Not sure what NFTs are and how to get started investing in them - or whether you should in the first place? Here's what
you need to know.
How to buy, create and sell non-fungible tokens
NFT stands for "non-fungible token." NFTs are used to guarantee ownership of a unique asset -- usually a digital asset
such as a piece of art, musical composition, or an item within a video game.
These tokens are built and managed on a blockchain, the same digital ledger technology system utilized by Bitcoin
and other types of cryptocurrencies. NFTs are usually based on the Ethereum network, but there
are other blockchains some NFTs use as well, such as Solana and Polkadot.
Think of these digital tokens as a type of virtual certificate similar to a physical certificate or title that you might
present to prove you own a physical asset such as real estate. They're a digital proof of ownership originally designed
for digital assets and art. However, NFTs can also be used to guarantee ownership of unique physical assets for
everything from property to collectibles to physical works of art. For our purposes, we'll refer to NFTs primarily as
representing virtual assets unless otherwise specified.
How to buy NFTs
NFTs are bought and sold via a purpose-built NFT marketplace, kind of like Amazon or Etsy,
only for digital assets. These marketplaces can be used to buy an NFT at a fixed price or function as a virtual auction,
much like the exchange system for buying and selling cryptocurrencies and stocks. Prices on NFTs listed for sale via
auction are therefore volatile, changing in value depending on demand. The higher the demand, the higher the price.
A key difference between NFTs and stocks and cryptos is that stocks and cryptos are fungible - meaning each unit is
just like the other. One share of Amazon is the same as another share of Amazon, and one Bitcoin token is equal to
another. NFTs are non-fungible, meaning the token you buy represents a unique item not directly replaceable by anything
else.
To bid on these digital assets, you'll need to open and fund a crypto wallet on an NFT marketplace. A crypto wallet,
like a digital wallet on an e-commerce platform, stores cryptocurrencies needed to purchase an NFT. A wallet needs to be
funded with the crypto needed to buy a targeted NFT. For example, an NFT built on the Ethereum blockchain technology
might require its purchase in Ether tokens.
There are a variety of marketplaces that support NFT purchases. Top NFT marketplaces include OpenSea, Rarible,
SuperRare, and Foundation. There are other niche marketplaces that specialize in particular assets. For example, NBA Top
Shot is owned by the National Basketball Association and sells clips of player performances as NFTs. Regardless of the
marketplace, a crypto wallet will need to be opened and funded before bidding on and buying an NFT.
How to sell NFTs
Once you own an NFT, the digital asset is yours to do with as you please. You can keep it as a collectible, display it
for others to see, or use it as part of a larger digital project. You can also list it for sale. Marketplaces charge a
fee for NFT sales. These fees can fluctuate based on the blockchain network the NFT uses since the blockchain computing
needed to verify the NFT consumes energy, known as a "gas fee."
To sell a digital asset you own, the piece will need to be uploaded to your marketplace of choice, provided that
marketplace supports the blockchain the NFT was built on. From there, you can choose to list it for sale at a set price
or opt for an auction-style sale in which buyers place bids.
Once uploaded, the marketplace will verify the asset. After it's sold, the marketplace will handle the transfer of the
NFT from the seller to the buyer and will also transfer crypto funds to your wallet less the listing fee and other
related blockchain computing expenses.
How to create NFTs
Part of the allure of NFTs comes from creators -- artists, musicians, filmmakers, writers, and the like -- who can
guarantee the authenticity of their work and monetize it as NFTs. Anyone can turn a digital asset into an NFT (or
"mint" it) and sell it on a marketplace.
Each platform handles things a little differently, but the basic minting process is as follows:
- Have a crypto wallet opened and funded (like with Ether in order to cover the computing fees
involved with creating the NFT).
- Click the "create" button within the marketplace and upload your work.
- List the NFT for sale either for a fixed price or for sale via auction.
Pros and cons of NFTs
The value of some NFTs has skyrocketed in the past year and attracted a lot of attention from the investment
community. There certainly are some merits to consider when buying and using NFTs:
- Certain physical collectibles (such as art) have a long track record of appreciating in value,
and digital art could exhibit the same price appreciation.
- Buying and selling digital assets as NFTs yields access to potentially far more buyers and
sellers than in the past.
- "Smart contracts," meaning a set of coded commands built into the blockchain, can ensure that
artists and creators get paid based on the use and resale of their work in the future.
But there are also some reasons not to invest in and use NFTs:
- Since most NFTs represent static assets that don't generate any income on their own, they are
primarily valued by subjective metrics such as buyer demand. Consequently, sky-high prices may not last forever,
and NFTs could lose considerable value.
- Creating and selling NFTs isn't free, and the fees can add up to more than an NFT is valued by
other users on a marketplace.
- NFTs and the blockchain technology they're built on have an environmental impact since they use
up a significant amount of
to create and verify transactions.
Are NFTs the right investment for you?
The NFT movement is new and is an early demonstration of the potential cryptos have to make the digital economy work
for more people. Creating and selling digital assets might make a lot of sense for creators. But when it comes to
buying NFTs for their value as a collectible, they are a speculative investment. Value is uncertain and will
fluctuate based on demand for the work itself.
There's no set rule for figuring out which collectible will increase in value and which one won't. But identifying a
new NFT trend early can pay off big later on. Some digital works of art that originally sold for petty values have
gone on to sell for many thousands of dollars.
If you have an eye for art, music, etc., and you enjoy collecting, dabbling in NFT investing might make sense for
you. Some things to look for when buying include the creator of the asset, how unique the piece is, the history of
the asset's ownership, and whether, once owned, an asset could be used to generate income (for example, payment to
view a piece or relicensing fees).
As to the argument that NFTs are a "bubble" waiting to pop, bubbles are usually only revealed in hindsight. But bear
in mind that doesn't change the fact that digital assets could indeed cool off at some point in the future. Weigh
the risks, and diversify your
investments - perhaps by mixing in cryptos as well as stocks of businesses
developing blockchain technology to your NFT portfolio.
NFTs are in the early days of development. It's a promising new front in the world of technology, but risks abound
when investing in any movement's nascent stage. Tread lightly as you learn more about NFTs, and remember to stay
diversified with your investments to limit the risk of any single asset derailing your wealth-building progress.
Thanks for reading
