Bitwise’s latest Ethereum ad can be minted as an NFT

Bitwise, a digital asset management firm, has launched its first commercial for an Ether (ETH) exchange-traded fund, and NFT enthusiasts can mint the 39-second ad clip on Ethereum. In a June 20 post on X, Bitwise invited viewers to “capture a piece of crypto history” by minting the first national TV spot as an NFT.

The ad portrays Ethereum as operating 24/7 while traditional finance, personified by an older man in business attire, sleeps. Inspired by early 2000s Apple ads, it features a younger, casually dressed man representing Ethereum. The dialogue highlights Ethereum’s constant activity in contrast to the limited hours of traditional finance.

As of now, 1,198 mints of the clip have been made by 530 unique minters on the Zora Network, an Ethereum layer-2 solution. Bitwise has announced that 50% of the proceeds will go to Protocol Guild, a funding collective created by Ethereum core contributors, while the remaining 50% will be shared by the ad’s actors, Jamie Kaler and Michael Tacconi. Together, they have earned $1,865, or 0.53 Ether, from the NFT mints.

Bitwise’s ad emphasizes the historical significance of the campaign. Additionally, Bitwise’s S-1 registration statement has been amended to include a potential $100 million investment into its Ethereum ETF, pending SEC approval. This launch could happen as early as July 2, according to Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas.

VanEck, another firm, also released its own Ether ETF ad shortly after the SEC approved 19b-4 filings, indicating growing competition in the Ether ETF market.