WHAT IT IS?
The Insane Collaboration: Gen Z and Gen Y in NFTs and Digital Art
One of the most exciting collaborations between Gen Z and Gen Y is happening in the world of NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) and digital art. NFTs are unique digital items—like art, music, or even virtual real estate—that people can buy, sell, and trade using cryptocurrency (a type of digital money like Bitcoin). Millennials (Gen Y) were the first to get really into cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. They helped build the early technology behind NFTs by creating and promoting the use of blockchain, a special digital system that tracks and verifies ownership of these digital items.Some Millennials also started experimenting with selling digital art and collectibles online. For example, an artist known as Beeple sold a digital artwork NFT for a jaw-dropping $69 million in 2021. This showed that NFTs were becoming a big deal, not just in tech, but also in the art world.
WHY IT´S COOL?
- Breaking Boundaries in Art: Traditionally, art has been limited to physical galleries, museums, and exclusive spaces. Now, thanks to NFTs, anyone with an internet connection can create, buy, or sell art. This makes art more accessible and democratic—allowing a global audience to participate in the creative economy.
- Empowering Creators: Both Gen Z and Millennials (Gen Y) can directly sell their digital work to fans without needing middlemen like galleries, record labels, or auction houses. Artists retain more control over their work and profits. For instance, artists can even earn royalties every time their NFT is resold in the future, something impossible with physical art.
- Unique and Collectible: NFTs have a unique code on the blockchain, proving who owns the original digital item. Whether it’s digital art, music, or even a tweet, people love the idea of owning a one-of-a-kind item, just like owning a famous painting or collectible. This rarity makes NFTs valuable and desirable to collectors.
WHY IT HAS FUTURE GROWTH POTENTIAL?
Expanding Digital Economy: The NFT space is still young and evolving rapidly. As more people adopt blockchain technology and get comfortable with digital assets, the NFT market could grow exponentially. The total NFT market was valued in the billions by 2021 and shows no signs of slowing down.
Mainstream Adoption: Major brands, celebrities, and sports leagues are getting involved in NFTs. For example, Nike has launched digital sneakers as NFTs, and the NBA created NBA Top Shot, a platform where fans can buy and sell highlights as digital collectibles. As more industries get involved, the growth potential becomes enormous.
Metaverse Integration: As the metaverse (a network of virtual worlds where people can interact) becomes a reality, NFTs will play a key role. The metaverse is like a virtual universe, and NFTs can be the currency of this digital realm. People will own virtual land, art, clothing, and more, using NFTs to trade and showcase their assets. The collaboration between Gen Z (who love gaming and virtual worlds) and Gen Y (who helped develop the tech) will drive this future growth.
In short, NFTs and the collaboration between these two generations are cool because they’re redefining art, ownership, and creativity, and the potential for growth is enormous. We’re on the cusp of a digital revolution that could change the way we live, work, and create!
Baqer Mohammed Y Alsalman
Science of the Time