Ross Ulbricht, known as the founder of Silk Road, released a series of NFTs called ‘Genisis Collection’. Ulbricht wanted to create a 10 piece collection of artworks from toddler to teen to teenager. Now, the first NFT sold for a whopping $6.2 million or 1,446 Ether (ETH) to FreeRossDAO.
Bitcoin was the only means of exchange on the Silk Road platform, and devotees of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies recognize Ross’s vision as being an original catalyst for blockchain adoption.
Ross Ulbricht hits Art Basel
This collection actually kicked off the well reported Art Basel Miami with their SuperRare platform. Named ‘Perspective’ this was his first NFT to sell. Ulbricht used graphite pencil whilst in prison. Creativity was encouraged since he was young. He adopted a psychedelic and surreal element in his art when he was a teenager .
After years of being in prison and the realisation of his fate crept in, Ulbricht wondered if he could ever do anything else with his life. A friend of his suggested a new thing that he had heard about, an NFT. At the beginning Ulbricht didn’t know what one was, believe it or not. After a conversation or two a fire lit. Then, Momentum was born.
Quickly, he realised that he could make a change within his cell. A mixture of his past passion for art and his unique experiences evolved. Actually, Ulbricht wrote in a letter from prison stating ‘It is my story as art. But what I realized — and what gives me hope that I will find something more to live for — is that my story is not over.’
Where will the money be going?
All proceeds raised from the “Genesis Collection” will go towards the Art4Giving fund. A donor-advised trust created by the FreeRoss DAO as a legal entity to fund new legal proceedings and raise awareness, according to the organisation.
FreeRossDAO plans to fractionalize the NFT and distribute ROSS governance tokens . Apparently, these will be available pro-rata in return for donor contributions. In addition, ROSS holders will be able to vote on proposals and participate in the guidance of FreeRossDAO.
Ulbricht himslf wants to contribute to people affected by prison. Firstly, he believes that families of those incarcerated are just as affected, if not worse than those behind bars. Ulbricht is committed to fund children the ability to visit their family members in prison. Secondly, he would like to stop the cycle of a father being put in prison, the child growing resentful and committing the same crimes as his father once did.
Ulbricht added ‘My own future may look bleak, but I can still do a little something to heal the damage I see all around me. Prison shatters families. It shatters communities. And the kids are the ones who suffer.’
In conclusion, I think we can all agree that the less children are negatively affected the better, whatever your opinions about Silk Road. For more information about the collection click here to know more.
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