Vodafone versteigert die erste SMS der Welt als NFT

Description

Vodafone wanted to use the trending topic of NFTs to prove its innovative power. Since the world's first SMS with the message »Merry Christmas« was sent via the Vodafone network in 1992, it seemed logical to release it as an NFT almost 30 years later and thus do some good. So we auctioned off the world's first SMS on 21 December 2021 at the Aguttes auction house as an NFT for more than EUR 100,000, with the proceeds going to UNHCR. The action achieved worldwide attention.

Statement of the jury

With the idea of auctioning off the first SMS ever sent as an NFT (Non-Fungible Token) almost 30 years later, Vodafone created a spectacular media event. NFTs will be one of the big topics of the future. Digital artworks and products only available once are now a big craze and fetch fantastic sums on the market. The fact that Vodafone was able to exploit this craze perfectly and generated such a huge media response with a cool idea that is nonetheless simple in essence was a clever ploy, enabling the company to establish itself as the first mover for the second time with the same SMS.