The world of NFTs has exploded in popularity, capturing headlines with jaw-dropping sales: Jack Dorsey’s first-ever tweet sold for nearly $3 million, and digital artist Beeple auctioned a piece for $69 million. These stories spark curiosity — and skepticism. What exactly are people buying? Can anyone turn their digital creation into a valuable NFT?
Intrigued, I decided to find out for myself by minting my own NFT: a simple doodle known as the "3-Second Pig" — a sketch I’ve drawn since middle school to test pens, iPads, and even patience. With minimal artistic ambition but maximum curiosity, I embarked on a journey to create and sell my first NFT.
What I discovered wasn’t just how easy it is to mint digital art — but how complex, costly, and ethically murky the NFT ecosystem truly is.
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From Sketch to Blockchain: Creating My First NFT
To enter the NFT world, I chose OpenSea, the largest and most popular marketplace. Unlike traditional platforms, OpenSea doesn’t use email or passwords. Instead, it requires connecting a cryptocurrency wallet — I used MetaMask, a common Ethereum-compatible wallet.
After restoring my old wallet (thankfully I hadn’t lost my seed phrase), I connected it to OpenSea and clicked “Create.” Uploading my 3-Second Pig image was simple. I added a title, description, and grouped it into a collection — a way to organize multiple works under one brand.
Technically, this process is called minting: recording a digital file onto the blockchain as a unique token. The result? A permanent, verifiable certificate of ownership stored on Ethereum.
Once minted, my NFT existed — but not yet for sale. To list it, I had to take one more step: pay a gas fee.
The Hidden Cost of Entry: Gas Fees and Upfront Investment
Here’s where reality hits. While minting is free on OpenSea, listing your NFT for sale requires a one-time blockchain transaction — and that costs money.
Because Ethereum processes thousands of transactions daily, users must pay “gas fees” to miners who validate them. These fees fluctuate based on network congestion. On weekdays, they can soar above $150; I chose a quiet weekend when the fee was “only” **0.043 ETH (~$76)**.
For someone new to crypto, this is a steep entry barrier. You’re essentially paying $76 just for the chance to sell something that might never find a buyer.
And yes — I paid it.
After confirming the transaction in MetaMask and signing one final approval, my 3-Second Pig was officially listed. No more fees are needed for future listings, thanks to OpenSea’s lazy minting model. But if it sells? OpenSea takes 2.5% of the final price.
So far, though? Zero bids. Not even from my mom.
What Are You Actually Buying When You Buy an NFT?
This leads to a deeper question: what does owning an NFT actually mean?
Most people assume buying an NFT gives them exclusive rights to the artwork. It doesn’t.
In most cases — including mine — the buyer only owns the token, not the copyright or usage rights. Anyone can still screenshot, share, or remix the image. The NFT owner simply holds verified proof of ownership — a digital trophy.
Think of it like owning the original Mona Lisa painting while everyone else has prints. They can hang copies on their wall; you own the authenticated masterpiece.
But here’s the twist: even that “authenticity” is under threat.
The Dark Side of NFTs: Copyright Chaos and Digital Piracy
Despite promises of decentralization and creator empowerment, the NFT space is rife with theft and exploitation.
Artists regularly report having their work stolen and sold as NFTs without permission. Russian artist Greta found her tweets turned into NFTs by a user named @iamzachcain using a bot called Tokenized Tweets. Similarly, crypto thought leader Meltem Demirors has had her tweets tokenized by strangers — with no benefit to her.
Even more troubling? Entire projects are being copied across blockchains. EulerBeats became MusicalBeats on Binance Smart Chain; CryptoPunks were cloned as Binance Punks. The names, visuals, and concepts are identical — just moved to a cheaper chain.
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This raises serious legal and ethical questions:
- Who owns the rights to content posted online?
- Can platforms enforce usage rules in a decentralized system?
- If someone violates your NFT’s terms, can you sue them — and does that undermine blockchain’s promise of autonomy?
NFTs promised to solve digital ownership — but instead, they’ve exposed how fragile and poorly defined online rights really are.
So… Is the NFT Market Worth It?
For famous artists like Beeple or institutions like the NBA, NFTs offer new revenue streams and fan engagement tools. The NBA’s Top Shot clips come with clear usage restrictions — no commercial use, no modifications — enforced through centralized control.
But for independent creators? The system feels broken.
You pay upfront costs in volatile cryptocurrency. Your work can be stolen and resold instantly. And unless you’re already famous, finding buyers is nearly impossible.
Worse, there’s no standardization around what rights are transferred during an NFT sale. Most creators don’t specify terms — leaving buyers confused and sellers vulnerable.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can I make money selling NFTs as a beginner?
A: Possible — but unlikely. Success usually depends on existing fame, strong marketing, or luck. Most NFTs never sell.
Q: Do I need to pay money to create an NFT?
A: Not always. Some platforms offer “lazy minting,” where you only pay gas fees when the item sells. Otherwise, initial listing costs apply.
Q: Does buying an NFT give me copyright?
A: Generally, no. Unless explicitly stated, you only own the token — not reproduction or commercial rights.
Q: Can someone steal my art and sell it as an NFT?
A: Yes — and it happens frequently. Always monitor platforms and report unauthorized listings.
Q: Are NFTs environmentally harmful?
A: Ethereum used to consume massive energy due to proof-of-work mining. Since 2022, it switched to proof-of-stake, reducing energy use by ~99.95%.
Q: Which blockchain is best for NFTs?
A: Ethereum remains the most trusted, though alternatives like Solana and Polygon offer lower fees.
Final Thoughts: A Flawed System with Potential
My experiment didn’t make me rich — but it did reveal the truth behind the NFT hype.
Yes, the technology enables new forms of digital ownership. Yes, some creators benefit enormously. But for everyday artists, the barriers are high, the risks real, and the rewards uncertain.
Until there’s better protection for creators, clearer rights management, and fairer access, the NFT market will remain a wild west — full of opportunity for some, but perilous for many.
And as for my 3-Second Pig?
It’s still waiting for its first bid.