Public defence in Information Systems Science, Tejas Kotha, MTech.

The doctoral thesis of Tejas Kotha, MTech. “Digital Promises, Analog Realities: Essays on Power, Labour and Precarity in NFT Markets” will be publicly examined at the Aalto University School of Business on Friday, January 16, 2026.

Location: Lecture Hall U006, School of Business (Ekonominaukio 1)

https://aalto.zoom.us/j/65647559909

For a brief moment, Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) looked like the ultimate saviour for struggling artists and content creators, offering a seductive pitch where creators could use blockchain technology to sell directly to fans, keep profits, and collect royalties forever without the interference of intermediaries (galleries or agents) or BigTech. However, this doctoral dissertation reveals this digital utopia as a mirage. By analysing over twenty global marketplaces and the lived experiences of artists, the research shows that while blockchain technology is decentralised, power has re-concentrated in the hands of a few massive platforms. The research found that NFT marketplaces and social media platforms act as powerful gatekeepers that decide who gets seen and who gets paid. In many cases, these entities enforce rules that prioritise their own corporate growth over the rights of the artists they claim to empower, often failing to enforce the very royalties that initially attracted creators to the space in the first place.

Beyond the structural issues, the study highlights a significant human cost, described as 'visibility labour'. Success in the digital art world rarely results from talent alone but rather forces artists into a relentless visibility game where they must constantly create content, host events, and over-share personal details to appease social media algorithms and build a loyal following. This pressure blurs the line between an artist’s work and their private life, leading to severe burnout and anxiety. The findings indicate that far from being a source of passive income, NFT art requires an exhausting amount of active, unpaid digital labour just to remain relevant, and artists are often pressured to perform a specific type of authentic persona that turns their personalities into commodities.

As the world moves toward more digital work and gig economies, this research serves as a warning that technological innovation alone cannot resolve deep-seated labour challenges. The dissertation argues that without robust governance, unchecked disruption accelerates rather than dismantling inequality, recapitulating historical inequities now intensified by the velocity and volatility of algorithmic markets.

Key words: 
NFT, Blockchain, Royalties, Intermediaries, NFT marketplaces, Creative labour

Opponent: Professor Olgerta Tona, University of Gothenburg 
Custos (Chairperson): Professor Matti Rossi, Aalto University School of Business

Contact information:
Tejas Kotha
tejas.kotha@aalto.fi
Mobile +358 504390448

Link to the doctoral thesis: https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/sec/eonly/riiputus/?lang=en