Crypto Exchange FTX Launching Sports NFT Platform

Sam Bankman-Fried’s crypto exchange FTX is teaming up with Dolphin Entertainment to launch a sports and entertainment non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace. 

“We’re beyond excited to team up with Dolphin Entertainment to create an NFT marketplace for major sports and entertainment brands,” FTX tweeted yesterday. 

The marketplace itself will also include NFTs linked to film, television, music, gaming, and eSports among others. 

“Dolphin’s reach and scale across all of pop culture is very impressive to us,” said Brett Harrison, president of FTX.US. He reportedly added that the exchange is “excited to build marketplaces with Dolphin,” hinting that there are “several items on the horizon that we can’t wait to launch together.” 

Bill O’Dowd, Dolphin Entertainment CEO, is similarly bullish on his company’s partnership with FTX. 

“Our joint offerings are distinct from the rest of the market and, most importantly, immediately put NFTs on a level playing field with all other consumer products available for purchase online,” he reportedly said. 

NFTs find home in sports world

NFTs and sports have already established a great connection across most of the world’s biggest sports. 

The NBA has arguably led the way with NBA Top Shot, a collectibles craze for NFT and crypto enthusiasts. Storied NBA franchise the Golden State Warriors has also released an NFT collection, doing so in April of this year. 

Major stars in the NFL have followed suit, with Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, and the Manning brothers all having launched NFTs. 

In the MLB, Red Sox legend Ted Williams has his own NFT, and in the UFC, current heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou made more money on NFT sales than he did from his marquee title bout against fellow UFC heavyweight Stipe Miocic.

3 August 2021 11:34