EBay Taps Wayne Gretzky for NFT Launch

EBay is launching an NFT platform with help from The Great One. 

The longstanding resale and auction platform has partnered with NHL legend Wayne Gretzky on its first NFT collection.

• The collectibles, starting at $10 and rising up to $1,500, consist of 3D-renderings and animations of signature Gretzky moves.
• EBay partnered with blockchain company OneOf to produce the NFTs. OneOf uses a proof-of-stake system which is more energy efficient than the more common proof-of-work systems.
• The Gretzky collection is the first in a series that eBay will produce featuring athletes who have appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

With $87 billion in gross merchandise volume last year, eBay remains a major trading hub. The company’s app is third among mobile retail platforms in U.S. users behind Amazon and Walmart.

“OneOf and eBay are bringing transformative Web3 technology to the next 100 million non-crypto-native mass consumers,” said OneOf CEO Lin Dai.

Top Grades

After removing card-seller PWCC from its platform last year over fraud allegations (which PWCC categorically denies), eBay has been upping its own offerings in the trading card space.

Earlier this month, eBay began offering grading services through Professional Sports Authenticator for cards over $2,000.