TLDR
- Foundation halted operations after Blackdove reversed its acquisition of the Ethereum-based NFT platform.
- Blackdove returned management control to Foundation founder Kayvon Tehranian for an orderly transition.
- Marc Billings said the company paused support after completing full due diligence.
- Blackdove decided to build its own proprietary marketplace instead of integrating Foundation.
- Billings stated that the decision had no link to demand for digital art.
Foundation halted operations early Tuesday after Blackdove reversed its acquisition of the Ethereum-based NFT platform. Blackdove executive Marc Billings confirmed the pause and returned control to founder Kayvon Tehranian. The decision followed a post-handover review that changed Blackdove’s acquisition strategy.
Blackdove Reverses Acquisition of Ethereum Platform
Blackdove executive Marc Billings announced the decision to pause support for Foundation. He said the company would return management to founder Kayvon Tehranian for transition. He described the move as necessary after a strategic reassessment.
Art shouldn't be able to just disappear into thin air
I could scribble onto a sheet of paper and it would last longer than an Ethereum NFT https://t.co/pyLINLr5Dk
— Jan (@janbtc) April 16, 2026
Billings stated, “We will pause our ongoing support of the Foundation platform.” He confirmed that Blackdove transferred management back to Tehranian. He added that both teams will coordinate an orderly transition process.
Blackdove had agreed to acquire Foundation to expand its digital art services. The company planned to integrate asset tokenization into its existing infrastructure. This integration would allow clients to browse, purchase, and display digital art.
However, Billings said the deal moved quickly and required later due diligence. He explained that the company completed full reviews after operational control shifted. He said the review changed the company’s long-term marketplace strategy.
Following the review, Blackdove chose to build its own proprietary marketplace. Billings said this route offered better alignment with internal development plans. He clarified that the pause did not reflect declining interest in digital art.
He said, “This decision has no correlation to the demand for digital art.” He also reported that physical digital art installations increased 40% year-over-year. He confirmed that those installations remain part of Blackdove’s core business.
NFT Market Decline Deepens on Ethereum Networks
The halt comes as the broader NFT sector records steep contraction. Data shows that about 96% of NFT collections report zero trading activity. These collections also lack active community engagement across major platforms.
Market capitalization across NFT assets fell 72% during 2025. Analysts tracked this drop across Ethereum and other blockchain networks. Trading volumes declined across multiple marketplaces during the same period.
Industry records show that several projects stopped operations after fundraising. Some operators withdrew funds and left platforms inactive. These events reduced public trust in many NFT offerings.
Foundation operated as a prominent Ethereum-based NFT marketplace. The platform supported digital artists and collectors through tokenized art sales. Its pause marks another operational shift within the NFT space.
Blackdove confirmed it will continue internal development of its marketplace. The company said it will focus on proprietary software and tokenization features. Billings reiterated that demand for digital art installations remains up 40%.
