So you’ve heard of NFTs, but what are they exactly?
We’re going to tell you that and more. Like how to buy NFTs, where to buy NFTs, what NFT marketplaces are, and the best NFT marketplace.
This article contains valuable information you don’t want to miss. Let’s get started!
An NFT embeds data in digital works (like crypto art). It’s similar to a physical property deed, but it’s blockchain technology.
Unlike currency coins or notes, NFTs are one-of-a-kind and not interchangeable like dollar bills. Here are other benefits of NFTs.
Obtaining digital works as NFTs should give you ownership of the work. That’s part of the beauty of NFTs—they are transforming how asset ownership is currently verified and managed, and it’s much easier to transfer ownership over a digital ledger.
An NFT ensures the authenticity of any digital work through unique data stored on the blockchain.
NFTs are a cinch to transfer digitally compared to physical property. What’s required is a smart contract to ensure specific conditions get met between seller and buyer.
NFTs may lead to new economic growth through a “creator economy.” For example, an artist receives royalties each time an NFT gets sold because they remain the creator in the embedded NFT metadata.
NFT creators get actual value for their work through direct interaction with buyers. Additionally, buyers have more liquidity options with different NFT assets like virtual land, video games, or music.
As we just mentioned, there are different types of NFTs, and it’s a good idea to know what kind of NFT you want before buying one. A great place to start is knowing what interests you!
NFTs are sold virtually through marketplaces, either through a fixed-price listing or what’s called a Dutch auction system.
To buy NFTs, you need a blockchain wallet (WalletConnect or Coinbase are examples) and cryptocurrency tokens. You’ll also need an NFT account that can link to each NFT marketplace you want to use.
It’s also important to understand what kind of tokens you’ll use in an NFT marketplace—some “closed” marketplaces only allow the use of proprietary tokens.
NFT Marketplaces
Let’s look at fourteen NFT marketplaces to see what they offer buyers and sellers. We’ve included what tokens each marketplace uses. For example, Ethereum/Ether tokens are (ETH).
We’ve done a lot of research, and we’d say that the best NFT auction house or marketplace depends on what you’re interested in buying, selling, or trading. So that’s step #1 on how to buy NFTs!
There are currently thousands of NFT marketplace creators and collectors, and the space is constantly growing. That’s great news, but it comes with risks.
Some users have gotten victimized by hackers stealing NFTs off platforms through phishing attacks. Buyers have also had NFTs hacked from their “hot” crypto wallets, so ensure to store your digital property with added blockchain security.
Additional concerns lie with the lack of consistency with verification processes across NFT platforms—it’s always better to be cautious and use a marketplace with more stringent rules. That’s step #2 to know where to buy NFTs.
NFTs can be a fantastic investment, but when you’re buying, keep the adage “buyer beware” in mind!