Ecommerce Giant Ebay Releases New NFT Collection on Polygon Network

Internet retail titan eBay has launched a new non-fungible token (NFT) collection built on the Polygon (MATIC) network.

In a Monday press release, eBay says it’s partnering with OneOf, a premier green NFT platform aimed at capturing the music, sports, and lifestyle markets. The partnership is geared towards leveraging eBay’s vast inventory with OneOf’s “eco-conscious Web3 technology.”

Dawn Block, VP of Collectibles, Electronics and Home at eBay, said that NFTs are a game-changer for the collectables space.

"NFTs and blockchain technology are revolutionizing the collectables space, and are increasingly viewed as an investment opportunity for enthusiasts," she said. "Through our partnership with OneOf, eBay is now making coveted NFTs more accessible to a new generation of collectors everywhere. This builds upon our commitment to deliver high passion, high value items to the eBay community of buyers and sellers."

eBay’s new collection called “Genesis” centres around Wayne Gretzky, the hockey legend often referred to as “The Great One” who currently leads the National Hockey League (NHL) in both goals and assists all-time. The collection features a 3D figurine-like interpretation of Gretzky from Sports Illustrated in his early years playing for the Edmonton Oilers in 1979.

"Forty years ago, I was grateful to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated, it was a monumental moment in my life," Gretzky said. "I'm honored to bring this collectable experience to my hockey fans who have followed my career for decades."

The collection has green, gold, platinum, and diamond tiers, with diamond being the rarest with only 15 editions available. The starting price is at the “everyday fan” level of $10.

"We are excited to partner with eBay, the largest and most trusted e-commerce platform in the world, to introduce NFTs and the power of the blockchain to eBay's community of enthusiasts through a dynamic, user-friendly experience," said Lin Dai, CEO, OneOf. "You don't have to be a crypto expert to buy, sell, and collect NFTs. OneOf and eBay are bringing transformative Web3 technology to the next 100M non-crypto-native mass consumers."

eBay joins a wave of megacorporations taking advantage of NFTs over the last year or so.

Earlier this month, NFTs from clothing giant Nike were seen on Opensea fetching astronomical prices. The iconic shoe brand recently launched its “CryptoKicks” collection – essentially images of shoes – selling for up to $9,500.