

"The energy production infrastructure is out of our sight," wrote Brussels-based artist Joanie Lemercier. One artist estimated that generating six NFT pieces consumed more electricity than his entire physical studio did in two years. By some estimates, one crypto transaction could gobble up more power than the average U.S. The computing power required to operate the underlying blockchain system of NFTs is immense. Then there is the environmental impact of NFTs, which has attracted real scrutiny. NFTs resembling pieces by the artist Banksy have netted $900,000, but they have turned out to be fakes. But NFT backers say the system's built-in scarcity should keep values up, as long as the surge of interest persists.īe cautious about works that appear to be created by famous artists. If you spend a pretty penny on an NFT and then enthusiasm and values suddenly plummet, you could be in for a big loss.

There's always a chance that a tech frenzy is a passing fad or is stoking a speculative bubble. "At the time the iPhone was created, nobody would've thought that one of the killer apps was going to be hailing a ride," said Haun of Andreessen Horowitz. Silicon Valley investors say the moneymaking possibilities in the NFT world are limitless. One startup lets people use their NFTs as collateral for loans. If you're not interested in buying or selling them, why should you care?Īs tens of millions of dollars in transactions pour in for NFTs, enthusiasts say, NFTs will soon expand beyond trading art, music, video clips and memes. Once you're done, collectors can start bidding.ĭigital artists can build a royalty into their NFTs, even for future sales, which is why many artists see promise in NFTs: It can cut out the middleman and open up a new way to make money. Some people are trying to sell tweets and even colors as NFTs.) (A quick glance at an NFT marketplace shows just how easy the process is - maybe too easy. You'll usually be asked if it's a one of a kind, if there are multiple copies or if it's part of a collection. Log on to one of the NFT marketplaces and upload a file. "You're buying a different format of is undoubtedly where all the NFT hype go through though, it does not get more hockey stick than this! 🏒⛵️ĭashboard by the Dune wizard 🧙♂️ /TEMYbzjflW- Dune February 26, 2021
NFT STANDS FOR CODE
"The underlying thing that you're buying is code that manifests as images," said Donna Redel, who teaches courses on crypto-digital assets at Fordham Law School. Perhaps, but you are also purchasing a kind of bar code, almost a certificate of authenticity that serves as proof that a certain version of something is uniquely yours. The answer is not simple.Īre you buying what amounts to an Internet trophy? Clout? A feeling? A digital collector's item? This question unleashes a fury of debate among NFT enthusiasts. What exactly do you get when you buy an NFT? "It's everything that brings together culture, and it's also a bet on the future of e-commerce," Haun said. "Remember those days where people would line up for the newest Nike Air Jordan sneakers at the physical store? This is the new digital equivalent," said Katie Haun, a general partner at the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. It's how cryptocurrency like Bitcoin is bought and sold.

The token refers to a unit of currency on the blockchain.
