Sotheby's, the renowned auction house, is gearing up to launch a private auction for EtherRock NFT, aiming to leverage Valentine's Day as a marketing strategy. EtherRocks, launched in 2017 shortly after CryptoPunks but before the ERC-1155 and ERC-721 token standards, have become a significant part of NFT history, sparking controversy among collectors due to their absurdity and the concept of "beloved stones on the blockchain."

The series of 100 tokens, each representing an almost identical cartoonish image of a rock in JPEG format, has stirred debate within the NFT community. Some see it as a true expression of NFT art, while others view it as a mockery. Despite criticism, EtherRocks continue to attract attention, especially after Sotheby's decided to include them in its new digital art-oriented vertical, Sotheby's Metaverse.

Debates around EtherRocks and their contribution to the NFT movement flared up following Sotheby's statements about their historical significance. Despite changes to the language on Sotheby's website in response to criticism, EtherRocks remain a topic of discussion, showcasing both the best and worst qualities of NFTs. In 2021, at the height of NFT mania, one EtherRock was sold for $1.3 million in Ether, highlighting their speculative value and sparking a new wave of interest in the series.