Frequently Asked Questions

Digital Original (DO) is a unique digital representation of a physical artwork that has undergone digitization in accordance with the Digital Original Standard. This standard employs technologies such as Digital Light Capture Technology (DLCT) and emphasizes transparency, intellectual property protection, and adherence to specific principles during the digitization process. The Digital Original is not a mere reproduction but a faithful and authentic translation of the physical artwork into the digital domain. With the integration of blockchain technology and decentralized storage, Digital Originals ensure the secure preservation, sharing, and trading of art in the digital space, ushering in a transformative paradigm for art collection and preservation.

Tokenization provides increased access to art, verification of the authenticity of the artwork, transparency of the history of the digital original, and a reduction in the risks and inconveniences that exist in the physical space (such as logistics and fraud). With the help of smart contracts, payments including royalties are automated, bringing convenience and benefit to the interested party from each sale. Tokenization facilitates direct global interaction between artists and audiences, and digital integration adds new possibilities to the artistic experience.

Tokenized art has already taken over the art industry, and its market size is projected to cross $342.54 billion by 2032. With the introduction of the DO standard for digitizing and tokenizing artworks, we anticipate the gradual yet universal adoption of these new digital assets among art institutions. 

To purchase a Digital Original of an artwork, please follow these simple steps:

1. Authorize your crypto wallet. Ensure your crypto wallet supports the Ethereum network. This can be done directly during the purchase process.
2. Create a Crypto Wallet (if needed). If you don't have a crypto wallet, you'll need to create one. This simple procedure takes about 5 to 10 minutes. Check our FAQ for detailed instructions.
3. Ensure Sufficient Funds. Make sure you have enough USDS and Ethereum tokens in your wallet to cover the purchase and transaction fees.
4. Choose a Buying Method. Select your preferred buying method. You can either purchase the artwork directly at a fixed price or participate in an auction where you can place bids and compete with other collectors. Complete your purchase by finalizing the appropriate transactions.
5. Access Your Token. After completing the purchase, your token and all associated data will be available in your wallet.

To purchase a Digital Original of an artwork, you need to have a positive and sufficient balance of USDC and ETH tokens in your crypto wallet.

To fund your crypto wallet, you need to follow these general steps:

1. Log in to your crypto wallet and ensure that you are connected to the Ethereum mainnet if you wish to receive funds. Check your wallet balance.

2. If your wallet balance is insufficient, you can fund it by purchasing cryptocurrency on an exchange and then transferring it to your Ethereum wallet. Ensure that your address is correctly entered, as blockchain transactions are irreversible. Some wallets may also offer the option to buy cryptocurrency within the wallet application.

3. Blockchain transactions require confirmations. Be patient and wait for the transaction to be confirmed. You can track the progress on the blockchain explorer.

4. Check your balance after funding your wallet.

Remember to keep your MetaMask wallet's seed phrase secure and never share it with anyone. If someone gains access to your seed phrase, they can control your wallet and access your funds.

Digital Original is an all-around ecosystem that hosts only verified artworks with high-end quality for art connoisseurs to collect. Thanks to Digital Original, art collectors can:

• Gain access to the vast catalog of verified artists and art institutions, ranging from the niche to the most prominent representatives of the art industry.
• Diversify their portfolio with rare masterpieces available in only one copy.
• Experience their digital purchases in unique ways, including through VR/AR spaces (soon).
• Verify the provenance and artistic value of their artworks.
• Get ahold of a full-cycle solution for storing, trading, and protecting their purchases in the digital realm.

Our team is committed to creating a space where collectors can access high-end art with proven artistic value. We carefully curate all artwork featured on the Digital Original platform. If you would like to join the platform and digitize your collection, we would be happy to help you do so.

Compared to other NFT marketplaces, our platform hosts only NFTs minted with adherence to the Digital Original Standard. It means that neither collectors nor art institutions can sell NFTs created on other platforms.

In the future, if any platform adopts The Digital Original Standard for the digitization and tokenization of artworks, its NFTs will be able to be submitted to the Digital Original catalog and vice versa - tokens minted on our platform will be able to be presented on other marketplaces.

Tax regulations may vary depending on the country of your residence. At the moment of writing (5.01.2024), there are three main approaches to taxing:

• NFTs are considered collectibles and taxed accordingly. 
• NFTs are considered similar to cryptocurrencies and exempt from taxation.
• NFTs are considered securities and taxed accordingly (for example, regular VAT taxes in the EU).

At the start, collectors will be able to sell their digital originals only on our marketplace. However, It is possible that in the future, they may also be available for trade on other marketplaces.

Any user can verify the tokenized artwork’s provenance and authenticity through its transaction history on the blockchain.