Upcoming Ethereum Layer-2 blockchain Etherlink has launched a surprise NFT mint on Rarible, described as “the key to something special”.
This animated NFT, which features a black and white eyeball at it centre and the words “gm to everyone etherlinking” circling it, was available to purchase exclusively with $XTZ, the native token of the Tezos blockchain – which powers Etherlink.
The NFT mint is now closed, with 6,461 NFTs minted over a 48-hour period.
What is Etherlink?
Etherlink is an Ethereum Layer-2 blockchain, powered by Tezos Smart Rollups.
The chain purports to be one of the leading next-gen Layer-2 networks, such sub-500ms block times, transaction fees as low as $0.001 USD, and the use of a non-custodial rollup – meaning that no third-parties are granted exclusive, irreversible rights to the Etherlink blockchain.
As with all Layer-2 blockchains, Etherlink is also EVM-compatible, meaning it can synchronize and work in harmony with a wide range of Ethereum-based apps, services and tools.
What is the purpose of this NFT?
Etherlink have remained tight-lipped on the purpose of this mysterious NFT.
Through social media posts, the company have repeated the title of the NFT – gm to everyone etherlinking – with a suggestion that all holders of this NFT have either marked their wallets in some way, or have taken their first steps into joining the Etherlink ecosystem.
It remains to be seen what the purpose of this NFT is, and if holders will benefit from any utility.
What lies ahead for Etherlink?
Alongside the surprise of this NFT mint, and the likely future reveal of its purpose, Etherlink have had a busy last 7 days.
Firstly, the company retweeted the news that Sugarverse has received a grant from the Tezos Foundation towards the development of their latest title Sugar Match – with rumours that the game could be built on Etherlink.
The chain has also announced several partnerships, including with Superlend (who have released an NFT collection on Etherlink), the Orochi Network, Sequence, Layer3, and Transak – with many more likely to follow.
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