The article discusses the inaugural edition of Art Basel's Zero 10 section, which showcased digital art from various artists and galleries. The sales reported at the fair were strong, with many collectors eager to support digital art. The article notes that digital art has officially emerged as a core acquisition category in the art market, with 51% of high-net-worth collectors reporting a digital-art purchase.
The article also touches on the role of cryptocurrency in the art market, noting that some exhibitors accepted payments in crypto or backed primarily by crypto wealth. One collector paid for Beeple's artwork in cryptocurrency, and another gallery, Solos Gallery, mints artworks on Verse, a digital art marketplace designed for individuals with no prior knowledge of crypto.
The article suggests that the strong sales at Zero 10 may be tied to the growing legitimacy of digital art and the renewed volatility in cryptocurrency markets. However, it also notes that the art market still sits atop a largely untapped pool of liquidity that could be activated by accepting crypto payments more broadly.
Some quotes from exhibitors:
* "All works were priced in USD. We accept a full range of payment methods, including ETH, Bitcoin, credit cards and wire transfers." - Asprey Studio
* "We were adamant about pricing Dmitri Cherniak's works in ETH, the native currency for the Ethereum blockchain on which his works are minted." - Berman of AOTM Gallery
* "We accept both crypto and fiat. We're very geared toward new buyers." - Fakhr of Solos Gallery
* "It really is not that big of a deal and I am honestly surprised more galleries do not do this. It really isn't very complicated and can, of course, be converted to fiat immediately, so I really am honestly a bit puzzled as to why this has not been adopted more generally." - Beeple
Overall, the article suggests that the art market is evolving to include digital art and cryptocurrency payments, and that galleries are starting to recognize the potential benefits of accepting crypto payments.
The article also touches on the role of cryptocurrency in the art market, noting that some exhibitors accepted payments in crypto or backed primarily by crypto wealth. One collector paid for Beeple's artwork in cryptocurrency, and another gallery, Solos Gallery, mints artworks on Verse, a digital art marketplace designed for individuals with no prior knowledge of crypto.
The article suggests that the strong sales at Zero 10 may be tied to the growing legitimacy of digital art and the renewed volatility in cryptocurrency markets. However, it also notes that the art market still sits atop a largely untapped pool of liquidity that could be activated by accepting crypto payments more broadly.
Some quotes from exhibitors:
* "All works were priced in USD. We accept a full range of payment methods, including ETH, Bitcoin, credit cards and wire transfers." - Asprey Studio
* "We were adamant about pricing Dmitri Cherniak's works in ETH, the native currency for the Ethereum blockchain on which his works are minted." - Berman of AOTM Gallery
* "We accept both crypto and fiat. We're very geared toward new buyers." - Fakhr of Solos Gallery
* "It really is not that big of a deal and I am honestly surprised more galleries do not do this. It really isn't very complicated and can, of course, be converted to fiat immediately, so I really am honestly a bit puzzled as to why this has not been adopted more generally." - Beeple
Overall, the article suggests that the art market is evolving to include digital art and cryptocurrency payments, and that galleries are starting to recognize the potential benefits of accepting crypto payments.