The Challenge
Trust eroded sharply within the NFT royalty system during 2023. Though blockchain technology intended to secure ongoing artist compensation automatically, actual results diverged widely. With platforms striving for dominance, numerous ones introduced fee-free transactions effectively sidestepping royalty obligations. Artists deeply embedded in their fan networks found themselves powerless while vast sums went uncollected.
The Royalty Crisis: What unfolded next exposed a gap between promise and reality. Artists found their work traded repeatedly without compensation. Platforms once seen as allies began favoring buyers over makers. Income from resales vanished under new policies labeled flexible or fair. Promises of sustainable creation faded quietly. A system built to reward originality did the opposite instead.
Opacity and Tracking Complexity: Despite royalty payments being made, tracking which NFTs produced them remained unclear. Where the funds moved next added further confusion. Claiming what was never collected posed yet another hurdle. Many wallet owners did not realize amounts were due to them in the first place.
The Technical Barrier: Within Solana’s rapid blockchain environment, developing an answer required forming advanced tracking systems directly on chain that would:
Monitor all secondary sales across multiple marketplaces
Which NFTs carried payment of royalties, others bypassed them
Payments belong to specific wallet owners by accurate assignment
Enable seamless claiming without gas-intensive operations
All the while, keeping clear what Web3 originally aimed to show
User Experience Gap: Tools became necessary when everyday players struggled with long digital codes. Without simple access, earnings often slipped through the cracks. What looked like progress instead built barriers. Hidden steps blocked rewards meant for those who made value. Clarity rarely followed confusion in these systems. Behind every unused balance stood a person who gave up halfway.
Community Trust Erosion: With unpaid royalties growing, trust within NFT communities started to weaken. Marketplaces lost favor among holders; frustration spread quietly. Creators found themselves unable to influence outcomes. Doubt settled into the idea that NFTs could reshape how making art supports artists.
The Solution
What began as a concept at the 2027 Grizzlython Hackathon evolved into Renaissance, crafted by Builderz to clarify royalty claims. Functioning within the Backpack wallet as an xNFT or on its own website, the system simplifies oversight of overdue payments. Access happens through a single interface no complex steps required. Clarity emerges where confusion once lived.
Seamless Royalty Tracking Dashboard: We built a comprehensive interface where NFT holders could:
Connect their Solana wallet instantly
All of their NFTs appear together, displayed in a single organized layout
Monitoring of royalty-producing items took place. Items responsible for income were noted accordingly. Revenue-linked components received observation. Attention went toward those yielding payments. Pieces tied to earnings were recorded systematically
Identify unpaid royalties across major marketplaces
Transaction records appear clearly, showing every detail without concealment
Through a clear interface, each detail appeared without exposing the underlying blockchain mechanics. Verification remained entirely on-chain despite simplified presentation. Complexity faded into the background, yet transparency stayed intact. The system revealed only what was necessary, keeping operations visible but never overwhelming.
On-Chain Smart Contract Infrastructure: At its centre stood a Solana based program functioning as a smart contract to manage how royalties were redeemed and recorded:
Constructed with Rust alongside the Anchor framework to enhance protection and speed
Tracking royalty payments happens automatically on various online platforms
On-chain entries connect digital assets to their owners. Ownership details appear within blockchain logs. Records show transfers between accounts. Data stays permanent once written. Wallet addresses link to unique tokens. Information cannot be altered after submission
Enabled one-click redemption of unpaid royalties
Built to align with Solana’s rapid processing and minimal fees
Engineered for broad compatibility, this system supports every NFT set on Solana. Because of its architecture, Renaissance functions universally instead of being limited to single initiatives.
xNFT Integration for Backpack Wallet: Fully operational within the Backpack wallet, Renaissance exists as an xNFT rather than a standard web application. Functioning independently, it operates without reliance on conventional browser-based interfaces. Built differently, this decentralized model integrates directly into the host environment. Instead of linking externally, it executes tasks where it resides:
Tracking royalties became possible directly within the user's wallet interface. Redemption followed naturally through the same environment. Access stayed consistent throughout the process. Functionality remained contained in one place at all times
Integration operates quietly within Backpack’s interface. User actions flow without interruption. Experience remains consistent throughout tasks. Functionality aligns naturally with existing patterns. Navigation feels familiar at each stage
Secure authentication using wallet signatures
Mobile-first design for on-the-go access
Complete alignment of features compared to the online platform
TypeScript & Modern Web3 Stack: The system interface was built using these components:
A fresh version of Next.js arrives. Performance improves when using the App Router structure. This setup works efficiently by design. Structure influences speed in meaningful ways. Navigation responds quickly under load
TypeScript for type-safe development and maintainability
Interfaces gain responsiveness through TailwindCSS, yet beauty emerges via Material UI
tRPC and TanStack Query for efficient data fetching
Web3.js for blockchain interactions
A pathway opens through Helius, delivering steady connections to Solana. Speed emerges without compromise, built into each interaction. Stability arrives by design, not chance, shaping consistent outcomes. Access unfolds smoothly, guided by precision engineering behind the scenes
Automated Bill of Materials (BOM) Generation: Renaissance automatically identified the following:
What collections showed notable royalty payments
What every wallet must receive in full
Historical payment patterns
Marketplace-specific data
All happen instantly, enabled through Helius RPC integration
Developer-Friendly Architecture: Open-source tools and resources built for developers:
Clear documentation for integration
Patterns for reusing smart contracts
Frontend scaffolding for similar projects
Best practices for Solana dApp development
This shift positioned Renaissance less as mere software - more as a benchmark shaping Solana’s broader architecture. While others followed trends, it set them quietly across layers of the network.
Whitelabel Solutions: Beyond the main Renaissance system, customized royalty solutions were built for distinct groups such as Sharky.fi. These enable initiatives to provide uniquely styled access to rewards. What matters is how tailored features support community-specific needs.
Community Impact: A fresh look showed challenges within blockchain systems need fixes built on similar technology. Solutions emerge when tools match the environment they serve. Only then does progress follow naturally:
Trust returned through clear openness
Ownership of digital items now rests with those who make or keep them
It turned out Web3 tools might match Web2 ease. Simplicity emerged where complexity once ruled. Through subtle shifts, access became smoother. Not every change was loud - some simply removed friction. Usability grew without fanfare. What seemed distant now feels near. A quiet step forward, yet clear
Achievement begins where tracking adapts - precision now defines ownership flow in digital collectibles. Ownership clarity emerges through systematic updates, replacing guesswork with consistency. Where records once lagged, responsiveness takes priority. Accuracy becomes routine, not rare. Trust grows quietly within transparent structures. Progress appears in small, steady refinements across every transaction log
Result
Success at the 2023 Grizzlython Hackathon on Solana came to Renaissance, confirming a practical response to a critical NFT challenge. Since then, usage has spread among thousands of NFT owners who monitor and collect royalties through it. Transactions continue without pause, handled reliably under steady operation. At every point, stability remains unchanged.
Beyond everything else, Renaissance demonstrated something clear: creator royalties had never failed only the systems around them. Without relying on grand claims, a different path emerged through straightforward design. Tools built openly made space for fairness without sacrificing ease. When technology centers people, outcomes shift quietly but surely. Proof arrived not through noise, but function.
