The Web is an NFT
Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the creator of the World Wide Web, is selling the original source code used to create the modern-day internet. Sir Tim will be auctioning off the code as an NFT, which will be featured at Sotheby’s auction house.
The NFT will consist of a four-item collection which includes “the original time-stamped files” of the project’s source code, “an animated visualization” of that code, a message from Sir Tim detailing the process, and a “digital poster” of the code that he developed. In total, the files include roughly 10,000 lines of code.
Given Sir Tim’s well-known refusal to patent his creation, some are surprised by his decision to auction it off. Sir Tim has never attempted to profit directly from the web, and it remains publicly available.
The code’s worth is arguably in its historical relevance, as well as the fact that it is certified by its creator and “digitally signed” as genuine. This auction is expected to raise a sizable amount of money, which will be donated to organizations chosen by Sir Tim and his wife, Rosemary Leith.
Why did Sir Tim choose to auction off his code as an NFT? In a statement to Sotheby’s, he said, “Well, it’s a natural thing to do when you’re a computer scientist and when you write code and have been for many years. It feels right to digitally sign my autograph on a completely digital artifact.”
If you want to get your hands on Sir Tim’s code, the auction will take place from June 23-30, with a starting bid of $1,000.
I am not a financial advisor and my comments should never be taken as financial advice. Investments come with risk, so always do your research and analysis beforehand.
