Coinbase Buys “Up Only” NFT for $25M — and Revives Crypto’s Favorite Podcast

The exchange just dropped $25 million in USDC to resurrect Cobie’s “Up Only TV,” proving NFTs are more than JPEGs — they’re contracts, culture, and capital.

⚡ Quick Hits

• 💰 Coinbase buys “Up Only” NFT from Cobie for $25 million in USDC
• 🎙️ The purchase reboots the “Up Only TV” podcast — via smart contract trigger
• 🪙 Transaction made entirely in USDC, highlighting stablecoin dominance
• 🧾 NFT functions as a media contract, not a collectible
• 🏛️ Institutional validation: NFTs now seen as programmable media assets
• 💬 Crypto community: “NFTs are back — and smarter than ever.”

💥 The $25 Million Signal

Coinbase just did what no one saw coming — turn NFTs back into headlines.

The exchange purchased the “Up Only” NFT from crypto influencer Cobie for $25 million USDC, reigniting one of crypto’s most beloved shows — Up Only TV.

But this isn’t nostalgia. It’s Web3 media innovation in motion.

The NFT itself contains a contractual clause: it automatically triggers the podcast’s revival when bought or burned.

“The NFT would only trigger a podcast restart if ‘bought or burned,’” Cobie confirmed.

That’s not just clever — it’s precedent-setting. NFTs are no longer art or hype — they’re programmable IP rights.

🧠 NFTs as Smart Media Contracts

The move signals a deeper shift in how institutions view digital assets.

Coinbase didn’t just buy an NFT — it bought a content license, hardcoded on-chain. This marks a new media model, where ownership and production merge via blockchain logic.

Here’s what this means:

• 📺 NFT = media contract, not collectible
• 🪙 USDC = settlement layer for high-value Web3 deals
• 💼 Institutions = new NFT whales — but for IP, not memes

It’s a powerful cocktail of tech, trust, and timing.

🪙 Why USDC Mattered

Coinbase didn’t pay in ETH or BTC — it used USDC, Circle’s dollar-pegged stablecoin with a $76.21B market cap.

The reason is simple: stability. With 40.27% volatility in 24h trading volume but near-perfect price peg, USDC gives institutional players a risk-free bridge between fiat and crypto.

This transaction subtly reinforces what we already know: Stablecoins are becoming the backbone of real Web3 commerce.

🎧 Culture Meets Capital

For the community, this move feels poetic. Up Only TV was crypto’s raw, unfiltered podcast — hosted by Cobie and Ledger, chronicling bull markets, bear memes, and the chaos in between.

Its revival through an NFT purchase is a symbol of Web3’s circular economy — creators, collectors, and corporations all intertwined through code.

“NFTs as engagement triggers, not trophies — that’s the future,” one analyst wrote on X.

Coinbase’s play could pave the way for a new funding model in media: NFTs that unlock shows, crowdfund series, or govern distribution rights — all on-chain.

🌐 Bigger Picture

This isn’t about a single podcast. It’s about how institutions are starting to treat NFTs as infrastructure, not collectibles.

The ripple effects?

• 🧩 NFTs as programmable media rights
• 🪙 Stablecoins as institutional settlement rails
• 🎬 Smart contracts as triggers for content creation

Coinbase’s $25M move puts NFTs back on the innovation map — not as speculation, but as functioning business logic for the next generation of media.

TL;DR

• 💥 Coinbase buys “Up Only” NFT from Cobie for $25M USDC
• 🎙️ NFT’s smart contract reboots the podcast upon purchase
• 🪙 USDC used for stability in high-value trade
• 🧠 NFTs now act as programmable media triggers, not collectibles
• 🌍 Institutional adoption of NFTs enters its utility era — and Coinbase just fired the starting gun