New territories require brave pioneers. They need individuals willing to defy critics, brace themselves, and explore uncharted territories even if there might be risks involved. The journey can be tough, expensive, and full of uncertainty, but the potential rewards for those who navigate it wisely can be immense.
The NFT (non-fungible token) world, which is currently witnessing the development of groundbreaking projects, owes a debt of gratitude to a group of pioneering individuals who were the first to break ground in this space. Here are the trailblazers who have helped shape the NFT landscape:
1. Meni Rosenfield
In December 2012, Meni Rosenfeld, a mathematician and President of the Israeli Bitcoin Association, published an article titled “Overview of Colored Coins,” which outlined a method for separating certain Bitcoins from others. These “colored” coins, indicating their uniqueness, could be used to develop applications, transforming Bitcoin from a mere currency to a space for development.
2. Kevin McCoy
Digital artist Kevin McCoy created the first NFT art, addressing the fundamental issue that has been driving NFT development since. In 2014, McCoy and his wife Jennifer produced Quantum, a piece of code-driven digital art. McCoy wanted to sell the artwork but needed a way to prove its origins. Collaborating with tech entrepreneur Anil Dash, he registered Quantum on Namecoin, an offshoot of Bitcoin, demonstrating that digital artists could sell original works online.
3. Mike Winkelmann
Digital artist Beeple, also known as Mike Winkelmann, owes much to Kevin McCoy for pioneering the marriage of art and blockchain for establishing the provenance. Winkelmann took this concept a step further, becoming the first digital artist to sell his work through the esteemed auction house Christie’s. Not only did he demonstrate that digital art backed by NFTs could be sold like traditional art, but he also proved that collectors were willing to pay significant sums for such art. His collage of 5,000 images sold for over $69 million, making it the most expensive NFT to date.
4. Roham Gharegozlou
In 2017, Roham Gharegozlou sought to showcase the appeal of blockchain technology by creating something fun with broad appeal. He instructed the team at Axiom Zen, his company, to utilize Ethereum smart contracts to develop a game featuring cartoon cats. CryptoKitties, a game in which players buy Ether to breed and trade digital kitties, demonstrated that the blockchain could be used for gaming and entertainment, not just for financial transactions.
5. Joel Comm and Travis Wright
Joel Comm and Travis Wright, renowned for their shows The Bad Crypto Podcast and The Nifty Show, have played a significant role in educating the general public about blockchain and NFTs. They minted several successful collections on the WAX blockchain, a faster and more cost-effective alternative to Ethereum. Their Blockchain Heroes series of digital trading cards paved the way for numerous NFT creators to enter the WAX space, and their innovative “kickstarter” for a physical product launched as an NFT laid the groundwork for many of the gamified elements found in NFT creations today.
6. Matt Hall and John Watkinson
In 2017, John Watkinson and Matt Hall introduced CryptoPunks on the Ethereum blockchain. They created these simple, randomly generated images to test whether there would be interest in buying and selling such collectibles. With many CryptoPunks fetching millions of dollars on the secondary market, it became evident that even basic collectibles had a place in the NFT world.
7. Wylie Aranow, Kerem Atalay, Zeshan Ali, and Greg Solano
Wylie Aranow, Kerem Atalay, Zeshan Ali, and Greg Solano illustrated that NFT ownership can form the foundation of communities. Their Bored Ape Yacht Club, featuring images of cartoon simians representing lazy, affluent tech investors, sold for millions and inspired real-life gatherings. This demonstrated that NFTs can have ramifications beyond the digital realm.
8. Andrew Colosimo, Daniel Kraft and Bas de Gruiter
Andrew Colosimo, Daniel Kraft, and Bas de Gruiter at blockchain gaming platform Xaya laid the groundwork for the current revolution in the gaming world with NFTs. They launched Huntercoin, a game that allowed players to engage in battles in a fully decentralized autonomous game world. Even though it was initially an experimental one-year project released in February 2014, Hunterworld still runs, providing players with the opportunity to fight for resources.
9. Cyrus Adkisson
Cyrus Adkisson introduced Etheria in July 2015, shortly after the launch of Ethereum. It provided the inspiration for expansive virtual worlds like Decentraland and The Sandbox. Etheria, composed of just 33×33 hexagonal tiles on which owners could build structures using connecting bricks, demonstrated that NFTs were not only for art but also for virtual land in digital spaces.
10. National Basketball Association
