Paragraph 1: Blockchain systems are often proposed as a way to increase transparency in art markets. A permanent record of ownership could, in principle, make it harder to hide theft, forgery, or conflicts of interest. Paragraph 2: Yet the record is only as reliable as the information entered into it. If a seller misidentifies a work or withholds a side agreement, the technology can preserve an inaccurate or incomplete claim. Paragraph 3: Transparency therefore also requires verification practices, legal standards, and consequences for false entries. A ledger can support trust, but it cannot create trust by itself.