NFT Royalties: How Creators Earn 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 resale royalty, it’s the only way digital artists get paid long after their work leaves their wallet. Unlike traditional art, where a painting sold at auction gives nothing back to the painter, NFT royalties are built into the code. Every time someone resells your NFT on a marketplace, a slice of that sale — usually 5% to 10% — goes straight to you. No middleman. No paperwork. Just code doing what it was told.

This system changes everything for creators. A digital illustrator who sells a piece for 1 ETH might make $3,000 upfront. But if that NFT flips ten times at increasing prices, they could earn another $1,500 just from royalties. That’s real income from a single creation. Platforms like OpenSea, Blur, and Magic Eden support this, but not all do. Some marketplaces ignore royalties entirely, arguing they’re "unenforceable." That’s not a technical issue — it’s a choice. And when big platforms drop royalties, it hits small artists hardest.

But royalties aren’t magic. They only work if the NFT is traded on a platform that honors them. If someone moves your NFT to a rogue marketplace that ignores smart contracts, you get nothing. Also, royalties don’t apply to peer-to-peer transfers or private sales — only public trades. And while some collectors say royalties make NFTs too expensive, the truth is: without them, most artists couldn’t afford to keep making art. This isn’t just about money. It’s about survival.

What you’ll find below are real stories of NFT projects where royalties made the difference — and others where they vanished overnight. You’ll see which platforms still pay, which scams pretend to honor them, and how creators are fighting back. No fluff. Just what works, what doesn’t, and what you need to know before you mint, buy, or sell.