Nfts
This Arizona artist is selling NFTs to help save endangered axolotls in Mexico
Meet an artist at the forefront of technology and environmentalism, at least when it comes to a small and rare salamander that lives in Mexico’s only lake.
You’ve probably heard of the axolotl or seen various depictions of it everywhere, from Mexican folk art to Japanese anime to the video game Minecraft. But even though these adorable creatures are iconic in art and culture, they are endangered. The lake where the axolotls live is polluted and their numbers are decreasing.
This is where Matt Martinez comes in. Martinez is called “Scum” and uses his artwork to raise funds and awareness about the plight of axolotls.
His art is not found on the walls of galleries or homes. It is bought and sold only online as NFTs, or non-fungible tokens. It’s a new world of virtual art trading that he says is the wave of the future. The Show sat down with him recently to talk more.
Complete conversation
MATT MARTINEZ: An NFT is an entry on a blockchain. I sell NFTs specifically on the Solana blockchain, but there are a lot of them. You have Ethereum, AVAX, Bitcoin, Tezos. They all have thriving art markets. But before NFTs, it was impossible to sell a piece of digital art and prove ownership. Today, art has done it, and the kind of buzzword is “digital provenance.”
So if I create a piece of digital art and I have followers and collectors and they want to be able to buy, own and eventually sell a piece of digital art, they can through NFTs. It’s a bit like the view from 10,000 feet.
But the real and exciting part of NFTs in the beginning was that royalties could be written into the smart contract. So, if my collector buys a piece of art and resells it more or less later – it doesn’t matter – a percentage of that sale will automatically go to my wallet, the wallet that created the NFT in the first place.
Many people joked that they could just right-click to save a piece of art because it was digital. And sure, you can, but you can’t actually own it or sell it. And there is a market for both of those things in the NFT space.
LAUREN GILGER: So interesting. So it’s like a kind of digital version of Christie’s or something, like an auction house.
MARTINEZ: Well, Christie’s is auctioning off NFTs.
GILGER: And for crazy amounts of money, right?
MARTINEZ: Mmmhmm.
GILGER: Wild. OK, so there’s this interesting idea, a sort of connection between digital art and physical art. Are there physical versions of much of your digital art or none at all?
MARTINEZ: So in my case, no. In the future perhaps. But in my case, no. Everything is created digitally, either with Photoshop, Procreate, iPad or computer. But there are plenty of artists who create physical works, take high-resolution photos of them, sell the NFT as a sort of proof of authenticity, and then they can ship the physical artwork to whoever the owner is. .
But what we are currently working on, and which no one has really succeeded in yet, is the integration of NFC chips or chips specifically related to NFT, and then an escrow service. So if someone sells the physical artwork, the NFT is transferred with it and then royalties are also applied.
GILGER: It’s fascinating because it raises a whole other set of questions about ownership and what that means, sort of in a digital landscape. How did you get there?
MARTINEZ: So I was kind of a closeted artist for a long, long time. I have been doing branding, graphic design, web design and photography for a very long time. In a past life, I was also in the restaurant industry here in Arizona.
But one of my mentors said to me, “you should look into NFTs.” I think it was late 2021. And he said, “I think we might actually be ahead of something for once.” » I was like, “Okay.” And he was also one of my biggest customers. I was a freelance graphic designer. I managed some of his brands, photography, etc.
And about two months after he told me to look into NFTs, I stopped. All. I left all my clients and worked full time at Web3, I guess that’s the kind of placeholder name for this space.
GILGER: I saw that. I didn’t know what that meant.
MARTINEZ: I have been a full-time artist for a little over two years now.
GILGER: Wow. So that’s a whole different area for you. It’s really cool.
MARTINEZ: It’s all new.
GILGER: How do you make NFT art? What is your process?
MARTINEZ: So, like I said, I’m a digital artist. Some things may start as a sketch. Some things might start with a little painting, a sketch on a napkin, whatever. Conceptually, it all starts in my head. And then I most often use a program called Procreate. And then you export your digital art, you make it at a high enough resolution that the quality is good, so it can be displayed. Ideally, in the future, people will display digital art in their homes.
And then you list it on the channel. I use, notably on Solana, a platform called Exchange.Art. They upload your artwork and then write a smart contract that represents your artwork. And then on their platform you can buy, sell and trade art. You can also do things privately – OTC, as it’s called, or over-the-counter, off-chain. And as an NFT artist, you do the marketing. So you log into Twitter, Instagram, or Discord and share your art with collectors.
GILGER: It’s like putting it on a gallery wall, but it’s your own personal gallery that’s everywhere.
MARTINEZ: Yeah, 100%.
An art exhibition by Matt “Scum” Martinez in Mexico to save the axolotls.
GILGER: It’s fascinating. OK, let’s talk about some of the projects you’ve been involved with. You’re involved in a very interesting project right now outside of Mexico City that’s sort of trying to save these adorable folkloric creatures called axolotls, which are salamanders. But you’ve seen the pictures. It’s been sort of mythologized at this point.
And the idea here is to create sculptures that will then help raise money to save their environment, essentially. Tell us about that.
MARTINEZ: Dude, you can make me go now. so initially, when I started my most recent collection – it’s called Slimes – I promised to donate 10% of every sale for the duration of the series. There will be 50, so it’s not over yet. But to date, we’ve raised about $40,000. The initial goal was just to try to donate money.
And then I took a trip to Mexico last year to meet some partners with whom they were working on this project. When we went there, we discovered that it was a really, really delicate ecosystem.
So they’re iconic, right? Axolotls. They are in Japan. They are in the United States. They are kept as pets, but most people don’t know that they are actually endemic to this lake in Mexico, which is the remains of the ancient city of Tenochtitlan.
They still use ancient agricultural techniques, called chinampas. Chinampas are essentially floating gardens. It’s really very cool.
Currently, the lake is very polluted due to runoff from the city. The lake is therefore unfortunately polluted once a year when it rains. Additionally, at some point during the 1960s, they introduced tilapia and carp into the lake. They are predatory fish. They ate the axolotl population.
So you take all of those factors into consideration, and I think over the last five months, pretty much everyone who works on the lake and tries to preserve it, the axolotl population has come to terms with the fact that they don’t no longer exists in the wild. So we are now working with many people who are trying to create an environment within the lake in which they can survive.
GILGER: So tell me a little bit about the why of this project. There is a history of artists using their art for the common good or for certain causes, etc. But why this one for you and why so?
MARTINEZ: So I grew up in the United States. Dad is Mexican, mom is from Canada. And that’s just a big part of my personal tradition. But I felt like I was always a little too Mexican for my white friends, too white for my Mexican friends. And I never really had a good outlet to explore these topics.
So, through art, I decided to immerse myself in what being Mexican meant to me. So my art, a lot of it is, it’s the characters themselves who are luchadores, exploring both Chicano and ancient Mexican aesthetics and mythology and trying to combine that thing that gives me the feeling of learning, of growing a little. .
Likewise, I use a lot of axolotl imagery after discovering that they were endemic to this little place in Mexico City. So I wanted to do something to try to help the axolotls. And throughout the process, I became more and more in love with the animal and the place itself. And now I feel like I don’t know what else I would do with my time other than that. It’s pretty cool.
GILGER: What’s next? This is only the beginning, it seems.
MARTINEZ: It’s just the beginning. So we recently organized our first exhibition: 11 sculptures, 11 artists spread across Mexico, Uruguay, Colombia, the United States and Canada. We are working to bring a set of sculptures to COP16 (the United Nations Biodiversity Conference) in Colombia. We are working to submit, hopefully, a significant portion to the United Nations General Assembly. We have contacts. We hope that all this will come true.
Things have worked great so far, so no reason to believe that won’t be the case. The sculptures are placed specifically in areas or chinampas where people are working on the lake, whether reintroducing native plants, removing invasive species, or trying to specifically help the axolotl. So we’re working with Embarcadero Cuemanco to ideally host tours specific to the location of the sculptures themselves, so people can learn more about what’s happening in the lake and also support the people who are actively working on the lake.
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Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, saw sales volume surge for the second week in a row, reaching $107 million, an increase of 8.5%.
A substantial increase in the number of NFT Buyers accompanied this growth, reaching 488,141 — a staggering increase of 89.56%.
On the other hand, the number of NFT sellers also increased by 69.8%, totaling 198,450, signaling an improved business environment and increased market engagement.
Below is a look at what happened in the NFT market over the past week.
Ethereum Maintains Leading Position While Solana and Bitcoin Follow
Blockchains by weekly NFT sales volume | Source: CryptoSlam
Over the past few weeks, Ethereum (ETH) continued to dominate the NFT market with $36.6 million in total sales, driven by 35,236 buyers, a 46.31% increase from the previous week.
Solana (GROUND) has emerged as a serious competitor, recording total revenue of $26.15 million, thanks to a substantial 114.07% increase in the number of buyers.
Bitcoin (Bitcoin) The NFT market also saw a notable surge, with total sales reaching $21.4 million, thanks to a staggering 222.29% increase in buyers.
Polygon (MATICS), which had the second best performance the previous week, saw its total sales volume drop by more than 15%, dropping it to 4th place just ahead of Immutable (IMX).
Other notable performances were achieved by Zora and Blast, which recorded the two largest percentage increases in sales volume, at 463% and 227% respectively.
Best Collections: Solana Monkey Business Shines
Ranking NFT collections by weekly sales volume | Source: CryptoSlam
Among the top NFT collections, Solana Monkey Business came out on top with $4.86 million in sales, an increase of 168.38%. The collection also saw a significant increase in transactions (137.34%) and buyers (130.84%).
The DMarket collection on the Mythos blockchain, which recorded $4.01 million in sales, came in a close second. Interestingly, this is the only collection among the top 5 by sales volume to see a decline in the number of transactions and buyers.
Immutable’s Gods Unchained cards also made headlines with $3.8 million in sales, an increase of 61.35%. This collection saw notable growth in both transactions (76.31%) and buyers (41.21%), a testament to the growing popularity of blockchain-based trading cards.
Best-Selling NFTs and Fan Tokens
In terms of individual sales, Ethereum’s Autoglyphs #167 led with a sale of $274,561, followed by Bitcoin’s Protoshrooms with $148,574. Other notable sales included BNB’s kNFT: Locked kUSDT and Arbitrum’s Umoja Synths, highlighting the diversity and breadth of the NFT market across different blockchains.
Top 5 Fan Tokens by Sales Volume
As can be seen in the table above CryptoSlamFan tokens also continued to see explosive growth, with Galatasaray’s token on the Chiliz blockchain recording a turnover of $280.5 million. This reflects an increase of 70149.47%.
FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain followed with substantial sales volumes, indicating the growing popularity of sports-related NFTs.
Market consequences
The latest performance of the NFT market marks a significant turnaround, demonstrating resilience and renewed investor interest after a period of declining sales volumes.
This is the second consecutive week of improved sales, suggesting a potential upward trend. It is worth noting that this resurgence comes amid a broader recovery in the cryptocurrency market, which is currently valued at $2.55 trillion.
Major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, BNB, and Solana have all registered Prices have risen by double digits over the past week, further fueling optimism in the digital asset sector.
The correlation between rising cryptocurrency prices and the recovery of the NFT market could be an indication of strengthening investor confidence, setting a positive tone for the coming weeks.
APENFT (NFT) fell 0.3% against the U.S. dollar in the 24-hour period ending at 9:00 a.m. ET on July 21. APENFT has a market cap of $8.54 million and $16.67 million worth of APENFT was traded on exchanges over the past day. Over the past week, APENFT has been trading 3.1% lower against the US Dollar. One APENFT token can now be purchased for around $0.0000 or 0.00000000 BTC on major cryptocurrency exchanges.
Here’s how other cryptocurrencies performed over the past day:
- KILT Protocol (KILT) is up 1.9% against the dollar and is now trading at $0.20 or 0.00000302 BTC.
- Aidi Finance (BSC) (AIDI) fell 2.2% against the dollar and is now trading at $0.0000 or 0.00000000 BTC.
- Zoo Token (ZOOT) fell 2.2% against the dollar and is now trading at $0.0652 or 0.00000239 BTC.
- CareCoin (CARES) fell 2.2% against the dollar and is now trading at $0.0809 or 0.00000297 BTC.
- Kitty Inu (KITTY) rose 1.9% against the dollar and is now trading at $95.84 or 0.00338062 BTC.
- Hokkaidu Inu (HOKK) rose 1.2% against the dollar and is now trading at $0.0004 or 0.00000001 BTC.
- Jeff in Space (JEFF) fell 2.2% against the dollar and is now trading at $2.75 or 0.00010076 BTC.
- Lumi Credits (LUMI) fell 0.7% against the dollar and is now trading at $0.0128 or 0.00000019 BTC.
- AXIA Coin (AXC) fell 0.1% against the dollar and is now trading at $13.43 or 0.00048094 BTC.
About APENFT
APENFT launched on March 28, 2021. The total supply of APENFT is 999,990,000,000,000 tokens and its circulating supply is 19,999,800,000,000 tokens. The official website of APENFT is apenft.orgThe official APENFT Twitter account is @apenftorg and his Facebook page is accessible here.
According to CryptoCompare, “APENFT is a blockchain-based platform created by the APENFT Foundation to create, buy, sell, and trade non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on the TRON and Ethereum networks. It allows for the ownership and trading of unique digital assets such as artwork, music, videos, and more. It also provides tools for artists and creators to create and promote their own NFTs, as well as participate in community events and governance.”
APENFT Token Trading
It is not currently generally possible to purchase alternative cryptocurrencies such as APENFT directly using US dollars. Investors wishing to acquire APENFT must first purchase Ethereum or Bitcoin using an exchange that deals in US dollars such as CoinbaseGDAX or Gemini. Investors can then use their newly acquired Ethereum or Bitcoin to purchase APENFT using any of the exchanges listed above.
Receive daily news and updates from APENFT – Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and updates for APENFT and associated cryptocurrencies with FREE CryptoBeat Newsletter from MarketBeat.com.
Nfts
Next US Vice President JD Vance Holds Bitcoin and NFTs, Expected to Boost MATIC and Algotech Post-Election
The blockchain technology landscape is about to transform as JD Vance, the likely next US vice president, emerges as a strong advocate for digital assets. Recent reports suggest that Vance not only holds Bitcoin (BTC) and NFTs, but is also willing to back promising blockchain initiatives like Polygon (MATIC) and Algotech (ALGT) post-elections.
JD Vance’s Cryptocurrency Investments Highlight Shift in Government Perspective
U.S. Senator JD Vance has garnered considerable attention for his recent investments in Bitcoin (BTC) and NFTs. Public records indicate that he owns between $100,000 and $250,000 worth of Bitcoin (BTC), indicating considerable interest in the success of the cryptocurrency market. This level of financial commitment from a high-profile government figure is unprecedented and underscores the growing credibility and promise of digital assets.
JD Vance’s interests extend beyond Bitcoin (BTC) to non-fungible tokens (NFTs), with reports suggesting his involvement in acquiring notable pieces from renowned collections. While the details of his NFT portfolio remain unknown, those who know the senator confirm his foray into this field.
This exploration of NFTs underscores Vance’s openness to exploring innovative and artistic applications of blockchain technology beyond cryptocurrencies’ typical role as assets or means of exchange. Vance’s involvement with cryptocurrency stands in stark contrast to the views of many of his peers in Congress, who often express doubt or hostility toward digital currency.
His direct involvement as an investor and user of these technologies gives him a unique perspective on their potential benefits and drawbacks. This practical understanding is likely to influence his stance on policy and regulation should he take on the role of vice president.
Polygon (MATIC) Hits $0.53, Eyes Breakout Amid Market Slowdown
The Vance administration, known for its support for cryptocurrencies, could significantly boost Polygon (MATIC), a major Ethereum layer 2 scaling project. MATIC has already attracted the attention of the developer community for its innovative solutions.
Even so, regulatory uncertainties have slowed widespread adoption and integration with traditional financial systems. Vance’s backing could serve as a driving force to unlock Polygon’s untapped capabilities.
A recent look at the MATIC token shows that its current trading value is $0.53, which represents an increase of over 2% in the last 24 hours. This surge coincides with a downturn in the broader cryptocurrency market, signaling solid fundamental strength and a growing sense of confidence among investors regarding Polygon’s future prospects.
Based on technical indicators, MATIC appears to be facing a resistance level that has persisted for several months, hinting at a potential breakout that could propel prices towards the previous peak around $1.29.
MATIC’s cutting-edge technology has taken a significant leap forward with the introduction of the Plonky3 zero-knowledge proof system. This innovation in zk-rollup technology is set to revolutionize MATIC’s scalability and efficiency, cementing its position as the premier choice for developers and enterprises.
Algotech (ALGT) Eyes $1 Price Hike When Its Exchange Launches
Algotech, a project that has attracted the interest of crypto enthusiasts and JD Vance, aims to transform algorithmic trading in the cryptocurrency space. Through the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning, Algotech offers advanced trading strategies to ordinary investors.
The platform’s innovative approach and ambitious roadmap are in line with JD Vance’s goal of driving financial innovation and making sophisticated investment tools more accessible to all. Algotech’s decentralized structure stands out, aligning perfectly with the core principles of blockchain technology.
By cutting out the middleman and giving users direct authority over their trading algorithms, Algotech embodies the essence of financial independence advocated by many in the crypto community, including Vance. This common ground makes Algotech a natural choice for endorsement by crypto-friendly leadership.
As Algotech’s pre-sale gains momentum, with over $9.6 million in funding, excitement is building for its official launch. Analysts have set lofty price targets, with some even suggesting that ALGT could surge to $1 shortly after it goes public.
While it’s wise to approach these predictions with caution, the combination of Algotech’s cutting-edge technology and the potential backing of key figures like JD Vance could pave the way for significant growth and adoption.
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Nfts
OG Crypto Artist Trevor Jones Unveils Groundbreaking Collection of Ordinals | NFT CULTURE | NFT News | Web3 Culture
Trevor Jones’ New Genesis BTC Collection: CryptoAngels
Known for his innovative blend of physical and digital art, Trevor Jones continues to push the boundaries of the NFT space with his latest collection, CryptoAngels. Since his foray into Bitcoin-themed artwork in 2017, Jones has garnered a significant following, cementing his reputation with record-breaking sales and community events.
The Bitcoin Angel Journey
In 2021, Jones made headlines with his Bitcoin Angel open edition, selling 4,158 editions for an incredible $3.2 million in just seven minutes. This success paved the way for his latest venture, where he combines art, community, and technology in new ways. His annual Castle Parties, celebrating art, culture, and charity, have further cemented his place in the Web3 world.
CryptoAngels Collection Review
Jones’ CryptoAngels collection is divided into two main stages: Archangels and CryptoAngels.
- Step 1: The Archangels The initial phase, Archangels, saw 21 collector’s packages sold for 87.9 ETH (approximately $335,291). Each package included:
- A physical bronze sculpture of the Bitcoin angel
- A 3D NFT avatar
- An Archangel Ordinal
Esteemed collectors like ModeratsArt, Batsoupyum, Bharat Krymo, Blondie23LMD, and 1Confirmation now lead the CryptoAngel army as Archangel Collectors.
- Step 2: CryptoAngels The second phase, set to launch on August 7, features 7,777 unique CryptoAngels. These will be available for minting via OrdinalsBot, starting with a whitelisting phase. Each CryptoAngel is distinct and named by Jones himself. The collection is organized into 21 cohorts, each associated with one of Archangel’s collectors, fostering sub-communities within the larger collection. Additionally, there are seven 1/1 CryptoAngels, making them exceptionally rare and not aligned with a cohort.
Connecting Bitcoin and Art
Jones, who has been a strong Bitcoin supporter since mid-2017, expresses his deep connection to the crypto community. He sees the CryptoAngels collection as a tribute to that community, bringing his iconic Bitcoin Angel motif to the blockchain.
“I have been personally investing in Bitcoin since mid-2017 and its ethos quickly inspired me in my crypto art journey. I have followed the growth of Ordinals since its inception and the CryptoAngels collection is my offering to a community that has welcomed me with open arms and given me the opportunity to bring my Bitcoin Angel motif to the chain where it was always meant to be,” said artist Trevor Jones.
Collectors’ opinions
“Bitcoin’s OG artist Trevor Jones, behind the Bitcoin Angels depositing ordinals on the immutable chain is a match made in crypto-native art heaven.” – Bharat Krymo (@krybharat – Archangel Collector)
“The 2018 Bitcoin Angel oil painting is one of the first crypto tributes to Bitcoin, so CryptoAngels on Ordinals is a natural extension of Trevor’s artistic journey” – batsoupyum (Archangel Collector)
Interactive experience and limited editions
Rounding out the collection, 21 special Angels will be available to mint for $7 each on Base, playable in the exclusive retro arcade game, Dante’s Pixel Inferno. The game challenges players to guide their Angel through the nine circles of Fiat Hell, collecting Bitcoin and earning rewards. Each Angel in the game has unique abilities and weapons.
Whitelisting Opportunities and Community Engagement
Whitelisting (WL) opportunities are available through community partnerships, existing Bitcoin Angel OE and Trevor’s Ascended Angels holders, and weekly giveaways. To stay up to date and secure a spot on the whitelist, join Trevor Jones’ active Discord community.
TL;DR
Trevor Jones is launching the CryptoAngels collection on August 7th, building on his Bitcoin Angel legacy. Split into two stages, Archangels and CryptoAngels, the collection includes unique NFTs and physical artworks, fostering strong community connections. Exclusive gaming experiences and limited minting opportunities enhance engagement. Join the Discord for your chance to win.
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