Newsletter #193: Minted
Upcoming documentary is an essential look at what NFTs have meant for art, commerce, and culture.
This week’s featured collector is Objecct_NFT
Objecct_NFT is an artist whose work is totally unique. Check it out at lazy.com/objecct_NFT
Will AI agents have a significant impact on the NFTs space in 2025?
Last week’s poll reveals an optimistic sentiment toward the impact of AI agents on the NFT space in 2025. A majority (64%) believe AI agents will have a significant influence, while a considerable portion (36%) remains uncertain, and none dismissed the potential impact outright.
This aligns with the narrative that AI agents, such as Artto, the NFT AI Agent we discussed last week, are evolving beyond simple speculative or transactional functionalities. By introducing nuanced curation processes, integrating emotional and aesthetic evaluations, and fostering "taste-driven economies," AI agents signal a potential paradigm shift in the NFT ecosystem. The poll's results highlight a recognition of this transformative potential, though the uncertainty suggests many are still grappling with the practical implications of these advancements.
Minted: NFT Documentary Premieres Monday
Director Nicholas Bruckman’s documentary Minted chronicles the meteoric rise and dramatic tumble of NFTs—reminding us that this “new” concept has deeper roots. The film opens by revisiting French artist Yves Klein’s 1950s exhibit, where buyers received certificates rather than visible artworks, foreshadowing the idea that ownership can outshine the art itself. According to artist Mitchell Chan, NFTs have been “cooking for decades,” culminating in a revolution where photographers like Justin Aversano climbed from the blockchain to the auction block at Christie’s, and Cuban artist Kina Matahari emigrated abroad through NFT earnings.
Though Minted examines the monumental success stories, it also tackles the crash, captured by a late-night show segment where Jimmy Fallon and Paris Hilton compared their Bored Apes. With corporate giants and celebrities flooding the market, the initial dream of NFTs as one-of-a-kind digital artworks gave way to hype-driven “contagious hysteria.” The film highlights interviews with legal experts, like Cornell’s James Grimmelmann, pointing out that NFTs operate in a legal grey area. As Beeple’s $69 million Christie’s sale illustrated, art can be driven by fervor rather than pure aesthetics—yet it also sets the stage for unprecedented possibilities in digital provenance and licensing.
Ultimately, Minted reminds viewers that value boils down to a collective agreement: digital assets are only as robust as the community that sustains them. By paralleling Klein’s invisible artworks to the NFT world, Bruckman underscores how easily hype can crumble—but also how transformative blockchain technology continues to be for dedicated creators like Aversano or hip-hop video maker Latashá.
Overall, Minted is an essential look at what NFTs have meant for art, commerce, and culture. Catch this documentary on PBS in the United States (it premiered at the 2023 Tribeca Festival) and decide for yourself where NFTs stand—and where they might go next.
Watch Minted at PBS.org on Monday.
When do you think the NFT bear market will finally come to an end?
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