When you buy an NFT royalty, a percentage of future sales automatically paid to the original creator. Also known as secondary sale fees, it’s the only way many artists make money after the first buyer. Unlike traditional art, where the artist vanishes after the sale, NFT royalties keep them in the loop—every time the piece changes hands, they get a cut. This isn’t just nice; it’s essential. Without royalties, most NFT creators would never recoup the time, tools, or energy they poured into their work.
But here’s the catch: blockchain royalties, the automated payments enforced by smart contracts on platforms like Ethereum and Solana aren’t always respected. Some marketplaces, especially newer or unregulated ones, ignore royalty rules entirely. That means even if you designed a viral NFT collection, you might get nothing when it flips on a platform that doesn’t enforce payment. The NFT creators, artists, musicians, and developers who mint digital assets on blockchain networks are caught in the middle—fighting for fair pay while buyers chase discounts. And with platforms like OpenSea shifting policies and Solana-based marketplaces operating with fewer rules, the future of royalties is uncertain.
It’s not just about money. Royalties are about control. They let creators decide if their work should be resold, how often, and at what cost. Some collectors argue royalties limit freedom; others say they protect value. The truth? Without them, NFTs become disposable—just digital collectibles with no long-term incentive for the people who made them. That’s why the most successful projects today don’t just sell art—they build ecosystems where royalties are baked into the culture, not just the code.
What you’ll find below are real stories of NFT creators who got paid—or didn’t. You’ll see which platforms still honor royalties, which ones ignore them, and how scams pretend to offer royalty rewards while stealing your crypto. This isn’t theory. It’s what’s happening right now.
NFT royalties let creators earn from secondary sales, but not all marketplaces pay them. Learn how ERC-2981 works, why some platforms ignore royalties, and what creators and buyers should do in 2025.
