NFT Royalties: How Creators Get Paid Every Time Their Art Sells

When you buy an NFT royalty, a percentage of future sales automatically paid to the original creator. Also known as secondary sale fees, it’s the backbone of how artists make money long after their first sale. Unlike traditional art, where the artist disappears after the gallery sale, NFT royalties keep them in the loop—every time someone flips their work on OpenSea, Blur, or Magic Eden, they get a cut. This isn’t charity. It’s economics built into the blockchain.

But here’s the catch: not all marketplaces honor these payments. Some platforms, like Blur, have dropped royalty enforcement to attract big buyers. That means a digital painter who earned $5,000 in royalties last year might see $0 this year if their NFT sells on a royalty-free exchange. Meanwhile, creators using platforms like Foundation or SuperRare still get paid—because those platforms enforce the smart contract rules. It’s not about the tech. It’s about who controls the rules.

And it’s not just artists. Collectors care too. If you buy an NFT with a 10% royalty, you’re paying more upfront—but you’re also buying into a system where the creator stays invested. That often means better updates, more community events, or even future drops tied to the collection. A project with active royalties usually has a team still working. A project with no royalties? Often dead.

Some people say royalties are broken. They argue they hurt liquidity. But the real issue isn’t the royalty—it’s the lack of standardization. There’s no global rule. One NFT might pay 5%, another 15%, and another nothing at all. The market is still figuring it out. Right now, the best move? Check the royalty percentage before you buy. Look at the contract. Ask the creator. Don’t assume it’s there.

What you’ll find in the posts below are real stories: projects that lost royalties and faded, platforms that changed the rules overnight, and creators who turned a single NFT into a steady income stream. No fluff. Just what’s happening, who’s getting paid, and how to protect your earnings—or your investments—in this messy, shifting world.