There is no particular reason why an NFT must be associated with a JPG file, as opposed to a physical object. It's just a certificate, after all. Instead of (or

There is no particular reason why an NFT must be associated with a JPG file, as opposed to a physical object. It's just a certificate, after all. Instead of (or in addition to) the usual IPFS URL you would have a detailed description of the physical artwork, including any identifying marks, and of course some evidence that the NFT issuer was in fact the original owner of the piece. It gets a bit dicey if someone later decides to sell the physical art without passing along the NFT, or vice-versa, but then again the same thing could happen with a traditional (physical) certificate of authenticity. Presumably the artwork would still have some value even without the certificate, as there are other ways to establish its authenticity; the reverse may or may not be true.