→ CryptoKitties
NFT Origins . Blockchain
#Art Direction . CryptoArt . 2017
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In 2017 I co-created CryptoKitties. A project that pioneered NFTs. Being one of the major contributors shaping it and impacting the future of Digital Art.
CryptoKitties Trailer ↓
The Game
In CryptoKitties, players collect and breed oh-so-adorable creatures that are called CryptoKitties. Each kitty has a unique genome that defines its appearance and traits. Players can breed their kitties to create new furry friends and unlock rare cats and cattributes.
Each kitty is a unique NFT (Non-Fungible Token) in the Ethereum blockchain.
Within the first week after release, there were about 60K registered players, with ~100K newborn kitties and over $10M USD in transactions had been processed. Today there are
over 2 Million Kitties and + $40M in Sales.
The game also had a major impact on driving the accessibility and adoption of blockchain to a wider audience. Its concept and visual appeal made it one of the main points of access for newcomers to this technology. With 25% of the players being first-time blockchain users.
The Impact
The creation of CryptoKitties sparked many questions on how provenance, digital scarcity and the immutable nature of blockchains could potentially influence deep changes in our relationship with digital assets.
It also gave clues about where the relationship between blockchain and art could potentially head towards, especially regarding digital art.
When I first realized the new possibilities with this technology I instantly started to advocate for a future where digital artists would benefit from it. Where the value created by all the incredible artists working in commercial projects such as advertising, games, film and others could be better distributed.
A future where blockchain would ignite and fuels the paradigm shift in our society where we all appreciate more the artistic value and cultural importance of the countless number of pieces developed using this amazing tool.
I grew up, like many others, with this sense that anything created with a computer would have a lower value. But at the same time, I grew up seeing the most impressive art pieces, the most influential creations and the most revolutionary aesthetics being produced entirely or mainly through computers.
We have long appreciated the progress related to computing in most areas of human life. It's finally time to stop worshipping solely traditional methods of visual creation and embrace it in a new way.
It's been an immense joy to see the recent impact of NTFs in the digital art realm. Especially knowing that my work has helped and directly contributed for it to happen. I can't wait to see how NFTs will continue to change our relationship with other digital assets and shake other areas of the creative industry for good.
If you are interested in hearing more about my vision and thoughts regarding NFTs:
