VanEck launches NFT Marketplace platform SegMint

VanEck, a global investment management firm based in the United States known for managing assets and issuing ETF funds, has collaborated with Nueva, Delegate, MINTangible, Portals, and WalletChat to introduce SegMint - an NFT trading platform and digital asset platform.

This initiative is part of VanEck's efforts in digital asset research to enhance accessibility and security in this field through the "Lock & Key Model."

SegMint's model aims to simplify the sharing of self-custodied digital assets. According to the company, this process is akin to having a secure vault to store digital assets and issuing keys to others, allowing shared ownership without compromising security.

Matt Bartlett, the founder of SegMint, explained:

"We identified a significant challenge in the digital asset ecosystem - the difficulty in sharing access and ownership in a self-sovereign world. The Lock & Key Model addresses this by providing a user-friendly solution, enabling individuals to safely share their assets while retaining control."

Additional features of SegMint include customizable multi-sig wallet solutions, NFT minting capabilities, and "NFT delegation," which will be provided free of charge during the initial rollout phase.

The concept of "NFT delegation" allows users to delegate custody of their NFTs to a third-party platform separate from their primary wallet, facilitating transactions and interactions without the risk of losing their NFTs.

This idea has been previously applied by VanEck's technology partner, Delegate, in delegating custody over three entities: tokens, wallets, and smart contracts. Despite its emergence in late 2022, few projects have effectively utilized this technology advantageously, except for Delegate, which recorded $400 million in delegated assets and 6,650 linked wallets at its peak.

Initially, SegMint will focus on cryptocurrency users interested in or already owning NFTs, primarily in Europe and Asia, excluding the US and countries affected by EU sanctions. Early users who complete ID verification will receive a free "Adventurer" NFT, enabling them to undertake missions and earn additional privileges.

VanEck believes this model also creates use cases for community-driven organizations needing asset-sharing solutions, such as NFT holders collaborating with creative projects or businesses sharing digital resources, bridging the gap between digital assets and real-world applications like encrypted real estate.

Founded in 1955, VanEck has a long history in asset management, primarily focusing on ETF fund issuance. Notably, VanEck was among the first companies to apply for the establishment of Bitcoin Spot ETF funds in the US under the ticker symbol HODL, officially commencing trading on January 11, 2024, alongside 10 other BTC ETFs.