A Twitter account run by Ross Ulbricht’s, (the founder of the now-defunct dark web marketplace Silk Road), supporter announced that the auction for his series of nonfungible tokens (NFT) will be starting off on December 2.
On December 1, the imprisoned early Bitcoin adopter revealed his plans to auction the Ross Ulbricht Genesis Collection on the Superare NFT marketplace from December 2 to 8 causing a stir in the online crypto community. Ulbricht created 11 works of art, which were then coined into NFT form by his followers.
Ulbricht created the paintings at various times of his life, from boyhood through his time in prison. Early works portray comic book characters and animals, but later works depict scenes from his court trial and his emotional sentiments after his imprisonment.
The auction’s proceeds will go toward establishing a trust to support Ulbricht’s quest to get released from prison. Art4Giving, a donor-advised charitable fund “committed to alleviating the suffering of the prisoners and their families,” will also benefit from the funds.
Since being sentenced to two life terms in federal prison in October 2015 for managing the Silk Road marketplace, Ulbricht has been a divisive figure in the crypto community.
Silk Road, which first appeared on the dark web in February 2011, allows users to buy almost anything with Bitcoin (BTC), including illegal drugs.
The reaction of Crypto enthusiasts to the development
The news triggered a flurry of mixed reactions on social media, with some criticizing Ulbricht’s move but the majority supporting his cause.
Although he supports Ulbricht, @francispouliot, founder of bullbitcoin.com, claimed that “the fact that the absurd and immoral NFT ponzi has now been fully mainstream is very worrying.”
Other Bitcoin maximalists, such as @vladenhawk, objected to the entire concept of NFTs “I can live with the emergence of international marketplaces for drugs and weapons. But it’s at NFTS that I draw the line.”
Although some Bitcoin maximalists may be against Ulbricht minting NFTs, Crypto Cobain, the high-profile host of UpOnly TV, stated out in favour that he was essential in driving early Bitcoin popularity.
There are bitcoin maxis trying to cancel @RealRossU for selling NFTs to raise money to charity for people incarcerated.
One tweet say “way to lose your fanbase”.
This man is in jail for life and did more for bitcoin than all of the laser eye cult combined.
Bidding Ross NFTs.
— cobie (@CryptoCobain) November 30, 2021
