NFTs experienced a meteoric rise this year but continue to divide opinion. As part of our 2021 review, Dezeen speaks to both sides of the debate to explore what the future might look like for NFTs in 2022.
Digital fashion designer Amber Slooten believes non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are allowing artists to "tak[e] back ownership over their work", with the potential to create "a new society" through the digital asset certification system.
But cryptocurrency journalist David Gerard told Dezeen the industry is already overrun with nefarious activity and will soon be "absolutely destroyed by the authorities".
NFT sales flourished in 2021 with many traditional design fairs, including Milan design week, postponed or completely cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions. NFTs entered the mainstream in the latter half of the year
The beginning of the year saw Argentinian 3D artist Andrés Reisinger sell a virtual piece of furniture for almost $70,000 in an NFT online auction and a collage by American artist Beeple break records when it sold for a staggering $69 million (£50 million).
By April, 3D artist Alexis Christodoulou announced that NFTs were entering a new frontier.
"We're right at the beginning of the frontier," he told Dezeen. "This is an opportunity to create something beautiful because you're in charge again."
Top: The Fabricant's digital clothing collection. Above: the next Adidas collection will include digital and physica...