Toymaking giant Mattel is putting the brakes on its Hot Wheels Virtual Garage non-fungible tokens, pending a decision on the collection’s future.
There will be no future releases of any new NFT series or feature drops for the “foreseeable future,” Mattel said in an update on its website. The company said it will decide on the “long-term future” of Mattel digital collectibles.
“Your unwavering support and enthusiasm for the Hot Wheels Virtual Garage has been legendary, and we’re incredibly grateful to have been on this journey with you,” the company said.
“As we evaluate the changing world of virtual collectibles, we’ve determined the time has come to end our Series and Feature Drops in 2025 and onward.”
In the meantime, users’ hot wheel NFT collections, the Mattel Digital Collectibles Marketplace, the community Discord and other channels will continue to operate as normal through at least 2025, according to Mattel.
Holders can still buy, sell and trade their Hot Wheels NFTS on the Mattel Digital Collectibles Marketplace, while existing and outstanding redemptions will be “fulfilled as promised.”
However, there is no option to transfer the NFTs to other wallets or marketplaces at the moment. Mattel says it’s exploring possible options around this feature.
“We are developing a long-term plan for Virtual Collectibles and will share updates with the community in the future,” the company said.
The Hot Wheels NFT Garage Series 7 and the Mattel Creations Virtual Market Place opens on 12.7.2023. #HotWheels pic.twitter.com/CidwT3qqC3
— Hot Wheels (@Hot_Wheels) November 30, 2023
Mattel launched series one for its Hot Wheels NFT Garage in November 2021 in partnership with the Worldwide Asset eXchange. The latest release, series 10, went live in December last year.
Nike sunsets its NFTs, while FIFA doubles down
Mattel isn’t the only company winding down its NFT services — sporting footwear and apparel giant Nike sunset its NFT marketplace RTFKT in January. Holders have since launched a lawsuit, alleging Nike has caused them financial harm by shuttering the marketplace.
Related: NFT project plans crowdfund purchase of Cold War nuclear bunker
However, other companies continue to support NFT holders. FIFA, which launched its NFT collection ahead of the 2023 Club World Cup, announced on April 30 that it was creating a new Ethereum-compatible blockchain for its digital collectibles.
The overall NFT market dropped sharply in the first quarter of 2025, with sales plunging 63% year-over-year, to $1.5 billion in total sales from January to March 2025, down from $4.1 billion during the same period in 2024.
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