What is the royalty of NFT? Can creators always take a cut?

NFT royalties ensure creators earn a percentage from secondary sales via smart contracts, but their enforcement depends on marketplace policies and user behavior.

Jun 12, 2025 at 10:42 pm

Understanding NFT Royalties

NFT royalties refer to the percentage of secondary sales that are automatically paid to the original creator of a non-fungible token (NFT) whenever the asset is resold on a compatible marketplace. This mechanism is programmed into the smart contract associated with the NFT, ensuring that creators receive ongoing compensation for their work even after the initial sale.

Unlike traditional art or digital content markets, where artists often lose control and revenue potential once their work changes hands, NFTs enable automatic royalty distribution through blockchain technology. These royalties are typically expressed as a percentage, commonly ranging from 2.5% to 10%, depending on the platform and the settings chosen by the creator during minting.

How Are NFT Royalties Implemented?

NFT royalties are enforced via smart contracts, which are self-executing agreements with the terms directly written into code. When an artist mints an NFT, they can set the royalty percentage in the contract before deploying it onto the blockchain.

The key steps include:

• Choosing a marketplace that supports royalty mechanisms.
• Setting the royalty rate during the minting process.
• Deploying the smart contract, which will trigger payments upon resale.

Once these parameters are defined, every time the NFT is sold again on a compliant platform, the specified percentage is sent back to the original creator’s wallet. This system ensures ongoing financial benefit for creators without requiring intermediaries.

Are Creators Guaranteed Royalties on Every Sale?

While many platforms support NFT royalties, creators are not guaranteed to receive them on every resale. The enforcement of royalties largely depends on the policies of the marketplace facilitating the transaction.

Some marketplaces have begun abandoning royalty enforcement due to pressure from collectors and traders who want to avoid paying ongoing fees. On such platforms, secondary sales may not trigger royalty payouts unless explicitly enforced by the buyer or seller.

Additionally, if an NFT is transferred off-platform—such as through peer-to-peer transactions or cross-chain trades—the royalty mechanism may be bypassed entirely. Therefore, while the smart contract includes royalty logic, its real-world effectiveness hinges on marketplace compliance and user behavior.

Which Platforms Support NFT Royalty Enforcement?

Major NFT marketplaces like OpenSea, LooksRare, and X2Y2 have different approaches to royalty enforcement. OpenSea previously supported royalties but later made them optional for sellers. LooksRare continues to enforce royalties by default.

X2Y2 initially allowed users to choose whether to pay royalties but has since adjusted its stance based on community feedback. Newer platforms are also emerging with royalty-friendly models, aiming to support creators more consistently.

It's essential for creators to understand which platforms respect royalty settings and how those platforms handle secondary market activity. Some creators now use tools like Royalty Registry to signal which platforms they support, encouraging buyers to trade on compliant venues.

Can Royalties Be Changed After Minting?

In most cases, once a royalty percentage is set in the smart contract, it cannot be altered retroactively. This immutability is a core feature of blockchain-based systems, designed to protect both creators and buyers from unexpected changes.

However, some newer standards and platforms allow limited flexibility under specific conditions. For example, if the smart contract includes an upgradable proxy, the creator might be able to adjust certain parameters, including royalties. But this requires prior planning and technical setup at the time of minting.

Creators must carefully consider the royalty percentage before minting because changing it afterward is either impossible or highly complex. This highlights the importance of understanding the implications of royalty settings during the creation phase.

How Do NFT Royalties Impact the Market?

NFT royalties have sparked significant debate within the ecosystem. Proponents argue that they provide fair compensation to creators and encourage long-term engagement with digital art and collectibles. Critics, however, claim that mandatory royalties increase costs for buyers and could reduce liquidity in the secondary market.

Market dynamics have shifted in response to these tensions. Some collectors now prefer platforms that do not enforce royalties, leading to a fragmented landscape where royalty practices vary widely. As a result, creators face challenges in ensuring consistent income from secondary sales across different marketplaces.

Despite these complexities, many in the creative community continue to advocate for robust royalty systems, viewing them as essential for sustainable digital ownership models.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I add royalties to an NFT after it's already been minted?

A: In most cases, no. Royalties are defined in the smart contract before deployment. Unless the contract was specifically designed to allow future updates, changing royalty rates post-minting is not possible.

Q: What happens if I sell my NFT on a non-royalty-compliant platform?

A: If the platform doesn't enforce royalty payments, the original creator will not receive any cut from that particular resale. It's important to be aware of the platform’s royalty policy before listing your NFT.

Q: Do all NFTs come with royalties?

A: No. Royalties are optional and depend on the creator’s choices during minting. Some creators choose not to set any royalty percentage, while others may set it to zero intentionally.

Q: How are NFT royalties paid out?

A: Royalties are automatically transferred to the creator’s wallet address specified in the smart contract whenever a qualifying resale occurs. The payment is executed in the native cryptocurrency of the blockchain (e.g., ETH for Ethereum-based NFTs).