Martha’s NFToken effort to cash in
Martha Stewart on Tuesday unveiled her first nonfungible tokens, becoming the latest celebrity to tap into the explosive market of digital assets and cryptocurrencies.
The 80-year-old lifestyle guru posted a collection of NFTs for sale on her digital store, FRESH Mint.
Many of the NFTs, images of pumpkin carvings, on sale for $66 or $166, were marked “sold out” by 11:30 a.m. EDT. Others were still open for auction with bids ranging from one to three Ether, or between roughly $3,797 and $11,391.
Stewart launched her collection through a partnership with NFT provider Tokns Commerce.
“I see NFTs as a new canvas for creativity and . . . a vehicle to protect artists’ [intellectual property] and support their incredible work,” Stewart said. “By collaborating with Tokns, we reached an approach that feels authentic and aligned with my vision.”
The collection includes pumpkin carving art by Marc Evan and Chris Soria, founders of New York Citybased Maniac Pumpkin Carvers.
“Owners of popular NFT profile art like Bored Apes and Crypto Punks will also bid on the opportunity to turn their prized NFTs into Carved Collection pumpkins just in time for Halloween,” the company said in a release.
Stewart told the Wall Street Journal that she eventually plans to also release her viral “thirst trap” selfie taken at her home in the Hamptons as an NFT.
“Who would have guessed?” she told the Wall Street Journal. “I have been cool for a long time, but I’m even more cool now.”
NFTs are digital assets that represent ownership of virtual items like computerized art and sports highlights. Transactions of NFTs are recorded on blockchain technology and powered by collections of code known as smart contracts.