The NFT (non-fungible token) conquered various areas on the web in 2021. The technology's applications are diverse, ranging from the creative sector to the gaming world. This year, however, attention was particularly focused on the use of tokens in the sale of memes. "Side-Eyeing Chloe," "Nyan Cat," and "Doge"—which sold for about $4 million and holds the title of the most expensive NFT in history—are among the many classic memes sold as NFTs this year.
Creators of classic viral content saw the potential in NFTs to generate revenue from content that had previously circulated “ownership-free” on the internet. This is because the cryptographic token represents something unique—a digital product that only those interested in its sale or production have the right to use. The technology works as a digital certificate established through blockchain, where data is stored in knowledge blocks protected by digital signatures. TechTudo lists below three classic memes that were sold as NFTs in 2021.
1. Chloe
Little Chloe captivated the internet with her humorous and ironic expressions. She became famous in 2013 when her mother shared her reaction to a surprise trip to Disney. The disapproving look from the then two-year-old went viral on social media and is now used by internet users to express bewilderment and indignation. In December this year, the "Side-Eyeing Chloe" meme was sold as an NFT for $73,900 (about R$ 420,500 in direct conversion).
2. Girl in Front of the Burning House (Disaster Girl)
Chloe wasn't the only girl making internet memes. Zoe Roth became the face of the "Disaster Girl" meme after a photograph was posted showing her smiling in the foreground while a building burns in the background. The photo was taken in 2005 in front of a burning house managed by firefighters. Turned into an NFT, the image sold for $473,000 (about R$ 2.6 million in direct conversion) in April. Today, the protagonist of the image is 21 years old and studies at the University of Chapel Hill in the USA.
3. Doge's Shiba Inu Dog
The "Doge" image holds the title of the most expensive meme in history, having been sold in June for around $4 million (more than R$ 22.7 million in direct conversion). Highly popular on the internet, the image features a Shiba Inu dog with a nervous expression, and in 2019, it was awarded the "Meme of the Decade."