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0 Non fungible tokens (NFT) are a new form of digital collectibles. They’re like baseball cards, except each card is unique and can’t be broken down into smaller parts. Non fungible tokens hold tremendous potential for the future of gaming and other industries, but they may not be suitable for everyone. Here are a few things you need to know before buying any.
- The market is still in its infancy
Non fungible tokens are an innovative and rapidly growing field. Of course, it’s early days for the technology, and there aren’t many viable use cases yet. But rest assured: they will be helpful to someone.
As a non-expert in NFTs, it may take time before you find the exemplary use case (or learn how to write one yourself). Don’t rush into buying or building anything until you’ve done your research—especially if you’re not working with blockchain full-time already. If something seems too good to be true now, it probably is; don’t try to front on this technology just because of crypto hype. The nft collection market is still tiny, so it’s essential to focus your energy on solving a problem rather than getting rich quickly.
- There are different types of NFTs
Just like there are different types of physical collectibles (baseball cards, stamps, coins), there are a variety of non fungible tokens. The most common type is ERC-20 tokens, which are built on the Ethereum blockchain. However, other blockchains—including NEO and Waves—support their varieties of NFTs. You’ll need to do your research to determine which one(s) makes the most sense for your needs.
- They can be used to represent any digital asset
NFTs are unique in that they can represent any kind of digital asset. This includes (but is not limited to) virtual goods, game items, and real estate. The possibilities are endless!
So far, the most popular use case for NFTs has been digital collectibles—like CryptoKitties. But as the technology develops, we’re likely to see a wider variety of applications. For example, imagine buying a house on the blockchain or registering your car as an NFT. Exciting stuff!
- The standards are still in flux
There’s no globally accepted standard for non fungible tokens. However, the community is currently working on two de facto standards: ERC-20 and ERC-1155 (“gaming tokens”). Both varieties have their pros and cons; you’ll need to do your research before deciding which one(s) make sense for your use case. The good news is that most NFT smart contracts support both types—so it shouldn’t be an issue if multiple standards emerge.
One significant benefit of using a standard like ERC-20 over custom solutions is interoperability with other applications/games/services built on the same platform.
- They can be used for digital scarcity
Digital scarcity can create unique items that can only be owned by a single person or entity. Non fungible tokens are perfect for this purpose.
By using NFTs, developers can create rare and valuable virtual assets that can never be replicated. This opens up a world of possibilities for gaming and other industries.
