在线英语听力室

VOA慢速英语2021--What Is an NFT?

时间:2021-04-01 01:32:02

搜索关注在线英语听力室公众号:tingroom,领取免费英语资料大礼包。

(单词翻译)

What Is an NFT?

You may have recently heard of NFT technology, which permits digital works of art to be collected and sold for millions of dollars.

But why would people pay so much money for something they cannot even touch? And what is driving the current rise in NFTs? Here are some basics to help you understand the technology:

What is an NFT?

NFT stands for non-fungible token1. It is something that only exists in the digital world. It is based on a technology called blockchain, which is also used with digital currency systems known as cryptocurrency.

What is blockchain?

Blockchain is an online list containing information that can be used and shared within a large network open to the public. The technology permits pieces of information to be checked and stored safely.

An NFT can be attached to a piece of digital artwork or other things existing in digital form. The NFT can be used to provide proof that the pieces are authentic2. This is what permits digital artwork to be bought and sold. While anyone can view the work, the buyer has official ownership rights over the objects.

What kinds of things are NFTs?

NFTs can exist in the form of images, video, music and text. They are usually bought with electronic money. The form of digital currency mainly used with NFTs is called ether. NFTs have been used to sell sports videos, pieces of land in worlds that only exist on computers and even the first-ever tweet by Twitter's founder3. A robot created a piece of art that was recently sold as an NFT.

Why do people like NFTs?

Artists like the idea of NFTs because the technology gives them a way to create and claim complete ownership over their digital works. This can make the artwork more rare, meaning the artists can sell their digital pieces for higher prices.

Who is Beeple?

One NFT piece was recently sold by an American digital artist known as Beeple. The artist, whose real name is Mike Winklemann, lives in South Carolina. His creation4 "Everydays – The First 5000 Days" -- a collection of 5,000 images -- sold in March for nearly $70 million.

Because of the blockchain technology, Beeple will continue to earn money each time his art changes hands. He gets 10 percent of the price after every sale.

Another American artist, Anne Spalter, sells some work as NFTs. At first, she did not think NFTs were a good idea, but then changed her mind. She says the technology has made people who might never go to an art gallery in person interested in art. However, she says she remains5 "mystified" by how high the prices went for some pieces.

What do critics say about NFTs?

Critics note that traditional art, like a painting, can be placed on a wall and looked at. But digital art is different. They point out that even though an artist can "own" a digital piece, others can easily save a copy of the same work as a file on their computer.

Supporters of NFT technology note that such ownership means the digital artwork truly belongs to the artist, who can then sell it. Other people who have the same file on their computer or phone only own a copy.

What does Beeple think?

When asked about his artwork selling for such a high price, Beeple called it "crazy." Since the technology is new, not many people know what the future holds for NFT art. Some may grow in value while others may become worthless, Beeple said. He added that NFTs are giving people another way to invest outside of the stock market.

What are some prices for NFTs?

In February, a 10-second video showing an image of former U.S. President Donald Trump6 sold on an NFT marketplace for over $6 million. The first-ever published tweet from Twitter founder Jack7 Dorsey recently sold for nearly $3 million. He donated the money to an organization that supports families in Africa.

But some NFTs sell for much less. Mark Cuban, a businessman and owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks8, sold a tweet for about $1000 in February. In January, a video of basketball star LeBron James sold for $100,000. That led American sports organizations to look at NFTs as a possible new way to earn money from their videos.

Are NFTs good investments?

It is too early to say if NFTs are good investments. But so far, many people have items that are worth more than what they paid for them. This is no guarantee, however, that such buyers will be able to sell their digital objects for a profit.

Max Dilendorf is a digital money lawyer in New York City. He says many people currently9 involved in NFT markets "are not really thinking it through carefully." At the same time, Dilendorf said he does expect NFTs to continue to grow.

The New York Times made an NFT. What happened?

The New York Times experimented with an NFT for a technology story that appeared in the newspaper. The story was called "Buy This Column on the Blockchain!"

The writer, Kevin Roose, listed his column for sale in an NFT market called Foundation. It cost about $100 to list. The money raised from the article would go to a charity. In the story, Roose discussed how he put his column up for sale and also explained things the successful buyer would get. For example, the buyer was to be written about in a future story and would receive a message from a popular podcaster.

The Times column sold for 350 ether. On March 25, that equaled about $560,000. So far, the winning buyer has not publicly come forward.

What's next for digital art?

Only two other living artists – Jeff Koons and David Hockney – have had their work sell for a price close to what Beeple's piece brought. And their art is physical, not digital. Some experts think artists whose work you can touch will be able to soon use blockchain technology to sell digital versions of their famous art.

So what can we expect next? Among other things, a New York-based watch maker10, Jacob & Co., plans to auction11 off a digital version of one of the company's real watches that sells for over $200,000. It hopes the NFT will bring in at least that much in the April auction.

Words in This Story

digital –adj. using or characterized12 by computer technology

authentic –adj. real or true

mystify –v. to confuse (someone) completely

crazy –adj. very strange or unusual

column –n. an article in a newspaper or magazine that appears regularly and that is written by a particular writer or deals with a particular subject

charity –n. an official organization that gives money, food or help to people who needit

auction –n. a public sale at which things are sold to the people who offer to pay the most


分享到:


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 token fJvzo     
n.筹码,信物,纪念品,礼券;adj.象征性的
参考例句:
  • This little gift is a token of our regard.这点礼物是我们大家的一点心意。
  • Black is a token of mourning.黑色是沮丧的象征。
2 authentic ZuZzs     
a.真的,真正的;可靠的,可信的,有根据的
参考例句:
  • This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
  • Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。
3 Founder wigxF     
n.创始者,缔造者
参考例句:
  • He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
  • According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说,罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。
4 creation CzExH     
n.创造,创造的作品,产物,宇宙,天地万物
参考例句:
  • Language is the most important mental creation of man.语言是人类头脑最重要的产物。
  • The creation of new playgrounds will benefit the local children.新游戏场的建立将有益于当地的儿童。
5 remains 1kMzTy     
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹
参考例句:
  • He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
  • The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
6 trump LU1zK     
n.王牌,法宝;v.打出王牌,吹喇叭
参考例句:
  • He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
  • The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手,作为他的王牌。
7 jack 53Hxp     
n.插座,千斤顶,男人;v.抬起,提醒,扛举;n.(Jake)杰克
参考例句:
  • I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
  • He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。
8 mavericks 3ac87f645e7e17c0410306b33eb282f6     
未烙印的牲畜( maverick的名词复数 ); 标新立异的人,不合常规的人
参考例句:
  • And what about the Dallas Mavericks and Dirk Nowitzki? 那达拉斯小牛队和诺维斯基呢?
  • And we see it with bringing Jason Kidd to the Dallas Mavericks. 而且我们看到它同实现基德向达拉斯小牛队。
9 currently SvMzI2     
adv.通常地,普遍地,当前
参考例句:
  • Currently it is not possible to reconcile this conflicting evidence.当前还未有可能去解释这一矛盾的例证。
  • Our contracts are currently under review.我们的合同正在复查。
10 maker DALxN     
n.制造者,制造商
参考例句:
  • He is a trouble maker,You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼,你不要跟他在一起。
  • A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。
11 auction 3uVzy     
n.拍卖;拍卖会;vt.拍卖
参考例句:
  • They've put the contents of their house up for auction.他们把房子里的东西全都拿去拍卖了。
  • They bought a new minibus with the proceeds from the auction.他们用拍卖得来的钱买了一辆新面包车。
12 characterized b5a3a6f8ba328c165c65eecbe476fb72     
adj.[医]具有特征的v.是…的特征( characterize的过去式和过去分词 );以…为特征;描述(人或物)的特性;使…具有特点(或最引人注目的特征)
参考例句:
  • Mozart's music is characterized by its naivety and clarity. 莫扎特的音乐特色是纯朴兴清澈。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The world situation is characterized by turbulence and intranquility. 世界局势动荡不安。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

本文本内容来源于互联网抓取和网友提交,仅供参考,部分栏目没有内容,如果您有更合适的内容,欢迎 点击提交 分享给大家。