What Are NFTs in 2022: Everything you need to know!

They are everywhere, yet many people are still confused about what NFTs are. NFTs have surged into popularity.

So what is this hype about NFTs. In my last article i talked about Metaverse

In this Article series I will explain

• What are NFTs?
• How NFTs work
• What are NFTs Used For?
• Are NFTs Safe?
• Should You Buy NFTs?
• How to Buy NFTs
• Popular NFT Marketplaces

What Are NFTs?

NFTs – stand for Non-fungible tokens

That’s still confusing? well…

Non-fungible tokens are cryptographic assets on a blockchain that have distinct identification codes and metadata that identify them from one another. NFTs cannot be traded or swapped at equivalency, unlike cryptocurrency. This is in contrast to fungible tokens, such as cryptocurrencies, which are identical to one another and may thus be used as a medium for monetary transactions.

Key Take Aways

NFTs are unique cryptographic tokens that exist on a blockchain and cannot be replicated.
NFTs can be used to represent real-world items like artwork and real-estate.”Tokenizing” these real-world tangible assets allows them to be bought, sold, and traded more efficiently while reducing the probability of fraud.
NFTs can also be used to represent individuals’ identities, property rights, and more.

Despite the fact that they have been around since 2014, NFTs are gaining popularity as a popular means to buy and sell digital artwork. In essence, NFTs create digital scarcity.

NFTs change the crypto paradigm by making each token distinct and irreplaceable, making it impossible for one non-fungible token to be equivalent to another. They are digital representations of assets and have been likened to digital passports because each token contains a unique, non-transferable identity that allows it to be distinguished from other tokens. They are also extendable, which means you may “breed” a third, distinct NFT by combining two NFTs.

How NFTs Work

NFTs exist on a blockchain, which is a distributed public ledger that keeps track of transactions. You have definitely heard of blockchain as the fundamental technology that allows cryptocurrencies to exist.

NFTs are commonly kept on the Ethereum blockchain, however, they can also be held on other blockchains.

An NFT is created, or “minted” from digital objects that represent both tangible and intangible items, including:

• Art
• GIFs
• Videos and sports highlights
• Collectibles
• Virtual avatars and video game skins
• Designer sneakers
• Music

Even tweets count. Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey sold his first-ever tweet as an NFT for more than $2.9 million.

NFTs are essentially digital collector’s items, similar to actual collector’s items. Instead of receiving a physical oil painting to put on the wall, the buyer receives a digital file.

They will also have sole ownership rights. That’s correct: NFTs can only have one owner at a time. The unique data of NFTs makes it simple to verify ownership and transfer tokens between owners. They can also be used to hold particular information by the owner or author. Artists, for example, can sign their work by putting their signature in the metadata of an NFT.

What are NFTs Used For?

Blockchain technology and NFTs provide artists and content creators with a one-of-a-kind possibility to monetize their work. Artists, for example, no longer have to rely on galleries or auction houses to sell their work. Instead, the artist may sell it straight to the buyer as an NFT, allowing them to keep a larger portion of the revenues. Furthermore, artists may automate royalties so that they get a percentage of revenues anytime their artwork is sold to a new owner. This is an appealing feature because most artists do not earn future revenue after their work is sold.

Art isn’t the only method to profit from NFTs. Charmin and Taco Bell, for example, have auctioned off themed NFT paintings to generate revenue for charity.

Charmin dubbed its offering “NFTP” (non-fungible toilet paper), and Taco Bell’s NFT art sold out in minutes, with the highest bids coming in at 1.5 wrapped ether (WETH)—equal to $3,723.83 at the time of writing.

Nyan Cat, a 2011-era GIF of a cat with a pop-tart body, sold for nearly $600,000 in February. And NBA Top Shot generated more than $500 million in sales as of late March. A single LeBron James highlight NFT fetched more than $200,000.

Even celebrities like Snoop Dogg and Lindsay Lohan are jumping on the NFT bandwagon, releasing unique memories, artwork, and moments as securitized NFTs.

Are NFTs Safe?

To be clear, neither the concept of digital representations of physical goods nor the application of unique identification is revolutionary.  However, when these concepts are combined with the benefits of a tamper-resistant blockchain of smart contracts, then they become a powerful force for change.

The most evident advantage of NFTs is market efficiency. Converting a physical item to a digital asset simplifies operations and eliminates intermediaries. The use of NFTs on a blockchain to represent digital or physical artwork eliminates the need for agencies and lets artists communicate directly with their consumers. They may also be used to enhance company operations.

The emergence of new markets and kinds of investing is the most intriguing opportunity for NFTs. Consider a piece of real estate divided into many divisions, each with its own set of attributes and property kinds. One division may be located near a beach, while another may be an entertainment complex, and yet another may be a residential neighborhood. Each piece of land is distinct, valued individually, and represented by an NFT based on its qualities. The incorporation of necessary metadata into each individual NFT can help to simplify real estate transactions, which is a complicated and bureaucratic process.

Decentraland, a virtual reality platform built on Ethereum’s blockchain, has already put this idea into action.  As NFTs become more sophisticated and connected to financial infrastructure, it may be possible to implement the same notion of tokenized pieces of land, each with a different value and position, in the physical world.

Should You Buy NFTs?

Just because you can buy NFTs, does that mean you should? It depends!

NFTs are risky as their future is unpredictable, and there isn’t enough historical data to gauge their performance. Because NFTs are so new, it may be worth investing in small amounts to test them out for the time being.

In the end, it’s a personal decision to buy an NFT. If you have the willing power to buy and consider a certain art so valuable then it’s worth considering.

However, keep in mind that the value of an NFT is entirely determined by what someone else is prepared to pay for it. As a result, demand will drive the price rather than fundamental, technical, or economic factors, which often impact stock prices and, at the very least, serve as the basis for investor demand.

All of this means that an NFT may be resold for less than what you paid for it. If no one wants it, you might not be able to resell it at all.

Capital gains taxes are also levied on NFTs, just like when you sell stocks for a profit. However, because they are considered collectibles, they may not be eligible for the favorable long-term capital gains rates that stocks are, and they may even be taxed at a higher collectibles tax rate.

How to Buy NFTs

Here is just a brief intro on how you can buy an NFTs. For the full article and step-by-step Guide click here.

At the same time, you might want to start your own NFT collection if so click here to learn more

If you want to build your own NFT collection, you’ll need the following items:

To begin, you must obtain a digital wallet that allows you to store NFTs and cryptocurrencies. Depending on the currencies accepted by your NFT provider, you may need to acquire some cryptocurrency, such as Ether. You may now buy cryptocurrency with a credit card on platforms such as Coinbase, Kraken, eToro, and even PayPal and Robinhood. You’ll then be able to transfer it from the exchange to your preferred wallet.

As you research your alternatives, keep costs in mind. When you acquire cryptocurrency, most exchanges charge at least a percentage of your transaction.

Many NFTs can only be purchased with Ether, so owning some of this cryptocurrency—and storing it in a digital wallet—is usually the first step. You can then purchase NFTs via any of the online NFT marketplaces, including OpenSea, Rarible, and SuperRare.

Popular NFT Marketplaces

In the Next Article, we will take a deep dive into these areas on being the best marketplace to Launch your NFT collection. Click Here to learn more

Currently, the largest NFT marketplaces are:

•  OpenSea.io: This peer-to-peer platform bills itself a purveyor of “rare digital items and collectibles.” To get started, all you need to do is create an account to browse NFT collections. You can also sort pieces by sales volume to discover new artists.

•  Rarible: Similar to OpenSea, Rarible is a democratic, open marketplace that allows artists and creators to issue and sell NFTs. RARI tokens issued on the platform enable holders to weigh in on features like fees and community rules.

•  Foundation: Here, artists must receive “upvotes” or an invitation from fellow creators to post their art. The community’s exclusivity and cost of entry—artists must also purchase “gas” to mint NFTs—means it may boast higher-caliber artwork. For instance, Nyan Cat creator Chris Torres sold the NFT on the Foundation platform. It may also mean higher prices — not necessarily a bad thing for artists and collectors seeking to capitalize, assuming the demand for NFTs remains at current levels, or even increases over time.

Although these and other sites are home to hundreds of NFT artists and collectors, make sure you do your homework before purchasing. Some artists have been duped by imposters who have listed and sold their work without their consent.

Furthermore, the verification processes for creators and NFT listings differ among platforms, with some being more strict than others. For NFT postings, OpenSea and Rarible, for example, do not need owner verification. Buyer safeguards appear to be limited at best, therefore while buying for NFTs, remember the ancient adage “caveat emptor” (let the buyer beware).

Make sure to check the Next Article in this Series.