World's first-ever text message auctioned as NFT for $121,000 by vodafone

The first text message ever sent, "Merry Christmas," sold as a "Non-Fungible Token" at a Paris auction house on Tuesday for 107,000 euros ($121,000)

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On Dec 3, 1992, Vodafone engineer Neil Papworth sent the SMS from his computer to colleague Richard Jarvis who received it on his 2kg "Orbitel" telephone

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Proceeds from the auction will be go to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to support forcibly displaced people

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The successful bidder will receive the replica of the original communication protocol that transmitted the SMS

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The auction got conducted in Paris by Aguttes, the first independent auction house in France. The buyer paid with Ether cryptocurrency

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The selling of intangible goods is not legal in France and so the auction house has packaged the text message in a digital frame

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Auction house founder Maximilian Aguttes said "we are delighted to be able to support the sale of this landmark piece of history for this cause"

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Buyers will also receive a certificate signed by Vodafone Group CEO Nick Reed, which will guarantee the uniqueness and authenticity of the NFT

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