The Collector

Forgeries are still rampant in the art world. Collectors worried about the authenticity of a purchase can use the blockchain to track its ownership history. Several startups, including Codex and Verisart, offer artists, collectors, and galleries registration and certification services. When a piece is registered, details of its physical characteristics and history are stored in a time-stamped entry on the blockchain that can be verified. “I think of [the blockchain] like Linkedin,” says Verisart CEO Robert Norton. “A single unverified claim might look suspicious, but one that other issuers can endorse can hold more value and credence.”