A strong community is the core engine of any Non-Fungible Token (NFTs) project. These projects benefit from network effects that make mass appeal and widespread awareness a necessary ingredient for success.
That’s what makes them a natural fit for celebrities. Online influencers, athletes, movie stars and artists already have the network needed to kickstart a NFT community overnight. In fact, passionate fans of some celebrities already pay millions for tangible collectibles. NFTs allow them to add digital collectibles to their roster.
In this way, blockchain technology seems to have unlocked a new layer of value for people with a fanbase. However, not all celebrity NFT projects are successful. Some have crashed into oblivion in recent months. Others continue to thrive.
Here are the top four most successful celebrity NFT projects.
Tom Brady’s Autograph
Super Bowl champion Tom Brady has been deeply involved in the cryptocurrency space for the past few years. Recently, he’s been more keen on NFTs. In April, Brady launched Autograph, a Los Angeles-based NFT marketplace start-up that helps sell celeb-endorsed NFTs to fans.
The project already has over 100,000 NFT listings, including ones from celebrities like Tiger Woods, Wayne Gretzky, Derek Jeter, Simone Biles and Tony Hawk. The company has also signed deals with corporations like Lionsgate and DraftKings.
Tyson Fury
Heavyweight champion Tyson Fury decided to test the waters with a one-of-a-kind NFT in July. The artwork, titled “Lineal by Tyson Fury,” featured the British boxer with a gold crown and some of his championship belts along with a digital signature. It sold for $987,000, making it one of the most successful celebrity NFT collectibles at the time.
However, Fury’s sale also included tangible benefits such as signed boxing gloves, a painting of the digital artwork and a personalized video message from Fury congratulating the buyer.
Kings of Leon
The Nashville-based rock band added layers of features to their latest album that were exclusively accessible through an NFT token. When You See Yourself, the band’s eighth studio album, was released in March, 2021 in the form of a NFT. That makes Kings of Leon the first band to ever use blockchain technology in this way.
The token sale helped the band raise $2 million.
The tokens offer holders special benefits such as front-row seats for life, exclusive audiovisual art and unique album cover art. Of course, these tokens can also be traded on NFT marketplaces, which could make them assets for investors looking to bet on the band’s popularity.
Snoop Dogg
Rapper Snoop Dogg is already a well-known NFT collector. His collection of digital art is estimated to be worth over $17 million. Now, he’s partnered with Coldie to launch his own NFT called Decentral Eyes Dogg. The auction is scheduled for November 29 – December 3 on SuperRare. Meanwhile, the artist is also selling access to a virtual mansion via NFTs on the Sandbox platform.
