NFT royalty percentages typically range from 5% to 10%, but vary by platform. ERC-2981 standardizes how royalties are encoded, but enforcement is voluntary. Creators rely on royalties for ongoing income, while traders sometimes bypass them-creating tension in the ecosystem.
NFT Royalties: What They Are, Why They Matter, and How They’re Changing Ownership
When you buy an NFT royalty, a percentage of future sales automatically paid to the original creator. Also known as secondary sale commissions, it’s the digital version of an artist getting a cut every time their painting changes hands. Unlike traditional art, where the original creator disappears after the first sale, NFT royalties keep them in the loop—literally. This isn’t charity. It’s economics built into the code. And it’s one of the biggest shifts in how creators make money online.
But here’s the catch: NFT marketplace fees, the costs buyers and sellers pay to trade digital assets. Also known as platform commissions, it’s transaction costs, and it’s not always fair. OpenSea used to enforce royalties at 10%. Now, some buyers refuse to pay them. Why? Because they can. Marketplaces like Blur and Magic Eden dropped mandatory royalties to attract traders. That means a creator who made a $10,000 NFT might see zero future income if it flips on a royalty-free platform. The system was designed to protect creators. Now, it’s being bypassed.
And it’s not just about money. blockchain ownership, the idea that digital assets can have verifiable, permanent provenance. Also known as on-chain authenticity, it’s what makes NFTs different from screenshots. Royalties tie ownership to value. If you know a piece will keep paying its maker, you’re more likely to trust its long-term worth. Without royalties, NFTs start feeling like digital collectibles with no soul—just speculation wrapped in code.
That’s why the posts below cover real cases: how royalties broke in some marketplaces, how creators fought back, and what happens when buyers ignore them. You’ll see how one platform’s decision to drop fees crushed a game’s economy. You’ll find out why some NFT drops now include royalty terms in the smart contract—and why others don’t. You’ll learn what you’re really paying for when you buy an NFT, and whether the creator still gets a slice.
This isn’t about hype. It’s about who gets paid when the dust settles. And if you’re buying, selling, or making NFTs, you need to know where the money flows—and who’s holding the pen.