Rumored Buzz on NFT
What’s an NFT?
A non-fungible token (NFT) is a unique unit of data on a blockchain that can be linked to digital and physical objects to provide an immutable proof of ownership.
The data an NFT contains can be tied to digital images, songs, videos, avatars, and more. However, they can also be used to give an NFT owner access to exclusive merchandise, tickets to live or digital events, or be linked to physical assets like cars, yachts, and much more.
In this respect, NFTs allow individuals to create, buy, and sell items in an easily verifiable way using blockchain technology. But bear in mind that, unless otherwise stated, you’re not buying the copyright, intellectual property rights, or commercial rights to any underlying assets when you buy an NFT. However, all the legal details can get pretty complicated, so we’ll dive into this more in subsequent sections.
When it comes to creating and selling NFTs, the process is really rather simple. It works like this:
An individual (or company) selects a unique asset to sell as an NFT.
They add the object to a blockchain that supports NFTs through a process called “minting,” which creates the NFT.
The NFT now represents that item on the blockchain, verifying proof of ownership in an immutable record.
The NFT can be kept as part of a private collection, or it can be bought, sold, and traded using NFT marketplaces and auctions.
As you might imagine, the technical definition is a bit more convoluted. If you’re interested in that kind of breakdown, our NFT dictionary gives you a comprehensive overview of all the technology and infrastructure in the NFT ecosystem.
How are NFTs different from cryptocurrency?
Just like the money in your bank account, cryptocurrency is what you use for any and all transactions on the blockchain. Cryptocurrency can be purchased or converted into fiat currencies (dollars, euros, yen, etc.) via crypto exchanges. By contrast, an NFT is a unique and irreplaceable asset that is purchased using cryptocurrency. It can gain or lose value independent of the currency used to buy it, just like a popular trading card or a unique piece of art.
In this respect, NFTs are non-fungible and cryptocurrencies are fungible.
To better understand this, it makes sense to think of traditional fiat currencies. If we asked you to let us borrow a dollar, you wouldn’t open your wallet and say, “Which dollar bill do you want?” Doing so would be silly, as each $1 bill represents the same thing and can be exchanged for any other $1 bill. That’s because the U.S. dollar is fungible. Cryptocurrencies are also fungible. They’re not unique and can easily be traded and replaced.
NFTs, on the other hand, are non-fungible in the sense that no two are the same. Each NFT is a unique unit of data that cannot be replaced by an identical version because there is no identical version.
When it comes to NFTs, uniqueness and scarcity increase their appeal and desirability. And as is true of all rare items, this scarcity allows individuals to sell their NFTs for premium prices.
Why own NFTs?
The demand for NFT art has exploded recently. However, there is still a lot of skepticism. After all, NFTs are generally tied to digital files. How is owning such an NFT different from a screenshot of a photo? Does “proof of ownership” mean anything? To help you decide, here are some of the main reasons why people own NFTs.
1) It empowers artists
Publishers, producers, and auction houses often strong-arm creators into contracts that don’t serve their interests. With NFTs, artists can mint and sell their work independently, allowing them to retain the IP and creative control. Artists can also earn royalties from all secondary sales of their work.
In this respect, NFTs have the potential to create fairer models by bypassing the gatekeepers that currently control creative industries, and many individuals buy NFTs because it’s a way of empowering and financially supporting the creators that they love.
2) Collectibility
Despite costing less than 5 cents to make, a 1952 Mickey Mantle rookie card sold for $5.2 million. This happened because of the history, rarity, and cultural relevance of the card. NFTs are, in many ways, the digital version of this. For individuals who want to build a collection of digital assets, NFTs offer a unique opportunity that hasn’t existed outside of traditional collectibles and art markets ever before.
3) Investment
Some NFT owners simply want an asset that will increase in value. In this respect, some collectors treat NFTs as an investment — much like traditional art. Want proof? Mike Winkelmann, a prominent American digital artist known professionally as Beeple, sold his Everydays: The First 5000 Days composite at Christie’s for $69 million in March of 2021.
This may seem strange to some, as everyone can see and interact with the image. However, as noted, there can only be one NFT owner. For some, this is enough. Yet, market volatility makes NFT investment a high risk, with the potential for major losses.
4) Community
NFT Ownership also comes with social benefits, as great site many creators have turned their NFT projects into vibrant communities. The Bored Ape Yacht Club is, perhaps, the best example of community building in relation to an NFT project. Collectors get access to a members-only discord, exclusive merchandise, a vote in the future of the project, tickets to virtual meetups, and more. As such, for many collectors, owning an NFT how they socialize with friends and a matter of identity.