You may have heard of NFTs in the news or social media from independent artists and established brands. More people are joining the NFT space every day. So, what is an NFT? Read through our guide to learn about this unique blockchain application.

WHAT DOES NFT MEAN?

NFT stands for Non-Fungible Token."Non-fungible”means that it is completely unique. "Token” means that it can be transferred on a blockchain. Essentially, NFTs are assets that carry a unique digital identity and can be traded between users on a public blockchain like Tezos. Common examples of NFTs include artwork, trading cards, comic books, sports collectibles, games and more. Although NFTs tend to be associated with artwork, they actually represent much more.

How Do NFTs Work?

NFTs can be many things; most often they are represented as artwork, but NFTs can actually unlock a lot of things including digital and in-person experiences, etc. It works like this - because NFT ownership can be instantly and easily verified on the blockchain, NFTs can act as proof of ownership. This is helpful in categories like art, where provenance is such an important part of the collectability of a piece. But this provenance, or proof of ownership is even more useful when applying NFTs to things like experiences; for example, you might in the future use an NFT to unlock access to a digital or in-person gallery or event for a specific artist, with the NFT acting as a ticket or pass to grant you access. The possibilities are really endless.

Regardless of whether you are a brand, an institution, an artist or collector, NFTs work in the same way. NFTs empower creators to connect directly with fans and enable new types of exclusive experiences that can be virtual, in-person, or both.

How are NFTs Used?

NFTs offer further utility over traditional art pieces. NFTs can be traded on online marketplaces or exchanged directly between individuals.

NFTs also provide a variety of specific benefits for artists, such as royalties. NFTs can be programmed with royalty features that reward artists for every sale in specific marketplaces, allowing artists to sometimes even be able to get royalties for secondary marketplace sales if their work is resold–this is one of the biggest attractions of NFTs for artists.

NFTs provide a new way for fans and collectors to support the artists they love. It’s even possible to use NFTs as special tickets, offering exclusive benefits to certain owners. Since the ownership of NFTs is verifiable on the blockchain, they offer a whole new world of possibilities for engaging between creatives, brands and fans.

NFT Art comes in various forms, such as static and dynamic images, music and videos, and more. Additional information related to each NFT can be stored within the NFT’s metadata, giving each asset a unique history.