Blockchain
Michael Jordan and Lou Gehrig Asset-Backed NFTs Sell Out on RareMint’s New Marketplace

RareMint announces the successful beta launch of its marketplace for sports collectibles, with two unique Michael Jordan and Lou Gehrig asset-backed NFTs selling out and additional memorabilia and collectibles including the FIFA World Cup being listed for fans and enthusiasts. RareMint uses NFTs to access provenance, unique asset experiences, asset revenue beyond just appreciation, and content opportunities that haven’t previously been available to users through a single, secure ownership solution. Investors backing the company include Arca, Gatecap Ventures, Sana Sano Capital, BKCoin Capital, Crescent City Capital, and Commerce Ventures.
Following the beta launch on March 17, RareMint released two historical asset-backed NFTs to high-profile investors. The first category of Ultra Rare NFTs included a 1989-1990 game-worn Michael Jordan jersey. The second was a 1930 Lou Gehrig home run ball signed by Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth, which was purchased by BKCoin Capital.
The size of the sports collectible market was recently estimated at $5.4B and is expected to rise at a rate of 9.7% between 2022 to 2031. Additionally, the NFT market surpassed $40B in 2021. However, buyers and sellers are still faced with trading barriers like high fees and minimum buy-ins, questionable authentication and provenance, poor discoverability, and lack of recurring revenue. RareMint has strategic plans to tackle these issues all while providing innovative opportunities at the intersection of traditional collectible markets and the financialization of NFTs.
“The future of sports collectibles is digital and we’re only scratching the surface of our asset-backed NFTs. I’m very excited about the potential of unlocking increased liquidity and additional financial value for these valuable rare assets through DeFi mechanics such as collateralized lending. We are passionate about creating opportunities for athletes to monetize their own collections and connect with the next generation of fans through RareMint. Every asset has an origin story so we create timeless preservation of provenance, authenticity, and legendary stories from these assets”, said Brett Calapp, Co-Founder and CEO of RareMint. Calapp’s background includes nearly two decades of experience in online real money and social gaming. He is the sole director of the largest tribal branded online sportsbook in Arizona, advisor to NFT fight game Taunt Battleworld, and is on the board of directors of a sports and gambling acquisition company NASDAQ: BPAC, among others.
Every Ultra Rare NFT on RareMint is backed by a physical asset, ensuring that the owner of the NFT is also the owner of the real sports collectibles held in custody in RareMint’s secure vault. To demonstrate the team’s commitment to transparency as trusted custodians of each customer’s collection, every 90 days, a third party audits the vault(s). All assets are authenticated by industry-standard service providers such as PSA, JSA, or Beckett as well as RareMint’s internal authentication process that includes documentation of the asset as it is digitized in their studio. Some assets include multiple authentication pieces, photo matching, and letters of provenance. Images of Certificate of Authenticity are available for preview and fully accessible on the platform for the asset owner.
BKCoin Ventures is BKCoin’s Capital inaugural venture fund focused on crypto-native investments. The BKCoin team identified a unique opportunity in owning asset-backed NFTs and became one of the first collectors and supporters of RareMint by purchasing Lou Gehrig’s Ultra Rare NFT, the original asset secured in Raremint’s vault. “With rare sports collectible NFTs, there is a fixed supply since Lou Gehrig is not hitting any more home run balls and Michael Jordan is not dropping any more game winning shots. Asset-backed NFTs make for a solid alternative investment in an otherwise volatile market that has no cap in supply,” said Carlos Betancourt, Founding Principal of BKCoin Capital.
RareMint enables collectors at all levels to participate as fans through the creation of commemorative editions at price points accessible to everyone. Since there is only one Ultra Rare collectible of each asset on offer – RareMint makes available 25 Limited Editions in any given drop, each representing a foundational piece to completing a RareMint Registry Set. By purchasing additional drops and to build collections of NFTs, fans participate in the ultimate set building competition; accompanied by a generous rewards system.
Each set journey begins with a single purchase of a RareMint Limited Edition NFT. By completing sets, collectors earn numerous rewards such as:
- MINTS tokens (coming in the summer of 2022)
- Top Leaderboard Ranking
- Early access to future NFT drops
- Exclusive NFT airdrops for near complete sets
- Access to compete in cross set challenges
- Invitations to exclusive RareMint Registry events
“Our product offering will consist of many variations of ways fans can connect with their favorite historical athletes and assets by distributing ERC-721 tokens on Ethereum and layer 2 networks such as Polygon and Arbitrum. We are working with partners to facilitate a custodial solution where the everyday fan can have a lower barrier to entry without having to set up and manage their keys in a wallet if they choose not to”, stated Niko Hosn, Co-Founder and CTO of RareMint. Hosn is a hands-on and dedicated blockchain architect and engineer with a stellar record in building technology-based solutions to deliver the company’s blockchain vision, including Citibank, SifChain, and Lumedic.
The team is thrilled to have successfully launched the platform in Beta and looks forward to all future platform developments and fan engagements opportunities. Various asset-backed NFTs will be dropped on the platform every week, allowing collectors to access millions of dollars worth of collectibles on a regular basis.
For more information, please visit www.raremint.com.
Blockchain
Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – April 25, 2025 | BitNile, Dutch Blockchain Week, Citigroup, Philippine Blockchain Week, D.O.G.E Foundation

Blockchain’s metamorphosis from niche ledger technology to the backbone of Web3 has never been more evident. Today, we cover five stories that illustrate the evolving ecosystem: a gaming platform issuing its own token on Solana; Europe’s marquee Web3 summit; a major bank forecasting a “ChatGPT moment” for blockchain; a Southeast Asian conference aimed at busting crypto myths; and a foundation rebuilding blockchain from the ground up to solve scalability. Each development—whether product launch, industry gathering, macro forecast, educational initiative, or infrastructure innovation—offers a window into the trends shaping decentralized finance, NFTs, DeFi, and beyond.
1. BitNile.com to Launch Nile Coin on Solana
News Summary
Hyperscale Data’s subsidiary BitNile.com will introduce the Nile Coin on Solana starting May 1, 2025. The U.S.–based social gaming site chose Solana for its high throughput and low fees, aiming to enhance in-game economies, reward engagement, and deliver seamless micro-transactions. Details on tokenomics and governance are forthcoming, but management touts Nile Coin as a cornerstone of future gaming experiences.
Source: CoinTrus
Analysis & Commentary
Launching a proprietary token underscores two converging trends: the gamification of finance and finance-ification of gaming. By minting Nile Coin, BitNile.com taps into DeFi mechanics—staking, liquidity pools, NFT rewards—while leveraging Solana’s scalability. Strategically, BitNile.com positions itself for partnerships with NFT marketplaces and DeFi protocols, potentially opening secondary markets for in-game assets and generating new revenue streams beyond ad sales or subscription fees.
2. Dutch Blockchain Week 2025 Gears Up in Amsterdam
News Summary
From May 19–25, Amsterdam will host the sixth annual Dutch Blockchain Week, culminating in the two-day summit (May 21–22) at De Meervaart. Tier 1 exchanges (Bitvavo, Kraken, Coinbase), Web3 pioneers (WOW.ai, Blockrise), regulators (European Commission, De Nederlandsche Bank), and industry partners (Mastercard, Deloitte) will convene. Side events range from AI-powered hackathons tackling compliance to padel networking meetups—underscoring the event’s blend of technology, policy, and community.
Source: Dutch Blockchain Week
Analysis & Commentary
Dutch Blockchain Week typifies the maturation of blockchain conferences into multidisciplinary forums. Beyond token talk and yield farming, panels on regulation, institutional adoption, and security reflect Web3’s integration into mainstream finance. Anticipate announcements on CBDC pilots, DeFi compliance frameworks, and cross-chain interoperability projects that may emerge from the Block & Order Hackathon.
3. Citigroup Predicts Blockchain’s “ChatGPT Moment”
News Summary
In an April 23 report, Citigroup analysts argue that 2025 could be blockchain’s “ChatGPT moment,” driven by regulatory clarity around stablecoins and integration with traditional financial systems. They forecast stablecoin market capitalization ballooning to $1.6 trillion (base case) or as much as $3.7 trillion (bull case) by 2030—anchored by dollar-denominated issuers and collateralized with U.S. Treasuries. Regulatory frameworks like the GENIUS Act could catalyze adoption among banks and fintechs.
Source: Cointelegraph
Analysis & Commentary
Drawing parallels to generative AI’s explosive growth, Citigroup envisions a tipping point where blockchain moves from experimental to essential infrastructure. Successful integration will hinge on robust compliance tools, auditability, and clear governance models. Enterprise blockchain vendors should prepare for surging demand in tokenized payments, on-chain settlements, and embedded DeFi rails within legacy systems.
4. Philippine Blockchain Week 2025 Debunks Crypto Myths
News Summary
Scheduled for June 10–11 at SMX Convention Center Manila, Philippine Blockchain Week (PBW) 2025 will tackle misinformation and spotlight real-world use cases. Highlights include “Crypto, Unpacked” sessions demystifying the technology; “Smart Regulation” panels uniting policymakers and innovators; and “Blockchain for Impact” showcases on remittances, disaster relief, and digital identity. Founding President Donald Lim emphasizes government support and public–private collaboration to spur inclusive growth.
Source: UseTheBitcoin
Analysis & Commentary
PBW exemplifies how emerging markets leverage education to accelerate Web3 adoption responsibly. By engaging regulators early, PBW can shape balanced frameworks that encourage innovation while protecting consumers—an instructive model for markets wrestling with both hype and skepticism.
5. D.O.G.E Foundation Launches New Blockchain, Opens Seed Round
News Summary
The D.O.G.E Foundation announced a ground-up blockchain rebuild designed to solve the scalability and reliability challenges plaguing existing networks. This modular architecture separates validation from execution to enable parallel transaction processing—targeting real-time gaming, DeFi under high load, and AI-driven applications. A seed funding round is now open to investors who share the vision of a performant, decentralized infrastructure.
Source: D.O.G.E Altcoin GlobeNewswire
Analysis & Commentary
As layer-1 congestion and high gas fees persist, new entrants must justify a “why now” with clear architectural advantages. If the D.O.G.E blockchain delivers real-world throughput and maintains decentralization, it could spur a renaissance of high-performance DeFi protocols and NFT platforms hungry for cost-effective base layers.
Conclusion & Key Takeaways
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Tokenization of Entertainment: BitNile’s Nile Coin on Solana highlights blockchain’s expansion into gaming economies and NFT reward systems.
-
Convergence of Tech, Policy & Community: Dutch Blockchain Week showcases Web3’s evolution into an ecosystem engaging regulators, enterprises, and developers under one roof.
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Mainstream Inflection Point: Citigroup’s “ChatGPT moment” thesis suggests blockchain is poised for exponential adoption given regulatory support.
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Education as Catalyst: Philippine Blockchain Week’s myth-busting curriculum underscores the importance of public–private dialogue in emerging markets.
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Infrastructure Innovation: The D.O.G.E Foundation’s modular, high-throughput chain exemplifies the next wave of layer-1 networks addressing real-time, real-world use cases.
Today’s stories convey that blockchain’s next chapter will be written through strategic token launches, global convenings, regulatory clarity, educational outreach, and radical infrastructure redesign. By tracking these threads, industry participants can anticipate opportunities in DeFi, NFTs, Web3 games, and enterprise integration. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s Blocks & Headlines, where we’ll continue to decode the innovations shaping decentralized finance.
The post Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – April 25, 2025 | BitNile, Dutch Blockchain Week, Citigroup, Philippine Blockchain Week, D.O.G.E Foundation appeared first on News, Events, Advertising Options.
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