VeVe

VeVe is a New Zealand-based company specializing in licensed digital collectibles. The company has mobile apps available for Android and iOS devices, as well as a web app, where users can purchase digital collectibles and view them in AR & VR.^[1][2] VeVe has the distinction of being the first marketplace to offer NFTs from prominent brands such as Marvel, Disney and DC.^{[3][4][5][6][7]}

VeVe

VeVe logo since 2023
Type of site	Private
Available in	English
Headquarters	Auckland, New Zealand
Area served	Worldwide
Owner	VeVe, Inc.
Founder(s)	David Yu Dan Crothers
CEO	David Yu
Revenue	Freemium
URL	www.veve.me
Launched	2018

History

VeVe was founded by Dan Crothers and David Yu in 2018.^[8]

VeVe has formed several partnerships with major licensors to offer unique digital collectibles to its users, utilizing non-fungible token (NFT) technology.^[9]

In June 2021, VeVe collaborated with Givenchy to release a series of NFT art pieces by Amar Singh to support LGBTQIA+ causes.^[10][11][12]

Later, in August 2021, VeVe partnered with Marvel Entertainment to release the first-ever NFT of Spider-Man.^[13][14][15] VeVe also partnered with Star Trek in September 2021 to offer NFTs based on iconic starships, such as the Enterprise-D and Borg Cube.^[16][17][18]

In November 2021, VeVe collaborated with the United States Postal Service to create NFT stamp collectibles commemorating the Day of the Dead holiday, followed by a Christmas-themed set released in December of the same year.^[19][20][21]

Additionally, VeVe partnered with Disney in November 2021 to release a series of NFT collectibles called "Golden Moments," featuring beloved characters from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars.^[22][23]

VeVe also teamed up with Lamborghini in February 2023 to release a set of 3D digital collectibles based on the Huracán STO line of sports cars.^[24][25]

In July 2023, VeVe partnered with Kartoon Studios to release digital collectibles of Stan Lee, which sold out nearly instantly.^[26]

VeVe has also partnered with brands on physical/digital collaborations ("phygitals") where customers who purchase a physical product receive a digital counterpart. In September 2023, VeVe partnered with Funko on an Iron Man collectible with a digital counterpart available via promo code.^[27] In October 2023, VeVe released a phygital collaboration with Christian Louboutin and Marvel for their "Loubiverse" collection.^[28]

At SXSW in 2024, VeVe and Marvel announced the release of a new app called VeVe Comics, where users can purchase digital versions of new comic releases on the same day that the physicals are released in store.^[29][30]

Controversy

VeVe has received some criticism for their use of blockchain technology. In February 2022, Chaosium, the makers of Call of Cthulhu, suspended the production of their NFTs on VeVe following criticism from some of their user base.^[31]

VeVe also received criticism from some fans of Sesame Street in March 2023 when they partnered with Sesame Workshop to release an animated digital collectible of the Cookie Monster, with fans criticizing the environmental impact of NFTs.^[32][33] However, VeVe NFTs are minted on the Immutable X blockchain which purports to be 100% carbon-neutral.^[34][35]

References

1. "VeVe to Bring Fans a Disney Digital Collectible Experience". License Global. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
2. "3 Steps to Safely Buying Your First NFT". Nasdaq. February 28, 2022. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
3. Collier, Katies (November 12, 2021). "Disney Plus subscription is £1.99 this week only and more Disney Plus Day offers". Retrieved January 25, 2022.
4. Buckley, Madeline (October 29, 2021). "Disney Gets in on the NFT Action for Disney+ Day". The Pop Insider. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
5. "Eternals gather for Marvel Mightys Digital Collectibles". Marvel. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
6. Spangler, Todd (November 11, 2021). "Hollywood's NFT Gold Rush: Behind the Hope and Hype". Variety. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
7. "Disney+ Day : tout savoir sur la journée événement organisée ce vendredi 12 novembre par la plate-forme de streaming". CNEWS. November 10, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
8. "Kiwi NFT company announces deal with Marvel as sales pass $40m in six months". Stuff. June 24, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
9. "The Rise and Rise of NFT Artworks". Vanity Fair. July 27, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
10. "Givenchy Parfums has launched its first NFT in support of LGBTQIA+ causes". Premium Beauty News. June 21, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
11. Palermo, Laura (June 17, 2021). "Givenchy parfumes lancia un Nft per il mese del pride". MF Fashion. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
12. "Billion Dollar Boom: NFT Rainmakers". Vanity Fair. February 15, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
13. "VeVe to Bring Fans a Disney Digital Collectible Experience". License Global. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
14. "Marvel, VeVe Bring Spider-Man to Digital Collecting". License Global. August 6, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
15. "Spider-Man Swings into the World of Digital Collectibles". Marvel. August 6, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
16. "VeVe Partners with Star Trek for First Series of Digital Collectibles". License Global. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
17. Buckley, Madeleine (September 7, 2021). "Star Trek Joins the NFT Galaxy with New Digital Collectibles from VeVe". Pop Insider. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
18. Pickett, Daniel (September 8, 2021). "VeVe Partners with Star Trek For First Series of Digital Collectibles". Action Figure Insider. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
19. Bigalke, Jay (November 5, 2021). "Day of the Dead digital art sold out in less than a second". Linn's Stamp News. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
20. Heckman, Jory (January 21, 2022). "USPS, building off popular licensing deals, branches out into stamp NFTs". Federal News Network. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
21. Leclair, Dave (January 21, 2022). "Even USPS Has NFTs Now". How-To Geek. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
22. Spangler, Todd (November 11, 2021). "Hollywood's NFT Gold Rush: Behind the Hope and Hype". Variety. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
23. Perez, Sarah (November 13, 2021). "This Week in Apps: Court orders Apple to implement App Store changes, 2022 forecast, TikTok tries gaming". TechCrunch. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
24. Hiken, Asa (February 15, 2023). "Lamborghini to drop new batch of NFTs". Ad Age. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
25. "Lamborghini and VeVe Launch NFT Collectables". License Global. February 17, 2023. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
26. John Milton, Immanual (July 24, 2023). "Stan Lee NFT Collection Sells Out Almost Instantly, Rises 500%". Bloomberg. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
27. Connell, Samantha (September 28, 2023). "Build Your Dream Marvel Collection — Digitally and Physically". Pop Insider. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
28. Directo-Meston, Danielle (October 4, 2023). "Marvel and Christian Louboutin's New Collection Will Transform You Into a Stylish Red-Soled Superhero". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
29. MacDonald, Heidi (March 15, 2024). "VeVe Comics offer digital Marvel Comics and NFTs". The Beat. The Beat. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
30. Arrant, Chris (March 15, 2024). "Marvel partners with NFT company for new digital comics platform to rival Amazon's digital comics market". Popverse. Popverse. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
31. Hoffer, Christian (February 16, 2022). "Call of Cthulhu Maker Chaosium Suspends NFT Program After Backlash". ComicBook.com. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
32. Ede-Osifo, Uwa (March 15, 2023). "Some 'Sesame Street' fans say Cookie Monster NFTs don't honor the show's original legacy". NBC News. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
33. Bharanidharan, Sadhana (March 15, 2023). "First-ever Sesame Street NFTs to launch on VeVe". Kidscreen. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
34. Young, Martin (March 31, 2021). "First Carbon-Neutral NFT Scaling Platform Launched by Immutable X". Yahoo Finance. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
35. Pickett, Daniel (May 24, 2021). "RON ENGLISH TO BRING POPAGANDA TO BLOCKCHAIN AND AUGMENTED REALITY WITH DIGITAL ARTWORK ON VEVE'S CARBON NEUTRAL NFT PLATFORM". Action Figure Insider. Retrieved July 25, 2023.