Sotheby’s First Inscription Auction Raises Nearly $451K
Sotheby’s, the major auction house, has successfully concluded its first inscription auction, raising almost $451,000. The online sale took place between December 6 and 13 in New York and featured select BitcoinShrooms from the Bitcoin ordinals project by Shroomtoshi. Sotheby’s describes these pieces as a pixelated recap of Bitcoin’s first 13 years and a homage to 8-bit art style.
Auction Results
The auction included three unreleased pixilated images: the S shroom, the Sovereign Individual, and the BIP39 seed. The S shroom sold for $241,300, the Sovereign Individual sold for $107,950, and the BIP39 seed sold for $101,600. The total price for all three pieces was $450,850, which is five times higher than the highest estimated price.
Shroomtoshi and Ordinals
Shroomtoshi is a technically inclined digital artist known for their knowledge of Bitcoin. The artist described the BitcoinShrooms collection as a way to raise awareness about Bitcoin’s core principles while expressing nostalgia for 90s art style. Ordinals are non-fungible tokens (NFTs) of the Bitcoin ledger.
Sotheby’s and NFTs
Sotheby’s has previously ventured into the NFT realm. In June, they sold digital collectibles owned by Three Arrows Capital for $10.9 million. They also launched an NFT secondary marketplace in May that allows users to buy curated NFTs on Ethereum and Polygon networks.
Hot Take: Super Mario-Inspired NFT Sells for Over $240K at Sotheby’s Auction
Sotheby’s first inscription auction of BitcoinShrooms has been a resounding success, with one of the NFTs inspired by Super Mario selling for over $240,000. The auction featured pixelated artwork that pays homage to Bitcoin’s history and core principles. This sale demonstrates the growing demand for NFTs and their significance in the art world. Sotheby’s continues to be at the forefront of NFT auctions, showcasing the intersection of art and technology. As NFTs gain mainstream attention, we can expect to see more high-profile auctions and record-breaking sales in the future.