eBay

Timing Right for KnownOrigin

KnownOrigin enables artists and collectors to create, purchase and resell NFTs via blockchain-enabled transactions. Co-founder David Moore said in a statement that the company was built to “empower creators and collectors by giving them the ability to showcase, sell and collect unique, authenticated digital items”.

Moore added:

As interest in NFTs continues to grow, we believe now is the perfect time for us to partner with a company that has the reach and experience of eBay.

David Moore, co-founder, KnownOrigin

eBay Continues Digital Exploration

It was just over a year ago that eBay began allowing its users to buy and sell NFTs, at a time when the market exploded. Its foray into collectibles shows continued interest in leveraging cryptocurrency and blockchain technology to improve its operations, and eBay has even begun looking into integrating crypto payment options.

Jamie Iannone, eBay’s chief executive, said in a statement:

KnownOrigin has built up an impressive, passionate and loyal group of artists and collectors, making them a perfect addition to our community of sellers and buyers. We look forward to welcoming these innovators as they join the eBay community.

Jamie Iannone, chief executive, eBay

Popular e-commerce website eBay has announced the release of its debut collection of NFTs, a hockey-themed drop in partnership with Tezos- and Polygon-based NFT platform OneOf.

The release marks the marketplace’s first foray into digital collectibles after it had been teasing the concept for some time now:

Calling all collectors, you can score our first exclusive NFT drop brought to you by @OneOfNFT with a @SInow x @WayneGretzky digital collectible. 🏒

Starting at $10, you can get a limited edition NFT along with bragging rights, unless you decide to sell it.#NFT #eBayExclusive
— eBay (@eBay) May 23, 2022

NFTs a Year in the Making for eBay

eBay officially announced its interest in digital collectibles in May 2021 after CEO Jamie Iannone had foreshadowed the possibility of integrating into the world of NFTs and cryptos. In September 2021 eBay said it would allow the sale of NFTs on its platform and in March this year, Iannone suggested that eBay would start accepting crypto payments later that month.

eBay’s NFT collection will involve digital collectibles of popular athletes such as Canadian former ice hockey player Wayne Gretzky. Each athlete will have four tiers – green, gold, platinum, and diamond – with the green tier including NFTs as cheap as US$10.

The firm has said it intends to release more NFT collections of high-profile athletes over the rest of the year. Prices of the NFTs range up to US$1,500 and are purchasable via the same fiat payment methods as the platform’s other physical items.

“Through our partnership with OneOf, eBay is now making coveted NFTs more accessible to a new generation of collectors everywhere,” said Dawn Block, eBay’s vice president of collectibles, electronics and home, in a statement. “This builds on our commitment to deliver high passion, high-value items to the eBay community of buyers and sellers.”

OneOf is built on the Tezos and Polygon blockchain, which both use a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism.