DraftKings Marketplace has underlined its commitment to digital currency, through a new partnership with Polygon, an Ethereum-based scaling platform.
This deal provides DraftKings Marketplace with a scalable, eco-friendly blockchain solution that enables added throughput and expanded capabilities.
As well as this, DraftKings has acquired the option to potentially contribute to Polygon’s governance and help secure the network as a validator node with its own stake pool.
Paul Liberman, co-founder and president of global product and technology at DraftKings, commented: “Scalability and sustainability remain among the critical challenges of blockchain technology, so as we lay the groundwork today for the vision of DraftKings Marketplace tomorrow, the vast insights and proven products from Polygon around scalable solutions are invaluable.
“Although DraftKings Marketplace is still in its nascency, we are bullish on the possibilities that blockchain, NFTs, cryptocurrency and more will present as we prepare for Web 3.0 alongside Polygon and the new innovations ahead for digital collectibles.”
With the option of becoming a validator, DraftKings would be able to participate in the proof-of-stake consensus protocol for the Polygon blockchain main network to produce blocks, join Polygon’s governance and contribute to network security as a ‘leader in Polygon’s future’.
Since launching in early August, DraftKings Marketplace has already hosted Autograph’s Preseason Access Collection NFT drops of athletes featuring Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Naomi Osaka, Simone Biles and Derek Jeter, all of which sold out almost immediately.
DraftKings Marketplace is available to all of DraftKings’ registered customers across the U.S. and Canada, and these collectors will eventually have the ability to transfer purchased NFTs to their own wallets on Ethereum Mainnet.
Sandeep Nailwal, co-founder at Polygon, added: “Leveraging Polygon’s technology, DraftKings will be able to expand the variety and capabilities of DraftKings Marketplace for an enhanced user experience with even more exclusive content and drops.
“DraftKings Marketplace already provides fans and collectors with a seamless way to buy and resell authentic digital collectibles within a highly accessible ecosystem, so we look forward to being part of its continued growth.”
Through the launch of Polygon Studios earlier this summer to boost awareness and adoption of NFTs, the Polygon brand has further expanded into the blockchain gaming and NFT space.
