Digital artwork from De Tijd sold for 269 euros
The safe of the digital illustration by De Tijd graphic artist Filip Ysenbaert raised 269.39 euros. The money will go entirely to a good cause.
The artwork, which only exists digitally, was auctioned in the form of an NFT, a non-fungible token. An NFT is a type of digital certificate that guarantees authenticity and determines who owns an online item. NFT uses blockchain technology, which is also used in bitcoin trading.
Non-fungible means non-exchangeable, just like a 10 euro note is for another note of the same value. Digital files can by definition be endlessly copied and downloaded, but with an NFT one person buys themselves the right to say: this is mine. Thanks to NFTs, digital creations become tradable, while still being linked to their maker.
From niche to mainstream
Trading NFTs on a blockchain is done through specialized marketplaces, usually with crypto coins. De Tijd auctioned the NFT with the Antwerp company Arkane Network, which operates a marketplace that exceptionally does not require cryptocurrency.