File-sharing heavyweight WeTransfer dips toe in NFT waters

File hosting giant WeTransfer and blockchain platform Minima have created an NFT minting service.

As a proof of concept, the NFTs will be offered through a secure peer-to-peer network, allowing the transfer of an NFT from person-to-person without third-party intermediaries, according to a company release. 

Anyone who uses the free Minima cooperative can create their own assets to share on the network, and will also allow creators to collect royalty payments – a levy paid back to creators upon any sale or resale of an NFT. Users will need to run a Minima node to use the service. 

With the involvement of WeTransfer, it's the latest example of a large establishment tech company dabbling in NFTs. Recent data suggests that 70 million people send around 2 billion files every month through WeTransfer. E-commerce giant eBay has also made a concerted play for the NFT space in recent months.

“This partnership will explore the practical use of NFT technology, [and] be a test case to demonstrate the potential of wider adoption of this innovative digital tool," said Hugo Feiler, CEO of Minima.

Correction: This story was updated after publication to clarify timescales for the rollout.