Seeing a lot #gamedev (particularly pixel artists (?)) flirting with NFTs and starting a journey down a worrying road. A very quick thread!

If you're aware of the problematic aspects of NFTs already and still on this path, HOW DO YOU SLEEP AT NIGHT, but if you're not and are blissfully unaware of the cons, a bit of info I hope is eye-opening:

Most will know already, but NFTs - specifically the mining of ETH which is at the heart of it - is colossally bad for the environment. This is *the main* reason why NFT artists are controversial figures, but there are other logistical/ownership issues that aren't relevant here.

Estimates show that "one NFT transaction is likely to have a carbon footprint more than 14 times that of mailing a physical art print, which Quartz estimates at 2.3kg CO2." [quote from article in subsequent tweet]

A single transaction of art - pixel art or otherwise - has a *very* high carbon footprint — Digiconomist’s estimate a single Ethereum transaction is roughly equivalent to 74 000 VISA transactions. (!)

I've much more to learn about the whole argument, but for proper insight into NFTs impact on the environment (and a good look at alternatives), this article is pretty great -- https://earth.org/nfts-environmental-impact/

(Worth noting, for the sake of fairness, that there are non proof-of-work blockchain alternatives which have dramatically lower energy consumption rates - but Ethereum mining is still driving the bulk of NFT work)

Whew! Glad that's out my system. Enjoy your days, folks