Melania Trump Announces ‘POTUS NFT Collection’ Amid Controversy
Funds used to purchase Trump’s first NFT were traced back to the former first lady, Bloomberg reported
Melania Trump | Source: Shutterstock
key takeaways
- The new collection will consist of 10,000 NFTs and each will cost $50
- The forthcoming sale will begin on Feb. 21 — Presidents’ Day
Despite reports that Melania Trump herself won an auction for her first NFT, the former first lady is rolling out another set of digital collectibles.
“POTUS NFT Collection” will “recognize important moments in [America’s] history,” such as NFTs (non-fungible tokens) depicting Mount Rushmore, the White House and Air Force One, Trump said in a statement. Up for sale: 10,000 solana NFTs priced at $50.
“Collectors will enjoy an element of surprise, as the artwork of each NFT is revealed only after purchase,” Trump said. “Of course, collectors can make multiple purchases to own the entire POTUS Trump Collection.”
The sale is set to begin on Feb. 21 — Presidents’ Day.
Trump’s NFT efforts are in question after Bloomberg reported the former first lady purchased her first NFT herself. The funds used to purchase Trump’s collection were traced back to a wallet that belongs to the creators of the project.
Trump announced her “Head of State Collection” late last year, which featured a white hat, along with a painting of herself and voice recording, as part of the “historic auction.” Although the starting bid was $250,000, the NFT sold for roughly $180,000.
A spokesperson for Trump denied that the project’s creator purchased its NFT.
“The nature of Blockchain protocol is entirely transparent. Accordingly, the public can view each transaction on the [blockchain],” a representative said in a statement. “The transaction was facilitated on behalf of a third-party buyer.”
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