People Are Already Selling R/Place Art As NFTs
Reddit fans are devastated after finding out that the incredible art piece created in the r/place subreddit is already being stolen by leaches to be sold as NFTs.
Since 2017, the subreddit r/place has become a beloved April Fools tradition with users from all around the world being able to come together to build intricate pixelated images, turning a blank digital canvas into a chaotic collage of internet culture and it was no different in 2022. Reddit users and content creators were subsequently battling it out for r/place domination, with Twitch's Felix "xQc" Lengyel even smashing his own personal record for peak concurrent viewers thanks to the event.
So, it was no surprise that when r/place 2022 came to an end, it was a bittersweet moment for Redditors who had dedicated hours of their time to create the picture. Now, grifters are already swiping their artwork to sell them as NFTs.
Which R/Place Pictures Are Being Sold As NFTs?
Following on from r/place closing down, fans soon spotted that the pixel art featuring Roger from the One Piece Japanese manga series was being sold on the NFT marketplace website OpenSea. Like the other pictures on the canvas, the pixel art had been created by a huge community of One Place fans, each building the image a pixel at a time. However, Reddit-user FrostDesigns noticed that 'Roger' had been swiped from the collage and was being sold on the NFT marketplace website, OpenSea for a whopping $300.
Understandably, the news prompted anger among One Piece fans on Reddit who had dedicated a great deal of time to create the pixel art and whose work had been stolen by NFT trolls. One user pleaded: "I hope nobody is enough of a dumb f**k to buy it. NFTs are a ridiculous failing speculative bubble anyway but this isn't even art that the seller owns."
Why Are People Angry That R/Place Pieces Are Being Sold As NFTs?
Obviously, the idea that a troll is profiting from the hard work of others certainly sparked anger on Reddit. However, NFTs are also a pretty touchy subject among the streaming community and gaming industry. While some big names have endorsed the venture, others have openly condemned the Blockchain trade. For example, Herschel "Dr Disrespect" Beahm IV found himself in hot water after it was revealed his AAA game studio was including NFTs as part of its first game.
It's not entirely clear whether or not other images from r/place have also made it onto the NFT marketplace. However, despite r/place finishing in a very heart-warming manner, fans are devastated that such a fun event has now been tarnished by NFT trolls stealing and profiting from their work.