Demystifying NFTs: A Quick Dive into the Non-Fungible Tokens
NFT, or Non-fungible tokens, have become a hot topic in the blockchain industry ever since CryptoKitties released them to the world. But what are they, and what are they for?
What is NFT?
Non-fungible tokens (NFT) can be defined as any digital asset that has a unique identifier. Each token is different from the others and has its own values. They are not interchangeable, as their specific properties make them unique and allow them to be used in different ways. The most common use of an NFT is in the form of collectible cards. These cards are an example of how NFT can be used to create unique digital assets.
Collectible cards are a type of game that people have been playing for centuries. These cards are so special that they are unique and can only be collected once or bought as merchandise. They have no real value in the real world as money does, but the things you can do with them, like collecting them, trading with other players, and using them in games, make them valuable to the owner. There are a lot of other ways to use NFTs, and CryptoKitties made popular the idea of using them to digitize real-world assets on the blockchain.
CryptoKitties took the basic idea behind collectible cards and applied it to digital assets. Each CryptoKitty is unique, just like a physical kitty is, but there is no difference in value between two copies of the same cat.
Advantages of NFT
1) The most obvious advantage is that they are unique and different digital assets, so their value can vary based on real-world factors like supply or demand. Their value doesn’t depend on the actual market price for other digital assets but only on how much people are willing to pay for them.
2) Not using NFTs like normal cryptocurrencies also allow them to retain their value in the future. They won’t become worthless if cryptos become less valuable, as some of them have already tried to do.
3) Since they are unique, NFTs can’t be copied or stolen from a person since each one is different. The same cannot be said about other cryptocurrencies, which can be copied and used without the owner’s consent. This could lead to issues in the future with people not being able to control how their digital assets are being used. With cryptos, users have no choice but to trust the exchanges that they use and follow their terms of service.
Disadvantages of NFT
1) NFTs are unique and don’t really have a purpose besides being collectible. They can’t be used like regular cryptos, which makes them completely useless in the real world. Their current value depends entirely on people wanting to buy them for a price that is worth more than their current worth, and they are impossible to buy or sell items for other cryptocurrencies with them.
Just like cryptos, NFTs can’t be saved on paper or in any digital format as they aren’t stored digitally. To save them, you would have to take a picture of them or write down their private key.
2) Another tough thing about NFTs is that they can’t be easily traded for goods and services in the real world. Their rarity might make them desirable, but if there isn’t anyone who wants to buy them for goods and services, then their only value is on the market. This makes it hard for people to get rid of them without having to spend more money than they’re actually worth since they don’t have any practical use currently.
3) While NFTs can be used as a digital representation of any real-world asset, their lack of flexibility makes them hard to use. They are still trying to figure out how they can be used without being restricted to niche markets.
Controversies regarding NFT
The main issue with NFTs is that their value is solely dependent on people wanting to purchase them for more than what they’re worth, something not every company can afford to do.
With the current regulations in China, many ICOs have pulled out, and their projects now have no funding. This has already happened with CryptoKitties, and this has led many people to believe that mainstream companies will never accept NFTs as payment for real-world goods and services.
Transactions with cryptos are very easy and quick, but they also have high fees, which makes it impossible to have a transaction for more than a few cents. With NFTs, transactions are also complicated and expensive. Since these assets aren’t used regularly in the real world, their value depends on how much people are willing to pay for them, which can make investing in them really risky.
The task of selling a CryptoKitty is so daunting that no company has been able to do it yet.
ALSO READ: Keeping Online Anonymity: How to Become Invisible Online
Disclaimer: This page contains links that are part of different affiliate programs. If you click and purchase anything through those links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Click here for more information.
SUBSCRIBE TO TECHNOBRAX
If you want to receive updates whenever we post new articles or emails regarding discount deals on mice and keyboards, or other electronic devices CLICK HERE to SUBSCRIBE