Twitter launches NFT authenticator for profile pics
The move has already resulted in a backlash from Elon Musk
Social media giant Twitter has rolled out a feature which verifies the authenticity of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) displayed in users’ profile pictures.
This new tool has been introduced to Twitter Blue users on Apple iOS. Twitter Blue offers users “exclusive access to premium features” and has only been launched in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand so far.
Introduced to users on 20 January, this feature is only available to subscribers of Twitter Blue. Official NFTs will be given a hexagonal border instead of the traditional circular one.
The tutorial video shows users can connect their Coinbase, Rainbow, MetaMask, Trust Wallet, Argent or Ledger Live wallets to Twitter Blue to upload their NFTs.
Twitter takes first NFT step
While Twitter has been seen as an advocate of cryptos for some time now, the authenticator feature is the social media platform’s first real step into the NFT arena.
In September 2021, Twitter announced users on Apple iOS are now able to send bitcoin (BTC) to other users using ‘Tips’.
The idea behind this move is so that users can send the lead crypto to users’ “favourite accounts”, for example an “emerging comedy creator”, or to “help a small business owner through a difficult time”.
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“A spambot block party”
Elon Musk, CEO of electric vehicle company Tesla, has made it clear he is not a supporter of Twitter’s new feature regarding NFTs.
Musk tweeted “this is annoying” in response to the announcement .
The Tesla CEO went on to say: “Twitter is spending engineering resources on this, while crypto scammers are throwing a spambot block party in every thread.”
An answer to Joe Rogan’s NFTs dilemma?
Also in September, US sports commentator and podcast host Joe Rogan called NFTs a “cryptocurrency hustle” on his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience.
When asked by his guest, US entrepreneur Patrick Bet-David, about his attitude to NFTs, Rogan replied he was “not interested”. Rogan added: “It’s a weird cryptocurrency hustle.” Rogan is no stranger to digital assets as he does hold a bit of crypto himself.
Rogan was then showed one of the Bored Apes Yacht Club (BAYC) NFTs that was worth $340,000 (£250,000).
The podcast host’s reaction to the NFT’s price was “I don’t understand”. He then explained the issue he has with NFTs, saying: “I can have that photo and have it on my phone.”
This new Twitter Blue feature helps to remedy the issue that Rogan raised.
