Jordan Birnholtz, the co-founder and chief marketing officer of Solana-based non-fungible marketplace Neon, has shared the story about the birth of the first-ever NFT ATM in the financial district of New York.
In a March 2 short interview, Birnholtz explained how the first-ever automated teller machine (ATM) for non-fungible tokens (NFT) came to life in the financial district of New York, revealing that the idea came when he and his affiliate members were having lunch.
Birnholtz is a young entrepreneur and growth marketer, while his partner Kyle Zappitell is a former Xbox Mobile gaming engineer, who likes using his software skills to create fun and accessible experiences.
The two affiliate individuals jointly drafted the framework for an NFT ATM during a lunchtime break. According to Birnholtz, the ATM operates similarly to a traditional teller machine, allowing users to purchase NFTs using their credit or debit card. The ATM further dispenses boxes that contain unique codes renewable on Solana-based Neon Marketplace.
In that context, Birnholtz has defended his company’s decision to adopt Solana blockchain, arguing:
“We think Solana is the best chain to build on because it is inexpensive to use, opening up huge opportunities for more creators, and carbon neutral.”
Before summarizing, Birnholtz noted that his company plans to incorporate more artistic NFTs to its platform and open more NFT ATMs in different cities:
“NFTs are going to let a variety of visual, multimedia, and performing artists create new ways to build relationships with and monetize their audience.”
“I think this is part of a broader trend that is merging crypto techniques with the focus on supporting creators more directly we see at Substack and Patreon. We’re excited for the explosion in NFT opportunities in the coming years.”
NFT ATM Installation To Help In Adoption
In the meantime, the NFT sales indicate no signs of slowing down this year, despite the recent crypto market turmoil. According to recent reports, NFT trading generated $11.9 billion in Q4 of 2021. This growth corresponds with recent reports suggesting that China is considering adopting NFTs and separating it from crypto.
Based on the official press release, the NFT ATM destination is open 24 hours per day. It is the first NFT vending machine in the world although a Google search proves that several others might be available. With that said, NFTs are still an entirely new phenomenon. Therefore, the thought of having the dispensary in New York is awesome.
This machine comes courtesy of the new NFT and digital collecting platform Neon that accepts American debit and credit cards. Once a user slides their card in and makes a choice, they receive a box that has a unique code inside for the selected NFT that they can redeem on Neon’s platform.
Birnholtz explained:
“Our goal is to support artists and creators by letting them sell digital art to everyone and to help anyone who wants to become a collector. Giving people the choice to use vending machines and an easy online platform that decouples cryptocurrency from NFT participation means we can engage the widest possible audience. NFT buying and selling don’t need to be a mystery.”
