NFL legends to sign first ‘tokenised’ autographs in blockchain sports debut
Former NFL stars are to participate in the world’s first tokenised autograph session as part of a high-tech overhaul of sports memorabilia at the upcoming Dream Bowl
The event, scheduled for January 11 at AT&T Stadium and broadcast live on ESPN+, will see 30 former professional players sign up to 3,000 items on-site, including helmets, jerseys, and footballs.
Each physical signature will be instantly converted into a "digital twin" token, creating an immutable blockchain record of the item’s provenance. The initiative is a collaboration between Datavault AI, Notable Live, and Prova, a technology firm founded by NFL Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith.
Nathaniel Bradley, chief executive of Datavault AI, said: “Technology integrations with Prova and Notable Live make this event foundational to much larger things to come. Collaborating with Emmitt Smith to connect digital twins and proof of ownership is an honour.”
Under the system, digital tokens tied to the physical memorabilia will be distributed via a daily lottery throughout 2026. Entry is open to holders of the company's "Dream Bowl Meme Coins".
A second version of the token, Meme Coin II, is set to be distributed as a dividend to Datavault AI security holders of record as of January 7. The company stated it expects to select an average of 10 winners every business day for the next year.
Lottery winners will be given the choice to either take physical possession of the autographed items or trade the digital tokens on the company’s forthcoming International NIL Exchange.
The exchange is designed to facilitate the trading of "Name, Image, and Likeness" rights for athletes and entertainers.
The memorabilia will be authenticated using Sumerian and Prova technologies, which act as "quantum-secure anchors" to ensure the items cannot be faked or duplicated.
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Organisers said the project aims to set a new standard for how sports history is verified and shared, providing a secure pathway for athletes to monetise their legacy.
Detailed information regarding tickets and the lottery process has been made available through the official Dream Bowl website.
The Recap
- Datavault AI will tokenize The Dream Bowl autograph session.
- Up to three thousand autographed memorabilia items will be produced.
- Raffles will award tokens to coin holders throughout 2026.
