Mr Bean was the British television mute buffoon co-created and played by Rowan Atkinson. It would make his NFT debut in a collaboration between FOMO Lab and Banijay. This upcoming NFT Collection will mint on 25th May.

"I think this is a fantastic idea," Atkinson said of the project. "I welcome any initiative that not only draws attention to but also allows access to the fantastic artwork associated with the Mr Bean Animation series."

The announcement was untimely. Cryptocurrencies are plummeting in value across the board. It including mainstays like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Also the so-called stablecoin, Tether, has fluctuated alarmingly.

Mr Bean has been given a pass for his antics for far too long. But it could this be the comedian's crowning achievement. It bringing down an entire subset of the economy with an ill-advised venture that jolted everyone out of their crypto-fever?

Okay, most likely not. Bitcoin and Ethereum both began to fall in value earlier this month, days before. We knew Rowan Atkinson's character would make his blockchain debut. It's far more likely that the other, many concerns about blockchain-based assets finally broke the spell, shaking confidence in their value and bringing the current chapter of crypto-mania to an end.

Despite this, the 3,333-piece run of non-fungible tokens may have greater artistic merit, even if their monetary value is doomed from the start. Bean famously remains a buffoon, clown, and dingus after all these years. The many NFT tie-ins of the past year have been rightly mocked. But what could be more buffoonish, clownish, or dingusy than lunging for a bite of the apple now of year?

In anticipation of the collection's release, FOMO Lab's official discord has a "#show-us-your-bean!" channel open. It remains empty because prospective Bean-holders have yet to make their purchases. But I find it ominous and desolate even in light of current events.

MR. Bean's upcoming NFT collection is doomed to fail. Now he'll get his just deserts for the humiliations he's inflicted on the good people of England over years of folly.