W hen NFTs were introduced, they revolutionized the way we comprehend and interact with digital ownership – their advent also introduced a whole lexicon of new words and terminology that can oftentimes be intimidating to those new to the space. This glossary will be your guide, unraveling the language that defines the ever-expanding ecosystem of 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:Digital Art.
Bitcoin
Created in 2009 by an anonymous individual or group with the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin is the pioneering and most well-known cryptocurrency and 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:blockchain. Functioning on💧 a decentralized peer-to-peer network, Bitcoin enables secure, transparent and censorship-re𓄧sistant transactions.
Blockchain
A decentralized and distributed ledger that records transactions across a network of computers. Blockchains provide transparency and security for all transactions. The most widely used blockchain for 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:digital art is Ethereum, although they are often minted on other blockchains with growing digital-art ecosystems like Bitcoin, Solana, Cardano and Tezos.
Blue Chip
A phrase adopted from the art world, “blue chip” refers to 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:digital artworks of high significance, whether fi🔴nancial or hist𒐪orical.

DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization)
A community structure that is organized and run whole (or in part) by a decentralized computer program. This allows for DAOs to operate transparently: decisions are often made through consensus, and are not influenced by a central leading authority. Finances and voting are most often handled through a 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:blockchain. Many NFT and digital-art projects and commu♈nities involve governance through DAO structures.
Digital Art
Any artwork that is produced using digital technologies and tools, encompassing a variety of mediums – such as 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:generative, AI, animation, photography and more. The advent of NFTs revolutionized the way digital art could be bought and sold, as they provided a secure and transparent way to establish ownership🌺 and authenticity.

Dutch Auction
A unique, dynamic style of auction where a lot is offered at an established maximum price, which is incrementally lowered until it reaches a minimum resting price or a bid is made. It is increasingly the more common format for 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:digital art auctions, as opposed to the 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:English auction. At Sotheby’s, digital♐ art is sold under a mixture of Dutch and English auction f🦄ormats.
Editions
NFT editions are not dissimilar to editions in traditional art. The edition size refers to the number of identical copies or versions of a 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:digital artwork or asset released by an artist. While NFT editions consist of the same conten♔t and attributes, they may vary in their traits or appearance, which can affect the rarity of a specific edition number.
English Auction
A traditional style of auction where a lot’s price increases with each new bid, until being sold to the last bidder remaining. English auctions are the most common format of art auction – except for the sale of 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:digital art, which increasingly uses the 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:Dutch auction forꦕmat. At Sotheby’s, digital art is sold under a mixture of Dutch and English auc𒀰tion formats.

ERC-721
The standard interface for 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:nonfungible tokens (NFTs) on the Ethereum 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:blockchain. ERC-721s enable the creation and management of unique digital assets. These tokens are distinguishable from one another and can represent ꦗownership of assets like art, collectibles or virtual real estate.
Ethereum
A 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:blockchain created by Vitalik Buterin in 2015. Ethereum introduced a programmable blockchain, which allowed programmers to build and deploy applications with the use of 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:smart contracts. Ethereum’s native cryptocurrency is Ether 🌃(ETH).
Gas / Gas Fees
Essentially a utility charge for processing transactions on the 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:blockchain. All transactions on the blockchain require computing power; the cost of these processes are covered by “gas fees.” NFT transactions, especially on platforms like Ethereum, often incur such fees. These fees vary based on network demand and the complexity of th🔴e transaction.
On occasion, “gas wars” can occur, where intense competition arises for users to have their transactions processed quickly. This involves offering higher gas fees to miners, especially during times of network congestion or h🧸igh demand.
Generative Art
Refers to both digital and physical art that is created using algorithms or computational processes, since at least the 1950s. The artist establishes a set of rules or parameters for creation, and the artwork ඣis generated autonomously within them, resulting in unique and often unpredictable pieces.

Metadata
Metadata refers to additional information or data attached to a digital asset (such as an artwork). Metadata can include details about the artwork, its creator, creation date and any other relevant informat🐭ion. It plays a crucial role in providing context and provenance to the digital asset.
Metaverse
A collective, virtual, shared space that combines aspects of augmented and virtual reality on the internet. It encompasses digital environments, experiences and assets, including NFTs / 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:digital art, where ♋users can interact and engage with a persistent and immersive online world.
Minting
The process of creating and issuing a new NFT. Minting involves the generation of a unique token using a 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:smart contract and linking it to a specific digital asset (for example, a URL to a JPG file), establishing its existence on the 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:blockchain.
NFT
An abbreviation for “Non-Fungible Token.” NFTs are unique cryptographic devices that represent the ownership or proof of authenticity of a specific digital asset. An NFT’s use of 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:blockchain technology allows the tokens to verify ownership and ensure scarcity. While “NFT” is often used to refer directly to a work of 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:digital art, 🐠it is technically the token that certifies the provenance of an asset – and in fact, NFTs are often used to authentic𝓀ate physical assets as well.
One-of-One
In the context of 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:digital art, a one-of-one is an asset or artwork that is entirely unique and exists as a singular item. Unlike editions, a one-of-one is the only instance of that specific content on the 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:blockchain. It is r🌳oughly equivalent to a monoprint or single-edition print or ph💖otograph.

Ordinals
A newer type of NFT / 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:digital art protocol that allows for Bitcoin nodes to be inscribed with data. Within the inscriptions, users can include 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:smart contracts, allowing for NFTs / digital artworks to be minted. Th💯ese inscribed nodes, called ordinals, provide the means to represent ownership and uniqueness for a digital as♉set. Each ordinal is unique.
Royalties
Included as a stipulation coded into the 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:smart contract of an NFT, royalties are the percentage of subsequent sales of an NFT / 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:digital artwork that are paid to the original creator(s).
Secondary Market
The marketplaces where 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:digital artworks are bought and sold after they are minted (or where physical artworks are exchanged after an initial sale via an artist or gallery). Secondary markets provide liquidity to the holders and allow digital art collectors to trade assets directly. Collectors can sell and buy artworks by connecting their wallet to the marketplace.
Some marketplaces are noncurated, allowing for anyone to buy, bid and mint NFTs, while others represen🏅t a curated selection. is a curated 🔯secondary marketplace.
Smart Contract
NFTs require 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:blockchains that use smart contracts, which are self-executing contracts with pred🍎efined terms written in code. NFTs use smart contracts to automate the creation, transfer and execution of ownership for digital assets.
Token
A digital representation of ownership or access rights on a 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:blockchain. In the context of NFTs, each unique item is represented bꦯy a specific token; this allows for ensuring individuality and provenance.
Wallet
A digital tool that allows individuals to store, manage and interact with their digital assets, including cryptocurrencies and NFTs. A collector’s wallet is crucial to their ability to o𓄧wn and sell NFTs, because it provides a secure means of storing private keys and the necessary funds for♔ purchases and fees.
Web3
Considered by many to be the next evolution of the internet following Web 2.0. Web3 is characterized by decentralized protocols and technologies (including 168开奖官方开奖网站查询:blockchain and cryptocurrencies). For many, the aim of Web3 is to create a more user-centric, open and transparent internet where users have greater control over their data, assets and interactions.