Abstract:
This thesis explores how technology reshapes social relationships, a widely accepted notion, yet focuses on how individuals and social groups also influence technological evolution in response to market demands and user behavior, as suggested by the Social Construction of Technology (SCOT) framework. The primary objectives are: 1) to investigate the practice of patron-client relationships within Thailand\'s NFT art community and 2) to examine interactions among various groups of actors that contribute to the creation of new values in NFT art within the context of creative digital capital competition. Through online content analysis, participatory observation, and in-depth interviews, this study argues that NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) are not merely technological artifacts but have a social life shaped by various actors\' influence on technological changes. The research reveals that unequal power relations including patronage relationships, similar to those in the traditional art world, persist within the Thai NFT art community, with new actors and dynamics emerging. Additionally, symbolic forms of capital, deeply rooted in Thailand\'s patronage system, continue to shape these relationships. Ultimately, the socially constructed nature of NFTs stands in tension with the blockchains ideal of reducing social inequality.