July 21, 2023
By Anjali Kochhar
In celebration of Ethereum’s 10th anniversary, an iconic piece of history is hitting the digital market as a non-fungible token (NFT). The NFT auction features a portrait of none other than Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum, taken by Canadian photographer Andrew Miller back in 2014, before Buterin’s meteoric rise to fame.
In the captivating portrait, Buterin can be seen donning formal wear, a rare sight for the casual dresser. According to the NFT listing, Miller had met Buterin in Toronto and was inspired by the young visionary’s ideas. Determined to bolster Buterin’s public image and marketability, Miller sought to create a compelling portrait.
However, during the photo session, Buterin appeared in his typical “distressed casual clothing,” not aligning with Miller’s vision. Undeterred, the photographer made a selfless decision, offering Buterin his own striped shirt, which the Ethereum co-founder gladly donned for the portrait.
As the auction unfolds, the world awaits to see who will seize this rare opportunity to hold a digital piece of Vitalik Buterin’s legacy.
In another development in the same space, Neopets, the NFT-powered game, is undergoing a major transformation after a change in leadership. The creators have announced a new concept called “World of Neopets,” but it won’t be a crypto-based game like Neopets Metaverse. The team explained that they want to create a game that aligns better with their values and vision.
Despite the shift, the Neopets Genesis Collection, Neopets Pizzaroo Collection, and Neopets Masterpiece will still be available for trading. The team assures continued support for the community that embraced these collections, and the Neopets Metaverse Discord channel will stay active.
However, some community members expressed dissatisfaction with the changes, raising concerns about a potential “legal form of rug pull.” Others sought refunds of the minting fee and questioned the team’s previous investments from crypto projects. The transition has sparked mixed reactions, leaving players and investors uncertain about the game’s future.
At the same time, NFT marketplace OpenSea has removed a collection of NFTs representing staked Ether, causing frustration for the CEO of Ether.fi Mike Silagadze. The NFTs known as ether.fan NFTs, vanished from the marketplace without warning, and new listings were disabled, with vague error messages shown for days.
About the author
Anjali Kochhar covers cryptocurrency stories in India as well as globally. Having been in the field of media and journalism for over three years now, she has developed a sharp news sense and works hard to present information that goes beyond the obvious. She is an avid reader and loves writing on a wide range of subjects.
