// startup autopsy
Cent (NFT Marketplace)
Cent sold the most famous NFT ever, then collapsed under a tsunami of counterfeits it couldn't control.
productSilent Shutdown
Quiet closure with no public announcement
Key Events Timeline
FOUNDING
Cent launched as a social media tipping platform before pivoting to NFTs.
PRODUCT LAUNCH
Sold Jack Dorsey's first tweet NFT for $2.9 million, achieving global media attention and signaling the NFT mania peak.
FRAUD EXPOSURE
Platform overwhelmed with counterfeit NFTs, plagiarized artwork, and fraudulent collections that content moderation couldn't address.
SHUTDOWN
CEO Cameron Hejazi publicly suspended marketplace activity, citing pervasive fraud and an inability to build trust infrastructure fast enough.