NFTs are fascinating digital assets, but the ownership they convey is often misunderstood. While you buy an NFT, you’re primarily purchasing a unique token representing ownership of that specific digital item, not necessarily the underlying intellectual property rights. Think of it like buying a signed print of a famous painting – you own the print, but not the copyright to the painting itself. The NFT grants you control over that specific instance of the artwork, allowing you to buy, sell, and transfer it.
Crucially, the creator retains copyright and other intellectual property rights unless explicitly stated otherwise in a legally binding agreement. This is a common misconception among newcomers. Many assume purchasing an NFT automatically confers all rights. It rarely does. Always scrutinize the fine print! The NFT’s metadata might reference associated IP rights, but it’s not a substitute for a proper IP license.
So, while you own the NFT, the potential for future commercialization (e.g., creating derivatives) might be limited unless the NFT’s creator grants explicit permissions in writing. This significantly impacts the long-term value proposition of the NFT itself. This lack of clarity surrounding IP rights is a key risk factor in the NFT market, and a clear, legally sound agreement is paramount before any significant investment.
This distinction between owning an NFT and owning the underlying IP is vital for any serious crypto investor. Due diligence extends beyond just assessing the NFT’s artistic merit or community buzz; understanding the legally binding aspects of its IP rights is critical for mitigating potential financial losses. Always seek legal counsel when navigating complex IP agreements.
How do people benefit from NFT?
One of the most significant advantages of NFTs lies in their ability to definitively prove ownership. This is a game-changer across various sectors. Unlike traditional digital assets, which are easily copied and replicated, NFTs leverage blockchain technology to create a unique, verifiable record of ownership on a public, immutable ledger. This irrefutable proof of ownership opens doors to secure and transparent transactions, eliminating disputes and enhancing trust.
This secure ownership verification is particularly beneficial in fundraising and charitable giving. Imagine a foundation receiving a donation of a unique digital artwork as an NFT. The provenance and ownership are instantly verifiable, reducing administrative overhead and increasing transparency for donors. The NFT’s immutable nature ensures that the donation remains clearly documented and attributed to the donating party, enhancing accountability.
Moreover, NFTs are facilitating the development of novel ownership structures. Fractionalization, for instance, allows multiple parties to collectively own a single NFT, unlocking new possibilities for shared investments and collaborative projects. Imagine a group of fans collectively owning the rights to a digital collectible related to their favorite artist. This fosters a sense of community ownership and shared value.
Beyond art and collectibles, NFTs are finding applications in gaming, ticketing, and supply chain management. In gaming, NFTs can represent in-game assets with provable scarcity and ownership, creating true digital scarcity and enhancing player engagement. In ticketing, NFTs combat fraud by providing verifiable, untransferable tickets. And in supply chain management, NFTs enhance transparency and traceability, improving the efficiency and security of product tracking.
The implications of NFTs extend to intellectual property rights management, enabling artists and creators to directly monetize their work and retain control over its distribution and licensing. This empowers creators by providing a direct link between their work and its ownership, bypassing traditional intermediaries.
What is the copyright issue with NFT?
NFT copyright infringement is a significant challenge in the burgeoning NFT space. It hinges on the unauthorized minting and sale of copyrighted digital assets. Someone might steal an image, song, or video—content already protected under existing copyright law—and mint it as an NFT without permission from the original creator. This illegal act bypasses the traditional copyright licensing process and presents a serious legal issue for both the original artist and the NFT marketplace hosting the infringing asset.
The blockchain’s immutability, ironically, doesn’t protect against this. While the NFT’s provenance on the blockchain is transparent, proving ownership of the *underlying asset* requires separate legal action. The NFT itself simply proves ownership of a digital token representing a particular asset; it doesn’t inherently validate the legal right to use that asset.
The ramifications are multifaceted. Creators suffer financial losses and reputational damage. NFT marketplaces face legal liability for hosting infringing content. Buyers, unknowingly purchasing counterfeit NFTs, may find their investments worthless and face legal repercussions. Robust verification systems and improved intellectual property (IP) protection mechanisms within NFT platforms are crucial to mitigating this risk. The legal landscape is still developing, but current copyright laws generally apply, requiring proof of ownership and permission for any commercial use of copyrighted material.
Furthermore, the ease of minting NFTs coupled with the often decentralized nature of NFT marketplaces creates a significant challenge in enforcing copyright. Identifying and removing infringing NFTs requires active monitoring and often involves complex legal procedures across jurisdictions. The decentralized nature of the blockchain doesn’t negate the need for centralized legal recourse to address copyright violations.
What are NFTs and how are they bad for the environment?
NFTs, and their newer cousins like Ordinals, are essentially digital certificates of authenticity leveraging blockchain technology. This is where the environmental concerns come in. The problem isn’t the NFTs themselves, but the energy-intensive process of securing the blockchain they reside on, primarily Proof-of-Work (PoW) blockchains like Bitcoin.
The environmental impact stems from several key areas:
- Mining: PoW blockchains require vast amounts of computational power to validate transactions, often relying on energy-hungry data centers and specialized hardware (“miners”). This process consumes significant electricity, generating substantial greenhouse gas emissions.
- Transaction Fees: Each NFT transaction – minting, buying, selling – incurs fees (“gas fees”) that contribute to the overall energy consumption of the network.
- Storage: While individual NFT file sizes are relatively small, the sheer volume of NFTs and the need for decentralized storage add to the overall energy footprint.
It’s crucial to understand that not all blockchains are created equal. Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanisms are significantly more energy-efficient than PoW. Many new NFT projects are exploring PoS blockchains to mitigate environmental concerns. However, the existing infrastructure built on PoW blockchains remains a considerable environmental burden.
Furthermore, the actual carbon footprint of an NFT is complex and varies wildly. Factors like the blockchain used, the energy source powering the miners, and the frequency of transactions all influence the total emissions. While some projects are beginning to address this through carbon offsetting initiatives, it remains a largely unresolved issue.
- Consider the blockchain: Avoid NFTs on energy-intensive PoW chains whenever possible.
- Look for transparency: Projects that disclose their energy consumption and sustainability initiatives are more trustworthy.
- Support environmentally-conscious projects: Choose projects committed to reducing their environmental impact.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of NFTs?
NFTs offer a compelling solution for verifying ownership of digital and physical assets, establishing a transparent and immutable record on the blockchain. This eliminates ambiguity and significantly reduces disputes regarding authenticity and provenance. Think of it as a digital certificate of authenticity, permanently linked to the asset itself.
However, the technology isn’t without its drawbacks. The decentralized nature of NFTs, while beneficial for transparency, also creates opportunities for malicious actors. Counterfeiting remains a significant concern; fraudulent NFTs mimicking legitimate ones are relatively easy to create. This necessitates careful due diligence before investing.
Furthermore, the decentralized, pseudonymous nature of blockchain transactions presents challenges in preventing money laundering. The lack of stringent KYC (Know Your Customer) regulations in some NFT marketplaces makes it easier for illicit funds to enter the ecosystem. This risk underscores the importance of using reputable platforms and conducting thorough background checks.
Another key issue is the potential for fraudulent assets. The NFT itself might represent something that doesn’t exist, is a duplicate of something already sold, or is associated with unethical or illegal activities. This highlights the need to thoroughly research the underlying asset and the creators before investing. Simply put, an NFT’s value is only as good as the asset it represents.
Finally, the volatility of the NFT market is a significant risk. The value of NFTs can fluctuate wildly, influenced by market sentiment, hype cycles, and the overall cryptocurrency market. Investing in NFTs requires a high risk tolerance and a thorough understanding of the market dynamics.
In summary, while NFTs provide a powerful tool for ownership verification, potential investors should be aware of and mitigate the associated risks of counterfeiting, fraud, money laundering, and market volatility.
What are the potential impacts of Blockchain technology?
Blockchain technology transcends simple data management; it revolutionizes trust and transparency across entire ecosystems. Its decentralized, immutable ledger ensures data integrity, eliminating the need for intermediaries and significantly reducing the risk of fraud and manipulation. This enhanced security translates to lower operational costs, streamlined processes, and improved efficiency in areas like supply chain management, healthcare data sharing, and digital identity verification.
Increased Transparency and Traceability: Every transaction is recorded permanently and publicly verifiable (depending on the blockchain type), fostering accountability and building trust among stakeholders. This granular traceability allows for swift identification and resolution of discrepancies, minimizing disputes and enhancing operational efficiency.
Enhanced Security: Cryptographic hashing and consensus mechanisms create an extremely secure environment, making data breaches and tampering extremely difficult. This robust security is particularly valuable for sensitive data, such as medical records or financial transactions.
Cost Savings and Efficiencies: By automating processes and eliminating intermediaries, blockchain reduces administrative overhead and transaction costs. Smart contracts, self-executing agreements built on blockchain, further streamline operations by automating workflows and payments.
Beyond Efficiency: Blockchain’s impact extends beyond cost reduction and efficiency gains. It fosters innovation by enabling new business models and applications, empowering individuals with greater control over their data, and driving the development of decentralized applications (dApps) that offer enhanced user experiences and improved data privacy.
Smart Contracts and Automation: The ability to automate complex processes using smart contracts drastically reduces manual intervention, speeds up transactions, and minimizes human error. This automation is particularly beneficial in industries with complex contractual agreements.
How is NFT used in real life?
NFTs leverage blockchain’s immutable ledger to verify digital ownership, transcending mere digital art. Think fractionalized ownership of real estate, streamlining the buying process and potentially lowering barriers to entry. Imagine insurance policies represented as NFTs, simplifying claims and reducing fraud. Decentralized finance (DeFi) is already exploring NFT-collateralized loans, unlocking new lending opportunities. Beyond digital art collecting, NFTs are enabling unique and verifiable provenance for luxury goods, tickets, and even intellectual property rights. This verifiable scarcity and transparency are transforming industries beyond what most realize. The potential for programmatically enforceable contracts within NFTs (e.g., royalty payments on resales) further amplifies their utility. Early adoption is key in navigating this rapidly evolving landscape, identifying opportunities for both investment and practical application.
What is the legal definition of NFT?
NFTs, or Non-Fungible Tokens, are basically unique digital certificates of ownership. Think of them as digital deeds for anything from artwork and collectibles to in-game items and even real estate. Each NFT is distinct; its metadata – think of it as the NFT’s unique digital fingerprint – and its cryptographic identification code ensure no two are ever exactly the same. This “non-fungibility” is key; you can’t swap one NFT for another like you can with, say, Bitcoin.
What makes them valuable? Several factors contribute to an NFT’s worth:
- Rarity: Limited supply naturally drives up demand.
- Utility: Some NFTs grant access to exclusive content, communities, or experiences.
- Artist/Creator Reputation: A famous artist’s NFT will command a higher price.
- Community & Hype: Strong community engagement and media attention boost value.
Where are they stored? NFTs are stored on blockchains, most commonly Ethereum, which provides a secure and transparent record of ownership. This immutability is a huge selling point – no one can alter the ownership history.
Different Types of NFTs:
- ERC-721: The most common standard for NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain, focusing on unique, non-fungible tokens.
- ERC-1155: A more versatile standard allowing for both fungible and non-fungible tokens within a single contract, offering more flexibility.
Investing in NFTs involves significant risk. Prices are highly volatile, and the market can be susceptible to speculation and scams. Always do your own thorough research before investing.
Why are people against NFT?
The persistent criticism of NFTs often centers on their perceived lack of inherent value. Many view them as overpriced digital assets with easily replicable content; a screenshot negates the supposed uniqueness. This perception is fueled by several factors. Firstly, the underlying blockchain technology, while secure, doesn’t inherently guarantee value. The value proposition is entirely dependent on market speculation and community consensus, making it highly volatile and susceptible to manipulation. Secondly, the lack of clear utility beyond speculative trading further contributes to the skepticism. While some projects integrate NFTs into gaming or metaverse experiences, many remain purely speculative assets, driving the “get rich quick” narrative that ultimately undermines long-term trust. The core issue is the disconnect between the perceived value (often inflated) and the actual underlying utility or intrinsic worth. Many early NFT projects lacked robust infrastructure and intellectual property protection, further exacerbating the concerns about value proposition and potential for scams.
Furthermore, the environmental impact of certain blockchain networks used for NFT minting has fueled negative sentiment. Energy-intensive proof-of-work consensus mechanisms raise concerns about sustainability and contribute to the perception of NFTs as environmentally irresponsible. The high gas fees associated with minting and trading also act as a barrier to entry for many potential users and exacerbate the perception of inaccessibility and unfair distribution of value within the NFT ecosystem.
What is the problem of NFT?
The core problem with NFTs isn’t their inherent technology, but rather the often-misunderstood implications of their non-fungibility. This unique characteristic, while touted as a source of value, presents several key challenges:
- Overvaluation and Speculative Bubbles: The “uniqueness” of NFTs has fueled rampant speculation, leading to wildly inflated prices disconnected from intrinsic value. Many projects lack real-world utility or artistic merit beyond the hype, resulting in significant market volatility and potential for substantial losses.
- Environmental Concerns: The energy consumption associated with certain blockchain networks, like Ethereum (previously), used to mint many NFTs, is substantial. This raises significant environmental concerns, particularly regarding carbon emissions and sustainability.
- Scalability Issues: The transaction fees (gas fees) on some blockchains can be prohibitively high, especially during periods of high network activity. This limits accessibility and can make buying, selling, and trading NFTs expensive and cumbersome.
- Lack of Regulation and Legal Clarity: The nascent nature of the NFT market means regulatory frameworks are still developing. This lack of clarity creates risks for investors and creators alike, concerning intellectual property rights, taxation, and consumer protection.
- Copyright and Ownership Disputes: While an NFT grants ownership of a digital asset, it doesn’t automatically guarantee exclusive rights to the underlying intellectual property. This can lead to legal battles and uncertainties regarding usage, licensing, and reproduction.
While NFTs can represent unique digital assets, akin to one-of-a-kind artwork, their value is highly dependent on market forces and speculative demand. The inherent limitations and risks associated with the technology and the surrounding ecosystem need careful consideration.
- Understanding the project’s underlying value proposition is crucial. Does it offer utility beyond mere ownership?
- Assess the environmental impact of the chosen blockchain.
- Be aware of the high transaction fees and potential for market volatility.
What are the environmental impacts of blockchain?
The environmental impact of blockchain technology, particularly cryptocurrencies, is a complex and increasingly important issue. The most significant concern revolves around energy consumption.
Energy Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Proof-of-work (PoW) consensus mechanisms, used by Bitcoin and Ethereum (before the Merge), require vast computational power to validate transactions. This leads to significant electricity consumption, often relying on fossil fuels, resulting in substantial greenhouse gas emissions. The carbon footprint of some cryptocurrencies is comparable to that of small countries.
E-waste: The mining process necessitates specialized hardware, known as ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits) and GPUs (Graphics Processing Units). These components become obsolete quickly, contributing to a growing problem of e-waste. The manufacturing, disposal, and recycling of this hardware also contribute to environmental damage.
Mitigation Strategies: The crypto industry is actively exploring solutions to reduce its environmental footprint. Key strategies include:
- Shifting to Proof-of-Stake (PoS): PoS consensus mechanisms require significantly less energy than PoW. Ethereum’s transition to PoS is a notable example.
- Renewable Energy Sources: Increasing the use of renewable energy sources for mining operations is crucial for reducing carbon emissions.
- Improved Hardware Efficiency: Advancements in hardware technology can enhance energy efficiency in mining and transaction processing.
- Carbon Offsetting: Investing in carbon offsetting projects to compensate for emissions is another approach.
Beyond Energy Consumption: While energy consumption is the most prominent concern, other environmental impacts exist. These include:
- Water Usage: Mining operations, particularly in regions with hot climates, require significant amounts of water for cooling.
- Material Extraction: The manufacturing of mining hardware necessitates the extraction of rare earth minerals, which can have damaging environmental consequences.
Transparency and Accountability: Greater transparency in energy consumption and environmental impact reporting is essential for driving improvements across the industry. A move towards more sustainable and environmentally responsible practices is vital for the long-term viability and acceptance of blockchain technology.
Who benefits from NFTs?
NFT holders derive value beyond mere ownership. Think of it as a tiered access system, unlocking exclusive perks and community advantages. This translates into tangible financial benefits.
Direct Financial Gains:
- Increased Asset Value: Successful projects see significant NFT price appreciation, generating substantial returns on initial investment. This is driven by community growth and project utility.
- Access to Discounted Goods/Services: Many NFT projects offer preferential pricing or free access to exclusive products or services, providing significant cost savings.
- Staking & Yield Farming: Some NFTs can be staked, generating passive income through yield farming mechanisms within the project’s ecosystem.
- Airdrops & Rewards: Active participation and holding certain NFTs may trigger airdrops of new tokens or other valuable assets.
Indirect Financial & Non-Financial Benefits:
- Exclusive Community Access: Membership in a thriving NFT community can provide networking opportunities, access to exclusive information, and collaboration potential. This can be incredibly valuable, especially in the rapidly evolving crypto and Web3 space.
- Enhanced Brand Loyalty & Identity: Owning an NFT often signals affiliation with a specific brand or community, acting as a status symbol and solidifying loyalty within that ecosystem.
- Investment Diversification: NFTs represent a unique asset class, providing diversification within a broader investment portfolio.
However, it’s crucial to conduct thorough due diligence before purchasing any NFT. Market volatility and the inherent risks associated with crypto assets should be carefully considered. Not all NFT projects succeed, and the value of your investment can fluctuate dramatically.
Will NFTs be worth anything?
The question of NFT value is a complex one. While a common narrative suggests the vast majority are worthless, the reality is more nuanced.
The “Worthless” Statistic: Reports like the one from dappGambl highlighting that over 95% of NFTs minted during the 2025-2022 boom are now essentially worthless are accurate in a narrow sense. Many projects lacked utility, community, or a compelling vision, leading to their collapse in value. Think of these as the speculative bubble bursting.
The Surviving 5%: But focusing solely on the percentage ignores the remaining 5% that continue to hold value, contributing to a current market capitalization of $10 billion. This highlights the importance of several crucial factors that separate successful NFTs from failed ones:
- Utility: NFTs with real-world applications, like membership access, in-game assets with ongoing relevance, or fractional ownership of physical assets, have a much higher chance of retaining value.
- Community Engagement: Strong communities foster loyalty and create a vibrant ecosystem around the NFT project, driving demand and price stability. Think active Discord servers and passionate collectors.
- Project Roadmap & Development: Projects with clear roadmaps, consistent updates, and ongoing development demonstrate commitment and attract investors.
- Brand Recognition & IP: NFTs associated with established brands or intellectual property (IP) often command higher prices due to pre-existing recognition and potential future growth.
Beyond Market Cap: It’s important to note that market capitalization isn’t the only metric of success. Some NFTs might hold sentimental or artistic value to their owners, even if their monetary worth is low. Furthermore, the technology behind NFTs is continuously evolving; new use cases and applications are continually emerging.
Investing Cautiously: The NFT space remains volatile. While some NFTs have shown remarkable resilience, many are likely to remain worthless. Due diligence, careful research, and a thorough understanding of the project are crucial before investing in any NFT. Don’t get caught up in hype. Focus on underlying value and long-term potential.
What exactly is an NFT in simple terms?
An NFT, or Non-Fungible Token, is a unique digital asset recorded on a blockchain. Unlike cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (which are fungible – one Bitcoin is interchangeable with another), each NFT is distinct and verifiable. This uniqueness is what allows for ownership and scarcity of digital items.
Think of it like this: Imagine a digital painting. You can easily copy the image file, but the original, certified artwork – the NFT – remains unique and only the owner possesses the verifiable proof of ownership on the blockchain.
Examples of NFT use cases extend far beyond digital art:
- Digital Collectibles: Artwork, music, virtual trading cards, GIFs, memes – anything digitally unique can be tokenized as an NFT.
- In-game Items: Unique weapons, skins, or characters in video games with verifiable ownership.
- Virtual Real Estate: Owning land or property in metaverse platforms. The NFT acts as the deed.
- Digital Identity: NFTs could potentially be used to verify identity and manage digital credentials.
- Tickets & Access Passes: NFTs offer secure, verifiable proof of access to events or exclusive communities.
- Supply Chain Management: Tracking the authenticity and provenance of physical goods throughout their supply chain.
Key Aspects of NFTs:
- Blockchain Technology: NFTs are built on blockchain networks, ensuring transparency and immutability of ownership records.
- Smart Contracts: Often integrated with smart contracts to automate royalty payments to creators whenever their NFT is resold.
- Scarcity & Ownership: NFTs grant provable ownership and often have limited supply, creating scarcity and driving value.
- Interoperability (Future Potential): The ability to use an NFT across multiple platforms and applications is an area of ongoing development.
Important Note: The value of an NFT is entirely dependent on market demand. The speculative nature of the NFT market should be carefully considered before investing.
What is the environmental impact of crypto assets?
The environmental impact of crypto assets, particularly Bitcoin, is a complex issue demanding nuanced understanding. While Bitcoin’s energy consumption is undeniably high, the impact is not solely determined by absolute energy use but also by the energy source and mining efficiency.
Bitcoin Mining’s Energy Consumption: Bitcoin mining, a computationally intensive process, requires substantial electricity. A significant portion of this electricity, estimated at approximately half in 2025, originated from fossil fuel sources. This contributes directly to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. However, it’s crucial to note that this percentage is constantly fluctuating and decreasing as renewable energy sources become more prevalent in the Bitcoin mining industry.
Factors Influencing Environmental Impact:
- Energy Mix: The geographic location of mining operations significantly impacts their carbon footprint. Regions reliant on fossil fuels contribute disproportionately to emissions. Conversely, regions leveraging hydroelectric or solar power exhibit lower carbon intensity.
- Mining Hardware Efficiency: Technological advancements in ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits) continuously improve energy efficiency. Newer generation miners consume less energy per Bitcoin mined compared to their predecessors.
- Proof-of-Work vs. Proof-of-Stake: Bitcoin employs a Proof-of-Work (PoW) consensus mechanism, inherently energy-intensive. Alternative cryptocurrencies using Proof-of-Stake (PoS) require significantly less energy, as they validate transactions based on staked coins rather than computational power.
Beyond Bitcoin: It’s important to differentiate Bitcoin’s environmental impact from that of other cryptocurrencies. Many newer blockchains utilize more energy-efficient consensus mechanisms, resulting in drastically lower carbon footprints. The overall environmental impact of the crypto industry depends heavily on the dominance of various consensus algorithms and their associated energy consumption.
Ongoing Developments: The cryptocurrency industry is actively addressing environmental concerns. Initiatives focusing on increasing the adoption of renewable energy sources for mining, improving mining hardware efficiency, and transitioning to more energy-efficient consensus mechanisms are underway. However, these efforts require continued investment and technological innovation to achieve significant reductions in the overall environmental impact.
Data Transparency and Measurement: Accurate and reliable data on the energy consumption and carbon footprint of different cryptocurrencies remain a challenge. Inconsistencies in data collection and reporting methodologies complicate accurate assessment and comparison.
What is an NFT useful for?
NFTs, or Non-Fungible Tokens, are cryptographic tokens representing ownership of unique digital or physical assets. Think of them as digital certificates of authenticity, secured by blockchain technology, most commonly Ethereum but increasingly others like Solana and Tezos.
What makes NFTs useful? Their utility stems from their ability to definitively prove ownership and provenance. This opens up exciting possibilities across various sectors:
- Digital Art and Collectibles: NFTs revolutionized the art world, allowing artists to sell their work directly to collectors, bypassing traditional galleries and intermediaries. This also provides verifiable proof of ownership, preventing duplication and fraud.
- Gaming: In-game items, characters, and even virtual land can be tokenized as NFTs, allowing players to truly own and trade their in-game assets. This fosters a more robust and engaging gaming economy.
- Real Estate and Physical Assets: While still in its early stages, NFT technology holds the potential to tokenize real-world assets, streamlining ownership transfer and potentially reducing fraud in property transactions.
- Collectibles & Memorabilia: NFTs can verify the authenticity of physical items such as trading cards, sports memorabilia, or even concert tickets, adding a layer of security and trust.
- Intellectual Property: NFTs can represent ownership of intellectual property rights, offering a secure and transparent way to manage and license digital creations.
Beyond Ownership: Utility & Functionality
- Access & Membership: NFTs can grant holders access to exclusive content, communities, or events.
- Royalty Payments: Many NFT platforms allow creators to incorporate royalty mechanisms into their NFTs, enabling them to receive a percentage of future sales.
- Fractional Ownership: NFTs facilitate fractional ownership of expensive assets, allowing multiple parties to share ownership and liquidity.
Important Considerations: While NFTs offer many advantages, it’s crucial to be aware of the risks involved, including the volatility of the crypto market, the potential for scams, and the environmental impact of some blockchain networks (energy consumption).