A local Stellenbosch business launched in October of this year, with the intent to empower creative talent and charity simultaneously through blockchain technology.
This is according to James Marshall, the founder of BitHaus, a centralised online platform for the promotion of artists’ digital work.
“BitHaus started as a response to the financial issues charities faced throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. We had to find a solution that would be effective, with long-term potential,” said Marshall.
The usage of NFTs
The business works through the usage of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which are units of data that mostly form part of the crypto-currency Ethereum, explained Marshall.
One of the digital art prints available to purchase from BitHaus, designed by the artist JAMZ, titled “Conscious Chaos”. This can only be purchased through non-fungible tokens, which will give ownership to the buyer, according to Nathan Nadler-nir, creative director of MoMint, a NFT social platform. PHOTO: Erin Walls
“[NFTs] can neither be replaced nor interchanged because they have unique properties. We mint our artworks and designs into NFTs, while remaining entirely digital. We strongly believe that NFTs are digital assets and have massive growth potential,” said Marshall.
Approximately 25% of the revenue from each digital artwork that is sold, is donated to the Animal Welfare Society (AWS) in Stellenbosch, said Marshall.
“We rely on the generosity of animal lovers – their donations help us investigate complaints of cruelty and to help rescue animals. We only exist because of public donations. It is only with their help that we can keep on fighting cruelty,” said Jessica Perrins, head of fundraising and communications at AWS.
BitHaus’s long-term goal, apart from supporting South African artists, is to “get South Africa on the radars of international NFT marketplaces while simultaneously supporting charitable organisations. South Africa has incredible creative talent – we want to showcase this to the world,” said Marshall.
25% of the revenue from each purchase from BitHaus goes towards the Animal Welfare Society (AWS) in Stellenbosch, pictured above. PHOTOS: Erin Walls
The opportunities of NFTs
The idea of being able to create digital art on one’s computer, which can be sold, is something that is “incredibly enticing”, according to Nathan Nadler-nir, creative director of MoMint, a NFT social platform where digital art is bought and sold.
“I feel we have only scratched the surface of NFTs and their adoption. Once people understand that it is not only the ‘selling or buying of JPEGs’, but rather, that it can influence the ethical production and fair trade of data in the future – which is mind-blowing,” said Nadler-nir.
Going forward, NFTs have the ability to shape the way in which society engages with digital content, according to Nadler-nir. “NFTs allow for artists to mint their art, which allows for digital artists to sell their work and [to] make a living, in the same way traditional artists have for centuries,” he continued.
The use of NFTs and digital art is a concept which is not well known in South Africa, said Marshall. “It is not appealing for collectors interested in traditional art to purchase something that will only reside on a screen – we accommodate for this difference in preference by producing a physical artwork or design that can be stored and placed on a wall,” he said.
Donations towards the Animal Welfare Society help keep the shelter going, according to Jessica Perrins. The public is able to go to the shelter and walk the dogs. PHOTO: Erin Walls