Non-fungible tokens, known as NFTs, have been gaining more and more traction as the new top thing to invest in. The global attention for them spiked following success stories and the rapid development that provided an industry worth $22 billion just in 2021.
There are hardly any internet users that have not been exposed to NFTs in some capacity. Whether you are interested in gaining knowledge, small-scale or large-scale investing, or perhaps creating your very own non-fungible tokens, this article is for you.
Before storming popular NFT marketplaces such as digitaleyes, we first want to take a look into what non-fungible tokens are, as well as how to make them, sell them, buy them, and all in between. This will help you see if they are something you want to work on as well.
Are NFTs and crypto the same
So, let’s start from the very beginning. You might be wondering what exactly non-fungible tokens are. To put it in simple terms, NFTs are a new kind of digital asset. Unlike cryptocurrencies that are fungible assets, each non-fungible token is individual and unique.
As such, one NFT can not simply be replaced by another one, even if they look the same. Why is that? Well, it comes down to unique attributes and clear ownership rights. If you would, for example, trade one token with someone and have someone send you the same-looking one, those two tokens would be different in terms of value and data attributed to it.
If you did that same thing with cryptocurrency, you would get back the same value as the one you sent over. Therefore, NFTs and cryptocurrency are not the same things, although both are worthy and eye-catching investments.
What can be sold as an NFT
More or less, the sky’s the limit. Any kind of digital file can become a non-fungible token.
NFT creators worldwide have already successfully tapped into various areas.
These areas include photography, paintings, game items, virtual fashion items, collectibles, trading cards, drawings, music, videos, GIFs, art overall, domain names, and even memes.
Good thing is that the demand for crypto is on a high rise, meaning that creating NFT art is a great choice to be taking, especially with recent years that have, for better or worse, additionally pushed us into faster and more commonly used digitalization.
For the most part, right now, the most popular category of NFTs is art. Many NFT art pieces have already hit or surpassed the $1 million mark.
What makes NFTs so valuable
The thing is, this is a digital asset that exists on the blockchain and can represent real-world or digital things. They are minted (slang for “created”) with a computer code that is stored on the blockchain and you, as the owner, are provided with a so-called “smart contract”.
The info that is provided in that contract is exactly what differentiates tokens from one another, giving them that special asset value. Each smart contract is related to a certain NFT.
This is why the concept of clear, transparent, and exclusive ownership on the blockchain as well as the possibility to verify authenticity come into play as crucial elements. Additionally, there are elements such as ownership history, future value, popularity, utility, and more.
How to create NFTs
Now that we have covered what non-fungible tokens are, what you can turn into one, and where the differences between cryptocurrencies and this new phenomenon lie, it is time to see how you go about making an NFT of your own. Without further ado, let’s get into it.
Making your non-fungible tokens list:
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Choose what your item will be – first things first, you have to choose what you want to turn into an NFT. Here, we are talking about digital assets. It can be anything ranging from music to art, memes, and all things we covered previously. But, keep in mind that this has to be something you have ownership rights for.
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Choose the blockchain – As you choose your preferred blockchain, the most popular ones used in this field would, of course, be Ethereum, but there are other options to look into, such as Cosmos, Tezos, and Binance Smart Chain.
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Set up your digital wallet – If you do not already have a digital wallet up and running, now is the time to make one. Once you set up the wallet, you will go ahead and buy crypto. Keep in mind that most NFT platforms accept ETH;
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Select a good marketplace – We already mentioned digitaleyes. Once you have completed these four previous steps, you will go ahead and choose a marketplace that is not only popular and reliable but one that suits your product the best.
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Connect your wallet to the marketplace – After you have chosen your marketplace of preference, you will want to go ahead and connect your digital wallet to it to be able to sell and/or purchase NFTs. Some popular and trusted digital wallets include MetaMask and Coinbase.
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Mint NFTs – At last, the minting. Once you have your collection and art it is time to finally create your NFT. How you do this depends on which marketplace you opt for. Every place has its step-by-step procedures for you to upload the file to their platform and have it turn it for you into an NFT.
Minting is the process that will turn your digital piece into an NFT, a.k.a. the process that will transform the digital file into a digital asset stored on the blockchain.
You upload the file that you will be offering for sale as NFT and give it a name or a title or you can also add metadata – properties, statistics, levels, and other data specific to your creation.
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List your offer – In the process of selling, there are several options, such as selling it at a fixed price, at a time limited auction or selling it at an unlimited auction.
Keep in mind that if you choose to list your NFT under an auction, you will also want to set up a minimum price. If you are going for a time limited auction, you will want to determine how long the auction will take.
You have to remember that setting your prices too low might cause some losses, so be brave and do not underestimate the creations you made.
Is making NFTs hard?
As with all businesses, making NFTs requires time, understanding of the market, patience and some finances to kick-start your project with. Realistically though, making NFTs is getting easier by the day with the industry gaining more publicity and providing more opportunities for creativity and income. Make sure to not forget to have fun as you join this adventure.
