NFT Auction Sales Integrate Printable 3-D Designs and More

Continuing on the NFT sales run, auction houses recently have announced the sale of NFTs that come with rights to 3-D print designs, use the artwork as a profile pic, and grant access to an online community of collectors.  We discuss these sales below (for more background on NFTs generally, read here).

Christie’s recently announced a sale of “PFP NFTs” including CryptoPunks and Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs.  A PFP NFT is a profile pic NFT, which a buyer can use as her profile picture or avatar on social media platforms like Twitter.  PFP NFTs typically are released in sets of thematically-linked images that can be bought and sold individually.  Some PFP NFTs allow buyers access to a private community of buyers via Discord and Telegram.  These sorts of NFTs are also known as “community NFTs.”

Christie’s also announced the first-ever “design NFT” sale by a major auction house, Misha Kahn: Furniture Unhinged. Each NFT offered in the sale comprises a unique printable 3D model rendered as a FBX file together with a corresponding MP4 single-channel ‘trophy” video of the object spinning on a pedestal.  For this sale, the purchaser of a lot can 3D-print as many examples of their FBX file as they want, and/or the owner may commission the artist to make one unique, signed physical example for a negotiable fee. 

Take-Away Point

Previously, auction houses typically only offered physical objects for sale.  Now, auction houses and others are selling interesting combinations of rights in digital assets and other physical and digital experiences through NFTs.  We will continue to watch this space as interesting offerings coupling digital assets and other digital and physical experiences emerge.