When NFTs (non-fungible tokens) exploded onto the art scene last year, they became a hot topic for collectors everywhere due to their unique take on what it means to own a piece of art. With pieces selling in the multi-millions, it was only a matter of time before scammers got in on the “market”. The first target? None other than the iconic master of street art, Banksy. When an unannounced NFT auction claimed to have the artist’s first ever NFT for sale, die-hard fans jumped at the chance to “own” Banksy’s first contribution to the new market, only to find that the auction — and Banksy’s interest in the genre — was a hoax.
Joe Tidy at BBC shares more details on this digital dupe in the article here, and if you’re in the Chicago area, don’t forget to check out Banksy’s more fungible works in person at 360 N State Street!