You Can Buy a Martian Meteorite With Bitcoin—If You Have Upwards of $4 Million

Sotheby’s Will Auction from the largest renowned Mars meteorite on Earth later this month – and the iconic auction house accepts Bitcoin For a piece of red planet.

Meteorite, known as northwestern Africa 16788 or NWA 16788It was discovered in the Niger region of Agadez 2023 and weighs 54 pounds. On July 16th, he is expected to receive between two and $ 4 million on Satheby’s sale of natural history.

“Sotheby’s has accepted the crypto currency for the selected sale of 2021,” said Cassandra Hatton, Vice -President of Science and Natural History, said Decipher. “Given the global interest in the rare meteorites and the technical audience they attract, it makes sense to offer that possibility here.”

According to Sotheby’s, NWA 16788 is the most valuable (and expensive) Marsian copy ever offered in auction. In February 2021, Christie’s sold A much smaller piece of meteorite for $ 40,000, noting at the time that “Mars samples are among the most exotic substances on Earth with less than 250 kg (550 lbs) known to exist.”

As with the previous auctions of Sotheby, offers can be given in bitcoin, Ethereumand USDC.

“If you know the crypto world, there is a lot of work to be done to ensure the setting of the system, that everything is in harmony,” Hatton said, noting that Sotheby’s Coinbase and Batpay used for his cryptocurrency auction. “Sotheby’s does a really deep job, ensuring that they do everything according to the highest standards.”

When asked about a huge price, Hatton explained that, unlike the fine arts, the estimate of the values ​​of meteorites and other exotic pieces is a more complex and less predictable process. Last summer, skeleton a Stegosaurusnickname Topestimated to be worth four to $ 6 million, it was sold for $ 44 million.

“It’s easy to evaluate Picasso or Warhol because we have sold many. But in my world, where everything is unique and rarely selling, it’s a different exercise,” she said. “Assessments show the possibility, not the hard market data.”

Also, unlike art, meteorites, added to Hatton, are mostly priced by weight.

“I had people who build budget tables analyzing Mars, Lunar and other meteorites by gram – and data are directed,” she said. “There is a natural price structure on the market by gram.”

Asked about the current owner, Hatton said that NWA in 16788, sent by the private owner for Sotheby’s annual auction Geek Week, was verified by meteorite society.

Acceptance of crypto payments at the auction of NWA 16788 is the latest in Sotheby’s reach and an attempt to appeal to the Crypto Community. When asked why Sotheby continues to accept the crypto currency, Hatton pointed to the client’s request and passed success.

In 2023. Sotheby is auctioned on a auction of the Bitcoin Ordinal collection called Bitcoinshrooms. More recently, Sotheby’s selling Boring Ape Yacht Club NFTS was once owned by the Capital of the Three Arrows, and in January he offered NBA Top Shot NFTS as part of the wider sales of NBA memorabilia.

“We had the main, high values ​​paid for with a crypto currency. The goal is to accept the widest group of potential bidders,” she explained. “Many of my clients work in cryptocurrencies, make money from it or hold it, and they told me,” You should accept the crypto currency for everyone. “So I answer that request.”

Edited Andrew Hayward