Investment management firm VanEck launches NFT collection

VanEck, a New York-based investment management firm behind a bitcoin futures exchange-traded fund (ETF) launched last year, plans to release a collection of 1,000 non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

The Ethereum-based collection, called the VanEck Community NFT, will revolve around a caricature of Alexander Hamilton, named “Hammy,” as he explores past, present and future financial policy. The purpose of the collection is to demonstrate real-world utility for digital assets, to provide community for VanEck investors and to educate holders on the crypto space. 

VanEck partnered with the NFT creative services firm NUMOMO to help with the launch.

“Our NFTs will all feature eye-popping 3D avatars and narrative-style videos that will help create a real sense of story and spur discussion, debate and community,” said JP Lee, VanEck Community NFT Co-Founder, in a statement. “Our character ‘Hammy’ is going to be an outstanding guide for anyone interested in seeing the past, present and future of finance unfold.

The collection will include three tiers: 750 “common,” 230 “rare” and 20 “legendary" NFTs. Each level will afford the owner more special access to VanEck events, digital asset research and other exclusive benefits. An airdrop to people who sign up for the project will occur the first week of May in 2022. 

This is its first foray into NFTs, but VanEck has long been an advocate for Bitcoin ETFs in the US. The US Securities and Exchange Commission rejected VanEck's proposed bitcoin spot ETF last year, the firm's bitcoin futures ETF launched in November of 2021.