# William Entriken

> Civic hacker and solutions architect

**Wikidata**: [Q123561042](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123561042)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Entriken)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/william-entriken

## Summary
William Entriken is an American software engineer, businessperson, and civic hacker celebrated for authoring the ERC-721 Non-Fungible Token Standard. He is a solutions architect who develops open-source tools in the blockchain and civic technology sectors.

## Biography
- Born: 1985
- Nationality: United States
- Education: Master of Science, Master of Business Administration (Drexel University)
- Known for: Authoring the ERC-721 Non-Fungible Token Standard
- Employer(s): Not specified
- Field(s): Blockchain, civic technology, open source, Ethereum

## Contributions
William Entriken has authored and led the creation of the ERC-721 Non-Fungible Token Standard, a landmark technical specification for non-fungible tokens on the Ethereum blockchain, which was published on January 24, 2018. This standard provided the technical foundation for the NFT ecosystem, enabling the creation and management of unique digital assets.

In the civic technology space, Entriken has developed multiple public-interest applications. In 2014, he created an app to track SEPTA Regional Rail delays and propose schedule improvements. Also in 2014, he investigated and wrote about the high cost of data from the Philadelphia Traffic Court. In 2019, he developed tools to uncover hidden E-ZPass fines for Pennsylvania Turnpike users. He has also been recognized as a writer and has worked as a financial analyst, general manager, and cybersecurity specialist.

## FAQs
### Q: What is William Entriken best known for?
A: William Entriken is best known as the lead author of the ERC-721 Non-Fungible Token Standard, which defines how non-fungible tokens are created and managed on the Ethereum blockchain. This standard is the foundation for the modern NFT market.

### Q: What is a civic hacker?
A: A civic hacker is a person who uses their technical skills to create tools, applications, or data analyses that address public issues, improve government services, or increase transparency. William Entriken has built apps to analyze public transit delays and uncover hidden driving fines.

### Q: What is William Entriken's educational background?
A: He holds a Master of Science and a Master of Business Administration from Drexel University.

## Why They Matter
William Entriken's creation of the ERC-721 standard was a pivotal development in the blockchain industry, directly enabling the explosive growth of the non-fungible token (NFT) market. Before ERC-721, tokens on blockchains like Ethereum were fungible (interchangeable), which is suitable for currencies but not for unique items like art or collectibles. The ERC-721 standard provided a common set of rules for creating unique, non-interchangeable tokens, which fostered an entire ecosystem of digital art, gaming assets, and collectibles.

His work as a civic hacker demonstrates the practical application of technology for public benefit. By creating tools to analyze SEPTA train delays and expose problems with E-ZPass fine notifications, he has used his software engineering skills to empower citizens and increase government transparency and accountability. His work bridges the gap between high-level blockchain innovation and tangible, real-world civic improvement.

## Notable For
- Lead author of the ERC-721 Non-Fungible Token Standard.
- Recognized as a prominent civic hacker in Philadelphia.
- Creator of apps analyzing SEPTA Regional Rail performance and E-ZPass fine structures.
- Named to the "40 Under 40" list by Drexel University in 2022.
- Holds dual graduate degrees: an MBA and a Master of Science.

## Body
### Author of the ERC-721 Standard
Entriken's most significant contribution to the technology sector is his role as the lead author of the ERC-721 standard, titled "ERC-721: Non-Fungible Token Standard," which was published on January 24, 2018. This Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) established the technical framework for non-fungible tokens, which are unique and not interchangeable. This standard became the backbone of the NFT industry, allowing for the creation of digital collectibles, artwork, and other unique assets on the blockchain. His work has been profiled by publications such as CoinGecko and Drexel Magazine.

### Civic Technology and Advocacy
Entriken has applied his software engineering skills to civic problems, particularly in the Philadelphia area. In January 2014, he was featured in local news for creating an application that tracked SEPTA Regional Rail delays and suggested more efficient schedules. Later that year, in July 2014, he authored an article questioning the $11,000 cost for data from the troubled Philadelphia Traffic Court. In September 2019, he was cited in a PhillyVoice article for work that helped drivers identify outstanding E-ZPass fines they may not have been aware of.

### Professional Career
Beyond his work on blockchain and civic tech, Entriken has held diverse roles including general manager, financial analyst, and cybersecurity specialist. In 2017, he was the source for an Inc.com report exposing a bank's cybersecurity cover-up. He operates online under the pseudonym "Fulldecent" on platforms including Twitter, GitHub, and Twitch.

### Education and Recognition
He is an alumnus of Drexel University, where he earned both a Master of Science and a Master of Business Administration. In 2022, Drexel University recognized him as one of its "40 Under 40" honorees. He speaks English and Mandarin.

## References

1. [40 Under 40 - William Entriken. Drexel University. 2022](https://drexelmagazine.org/2022/william-entriken/)
2. [William Entriken](https://phor.net)
3. [This app shows you how often SEPTA Regional Rail is late (with fixes). 2014](https://technical.ly/civic-news/septa-regional-rail-late-app/)
4. [40 Under 40 - William Entriken. 2022](https://drexelmagazine.org/2022/william-entriken/)
5. [About Us - William Entriken](https://pacificmedicaltraining.com/bio-william)
6. [Frustrated Over Late SEPTA Trains, Software Developer Creates App Proposing Better Schedules. NBC. 2014](https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/frustrated-over-late-septa-trains-software-developer-creates-app-to-recommend-schedule-changes/2113743/)
7. [You may have racked up big E-ZPass fines and not even know it. 2019](https://www.phillyvoice.com/ezpass-pennsylvania-turnpike-code-fines-appeals-foia-hacker/)
8. [A Developer Broke His Decade-Long Silence to Expose This Bank's Cybersecurity Cover-Up. Inc.. 2017](https://www.inc.com/sonya-mann/cybersecurity-zecco-scandal.html)
9. [Spotlight #3: William Entriken - The Catalyst Behind ERC-721. CoinGecko. 2017](https://www.coingecko.com/learn/spotlight-3-william-entriken)
10. [This local technologist made Philly the birthplace of the leading NFT standard. 2021](https://technical.ly/software-development/nft-william-entriken-standard/)
11. [ERC-721: Non-Fungible Token Standard. 2018](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-721)
12. [How a new generation of NFTs plans to cut its carbon footprint. Fortune. 2019](https://fortune.com/2022/04/25/how-a-new-generation-of-nfts-plans-to-cut-its-carbon-footprint/)
13. [Why does this data from our troubled Philadelphia Traffic Court cost $11K?. 2014](https://technical.ly/civic-news/traffic-court-data-expensive-william-entriken/)
14. [Spotlight #3: William Entriken - The Catalyst Behind ERC-721. 2022](https://www.coingecko.com/learn/spotlight-3-william-entriken)