliest iterations of the metaverse are nothing new to Sotheby’s. The company established a virtual gallery in Decentraland in June, based on the New Bond Street Gallery of the auction house’s physical location in London.
When the building was completed in Decentraland’s Voltaire Art District, Hans Lomulder, a representative of Sotheby’s London, was on hand to welcome visitors at the entrance. The gallery displayed the COVID Alien CryptoPunk and Robert Alice’s clever NFT (iNFT).
Because of Facebook’s current effort to establish itself in the virtual metaverse, it has recently grabbed the attention of the general public. Notably, “A single business cannot build the metaverse in a day.” As a portion of the financing announcement, Facebook said it will work with politicians, academics, and industry associates to make this a reality.