US asset management firm VanEck is entering the metaverse by unveiling a collection of 1,000 non-fungible tokens (NFTs). This will provide access to exclusive benefits for holders.
VanEck launches into NFTs
VanEck is one of the world’s leading digital investors and continues to lead the way into the world of tomorrow. The US investment fund has just announced the launch of VanEck Community NFT, the first collection of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) offered by an asset management company.
It’s here! Launching today, the VanEck Community NFT, the first NFT offered by a global asset manager. Follow @vanecknft for updates: https://t.co/6Nw7uUqm1i pic.twitter.com/wG5YBdIcz4
– VanEck (@vaneck_us) May 2, 2022
This will consist of 1,000 unique NFTs, distributed to 1,000 randomly selected individuals who wish to gain early access to investment opportunities and participate in both real and virtual events. Holding an NFT will also provide “exclusive access to an inclusive community that is both free and of real value”.
Although NFTs are often compared to digital artworks, they are also used to tokenise everything around us. This can be elements of video games or real estate, as RealT does, for example. In concrete terms, VanEck describes VanEck Community NFT as a digital membership card.
What to expect from VanEck Community NFT
The first version of the NFTs will be sent to selected participants later this week. It will be based on a fictional character, Hammy, adapted from the famous Alexander Hamilton, founding father of the United States. He will be on a time travel journey, sailing between the past and the future to understand the world of finance.
At the end of May, the NFTs will be upgraded to the final version, a high quality 3D avatar. They will each have varying attributes of varying rarity, allowing them to be classified as 750 common, 230 rare and 20 legendary. Each NFT owner will be able to enjoy a number of unique benefits based on these three levels of rarity.
“The VanEck Community NFT allows VanEck to foster engagement and community among those who are passionate about finance and crypto. “
This initiative comes barely a month after Jan van Eck, the CEO of the eponymous company, showed his excitement for the sector at the Bitcoin Miami 2022 conference. He expressed interest in the NFT phenomenon and said that blockchain technology could revolutionise Wall Street.
Incidentally, VanEck is no stranger to the cryptocurrency sector. Last year, the American company was refused the creation of a Bitcoin spot ETF by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
