Key Insights:
Late South African President Nelson Mandelas minted arrest warrant sells for over $130,000.
This weeks sale is another case of history and NFTs embracing.
The relationship between politics and NFTs is developing, with NFTs a viable fundraising tool.
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was an anti-apartheid advocate who became the president of South Africa in 1994. In 1993, Mandela and Frederik Willem de Klerk won the Nobel Peace Prize “for their work for the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime, and for laying the foundations for a new democratic South Africa.”
Law enforcement arrested Mandela on several occasions. In 1961, he faced charges for treason before being acquitted. He was then arrested in 1962 for illegally leaving the country. In 1964, he was arrested on charges of sabotage and sentenced to life in prison.
Mandela spent 27-years in prison before becoming the first black president of South Africa in 1994.
Nelson Mandelas Minted Arrest Warrant Sells for $130,000
This week, Nelson Mandela‘s legacy became etched into the virtual world. Bloomberg reported the sale of Mandela’s first arrest warrant as an NFT at auction for R1.9 million, equivalent to $130,500.
Proceeds of the sale will help fund Liliesleaf, one of South Africa‘s national heritage sites. Between 1961 and 1963, Liliesleaf served as the African National Congress’s (ANC) secret headquarters.
Politics Sees NFTs as a Viable Fundraising Tool
NFTs have become immensely popular across multiple industries, including art, film, and music. Recently, politics has also embraced the NFT space, despite increased government and regulatory scrutiny.
Politicians see the NFT space as direct access to younger voters and an avenue for fundraising.
In recent months, U.S congressional candidates were reportedly selling NFTs to help fund their campaigns. Arizona GOP Senate candidate Blake Masters raised over $575,000 in just 36 hours selling NFTs.
Democratic House candidate Shrina Kurani was less successful, raising just $6,610 through NFT sales.
In Europe, the Ukrainian government has turned to the NFT space to support its war effort and help civilians.
Over the weekend, FX Empire reported the Ukrainian NFT War Museum going live. Unlike traditional museums, Meta History: Museum of War is in digital form and comprises solely of NFTs.
Fair.xyz NFT platform minted the images on Ethereum (ETH) and Polygon (MATIC). There are 54 NFTs, with the sale starting 29 March 2022.
