- On November 18, Binance will launch the first of several NFT drops with a Ronaldo theme.
- Binance has previously criticized celebrity support for cryptocurrency businesses.
- NBA Star Shaquille O’Neal and Stephen Curry, a star for the Golden State Warriors, have all said that their engagement with FTX cost them money.
How much would you be willing to spend on a Cristiano Ronaldo NFT statue that was animated and based on a famous event in his life? Binance hopes to charge thousands of dollars for the rarest.
The largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world is once again making news, but this time it’s not for considering purchasing the discredited exchange FTX, but rather for embracing celebrity ties.
After signing a contract with Ronaldo’s CR7 this summer, Binance is preparing to launch the first of a number of NFT drops with a Ronaldo theme on Nov. 18, just a few days before the World Cup in Qatar begins.
Holders of various NFTs will be entitled to various benefits, such as mystery boxes, admission into contests, and a personalized greeting from Ronaldo. Details of benefits for next Ronaldo-themed NFT collections coming out in 2023 have not been made public, although it’s not nearly the one-on-one zoom call that Anthony Hopkins promised in his most recent NFT drop.
Although somewhat jokingly, Binance had previously criticized collaborations between crypto firms and celebrities. In February, it aired an advertisement warning against celebrities endorsing cryptocurrency, starring NBA player Jimmy Butler.
According to the exchange, it picked independent and honest celebrities for its own campaign.
The exchange’s recent partnerships with sports celebrities have come back into the spotlight since FTX’s demise.
Tom Brady of the NFL, Shaquille O’Neal of the NBA, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, Naomi Osaka of tennis, Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels, and Udonis Haslem of the Miami Heat were all FTX brand ambassadors.
Although it has been rumored that at least Brady, Curry, Ohtani, and Osaka earned stock holdings in the firm, the specifics of each agreement with FTX remain unknown.