Visa has teamed up with artist Micah Johnson, the former second baseman and outfielder for the White Sox, Dodgers, Braves, and Rays, to create a program that will help artists develop non-fungible tokens (NFTs), according to a statement on Visa’s website.
Visa will use the funds to support numerous initiatives in the areas of content creation and streaming. Through its open application process, Visa is attempting to choose a group of creators. The initiative was created to help people who are interested in entering the crypto market but do not know where to start. According to the statement, the organization will assist participants in moving through the world of cryptocurrency and conventional payment infrastructure by sponsoring the group and providing consulting services. Visa also plans to connect artists with its network of payment providers, who can help them grow their audience and businesses by assisting in the development of these connections.
Johnson, who retired from baseball in 2018 and began dabbling in NFTs a year later, will serve as a collaborator in the program.
“NFTs unlocked an opportunity for me to build a community of people interested in supporting my work — in a way that goes way beyond simply liking or sharing,” Johnson said. “With guidance from the early crypto community, I’ve been able to build a small business around my crypto-native character, Aku, that can grow into a global media company rooted in driving value back to that same community that evangelized my work.”
-Micah Johnson
Rise of NFTs
NFTs are becoming increasingly popular. Lil Nas X, a rapper, recently announced the creation of a unique NFT token, according to PYMNTS.
Last month, Burger King announced a new Royal Perks loyalty program that includes an NFT component. The goal of the program is to give NFT enthusiasts the ability to collect digital tokens that unlock additional benefits when the collection is completed.
