Before delving into the captivating world of VirtualStreet.Art, it’s essential to recognize the driving force behind this groundbreaking venture. La Poste, the official postal service of France, extending its reach to Monaco and the overseas collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, stands as a historically significant entity partially owned by the French state. With a workforce of approximately 250,000 employees and an impressive annual revenue exceeding 34 billion Euros, La Poste is a force to be reckoned with in the world of business.
La Poste’s involvement with the Tezos blockchain isn’t a novel development. As XTZ News reported in November 2022, La Poste revealed its intent to launch NFT-linked physical postal stamps on the Tezos blockchain. Fast forward to August 2023, the official unveiling of the NFTimbre platform was announced—a creation of La Poste Group in collaboration with Nomadic Labs. This platform represents a revolutionary chapter for stamp collectors and will witness the debut of the world’s first NFT stamp on September 18, 2023. Featuring an image of Nelson Mandela crafted by the renowned artist Christian Guémy, also known as C215, this stamp signals La Poste’s significant entry into the digital realm.
Discover VirtualStreet.Art
VirtualStreet.Art strives to demystify the realm of NFTs for both artists and collectors. By providing artists with a platform to showcase and offer their street art images for sale, it also affords enthusiasts the opportunity to explore, purchase, and trade their NFTs using Euros, sidestepping the complexities of cryptocurrency.
The question, “What’s the point?” is succinctly addressed on the platform. VirtualStreet.Art underscores that at its core, an NFT represents a tangible work of art. The digital image linked to the NFT is underpinned by an immutable certificate of ownership, enhancing the artwork’s value and opening up new avenues for collectors.
Beyond being a marketplace, the platform serves as a canvas for launching new series, creating virtual galleries, fostering collector communities, and issuing NFT certificates for existing physical artworks. In essence, VirtualStreet.Art is reimagining how art collections come to life in the digital age.
Moreover, their collaboration with La Poste and Tezos assures users of a 100% French-trusted solution, underscoring the platform’s strong national ties and reliability.
Why Tezos?
VirtualStreet.Art has chosen Tezos, the energy-efficient French blockchain, as its foundation. Tezos distinguishes itself with its proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, ensuring not only low issuance and transaction costs but also a significantly reduced carbon footprint compared to other blockchains.
The commitment to environmental responsibility is data-driven and clear. Tezos consumes a mere 0.00006 TWh/year. This deliberate choice aligns seamlessly with La Poste’s dedication to fostering an ethical, inclusive, and environmentally conscious digital landscape.
VirtualStreet.Art’s Roadmap Ahead
Having made its official debut in June 2023, VirtualStreet.Art’s roadmap brims with ambition and promise. The platform intends to expand its horizons by welcoming other art forms from September 2023 to March 2024. Spring/Summer 2024 will witness the introduction of additional licensing options. The latter half of 2024 is earmarked for the introduction of re-materialization options, specifically 2D/3D printing.
La Poste Groupe’s foray into the NFT world via VirtualStreet.Art underscores a profound convergence of traditional entities embracing cutting-edge technological innovations. Through its partnership with Tezos and the prioritization of energy-efficient, eco-friendly solutions, La Poste Groupe not only safeguards the future of street art but also actively shapes the future of digital art marketplaces.
