ColossalBit, a Dubai-based NFT Consultancy, Design & Development company specializing in blockchain, cryptocurrencies, DeFi, and NFTs, made the winning bid for the S.T. DuPont pen that football legend Diego Maradona used in 1984 when he signed the contract for Italian football team Napoli. The auction for the original pen and its NFT was organized by EX Sports Starz and partners on 30th October — on what would have been the late star’s 60th birthday.
"Legends do not come bigger than Diego Armando Maradona. Every football fan, across age groups, remembers him for the finesse he brought to the pitch and the charm he exuded off it. The NFTs of his memorabilia will immortalize him and keep his legacy alive. For the love of football and "the Golden Boy" Maradona, we pulled all stops to secure the pen he used to sign for Napoli — a team in which he recorded his highest goal tally," said Ciro Arianna, Co-Founder & CEO of ColossalBit.
Nearly a year after Maradona’s passing, his estate had tokenized ten items from the Argentine star’s illustrious career. These included the S.T. DuPont pen, a signed shirt from the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, a signed freestyle football, and Maradona’s best-player trophy from the FIFA Youth World Cup in 1979. All items were certified as official by World Soccer Treasurers, and Maradona’s estate legally authorized their name and usage rights.
The S.T. DuPont pen and its NFT garnered the highest bid among the four platinum-tier memorabilia that were auctioned at the VIP-only, pre-launch event. The NFTs in the platinum tier were sold alongside their original, physical memorabilia, while the remaining six gold-tier ones were made available to the general public after the launch on 14th November.
The three other platinum-tier NFTs were purchased by Miroslav Neceda, Co-owner of Czech digital marketing agency Avedeo.ae and CEO of Blockchain Universe bcuniverse.io. Miroslav is also the CEO of the Dubai-based World Blockchain Union, which handles marketing for various blockchain-centric businesses across the world. The auctioneer EX Sports Starz specializes in digital sports collectables, enabling fans to buy, trade, and sell. EX Sports collaborated with CV Labs and the World Football Collection for the Diego Armando Maradona NFT auction.
The soft launch later held at the Billionaires Dubai on 14th November was hosted by Ralf Glabischnig and his team, who also rebranded their association as Crypto Oasis while unveiling their early-stage token investment arm CO Sentio. Crypto Oasis brought together 175 selected guests from the crypto, blockchain and NFT space. Board member Sam Katiela was the emcee of the event, which celebrated achievements from this year and set the stage for greater growth in 2022 and beyond.
Investor Matthies Mende bought a unique Diego Armando Maradona NFT for $40,000 and an exquisite Lionel Messi special-edition Jacob & Co watch. Among the total 36 pieces created, the "number 10" version was purchased for $196,000 by Evan Klassen, who was also felicitated for his contribution to the crypto industry.
"It is the platforms like EX Sports Starz and enthusiasts such as Matthies Mende, Ralf Glabischnig, Miroslav Neceda, and Evan Klassen who make the world of NFTs fun and meaningful. We are all joined in our shared belief of a marketplace that is inclusive, transparent, and lucrative. NFTs have also found an admirer in Dubai, where we are mobilizing a blockchain movement. ColossalBit will continue to lead the NFT charge in the region," added Ciro Arianna.
A testament to Ciro’s words are ColossalBit’s recent exploits in the NFT marketplace. It made the winning bid of $56,000 for the world’s first augmented reality NFT mural called "Future NFT Dubai", now live at the Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC). ColossalBit was also involved in the world’s first NFT-linked fine dining and art experience. In doing so, the company explored NFT application in the hospitality industry, reinforcing its reputation as a trailblazer in the domain.
Picture Caption : Left to rightMr Matteo Pella – COO World Football Collection; Stefano Ceci, Maradona’s former manager and lawyer; Ciro Ariannan Co-Founder & CEO of Colossalbit; Miroslav Neceda – Co-owner of Avedeo.ae & CEO of Blockchain Universe