John McAfee Announces Crypto Art Program and Potential Token Theft

John McAfee, the cybersecurity pioneer, has announced the launch of the McAfee Foundation crypto art program and a potential token theft.

One could easily say that John McAfee has a wide range of interests. Currently, the internet maverick is enmeshed in the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Over the last few years, he’s promoted a number of altcoins, wallets, and other services. Now he’s venturing into an entirely new world: crypto art.

Supporting Artists

Yesterday on Twitter, McAfee announced the start of the McAfee Crypto Art Program. The initial tweet says that the program is accepting applications from all artists. A follow-up tweet clarifies what kind of art is acceptable to the program. He says that all art is supported, including sculpture, poetry, dance, videos, plays, painting, etc.

The crypto art program entails that participants will be given a one-month residency at Team McAfee’s Beach Cottage. The program will cover all expenses, including travel. The one caveat to the program is that all art created will belong to the McAfee Foundation.

Is this a good thing? The answer is actually yes. McAfee is essentially acting like an art patron of yesteryear, such as back in the Renaissance when people like Cesare Borgia supported Leonardo da Vinci. The McAfee Foundation will promote the artist and their work. To a young, struggling artist, this exposure could be worth their weight in gold.

Huge Heist?

The crypto art program is not the only thing going on in the world of John McAfee. He has tweeted that two individuals have stolen $62 million in tokens. He points the finger at two culprits: Gemma and Luke.

Apparently, both individuals worked with McAfee. Gemma is a London-based crypto analyst while Luke was supposedly given a chance by McAfee after being released from prison.

John McAfee says that he hasn’t filed a formal complaint yet, saying:

We’ve been privately working with FBI friends and local authorities. We have not yet officially filed a formal complaint. If possible, I don’t want to see people in prison. Applying social pressure to the perpetrators may help. Without their cooperation they will do serious time.

Needless to say, Gemma and Luke refute the allegations. Gemma got a little bit cheeky and tweeted:

It’s just part of the never ending Mcafee show. I left America because our visions and morals with crypto are very different. I’ve seen too much and they don’t want me in the space. I expected something like this. It’s like a soap opera! (Tweeted from my prison cell)

If there’s one thing you can say, it’s that the world surrounding John McAfee is never boring.

What do you think of these latest developments for McAfee? Let us know in the comments below.

Images courtesy of Twitter/@officialmcafee and Flickr/@Gage Skidmore.