ERC-2981
Web3 / cryptocurrency types
ERC-2981 is a standardized smart contract interface that enables automatic royalty payments for NFT creators upon secondary market sales. The standard defines how NFT contracts communicate royalty information—including the recipient address and percentage—to marketplaces and trading platforms. Marketplaces that support ERC-2981 automatically transfer the specified royalty amount to creators whenever an NFT listed on their platform sells, eliminating the need for manual payment arrangements. This creates a sustainable revenue stream for digital creators beyond initial minting. Example: SuperRare marketplace implements ERC-2981 so that when an artist's NFT sells for $10,000 in a secondary transaction, the contract automatically sends 10% royalties directly to the artist's wallet. Why it matters for cryptocurrency: ERC-2981 protects creator economics in NFT markets, ensures ongoing compensation for intellectual property, and encourages marketplace adoption of fair compensation standards.
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