Shalini Nagarajan

Online marketplace eBay is looking to prop up its Web3 ambitions by hiring specialists for its NFT marketplace KnownOrigin.



Those who come onboard will be building an understanding of the market, championing the Web3 sector and improving go-to-market outcomes.&nbsp;



Not all roles require candidates to have crypto-native experiences, but a crypto counsel role is expected to bring legal experience in law related to NFTs, Web3 or blockchain.



Crypto <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/3462689513/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">counsel</a> aside, LinkedIn postings from eBay show open spots a head of <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/3434316689/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">community</a> at KnownOrigin, content <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/search/?currentJobId=3393201099&amp;f_C=1481%2C270603%2C3710655%2C6121%2C853612%2C78768%2C2340505%2C74513497&amp;geoId=92000000&amp;originToLandingJobPostings=3457213846%2C3457215686%2C3465525458%2C3434316689%2C3465523839%2C3434317651%2C3455923176%2C3428722174%2C3393201099" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">designer</a>, artist liaison <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/3447490680/?eBP=JOB_SEARCH_ORGANIC&amp;recommendedFlavor=SCHOOL_RECRUIT&amp;refId=H82HTaAru8y8n15rKjsuXg%3D%3D&amp;trackingId=Cxg6JmAqSSN1PeTlPbPvbQ%3D%3D&amp;trk=flagship3_search_srp_jobs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">manager</a>, a product marketing <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/3434317651/?eBP=JOB_SEARCH_ORGANIC&amp;recommendedFlavor=SCHOOL_RECRUIT&amp;refId=Cocra09cvvmIAKoawTdI5Q%3D%3D&amp;trackingId=8n0x5xQvNRm%2FkQ4bKAh1nw%3D%3D&amp;trk=flagship3_search_srp_jobs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">manager</a> and tech <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/3406685694/?eBP=JOB_SEARCH_ORGANIC&amp;recommendedFlavor=SCHOOL_RECRUIT&amp;refId=Cocra09cvvmIAKoawTdI5Q%3D%3D&amp;trackingId=c2L%2FfDlkUYt2zd613WK8Hw%3D%3D&amp;trk=flagship3_search_srp_jobs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lead</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Most of the jobs are based in Manchester, United Kingdom, but some mention hybrid working environments.



Last June, eBay <a href="https://blockworks.co/news/ebay-acquires-uk-based-nft-marketplace-knownorigin" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">acquired</a> UK-based KnownOrigin for an undisclosed amount. Yet NFTs were already sold on the platform. EBay <a href="https://www.ebayinc.com/stories/news/ebay-and-digital-collectibles-our-tech-led-reimagination-continues/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">announced</a> in 2021 an expansion into the collectibles category as they “offer greater access to a broader audience of collectors and creators.”



EBay describes KnownOrigin as an “early Web3 pioneer” looking to empower NFT creators who want to to express themselves and maintain livelihoods through their passion.&nbsp;



EBay <a href="https://blockworks.co/news/ebay-nfts-connect-athletes-fans" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recently partnered</a> with events platform Notable Live to provide fans with a new way to connect with players.&nbsp;



Both firms have a multi-year contract under which Notable will add exclusive player merchandise, NFTs and other interactive experiences on eBay. It isn’t yet known which blockchain will support Notable Live’s NFTs.



Google searches for Web3 jobs have been steadily rising and companies are still hiring despite a bearish background.&nbsp;



Amazon, one of eBay’s biggest rivals recently put up a job posting for a senior go-to-market <a href="https://www.amazon.jobs/en/jobs/2320871/senior-gtm-specialist-web3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">specialist</a>, who would be responsible for growing adoption of Web3 workloads on its cloud computing division. The role requires knowledge of blockchain-based architectures and developer workflow in Layer-1 and 2.&nbsp;



EBay’s KnownOrigin push comes after Blockworks reported that Amazon is soon expected to <a href="https://blockworks.co/news/amazon-nft-marketplace-web3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">launch an NFT initative</a>, pegged to inspire customers to play crypto-based games and claim digital collectable rewards.



H/T: CoinDesk



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EBay NFT Job Openings Hint At Web3 Showdown With Amazon

Sebastian Sinclair

<div id="highlights-block_62b3b70b648d3" class="highlights">
 <ul>
 <li>The purchase comes on the heels of eBay&#8217;s sports-themed NFT collection unveiled in May</li>
 <li>The appetite for NFTs has wavered in recent months</li>
 </ul>
 
</div>



Global e-commerce platform eBay said Wednesday it has acquired a UK-based NFT marketplace for an undisclosed sum in a bid to further its efforts in the digital collectible arena.



Founded in 2018 in Manchester, UK, KnownOrigin is a blockchain-powered marketplace allowing artists and collectors to create, buy and sell NFTs (non-fungible tokens). The deal, while scant in detail, has been finalized as of Tuesday, according to a statement.



The move follows eBay&#8217;s recent foray into the NFT sector, where the platform launched its sports-themed <a href="https://cms.blockworks.co/ebay-launches-genesis-nft-collection-amid-declining-market-interest/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Genesis</a> collection in May despite waning interest from collectors and investors for digital collectibles. EBay first began allowing the purchase and sale of NFTs in May 2021.



“KnownOrigin has built up an impressive, passionate and loyal group of artists and collectors, making them a perfect addition to our community of sellers and buyers,&#8221; eBay&#8217;s CEO Jamie Iannone said in the statement. &#8220;We look forward to welcoming these innovators as they join the eBay community.&#8221;



NFTs have slowly edged toward the mainstream since early 2020 following renowned digital artist <a href="https://www.christies.com/features/Monumental-collage-by-Beeple-is-first-purely-digital-artwork-NFT-to-come-to-auction-11510-7.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Beeple&#8217;s sale</a> of his “The First 5000 Days” for over $69 million at auction house Christie&#8217;s. That sale sparked a flurry of ambitious and opportunistic sellers hoping to cash in on the lucrative trade.



Current market conditions have since seen a slow down of sales and interest in digital collectibles, having peaked late last year. Data from the 90-day trading activity on popular NFT marketplaces such as <a href="https://opensea.io/explore-collections?tab=top" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OpenSea</a> show a steady month-to-month decline.



Still, a company such as eBay — which facilitated over $87 billion in gross merchandise volume last year — could prove to be a boon for the budding sector by lifting the <a href="https://www.ebay.com.au/b/Art-NFTs/262051/bn_7117708273" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">profile of NFTs</a> within the minds of the average consumer.



EBay&#8217;s move toward the sale and purchase of NFTs can also be viewed as a defensive stance since its biggest rival, Amazon, began flirting with the idea back in April.



Amazon CEO Andy Jassy previously said at the time he envisioned a “<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/14/andy-jassy-says-he-doesnt-own-bitcoin-says-amazon-could-sell-nfts.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">possible</a>” future where the platform sold digital collectibles backed by blockchain tech, though details of when and if that would happen remain unclear.



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Start your day with top crypto insights from David Canellis and Katherine Ross. <a href="https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire">Subscribe to the Empire newsletter</a>.



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