10+ Iconic Brands That Minted Their First NFTs

When it comes to NFTs and blockchain, many people still have their doubts. But amid this uncertainty, various companies, from the entertainment and sports industries to luxury brands, are taking a chance on NFTs.

Even the biggest and most iconic brands aren’t holding back. They started dipping their toes into the NFT pool several years ago. Why? Well, they want to ride this wave while keeping their names and products in the spotlight.

Sure, some might say that these projects are just attempts to boost their image. However, the NFT launches from these corporate giants have been nothing short of fascinating. And guess what? Thanks to the ongoing crypto slowdown, you can snag some of these NFTs at bargain prices. So, let’s jump in!

1. NBA Top Shot (July 2019)

The collaboration between the National Basketball Association and Dapper Labs resulted in a standout success story within the NFT space – The NBA Top Shot.

What commenced as a closed beta initiative has rapidly evolved into a sweeping NFT venture. As we know, collectors worldwide eagerly seek out packs and curate collections featuring their beloved basketball players and teams. Essentially, NBA Top Shot is an NFT marketplace that allows individuals to amass and exchange video clips, aptly termed “Moments”. They are sourced from matches of the National Basketball Association and the Women’s National Basketball Association.

These Moments are NFTs and authentically encapsulate thrilling highlights from basketball games and iconic player moves.

 

Think of each “Moment” as a virtual rendition of a traditional trading card. These Moment NFTs, authorized by the NBA, are meticulously crafted with distinct serial numbers that encapsulate game and player statistics. You can purchase, sell, or trade these captivating Moments like conventional collectibles.

Debuting in July 2019, its inaugural collection swiftly gained traction. However, the pinnacle of its popularity arrived in early 2021 when a remarkable $50 million in sales catapulted NBA Top Shot to the forefront. According to Cryptoslam, the collection has generated over a staggering 1 billion dollars in sales!

2. Gucci (June 2021)

Gucci, the renowned Italian fashion brand, made its digital debut in June 2021, gracing the virtual runway with a distinctive NFT creation. This NFT, inspired by Gucci’s Fall/Winter 2021 collection, found its place in an exciting online auction presented by Christie’s.

Source: Christie’s

Described by Christie’s as a fusion of a “dream-like landscape and vibrant vitality,” the NFT draws its essence from “Aria”. Aria is a captivating four-minute cinematic piece originally crafted to complement a runway presentation. The format of the NFT mirrors a three-channel video set to play in a continuous loop.

After a week-long bidding frenzy, the auction culminated in a noteworthy sale, with the final hammer striking a value of $25,000. Interestingly, Gucci dedicated this sum to a noble cause: supporting UNICEF USA’s COVAX initiative.

3. Twitter (June 2021)

Twitter’s NFT giveaway collection, “The 140 Collection,” saw its digital birth on June 30, 2021. The unveiling was carefully spread across the day, with drops occurring on Rarible, accompanied by additional background info and discussion on Twitter.

Moreover, the concise introduction stirred up a touch of bewilderment. Yet, it also triggered a delightful treasure hunt, as enthusiasts embarked on a journey between Twitter posts and Rarible entries to decode the unfolding narrative.

These NFTs, portraying pivotal historical junctures, were meticulously handpicked to be immortalized in digital form, aligning seamlessly with the campaign’s emphasis on the artistry behind each piece.

Notably, there are twenty copies each of seven distinct NFTs, summing up to 140 unique NFTs – a number symbolically aligned with Twitter’s original tweet character count. Among these, the seven captivating designs presented as Twitter’s Rarible NFTs hold their significance:

Types
  1. Reply Guy: Depicting an individual frequently indulging in condescending or unsolicited comments on social media posts.
  2. Vitamin T: Showcasing a Twitter vitamins bottle.
  3. Furry Twitter: Featuring a three-dimensional rendition of Twitter’s logo in a furry style.
  4. twttr jggl: Displaying a wobbly green jelly spelling out “twttr.” the prototype name of the platform.
  5. Rare Form: Encompassing a series of cards portraying the evolutionary journey of the Twitter logo.
  6. Building Characters: Symbolizing the expansion of tweet character limits from 140 to 280.
  7. First Born: Immortalizing Jack Dorsey’s first tweet.

Twitter thoughtfully handpicked 140 users who responded to the primary tweet announcing the NFT giveaway. Following this, the winners united to form a collective to maximize the value of their newfound digital possessions.

Over the past year, these NFTs have commanded prices ranging from 5 to 7 ETH, but these fetched 70 ETH at their zenith. Presently, the collection boasts a cumulative trading volume of 3094 ETH on OpenSea, with a floor price of 28 ETH.

4. Coca Cola (August 2021)

Coca-Cola, an early trailblazer in the world of major brands, made its Web3 mark in July 2021. The company launched a set of four animated NFTs, each a unique digital artwork designed to celebrate International Friendship Day. These NFTs offered a special experience by combining various senses in a digital format.

As part of this initiative, Coca-Cola unlocked surprise items for the holders of these NFTs. These included a virtual ‘Coca-Cola Bubble Jacket Wearable‘ for use in Decentraland, a virtual reality platform.

Additionally, a Coca-Cola Friendship Card inspired by the artwork from the 1940s was also part of the collection. Of course, holders had the option to trade these items on secondary markets.

The NFTs were auctioned collectively as a ‘Loot Box NFT‘ over 72 hours. The winning bidder gained ownership of the NFTs and received a real Coca-Cola refrigerator fully stocked. More importantly, Coca-Cola directed all proceeds from the NFT auction toward supporting Special Olympics International.

5. Disney (August 2021)

In November 2021, Disney debuted in the NFT space by launching the “Disney Golden Moments NFTs” collection, timed perfectly with Disney Day. This collection, aptly named, gathers cherished instances from the rich history of Disney’s iconic characters.

Elsa from Frozen, Iron Man, and a standout highlight — Walt Disney himself holding hands with Mickey Mouse — take center stage in this collection. Moreover, Disney’s authentic NFTs are exclusively available through the VeVe NFT marketplace, the designated platform for Disney NFTs as their official partner.

Interestingly, the first NFTs under the “Disney” umbrella were initially released under the Marvel franchise. The Spider-Man Modern Marvel Series unveiled on August 7, 2021. It served as a precursor, giving enthusiasts a taste of what was to come and breathing life into animated Marvel NFTs.

Furthermore, Star Wars, a prominent brand under Disney’s expansive umbrella, claimed its place in the NFT realm in May 2022.

6. McDonald’s (November 2021)

In November 2021, McDonald’s ventured into the world of NFTs, unveiling its inaugural NFT collection to commemorate the triumphant return of the McRib to its menu.

As part of this endeavor, McDonald’s released a limited series of NFTs, constituting a virtual art collection that artfully showcased the iconic McRib. This move aimed to generate enthusiasm surrounding the product’s temporary comeback and exclusive availability.

The burger titan also introduced a sweepstake. Moreover, it exclusively extended the opportunity to receive a set of ten distinct McRib NFTs to those who retweeted the brand’s invitation. The response was remarkable, with over 21,000 participants entering the fray within hours.

7. Ray-Ban (October 2021)

In October 2021, the renowned sunglasses brand Ray-Ban entered the NFT realm with a splash, initiating an auction for its exclusive NFT creation, RAY-BAN x EXTRAWEG, showcasing its iconic Aviator sunglasses. Crafted by the talented German artist Oliver Latta, recognized for his thought-provoking 3D motion designs, this collaboration marked Ray-Ban’s inaugural and sole venture into the NFT landscape.

The NFT auction took place on OpenSea, with the generated proceeds earmarked for the Italian Art Trust.

Collectors and enthusiasts eager to partake in this endeavor could easily participate in the charity auction by registering on Ray-Ban’s dedicated NFT site. Successful bidders who acquired the Aviator NFT eyeglasses received blockchain-based digital artwork and certificates of authenticity.

8. Adidas (December 2021)

Adidas began venturing into the realm of Web3 in November 2021. During that time, The Sandbox, gearing up to launch its inaugural play-to-earn alpha test game, welcomed the renowned sports brand Adidas as one of its esteemed meta citizens.

However, the major highlight arrived in December 2021 when Adidas made an enormous splash by generating an impressive $23.4 million in just one afternoon. It achieved this feat through the unveiling of the “Into the Metaverse” NFT drop, a collaborative effort involving the Bored Ape Yacht Club, Pixel Vault (the creator of PUNKS Comic NFT), and the private NFT collector gmoney.

These unique NFTs provided purchasers access to virtual wearables designed for the blockchain-based gaming universe. Alongside these virtual items, buyers also acquired a tangible collection, which included a hoodie, a tracksuit, and the iconic orange beanie associated with gmoney.

Interestingly, Adidas even secured an NFT for itself – a Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT named “Indigo Herz.”

Subsequently, Adidas extended an interesting option to the holders of the “Into the Metaverse” collection. It presented the opportunity to burn the NFTs from the “Into the Metaverse” series and receive ALTS by Adidas at collect.adidas.com.

Although the advent of ALTS by Adidas rendered the “Into the Metaverse” collection obsolete in terms of future utility, the significance of being Adidas’ first foray into NFTs lent a unique and sought-after status to the collection. Currently, the collection boasts a total trade volume of 49K ETH, with a floor price holding steady at 0.15 ETH.

9. Pepsi (December 2021)

Pepsi took an exciting leap into the dynamic realm of NFTs in December 2021, unveiling its first NFT offering – the captivating ‘Pepsi Mic Drop’ genesis NFT collection.

Setting its sights on crafting a distinctive narrative, Pepsi produced 1,893 unique generative-style NFTs, paying homage to the year of Pepsi’s inception. The exclusive traits of the Pepsi Mic Drop genesis NFTs are masterfully generated by a randomized algorithm, resulting in an array of unique and individual NFTs.

Furthermore, the Pepsi Mic Drop NFTs draw inspiration from various visual representations of microphones, ingeniously intertwined with iconic Pepsi flavors. It includes a spectrum ranging from the classic blue Pepsi and silver diet Pepsi to the vibrant red Pepsi wild cherry, the sleek black Pepsi zero sugar, and even the much-adored crystal Pepsi, among others.

Besides, the design of the Pepsi NFT collection is a product of collaboration with VaynerNFT, a consultancy operating under the umbrella of the VaynerX holding company.

Enthusiasts had the opportunity to join a waitlist, and upon verification, they had the privilege of minting one of the 1,843 Pepsi Mic Drop NFTs, all at no cost. Presently, the collection commands a collective trade volume approaching 3K ETH, and the floor price stands solidly at 0.1 ETH on OpenSea.

10. Lamborghini (January 2022)

In January 2022, Lamborghini, the iconic manufacturer of luxury sports cars, made headlines by unveiling its space-themed NFT collection. The excitement continued into early February 2022 when the brand tweeted about the 360 Lamborghini Aventador NFT collection, a collaborative project with the Cars NFT club.

The genesis of this NFT venture traces back to 2019, when Lamborghini propelled a segment of carbon fiber composite to the International Space Station, marking a significant step in a joint research endeavor.

Central to these NFT offerings is a tangible artistic component known as the “Space Key.” These physical artifacts encompass genuine carbon fiber pieces that Lamborghini previously dispatched to the International Space Station in 2020 as part of the research project.

Lamborghini’s maiden foray into the world of NFTs took the form of an auction held from February 1 to February 4. The auction commenced at 4:00 p.m. and lasted 75 hours and 50 minutes. This carefully chosen timeframe commemorated the dawn of the new lunar year and the exact duration it took for Apollo 11 to transition from Earth’s embrace to the moon’s orbit. It was a symbolic nod to human space exploration.

Although the initial offering of five NFTs through nft.lamborghini.com has concluded, the collective outcome of the bidding process is awe-inspiring. The five NFTs collectively amassed an impressive total of $659,636. For those curious, the official Lamborghini secondary marketplace offers insights into whether the holders of these NFTs have chosen to list them.

11. Nike (April 2022)

Before the more widespread adoption of the Web3 movement, Nike was already making notable strides in the field. The company secured a patent for “CryptoKicks,” a groundbreaking blockchain-linked sneaker concept.

Furthermore, Nike embarked on a blockchain trial in collaboration with Macy’s and Auburn University’s RFID Lab in March 2020, aimed at enhancing the dissemination of product data throughout the retail supply chain.

However, it was in December 2021 that Nike executed a pivotal maneuver within the Web3 domain by acquiring RTFKT Studios, a notable NFT sneaker studio. RTFKT Studios was the creative force behind the remarkable CloneX NFT collection, boasting a substantial trading volume of 394,634 ETH.

Undeterred by the bear market, Nike continued championing the Web3 movement, unveiling a metaverse sneaker line named RTFKT x Nike Dunk Genesis CryptoKicks in April 2022.

The RTFKT x Nike Dunk Genesis CryptoKicks collection comprises digital wearable items meticulously designed for integration within metaverse realms. Currently, the collection holds a collective trade volume of 9.1K ETH, with a floor price of 0.11 ETH.

Conclusion

From fashion moguls like Gucci to iconic names like Coca-Cola, NBA, and Disney, the entry of these brands into the NFT arena has not only brought attention but also sparked innovation.

As the NFT ecosystem continues to grow and reshape various industries, it’s clear that these brands are more than just passive observers – they are active participants, collaborators, and even pioneers.

Clearly, these brands have leveraged NFTs not just as marketing tools but also as avenues for meaningful engagement, charity initiatives, and artistic expression. With the bear market gradually receding, there’s anticipation that certain collections could command astonishing prices. But do your own research (DYOR)!

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