INFLUENCE

169 Why the Creator of Nyan Cat Could Have Made Millions, But Didn't


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In 2011, Chris Torres drew a pixelated cat with a Pop Tart body and a rainbow shooting out of its butt. It raised $100 for a charity in Texas.

10 years later, it's not only one of the Internet's most iconic images (representing the silliness of the social media age), but has sold at auction as a non-fungible token (NFT) for 300 Ether -- currently, the equivalent of $590,000.

So how can you own an Internet meme, which is by definition a digital file that has been shared and remixed millions of times across the Web?

Alli and Jen talk with Torres about the cultural impact of Nyan Cat, his strange online journey over the last 10 years, how he could have made millions from licensing deals and toys (but didn't), and the pros and cons of NFTs and blockchain art.

Follow Chris: https://twitter.com/prguitarman

Support 2G1P on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/2G1P

Join us on Discord: discord.gg/2g1p

Email us: [email protected]

Talk to Alli and Jen:

https://twitter.com/alligold

https://twitter.com/joonbugger

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INFLUENCEBy Matt Silverman

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