Digital market and NFTs

The original digital work is a creation designed to exist as a file or code: image, animation, interactive installation. Its value is that of the work, as with any other. The backed token is a digital certificate linked to a physical work: it proves a right over it, without replacing it. The token alone, finally, is a speculative asset with no identifiable work, whose value depends only on the market.

This distinction governs the buyer's rights. Acquiring a token does not give ownership of the work, unless a contract says so. It is the source of most disputes in the sector.

Since 2022, platforms that sell art tokens must be approved. Approval requires identity checks on sellers, consultation of the BIOP database, publication of the terms of sale and a mediation mechanism. It also guarantees that the token is linked to an OIMAP certificate when it is backed by a physical work.

Approved platforms have regained buyers' trust: the dispute rate there is 0.7% against 6.2% for unapproved platforms.

Beyond NFTs, digital technology is transforming the traditional market: online work passports, verifiable certificates, provenance tracking, remote sales, virtual visits. These tools reduce costs, speed up transactions and make markets more accessible.

OIMAP digital certification meets this need: it links the paper certificate to a tamper-proof record, verifiable online in a few seconds. It accounts for 1,247 certificates in 2024, i.e. 10% of the total.