OpenSea acquired NFT Startup Gem weeks after co-founder fired for alleged rape

NFT market OpenSea has acquired Gem, an NFT startup co-founded by a pseudonymous developer accused of sexual abuse, together with rape. This month, BuzzFeed Information confirmed the person was banned Twitch streamer Josh Thompson, who beforehand glided by the title “MethodJosh.”

“Throughout our due diligence, we realized of and instantly surfaced deeply regarding allegations in opposition to a former member of Gem's administration staff who operated underneath the pseudonym Neso. After investigating the allegations, the worker was instantly terminated previous to the conclusion of this transaction. This particular person has by no means been and by no means will probably be affiliated with OpenSea,” OpenSea CEO Devin Finzer stated Monday. in a report asserting the acquisition.

Thompson was fired from Gem this month following an investigation into “a sample of sexual misconduct,” in line with an April 9 submit on the corporate's Discord server by co-founder Lorens Huculak. Enterprise paperwork reviewed by BuzzFeed Information point out that Thompson was a significant shareholder within the firm, holding as many shares as co-founders Huculak and Vaibhav Saini.