Keanu Reeves apparently likes NFTs now

It looks as if Keanu Reeves might have had a change of coronary heart round NFTs. In December, the actor was despatched into peels of laughter after my colleague Alex Heath requested him in regards to the thought of digital shortage and digital collectibles. Reeves commented that digital objects are simply reproduced.

Now, although, he’s joined a mission from Non-Fungible Labs, appearing as an advisor for a program referred to as the Futureverse Foundation, which goals to enhance “the digital and physical worlds through the support of diverse artists and creative communities.” According to The Hollywood Reporter, that includes introducing conventional artists to NFTs and funding their efforts.

The artwork connection right here isn’t precisely a shock — Reeves’ companion, Alexandra Grant, is a prolific artist whose work has been featured in loads of reveals, according to her website. She’s additionally an advisor to the muse, and he or she options closely in a video released by Non-Fungible Labs to announce and clarify the initiative.

In that video, Grant talks about how NFTs can be utilized to deliver artists into “a new possible economy.” That strains up effectively with what the Futureverse Foundation’s web site describes as its mission: to construct “a metaverse where anyone can access and create in an open, rich, and diverse world.” Still, the muse’s first charitable grant primarily appeared to concentrate on the bodily world fairly than the metaverse: it gave artwork historian Nana Oforiatta Ayim 100,000 euros to assist her curate Ghana’s exhibition at a global artwork present in Venice. (To be clear, I believe that seems like a reasonably admirable donation.)

In a press release from the Futureverse Foundation, Grant calls it “one of the most exciting projects I’ve worked on” and says she appears to be like ahead to “dreaming up a new model for arts philanthropy.” Meanwhile, Reeves’ assertion reads a bit extra generic:

I’m honored to be becoming a member of Non-Fungible Labs’ efforts in cooperation with Alexandra Grant for the extraordinary program and alternative of the Futureverse Foundation, in assist of artists and creators globally.

Still, teaming up with an NFT mission as an advisor for its charitable basis that explicitly goals to get artists into the metaverse is sort of an evolution from laughing at the concept NFTs might be beneficial. Non-Fungible Labs has considerably addressed the video of Reeves laughing on the thought of NFTs, which somebody posted in response to its Futureverse Foundation announcement on Twitter together with the query, “Did he change his opinion about NFTs?” The company responded “more than an NFT.”