Codex Protocol’s new Public Collections feature

Codex Protocol News

Feb 14

In the last few months we launched the first public collections (“Galleries”) on the Codex Viewer. Here’s everything you need to know about what they are, why they matter and how they’re changing.

The difference between Public Collections and Private Collections

In late 2018 we published a new feature of public collections. These are publicly viewable collections featured on the Codex Viewer. Anyone who is already using the Codex Viewer has a private account, and Codex Recordscreated can only be viewed by the owner or those the owner chooses to share them with. With the advent of the public collection, the owner of the account can choose to add Records to be publicly viewed; this lets any user on the Codex Viewer browse the collection. Each public collection is setup like a gallery; allowing artists, galleries or other institutions a place to showcase their works on Codex. Links to purchasing options, websites and other relevant content can be added to these Records, thus encouraging the buying and sharing of the works registered in the collection.

Who public collections are for

As most things go in the art world, artists were the pioneering users of this feature. It was a natural fit as it gave artists who were using Codex to catalogue their raisonné and record provenance of their pieces a place to showcase their works and leverage the platform to encourage sales and share their art. We have begun adding established galleries to the public collections as well. Galleries can upload Records of the various artists they represent and gain access for each artist, choosing which Records they want to show to the public and which will be kept private.

There are two types of accounts one can use when signing up for Codex. The first is through MetaMask and the second is through Simple Login which allows user to sign up through Google, Microsoft or Facebook. The latter is a much easier option and requires no blockchain background or knowledge. We are seeing a great deal more users sign up through Simple Login as it is so user friendly and much more appealing to stakeholders in the art world. Both of these accounts are eligible to be a public collection and will appear identical for viewers who are browsing the collections.

Whether you are using Codex through the Simple Login feature or with your MetaMask, the functionality of a public collection is the same as a private collection. The owner can create, modify and transfer Records to other Codex accounts, crypto wallets or email addresses. If the public collection is created through the Simple Login feature, the owner uses CODX to perform these functions.

Verified Accounts and public collections

Coming soon, users will be able to create their own public galleries. Meaning any collector, artist or user can apply to have their collection accessible to the public and displayed in the “Galleries” section on the Codex Viewer. This is an exciting prospect as it gives the average user the ability to share their art and collectibles over social media and with their community. We believe this is a meaningful step in the continued growth of digital art.

When this update becomes available, we would encourage artists, galleries and any other institution to apply to become a “Verified Account” on Codex. Verified Accounts will be clearly and visually differentiated from general accounts. These Verified Accounts will go through a vetting process with Codex to ensure that the users are reputable, and viewers can trust the validity of the contents in the Codex Records. Verified accounts will have unique, validated symbols beside their names to clearly identify their status and differentiate them from general public collections.

Updates and improvements to public collections

As it is Codex’s mission to add value and make the arts and collectibles industry easier and more transparent, we are dedicated to constantly addressing the needs of the community. As this feature grows, we have been working with the users to update, change and improve the feature so that it is as helpful to the community as possible. We believe that communication with our users is paramount to the success of the platform, and we have really enjoyed the process of working with artists and galleries to create a feature that is helpful for them. As we are still in early days with the public collections (with many more exciting updates ahead) we encourage artists, galleries or collectors who are interested to let us know sooner rather than later, as you could be a part of the shaping of this feature to work best for you.