Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, are on the rise, and some celebrities are willing to spend large sums of money to own them. What exactly are NFTs, and why should we care about them?
This tutorial will teach you all you need to know about NFTs, how to acquire them, and, most importantly, how to benefit from this type of investment.
What does NFT mean? Definition of NFT
NFT is an abbreviation for Non-Fungible Token. More specifically, it is a token that cannot be substituted by another, thus the term “non-fungible.”
NFTs are virtual and cryptographic objects that have unique identifying addresses on the blockchain. These virtual objects are distinguished by the metadata they include. This might be a signature, author’s name, product kind, creation date, or something else.
In brief, crypto NFT is a digital item (image, video, or audio file) with a one-of-a-kind, non-replicable identifying code.
Here’s everything you need to know about NFTs:
- Unlike cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, each NFT is unique.
- Because each digital work has an electronic certificate, counterfeits do not exist in the NFT industry.
- NFTs enable musicians to broaden their audience and hence attract new investors.
- The bulk of NFTs is hosted on the Ethereum blockchain. The Cardano blockchain is storing an increasing number of projects.
- Since last year, the art market has shifted into the internet realm. The number of NFTs has surged by more than 20,000%! As a result, it is an excellent moment to invest in an NFT.
What is an NFT? NFTs explained
NFTs are similar to the notion of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum. They are, in fact, digital assets that function similarly to them on a blockchain network.
As with crypto-assets, NFTs may therefore be transferred from one wallet to another. The transaction is clearly fast, cheap, and completely safe. Because they are kept on a blockchain network, they are also absolutely transparent.
The similarities with cryptocurrency, however, end there. Cryptos can, in fact, be replaced or swapped parity. NFTs, on the other hand, cannot be since they are one-of-a-kind. Each NFT may be authenticated by a certificate of authenticity that includes information on the NFT’s work as well as ownership rights. In other words, no two NFTs are identical.
Here are 5 key points for better understanding of NFTs:
- The uniqueness of an NFT is often authenticated by a tamper-proof certificate.
- Transparency: All platform users may observe and trace blockchain transactions.
- Immutability: A newly formed NFT cannot be duplicated or altered.
- Tokens are kept on secure networks for your protection.
- Decentralization: advanced algorithms control transactions.
How do NFTs work?
Now that we clarified what an NFT is and what distinguishes it, it’s time to look at how it operates. If you intend to purchase NFTs, here is all you need to know before you begin.
Fungible vs Non-Fungible
We discussed earlier what distinguishes fungible tokens from non-fungible tokens. More specifically, a cryptocurrency is a fungible asset, similar to a note or silver coins that you use every day to make purchases. They can be exchanged or replaced yet retain their original worth.
This is also true for the majority of consumer items, such as a car that can be replaced. There are certain exceptions, such as wine, which is a fungible good but can become non-fungible if it is one-of-a-kind or uncommon.
Non-fungible assets (NFTs) are to be classified as such. This means that they cannot be exchanged for another while retaining the same worth. Each NFT has a distinct value. It can be copied indefinitely, but the title deed stays unique.
For example :
Consider the instance of an artist who has recently created a new physical painting. He will next build an NFT that will reflect the worth of his piece of art in some way.
In this scenario, the NFT serves as an authentication certificate. As a result, the artist preserves ownership of his work and assures that his picture cannot be duplicated or replicated.
The buyer can thus resort to the unique transaction identification, often known as “hash”, which is connected with each NFT to validate its legitimacy.
It should be highlighted that NFTs can represent any asset, including works of art like paintings, antiques, real estate, or even a virtual sporting event. This notion has made it simple to store property digitally.
Blockchain
The majority of NFTs are housed on a blockchain network, specifically Ethereum. This is because ERC-721 coins are supported by the ERC (Ethereum Request for Comment) network.
Of course, there are other blockchains that allows NFTs, such as Binance’s Smart Chain. Due to its reduced prices, compared to the Ethereum blockchain, Bonance is also quite popular for the sale and acquisition of NFT.
As a result, the blockchain creates non-fungible digital assets with distinct properties. With the metadata already contained, the token may thus act as an identity certificate for any sort of digital asset such as music, a GIF, a tweet, and so on.
NFT Minting
The word “mint” comes from the French word “to hit.” This refers to the process of creating an NFT on the blockchain network in the NFT sector. When an NFT is mined, it is automatically deposited on the blockchain and recorded in an immutable registry. The NFT may be traded or acquired on the market once it has been created. The transaction will, of course, be digitally tracked.
Surprisingly, there are two types of NFT mints:
- Through a smart contract:
During resale, the user will link his wallet to a site on the Ethereum blockchain, using for example MetaMask. He will then simply need to click “Mint” to begin producing his NFT with an algorithm that will produce the backdrop, lines, and so forth at random.
Once formed, the NFT and its characteristics will be delivered to the smart contract. The latter will subsequently handle the integration into the blockchain.
- Through a Marketplace:
It is also feasible to mint by using platforms like OpenSea. Simply go to the platform, click on the NFT/Create section, and begin constructing your non-fungible token.
For example :
Have you conducted a groundbreaking study and wish to safeguard the findings? This can be done by minting NFTs on a blockchain network like Ethereum or Binance’s Smart Chain. You will be the only owner of the research and it’s results, and you will be able to sell it on markets.
Fractional NFTs
A property can be split via NFT splitting. In other words, each co-owner has an equal share of the revenue and profits. The procedure is simple, and numerous platforms now provide this type of service.
- In most circumstances, the original owner who locked up the assets must participate equally.
- Another possibility is to develop a synthetic version of the NFT and then split it so that it may be shared.
For example:
You own a million-dollar property represented by an NFT, you are the single owner of both the property and the related NFT token.
If you intend to release a portion of the property’s worth, you can divide the NFT into ten. In this particular example, you keep 60% or 6 NFT. The remaining 40%, or four NFTs, can then be sold on marketplaces.
Each NFT buyer will therefore own a portion of the property, but contracts must be completed for this to be effective.
The different types of NFTs
Let us now look at the many sorts of non-fungible digital assets that exist. However, this is not an entire list because new NFT genres arrive on the market on a regular basis. At the very least, you’ll have an idea of what your next investment should be.
- Tokenized physical real estate
- Virtual real estate in the Metaverse
- CryptoPunks and other digital collectibles/avatars
- Sports moments
- NFT Games
Physical real estate
Real estate, which includes both physical and virtual products, is now one of the most successful forms of NFTs. We know that creating an NFT matching to real estate is extremely easy because they are non-fungible items. Each apartment and house is distinct from the others in terms of style and characteristics.
NFT is also becoming more common in condominiums, and the notion of NFT splitting is highly popular there as well. The plan is to divide the property such that each co-owner has an equal part.
For example:
In Florida, a home and an NFT were recently sold together. The mansion, which had four bedrooms and classic style, sold for $653,000 and was paid for using Ethereum tokens.
The home has since been represented by an NFT token on the Ethereum network. If the new owner wants to sell all or part of his property, he can only do so through a portfolio-to-portfolio exchange.
Virtual real estate in the Metaverse
NFT is extremely prevalent in the Metaverse, particularly in the realm of virtual real estate. To refresh your memory, the Metaverse is a virtual version of the actual world, and investor interest in this field has been unprecedented in recent years. Furthermore, everything points to the Metaverse expanding tremendously in the future years.
Indeed, the number of initiatives is growing, and Decentraland is one of the most promising projects. In this 3D gaming environment, users can buy plots of land and build buildings on them. It should be noted that each piece of land will thus be represented by a distinct NFT, which may subsequently be traded on a market.
For example:
A plot in the Metaverse game Axie Infinity sells for a stunning $2.3 million in November 2021. A month later, on the Sandbox platform, a piece of land with a hundred virtual islands sold for more than $4.3 million. If you already own some Metaverse Land, have a look at Meta Ads which lets you create billboards on your Metaverse Land and monetize it.
CryptoPunks and other digital collectibles/avatars
Avatars from the CryptoPunks collection are among the most popular NFT collections right now. It project was created in 2007 and features 10,000 virtual characters with randomly generated attributes. It should be noted that each Cryptopunk is distinct and is allocated an NFT token.
Cryptopunks appears to be right out of the 1970s in terms of design. They have it all: shaggy manes, shiny clothing, and a punk attitude. CryptoPunks, by the way, are among the most sought-after NFTs on the market.
One of the CryptoPunk NFTs was sold for a record-breaking 8,000 ETH in February 2022. This was the cryptocurrency equivalent of more than 23 million USD at the time, making it one of the most valuable NFTs on the market. According to the originator of the CryptoPunk series, Larva Labs, this specific NFT was sold by its original holder in 2017 for a stunning $1,646.
That being said, CryptoPunks assisted in the debut of NFT collections, and the market has since seen hundreds, if not thousands, of collections that are as unusual as they are wonderful. Here are our top 5 most popular NFT collections right now:
| Best NFT collections of the moment | Collection NFTs |
| Yubo NFT | 10,000 Unique Hikes |
| Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) | 10,000 Bored Ape NFT |
| Cryptopunks | 10,000 punk NFTs |
| Postcards from Paradise | 676 Postcards from Paradise |
| Artieverse | 4.500 3D characters |
Sports moments
If there is one notion that has swiftly gained traction in the world of NFT, it is undoubtedly the realm of sport. These NFTs, similar to the old Panini collectible sports cards, return to match highlights.
Through the NBA Top Shot collection, major leagues such as the NBA and ATP have teamed with Dapper Labs to produce short animation sequences depicting crucial game moments. It should be noted that the NBA certifies each NFT sold for a fee ranging from $9 to $230 per unit.
NBA Top Shot was an instant success. It presently has 419,583 registered users and a trading volume of $938,251,588 USD.
Any highlight is unique, as with most NFTs, and every virtual card bearer may brag about gold in their hands. It is almost guaranteed that the cards will increase in value over time.
As an example:
A virtual NFT card portraying NBA sensation Zion Williamson blocking a shot got sold for more than $100,000.
During the last Australian Open, various object, such as the center court and the referee’s chair, were presented as NFTs.
NFT Games
NFT games are another trend that is now gaining popularity. Play To Earn (P2E) games allow users to progress in a virtual environment and earn cryptocurrencies and NFTs just by playing.
Players are given assets, and the worth of their assets grows as they go through the game. They may, of course, use NFTs to purchase equipment that helps them to advance faster in the game.
Players produce value for the game by engaging in the game economy. They are then compensated for their time and effort with crypto assets or unique NFTs.
Axie Infinity was one of the first games to kick off the trend. It invites users to keep playing and progressing in the metaverse using the “play-to-earn” gaming style.
As an example:
The recently released Play Pirate X Pirate game which is based on the subject of pirates, allows you to form your own crew and move through the numerous worlds of the metaverse to which the game is linked.
Players can acquire unique NFTs such as virtual ships to get an advantage over other players. They may also improve their avatars by purchasing specific goods. The more people play, the more likely it is that they will receive virtual tokens.
In our opinion, here are some play-to-earn NFT spaces that deserve to take a look at:
| NFT space play to earn | Associated NFT tokens |
| Axie Infinity | AXS |
| Decentraland | LAND |
| Artie | GRANNY Token |
| Mobox | MBOX |
| The Sandbox | SAND |
| Crypto Yacht Club | CYC |
| DefiLand | DFL |
| Legends of Crypto | LOC |
| Nitro League | NITRO |
Why invest in NFTs?
NFTs offer everything to be liked by traders, including great potential for growth and development. Asset tokenization also provides liquidity, and the growth of marketplaces creates new posibilities. If you’re still hesitant to get started, here’s something to persuade you.
NFTs as a store of value
The primary reason investors are becoming more interested in NFTs is that they may offer a store of value. Now that we know that it is possible to create an NFT and convert it into a valuable asset (real estate, athletic event, etc.),it is easy to see the countless possibilities for the market.
If chosen in a right moment, reselling the created or acquired NFT will bring lots of profit. We witnessed this with the Cryptopunk avatar, which was sold for $23 million after being purchased from the original owner for $1,646.
NFTs can thus be seen as long-term value storage, at least until they become scarcer and, as a result, more valuable.
Ideal for content creators
Content providers such as musicians, authors, cartoonists, and artists in general typically sell their works through third parties. In exchange, they have to share a percentage of their earnings.
Artists that use YouTube to share their work, for example, might receive some money depending on the number of views on each video if she or he participates in the advertising program. YouTube, for its part, will take a percentage of the profit, which is can be larger than what the Youtuber earns.
By investing in NFTs, content providers may sell their products directly without relying on third parties. By using a unique NFT, these artists will be able to keep ownership of their songs, drawings, paintings, music, or films etc.
NFT as an investment
Purchasing NFTs as an investment product makes sense since the price you pay today mightbe much less than the price it will be worth in the future.
The acquisition of a hundred virtual islands in The Sandbox’s metaverse for 4.3 million dollars remains a noteworthy illustration. Even though the sum may appear excessive to some, the buyer has made a substantial gain on his investment in digital real estate. He built virtual mansions on each island, and 90% of them sold in a single day for $15,000 apiece. Some properties have since been relisted for close to $100,000.
This demonstrates that the real estate development sector has found a specialized market for itself in the Metaverse. A beginner investor might so purchase a virtual parcel of property and then develop real estate on it in order to profit.
Conventional restrictions have been removed
Established jurisdictional constraints make it difficult to invest in a real-world store of wealth. For example, buying real estate in the United States might be challenging for purchasers from some parts of the world. Even for those who are successful, administrative procedures might take months.
High notary costs and verification processes that take as long as land purchase formalities are also factors. If you choose to invest in non-fungible digital assets, you will not encounter any restrictions and will be able to purchase with ease.
The affordable price of NFTs
Another reason why more traders are engaging in NFTs is that you may get started on a little budget. The purchase of NFT tokens is still open to anyone. Furthermore, it is possible to locate a niche product in which to invest which will be successful in the future.
We will clearly advice to avoid purchasing a block of property on Decentraland, which costs around 2.4 million dollars. It is preferable to start slowly and with assets under $20.
This follows from the example of the Australian Open NFTs. An umpire’s chair, which dated back to the 1970s, initially was sold for approximately $19. Years later, the same chairs have been sold for thousands of dollars.
The growing NFT market
NFT is the future of technology. Investors are reassured by the fact that it is also can be usedin real life in many sectors, for example in the battle against counterfeiting, and that it is not merely an investment opportunity in a trending phenomenon.
The excitement around NFTs should not fade. In addition, current crypto news shows that sales records for the most unusual NFT works. This is an excellent chance for an investor looking to make a substantial gain on his assets.
According to data gathered and released by NonFungible.com, thousands of NFTs are purchased and traded every day. Every week, 15,000 to 50,000 sales occur. This is a significant increase over 2017 when just about 100 sales occurred on a weekly basis.
Can NFTs be hacked and stolen?
Cryptocurrencies and blockchains are well known for their safety. However, this does not rule out the possibility of fraud.
Because NFTs must be purchased through a website, if a criminal gains access to your account, they may easily trade your work to their own account for free, then sell it for fast cash and flee. Fortunately, you may reduce the possibility of someone illegally accessing your account by choosing a strong password and, if the platform enables it, two-factor authentication.
“Sleepminting” is another method for selling counterfeit NFTs. This method allows you to sell an NFT under someone else’s name. This solution was recently exploited to sell a forgery of Beeple’s $69 million pieces. You may check if this approach is being used by comparing the numerical IDs of the seller and the artist, but it’s easy to get cheated if you’re not vigilant.
How Many Buyers Are There?
According to nonfungible.com, which analyzes NFT transactions on prominent marketplaces, most days in April and May 2021 between 1,000 and 3,000 unique wallets purchases has been made.
In April, there were over 30,000 unique purchasers, and in May, there were about 25,000. This is a little decrease from the 39,000 unique purchasers in March, but this is a huge increase in transactions over 2020, when most months had fewer than 10,000 unique transactions.
How Much Does an NFT Sell for on Average?
NFT trackers and marketplaces frequently provide an average selling price — when you put all of the sale prices together and divide by the number of sales this creates the impression that ordinary NFTs sell for thousands of dollars. But this is not a correct approach. Instead, Parker collaborated with an unnamed data scientist to examine main NFT purchases on OpenSea between March 14 and March 24, 2021. They discovered that almost a third of transactions were for less than $100, and 53.6 percent were for less than $200.
So, while some NFTs are getting sold for millions of dollars, the majority sell for less than $200. The problem is that the expenses of minting and selling an NFT may range between $70 and $150, thereby turning this little profit into a loss.
What Is the Largest NFT Marketplace?
NBA Top Shot is the largest NFT marketplace by overall volume traded, with over $600 million in all-time volume exchanged in mid-2021. However, if just recent sales are considered, OpenSea, which facilitates deals worth $70 to $90 million per 30 days, claims the top rank in mid-2021.
The Atomic Market and NBA Top Shots have the most traders in terms of number rather than total value. The Atomic Market has over 440,000 all-time traders and over 150,000 over 30 days in mid-2021, while the NBA Top Shots has just over 400,000 all-time and 160,000 over 30 days in mid-June, with nothing else coming close.
What’s the Most Expensive NFT Virtual Land Ever Sold?
Crypto games, which employ cryptocurrencies and NFTs as in-game objects that players may trade, have grown in popularity in recent years. Axie Infinity, one of these games, saw a player sell some land for $1.5 million.
This property was composed of nine contiguous genesis blocks, the most precious pieces of land in the game. Because there are only 220 pieces of this land available, the price is already high, but as more people join, the price for these restricted plots is likely to grow much further.
A guarantee to borrow
More and more platforms are now giving investment in exchange for the pledge of NFT tokens. This is similar to how traditional loans work, where the borrower must commit a particular amount of product in order to legitimize the financing arrangement.
In the case of a crypto loan, however, the borrower commits a real-world NFT token. This is a condition for loan approval, and if authorized, the transaction will be effective immediately, with no more verification required.
If the borrower does not secure the return of the money, the platform may sell its NFTs to compensate for the losses.
NFT vs Cryptocurrency
NFTs and cryptocurrencies frequently coexist and can be used interchangeably. Given that both are digital assets on the blockchain, this is understandable. However, there are some distinctions between the two.
Cryptocurrencies
Cryptocurrencies are virtual currencies. They can be used for the purchase of products and services, but they can also be used for the purchase and trading of NFTs.
There will be no change in tokens received if you buy $100 worth of Bitcoin from two separate marketplaces. Individual BTC tokens will always have the same value, i.e. the current market price.
NFTs
NFTs, on the other hand, are designed for a completely different purpose. An NFT allows you to guarantee the value of a digital commodity, track it, and ensure its validity. In other words, each token is unique and has links to digital works of art in its metadata (drawing, image, sound, video, painting, etc.).
An NFT enables the authentication and monetization of virtual works of art. If an NFT symbolizes, say, a plot of land in Decentraland, there will be no two identical ones. It will indeed be linked to the storyline, ensuring its legitimacy.
It should be noted, however, that both digital assets are quite volatile. A cryptocurrency may have a rising price today, but nothing guarantees that it will have the same value in a month. This is also true with NFTs; some may appreciate in value over time, while others will undoubtedly decline. Also, before launching, it is vital to make a thorough analysis.
NFT Marketplaces
Except for a few exceptions, NFT markets’ operating systems are based on those of cryptocurrency exchange platforms. They link vendors and buyers, ensuring a safe and totally transparent transaction.
Because there are so many on the market today, making the appropriate decision is critical. Here are the factors to consider before making your decision.
Reputation
You must first ensure that the marketplace you have picked has a decent online reputation. Try to learn as much as you can about its activities:
- How long has the platform been up and running?
- How many people utilize it?
- On a daily basis, how many transactions does it generate?
It might be dangerous to get started if you can’t find any facts or numbers on the internet, whether on forums, social networks, or sharing platforms. You have to make sure that the platform is trustworthy and that your assets are secure.
Supported NFTs
Also, make sure that the NFT you intend to purchase is available on the market. To do this, do not be afraid to browse over its catalog. Check to see if the platform provides an auction or a live purchase of your preferred coin.
Costs
It should be emphasized that transaction fees account for the majority of marketplace earnings. It is important to note that the fees normally apply to both buyers and sellers, and it is also something to consider while selecting the market:
- Typically, buyers pay a percentage of the overall transaction price.
- If you want to buy a token for $1,000, the market will charge you a 2% fee.
- A transaction fee of $20 will be charged to you.
Payments and wallets
NFTs are often purchased with bitcoin. However, if you want to buy an NFT hosted on the Ethereum blockchain, you must pay for it using ETH tokens.
Most markets collect the whole sum, including fees, through a link to the user’s wallet.
- Before you can make a purchase, you must first connect your Trust Wallet or MetaMask wallet to the marketplace.
- Once you’ve authorized the transaction, the platform will deduct the amount to be debited from your asset portfolio automatically.
- The NFT will be deposited into your wallet automatically.
NFT – Advantages and Disadvantages
Before you begin purchasing your first NFT, consider the benefits and drawbacks of such an investment:
Advantages
- In 2021, NFT sales will have surpassed $40 billion.
- There are NFT coins for every budget.
- NFTs help the art market.
- Each NFT is unique.
- The worldwide NFT market is quite liquid.
Disadvantages
- NFTs are equally as risky as cryptocurrencies.
- NFTs are very volatile and can lose value overnight.
- An NFT’s ability to be resold in the future is not guaranteed.
Conclusion
Non-fungible tokens have skyrocketed in popularity in recent months. As evidence, various successful ventures have developed, gaining the attention of celebrities and financial organizations. Investing in stocks is now out of date; the trend currently favors NFTs.
Crypto NFTs are valued for the chance to obtain something authentic and unique. Although we are still in the early stages of the journey, we can confidently predict that NFTs will write the future of investment.
FAQ: We answer your questions about NFTs
You now understand everything there is to know about NFTs. If you have forgotten any important information, we have summarized the questions that users usually ask themselves in these 5 points.
NFT stands for non-fungible token. It is a digital asset in the form of a token that symbolizes actual value (artwork, land, automobile, etc.). Please keep in mind that each NFT is unique.
An NFT’s value might rise or fall based on its scarcity. It’s also no surprise that an NFT increases in value when celebrities mention it.
There is no such thing as a predetermined time or standard. However, when the price of NFTs in its category falls, its price should rise. Nevertheless, it is vital to be informed about the change of pricing. In order to accurately analyze the ideal moment to sell, you will need to follow the value curve.
So far, Rarible is the only platform that allows you to coreate a free NFT on Ethereum. And even here you will have to pay the blockchain expenses. The second option would be to use a gas-free blockchain, such as Polygon.
To quickly make an NFT, you must use a specialized platform such as OpenSea or Rarible. You must first establish an account and then proceed through the various stages to put your token.
