NFT is emerging as the new digital currency craze after Bitcoin. With the explosive growth of NFTs, many investors are concerned about the true potential of the projects. Is investing in NFTs a risky venture? And is NFT going to follow the pattern of the ICO bubble burst in 2017?
1. What is NFT?
NFT stands for NON-fungible Token. In which:
Fungible Token
Fungible Token is a digital good used for transactions, exchanging them for other digital goods of equivalent value, similar to how we exchange fiat currencies. The prime example of a Fungible Token is Bitcoin. The main characteristic of this transaction is assets with the same value.
Non-fungible Token (NFT)
Non-fungible Token or NFT is a digital asset or digital certificate representing ownership of electronic goods or assets (both tangible and intangible). NFTs cannot be destroyed or duplicated.
Unlike typical cryptocurrencies, NFTs cannot be substituted and are not directly exchangeable with each other. This is because NFTs establish a unique identity for the asset.
The majority of NFT tokens are crafted based on one of the two Ethereum token standards (ERC-721 and ERC-1155). Ethereum's blueprints empower software developers to seamlessly deploy NFTs, ensuring compatibility with a broader ecosystem, including exchanges and electronic wallet services like MetaMask and MyEtherWallet.
Eos, Neo, and Tron have also released their own NFT tokens to encourage developers to create and store NFTs on their respective blockchain networks.
2. NFT Origins
NFTs are not a recent phenomenon. The first NFT project, CryptoPunks, emerged in 2017, featuring a collection of 10,000 24x24 pixel images. Initially, NFTs were created to promote the widespread adoption of cryptocurrencies, allowing anyone with an Ethereum wallet to claim a punk for free.
CryptoKitties stands out as a prominent NFT project. Unlike CryptoPunks, CryptoKitties doesn't differ much. The sole distinction is that, instead of collecting 'punks' like in CryptoPunk, CryptoKitties players collect, breed, and trade virtual online cats.
However, everything changed with the emergence of DeFi (Decentralized Finance) solutions in 2020. DeFi developers revamped Non-Fungible Tokens and swiftly began exploring new applications for what was once considered 'novel.'
Modern NFT projects are far more advanced than the original CryptoPunks and CryptoKitties endeavors. Thanks to smart contract technology, nearly everything can be encoded and stored on the blockchain network. Moreover, newly created NFTs are much more complex.
3. Advantages of NFT
The use of NFTs opens up revenue opportunities in various industries. Moreover, through NFTs, individuals can delve into cryptocurrency for the first time. Some benefits and advantages of NFTs include:
4. Drawbacks, Limitations of NFT
The major drawback and challenge of NFTs lie in handling decentralized systems, which can be time-consuming. Meanwhile, the blockchain concept demands complete simplification. Alongside this are market collapse risks.
5. NFT Operational Mechanism
NFTs serve as tokens representing a unique asset managed on the blockchain. Hence, the blockchain functions as a decentralized ledger, tracking ownership rights and the transaction history of NFTs.
The process of creating NFTs can be executed through contracts based on the blockchain. Ethereum, being one of the first widely used platforms, has now also released NFTs on its platform, alongside EOS and NEO.
6. Utilizing NFTs
NFTs are currently making waves in the gaming industry, art sector, sports, and even have the potential to be used in real estate. Many gamers are already familiar with the concept of buying and selling virtual items in online games.
- Explore More: Making Money with NFTs
7. The Future of NFTs
After integrating into the Blockchain network, NFTs rapidly expand in scope and scale. Considering the speed at which this token integrates into the digital ecosystem, we can anticipate a significant shift in the cryptocurrency world.
The future of NFTs looks promising, with the total project market surpassing a staggering $100 million by the end of July 2020. Industry experts even predict that 40% of new users will choose and engage with NFTs.
8. Is Investing Money in NFTs Highly Risky?
Similar to other digital assets, supply and demand are crucial factors influencing NFT prices. Due to their inherent scarcity and the increasing interest of investors in NFTs, the demand has never been higher.
However, alongside this, some experts also caution against the risks of investing in NFTs.
Important Note: The information in this article is for REFERENCE purposes only and not investment advice. Before deciding to invest in NFTs or any other cryptocurrencies, it's safest to conduct detailed research to avoid potential pitfalls.
The NFT craze seems to show no signs of cooling down. Are you considering investing in NFTs? Don't forget to share your opinions with Mytour.
- Explore More: What is Polkalokr (LKR)? Is it worth investing in
