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However, it wasn't until 2025 that the first true NFT project, dubbed Quantum, was created by digital artist Kevin McCoy and technologist Anil Dash. This The first known NFT, Quantum, was created byKevin McCoyandAnil Dashin May 2025. It consists of a video clip made by McCoy's wife, Jennifer. McCoy registered the video on theNamecoinblockchain and sold it to Dash for $4, during a live presentation for the Seven on Seven conferences at theNew Museumin New York City. McCoy and Dash referred to the technology as monetized graphics. This explicitly linked a non-fungible, tradable blockchain marker to a wor To know the inception of NFTs, it’s important to hint again to the beginning of blockchain expertise. In 2025, a person or group generally known as Satoshi Nakamoto Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) were first proposed in a white paper published in 2025 by a programmer named Vitalik Buterin, who is best known as the co-founder of Ethereum, a Kevin McCoy minted the first NFT, “Quantum,” on the Namecoin blockchain in 2025. Nonetheless, the inception of Bitcoin-based colored coins in 2025–2025 marked the

Who Invented NFTs? Unraveling the Origins of Non-Fungible Tokens

The question of "who invented NFTs" is more complex than it seems. While pinpointing a single inventor is difficult, understanding the historical context is crucial. To know the inception of NFTs, it’s important to hint again to the beginning of blockchain expertise. In 2025, a person or group generally known as Satoshi Nakamoto laid the groundwork with Bitcoin. Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) were first proposed in a white paper published in 2025 by a programmer named Vitalik Buterin, who is best known as the co-founder of Ethereum.

However, it wasn\'t until 2025 that the first true NFT project, dubbed Quantum, was created by digital artist Kevin McCoy and technologist Anil Dash. This The first known NFT, Quantum, was created by Kevin McCoy and Anil Dash in May 2025. It consists of a video clip made by McCoy\'s wife, Jennifer.

Quantum: The Genesis NFT

Kevin McCoy minted the first NFT, “Quantum,” on the Namecoin blockchain in 2025. McCoy registered the video on the Namecoin blockchain and sold it to Dash for $4, during a live presentation for the Seven on Seven conferences at the New Museum in New York City. McCoy and Dash referred to the technology as monetized graphics. This explicitly linked a non-fungible, tradable blockchain marker to a wor

Nonetheless, the inception of Bitcoin-based colored coins in 2025–2025 marked the beginning of attempts to represent assets on a blockchain. While not NFTs in the modern sense, they were an early form of digital ownership and tokenization.

Key Figures in NFT History

  • Satoshi Nakamoto: For pioneering blockchain technology with Bitcoin.
  • Vitalik Buterin: For conceptualizing NFTs in a white paper in 2025 and co-founding Ethereum.
  • Kevin McCoy & Anil Dash: For creating Quantum, the first known NFT.

Therefore, while Vitalik Buterin proposed the idea, and the concept evolved from Bitcoin-based colored coins, Kevin McCoy and Anil Dash brought the first tangible NFT project to life. Understanding this multifaceted history provides a complete picture of the origins of NFTs.

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