Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have been making headlines for the past few years, with millions of dollars being exchanged for digital art, collectibles, and other unique items.
As the NFT market grows, many investors are looking for new NFT projects to invest in. However, with so many projects, it can be challenging to know where to start. Thus, discovering the best upcoming NFT projects requires research, analysis, and intuition.
By considering factors such as rarity, artist reputation, and community support, investors can identify promising NFT projects with the potential for significant returns.
This article will explore the best ways to discover upcoming NFT projects and offer tips for evaluating their potential.
What are NFTs, and Why are They Important?
NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are a type of digital asset that use blockchain technology to provide proof of ownership and uniqueness.
If we take traditional currencies or cryptocurrencies, they are fungible assets, meaning they are interchangeable. On the other hand, NFTs are one-of-a-kind digital assets that are not interchangeable and can represent anything from art and music to tweets and memes. Thus, they are non-fungible.
The importance of NFTs lies in their ability to establish a verifiable and secure record of ownership for digital assets, which has long been a challenge in the online world. With NFTs, creators and collectors alike can ensure their digital creations are unique and can confidently authenticate, buy, and sell on the blockchain.
One example that showcases the power of NFTs is the sale of digital artwork by the artist Beeple for a record-breaking $69 million. The artwork, titled “Everydays: The First 5000 Days,” was sold as an NFT at Christie’s auction house, cementing NFTs’ position as a legitimate and valuable form of digital art.
But NFTs aren’t just limited to the art world. They can potentially revolutionize industries such as music, sports, and gaming, where digital assets are already highly valued but lack a secure and standardized way of proving ownership.
As the use cases for NFTs continue to expand, they represent a new frontier in digital ownership and exchange.
Where to Find Upcoming NFT Projects?
There are three legitimate places to find promising NFT Projects — NFT Marketplaces, Crypto Forums/Social Media, and NFT News Websites.
1. NFT Marketplaces
These are online platforms specializing in buying and selling NFTs. They are a great place to discover new and upcoming NFT projects and artists.
Some well-known NFT marketplaces include the following,
- OpenSea is one of the largest NFT marketplaces, offering a wide range of digital assets, from art to gaming items.
- Nifty Gateway is a platform that hosts NFT drops and auctions from popular artists and celebrities.
- SuperRare is a curated marketplace for high-quality, limited-edition digital art.
- Rarible is a marketplace allowing creators to mint their NFTs and sell directly to buyers.
2. Crypto Forums and Social Media
These are online communities where people discuss and share information about NFTs and other crypto-related topics. They can be a great source of information about upcoming NFT projects and artists.
Examples include the following,
- Many NFT artists and collectors use Twitter to share their work and connect with their community members.
- Several NFT communities have dedicated Discord channels where members can discuss upcoming projects and drops.
- Reddit is another place for finding upcoming NFT projects. The r/NFT and r/CryptoCurrency subreddits are popular forums for discussing NFTs and crypto.
3. NFT News Websites and Aggregators
These websites and platforms specialize in reporting on NFTs and other crypto-related news. They can be a great source of information about upcoming projects and trends.
Some well-known NFT news websites and aggregators include the following,
- The Defiant is a news and analysis platform that covers the latest developments in the NFT and DeFi space
- NFT Calendar is an aggregator that tracks upcoming NFT drops and auctions from various marketplaces and platforms
Factors to Consider When Investing in Upcoming NFT Projects
Below are the critical factors to consider before investing in potential NFT projects.
1. Rarity and Scarcity
As a rule of thumb, the more unique an asset is, the more valuable it will likely be.
NFTs produced in limited quantities, such as a set number of copies, can be more valuable than those without no limit. Also, NFTs that are genuinely unique or offer something unique regarding artwork, music, or other digital media can be more valuable than those that are more common.
Examples of NFT projects demonstrating rarity and scarcity include CryptoPunks and Bored Ape Yacht Club.
2. Artist Reputation and Popularity
Another factor to look into is the reputation and popularity of the artist or creator behind the project. This is because well-known artists with a large following on social media platforms like Twitter or Instagram can produce high demand for their NFTs.
NFT projects that have benefited from their creator’s reputation and popularity include Grimes’ WarNymph collection.
3. Community Support and Adoption
NFTs are designed to be traded and exchanged in a community-driven ecosystem. Thus, a project with a strong and supportive community is more likely to succeed as it can generate buzz and demand for NFTs.
Also, if a project’s NFTs are being adopted and promoted by influencers and celebrities, it can generate greater demand and value.
NFT projects that have benefited from strong community support and adoption include the Bored Ape Yacht Club and the Axie Infinity game.
Emerging Trends in NFTs
NFTs have gained significant attention and adoption from various big players in the industry, such as Meta (formerly Facebook), Reddit, Twitter, Visa, and numerous emerging NFT startups.
With these developments, the global NFT market is anticipated to soar to reach $231 billion by 2030. Thus, the future of NFTs appears promising, with continued innovation and evolving trends in the NFT space, as mentioned below.
1. NFTs and Gaming Industry
Online gamers often spend significant time accumulating virtual assets, such as swords, coins, and other in-game items. But, in a traditional gaming ecosystem, these virtual assets typically have no real-world value and cannot be monetized outside of the game itself.
Enter the era of NFT-based games, such as Axie Infinity and Splinterlands, which are changing the gaming and virtual asset ownership landscape.
A. Monetizing Gaming Experiences
With NFT-based games, players can earn or purchase virtual assets during gameplay and store them in their digital wallets. These assets can then be traded on secondary markets for real money, creating opportunities for players to profit from their in-game efforts. This model, often called play-to-earn (P2E), enables players to monetize their gaming experiences.
B. Additional Revenue Stream for Game Developers
Furthermore, P2E models are not only benefiting players but also game developers. Developers can generate additional revenue through transaction fees and royalties by allowing virtual assets to be traded on secondary markets. This incentivizes developers to create unique and desirable in-game items that players would be willing to trade or purchase, leading to a more engaging and profitable gaming experience for both players and developers alike.
However, it’s worth noting that the P2E model also raises concerns about potential exploitation. Some players may focus solely on earning profits rather than enjoying the game. Additionally, the volatile nature of crypto markets, often used in NFT-based games, can introduce financial risks for players and developers alike.
2. NFTs and Music Industry
Many artists rely on streaming services and music labels to generate income, often facing challenges in receiving fair compensation for their creative efforts.
A. Direct Interaction with fans
One of the significant benefits of NFTs for musicians is that they can sell their music as digital assets directly to their fans. This gives artists greater control over how their music is priced and distributed. By selling their music as NFTs, musicians can earn significant profits, as fans can purchase these unique digital assets, representing ownership of a specific piece of music.
B. Combat Piracy and Unauthorized Distribution
Also, NFTs provide musicians with a way to protect their intellectual property rights and prevent unauthorized music distribution. NFTs can contain smart contracts that specify the terms of ownership, including copyright and usage rights. This means that once a fan purchases an NFT representing a music piece, they have ownership of that specific digital asset, and the artist can control how that asset is used and distributed. This can help musicians combat piracy and unauthorized music sharing, giving them greater control over their creative work.
The music NFT industry is already experiencing significant growth and is projected to reach a value of $80 billion by 2025. As more musicians and marketplaces embrace NFTs to sell music, we will likely see more partnerships between artists and platforms to facilitate buying and selling music NFTs. This could create a new ecosystem where musicians have more control over their music and can directly benefit from the value their work generates in the digital world.
3. NFTs and Ticketing Industry
NFTs have found their way into ticketing, presenting a promising solution for event organizers and attendees. By creating and selling tickets as NFTs, event organizers can improve the ticketing industry and overcome long-standing challenges such as ticket fraud and scalping.
A. Increased Control
One of the significant advantages of NFT-based ticketing is that it allows event organizers to verify ownership of tickets without relying on a third-party platform. This can help event organizers gain better control over the ticketing process.
B. Additional Value to Ticket Holders
NFT-based ticketing can offer exclusive benefits to ticket holders, creating additional value for the audience. When attendees hold NFT-based tickets, they gain access to the live event and receive a personal digital asset as the NFT. This can include digital collectibles, artwork, or other unique digital assets that hold value beyond the event, providing ticket holders with a personalized and memorable experience.
Various entities are already exploring the potential for NFT-based ticketing to provide lifetime value and special incentives. For example, WarnerMedia’s DC Comics recently offered comic book-inspired NFTs for free to users who had registered for their virtual fan event, DC FanDome. This allowed fans to attend the event and receive exclusive digital assets as a reward, creating a unique and engaging experience beyond traditional ticketing.
Risks and Challenges in NFT Investing
Even the most secure assets, like government securities, are not risk-free.
Thus, new types of assets like NFTs also pose certain risks like market, security, and regulatory risks.
1. Market Volatility
Like any investment, NFTs are subject to market volatility and price fluctuations.
While some NFTs have sold for millions of dollars, there is no guarantee that their value will continue to increase or hold steady. In fact, many NFTs have experienced significant drops in value after their initial hype has subsided.
One example is the CryptoPunks collection, which saw a surge in popularity and prices in early 2021, with some selling for over $7 million. However, by mid-September 2021, the average price for a CryptoPunk had dropped by over 50%, and some sold for less than $100,000.
2. Security Risks
NFTs are also vulnerable to security risks, including hacks and thefts. Because NFTs are stored on blockchain networks, so they are subject to the same risks as other blockchain-based assets.
Hackers may attempt to exploit vulnerabilities in smart contracts or blockchain protocols to steal NFTs or other digital assets.
One example of a security breach is when a hacker stole a collection of NFTs from the Nifty Gateway marketplace. The stolen NFTs were worth over $1.4 million, and the hack highlighted the need for increased security measures in the NFT market.
3. Regulatory Concerns
The NFT market is still largely unregulated, which creates uncertainty and risk for investors. While some countries have established guidelines for selling and trading digital assets, many have not.
These risks and challenges in NFT investing highlight the need for caution and due diligence when considering NFT investments.
While NFTs offer new and exciting opportunities for investors, they also come with significant risks that must be carefully weighed and managed.
Conclusion
Discovering the best upcoming NFT projects requires carefully considering factors such as rarity, artist reputation, and community support. It is essential to conduct thorough research and analysis before investing in any NFT project.
With the increasing popularity of NFTs, the market is constantly evolving, and investors must stay up-to-date with the latest trends and developments. Investors can identify promising NFT projects and potentially reap significant returns by staying informed.
Fortunately, as the market grows, the potential for investment opportunities will only increase.
FAQs
1. How can I invest in upcoming NFT projects?
You can invest in upcoming NFT projects by finding them on NFT marketplaces, crypto forums, social media, and NFT news websites and aggregators.
It is crucial to consider factors such as rarity and scarcity, artist reputation and popularity, and community support and adoption before investing in NFTs.
2. What are the risks and challenges of NFT investing?
Risks and challenges of NFT investing include market volatility, security risks, and regulatory concerns. NFT prices are subject to market fluctuations, and security breaches can result in the loss of valuable NFTs.
Additionally, regulatory uncertainty can create challenges for compliance and tax reporting purposes. It is essential to carefully consider these risks before investing in NFTs.
