People with a lot of time and money on their hands bid $ 2.5 million to “buy” Twitter founder Jack Dorsey’s first message on the platform.
The winner of the auction will receive a digital certificate allowing them to claim the 2006 tweet, in which Dorsey wrote “just to set up my twttr”.
The battle to buy the tweet is part of the latest digital craze, known as “non-fungible chips” or NFTs.
An NFT is created using blockchain technology, the same technology behind digital currencies as Bitcoin. The “non-fungible” part means that it is unique and cannot be replaced.
Dorsey’s tweet will remain where it is on Twitter, even after it has been “bought” in the auction.
The collection of tweets, videos and digital art has become extremely popular for those with deep pockets during the pandemic. A 10-second video by digital artist Beeple sold for $ 6.6 million last week, bringing new attention to the trend.
Owners can display their NFTs in an online gallery.
Dorsey posted a link to the online auction on Valuables on Friday. Before sharing the link, the offer price was under $ 1 million. By Saturday afternoon, the price had risen to $ 2.5 million.
Dorsey, 44, is estimated to be worth $ 12.5 billion, according to Forbes. There was no sign that the auction was charitable.
In the FAQ section, Valuables explains that a purchased tweet continues to be posted on the social networking site, but the buyer receives a digital tweet certificate “unique because it was signed and verified by the creator.” .
NFT enthusiasts hope that the items they buy will increase in value, but it is not yet clear whether there will be a sustainable market for digital collectors.