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Is the Solana Saga an endangered species? Only 20,000 of the crypto-friendly Android smartphones were produced, but now after a year there is one less in the world. Solana influencer microwaved one as a stunt and posted the video to Twitter – then minted thousands of commemorative coins NFTs based on that.
Bangerza self-described “washed-up influencer” and co-founder and CEO of NFT Launchpad 3.countryposted a video of her scorching the high-end smartphone in a microwave.
The device made crackling noises while cooking and then came out steaming and dripping a mysterious liquid as the hardware’s screen bubbled.
“It’s damaged,” she said. “It doesn’t turn on.”
I microwaved my @solanamobile Saga
Here are the results: pic.twitter.com/OGuWpk7FDZ
— bangerz 👽 {3.LAND} (@bangerzNFT) January 18, 2024
The video expectedly generated a response from Solana users on Twitter, but so did her next step: offering 3,333 commemorative Solana NFTs inspired by the video, all free to mint via 3.land.
‘Saga phones are now deflationary’ reads the message quote tweeted by Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko, among others. “Commemorate this moment with the Saga Microwave.”
Saga phones are now deflationary.
Commemorate this moment with the Saga Microwave from @bangerzNFT
Free hitting now 🔗👇 pic.twitter.com/zcwARW2ZjO
— 🌐 3.land (@3rd_land) January 18, 2024
Soon, the Saga Microwave NFTs were completely minted and placed on secondary markets, where at one point they were sold to Solana for around $25. They have fallen sharply since then, starting around 0.045 SOL (just over $4). Tensor. To date, the NFTs have generated approximately $33,000 in trade.
3.land is known for meme-inspired NFT drops on Solana, including the Collectible ‘Saga: Bust of the Year’ inspired by the negative review of the phone by popular YouTube tech critic Marques “MKBHD” Brownlee. The project also released NFTs inspired by the recent Solana meme coin, A Gently Used 2001 Honda (USEDCAR).
Declutter contacted Bangerz for comment but did not immediately hear back.
On Tuesday, Solana Labs announced plans to do so release a follow up phone for the Saga that’s tentatively called “Chapter 2,” with pre-orders priced at $450 – less than half the Saga’s original retail price. Company told TechCrunch earlier Thursday that 30,000 phones had been ordered within the first 30 hours of availability.
