Today, Neon, the NFT and digital collecting platform for everyone, announced the launch of the world's first NFT vending machine in New York City's Financial District. The machine, located just off Wall Street, accepts USD credit and debit cards and then dispenses a box containing a unique code for the selected NFT, which is easily redeemable on the Neon platform. Neon has created the simplest, most accessible way to buy, sell, and trade NFTs in the real world, requiring no cryptocurrency, crypto wallet, or specialized knowledge. The vending machine is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
"Our goal is to support artists and creators by allowing them to sell digital art to anyone, as well as to assist anyone who wants to become a collector," said Jordan Birnholtz, CMO and co-founder of Neon. "By giving people the option of using vending machines and providing an easy online platform that decouples cryptocurrency from NFT participation, we will be able to engage the broadest possible audience." NFT trading does not have to be mysterious, and you should not be required to hold Ethereum, write a smart contract, pay gas costs, or bridge blockchains in order to participate."
NFTs have become well-known for affixing a one-of-a-kind and irreplaceable token to a digital work. By making themselves more accessible to everyone, they will become a ubiquitous, mainstream phenomenon. As they grow in popularity, NFTs will be used by artists and creators in a variety of ways, including exclusive airdrops, game interoperability, and access to real-world art and experiences. The Neon team wants to accelerate these opportunities by dramatically expanding access. "While only 2% of Americans have digital wallets, 80% have a credit or debit card," Birnholtz continued. "That's a 40-fold increase in a potential audience for an artist." We want to empower creators and digital artists whose work is frequently underappreciated because it is not tangible in the traditional sense. We make it even easier to sell digital art than it is to sell physical art. We want creators to make Neon-based NFTs based on their existing content or new material."
The Solana blockchain with smart contract capabilities was chosen by the Neon founders and engineers because it is the most energy-efficient, leveraging proof-of-stake, and boasts a theoretical throughput of 65,000 transactions per second with near zero fees. Because of offsets purchased by the Solana Foundation, all of Neon's transactions are carbon neutral. "We wanted to embrace a blockchain that is fast, green, and meets global demand," Birnholtz said. The Digital Currency Group, Entrée Capital, General Catalyst, and Gaingels all back Neon. Kyle Zappitell, CEO of Neon, has extensive experience in gaming development, including Xbox Mobile, and understands how to create fun, easy-to-use, and exceptional products for a diverse audience. Early funding will be used to hire more engineers, expand creative marketing, and form partnerships with creators.
Neon is a Solana blockchain-based NFT marketplace and gallery. Neon is the quickest way to buy, sell, and show off NFTs, with the world's first NFT vending machine in New York City and the easiest-to-use online platform—no knowledge of cryptocurrency or crypto wallets required. To participate, collectors and creators must sign up with an email address and pay in US dollars using a credit or debit card. Neon is designed for global demand and scale, utilizing the Solana blockchain for fast transaction times, low fees, and vast improvements in energy and environmental efficiency.
Jean Dubreil