Why are people collecting NFTs? - 6 Minute English

Improve your English vocabulary and listening in just six minutes! Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are the latest thing people like to collect? But what are they? Neil and Sam discuss the topic and teach you related vocabulary.

This week's question:
In June 2021, Sir Tim Berners-Lee sold the original source code he used to invent the world wide web as an NFT at a charity auction. The sale started at $1000 but how much did the source code eventually sell for?

a) 5.4 thousand dollars
b) 5.4 million dollars
c) 5.4 billion dollars

Listen to the programme to find out the answer.

Vocabulary
collectables
desirable objects that people search for and collect as a hobby

non-fungible
having special, unique characteristics meaning that it cannot be interchanged with anything else

the wild west
a situation where people can do whatever they want because there are no laws or controls

rogue
behaving in a different way from what’s normal or expected, often causing damage

digital artefact
any item that is produced and stored as digital or electronic version, for example codes, images or videos and audio files

pyramid scheme
dishonest business trick or scam where money is used to pay a company’s debt instead of to profit investors

This episode of 6 Minute English was originally published as a web exclusive on bbclearningenglish.com. To download the audio and a transcript, go to:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-210920
[Cover: Getty Images]

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https://youtu.be/0emVXTaESvs​

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https://youtu.be/xZxmMQCZsu4​

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https://youtu.be/gfnyMyCZjqA​

Is punctuality important?
https://youtu.be/cSlPuxN_yws​



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