What Are NFTs? A Guide To Non-Fungible Tokens

2021 is where everyone was talking about NFTs and it seemed like the next big thing. Fast forward to 2025 and people are speculating on whether NFTs can ever reclaim their past glory. 

There was truly a time when a digital image of a monkey (Bored Apes collection) fetched thousands of dollars in ETH, however, now they are just out of the crypto scene.

Read this article to find out what are NFTs, why they became so popular, and how to make them yourself! Ever since it went mainstream in 2021, everyone from digital artists to celebrities to football clubs has hopped on the NFT train. Read on to learn all about NFTs and why they’re so popular!

What are NFTs?

NFTs stand for “Non-Fungible Tokens”. If an object is fungible, it’s easily traded with another item of the same value. For example, fiat currency is fungible because you can trade a $20 bill with another $20 bill, which will still have the same value. 

In contrast, you cannot easily exchange non-fungible items. For example, while the Mona Lisa and Starry Night are both paintings, they don’t have the same value and cannot be traded.

NFTs are pieces of data attached to a digital asset (e.g., pictures, music, or videos) that act as proof of ownership of that asset. While the asset can be copied and saved by others, you’re the rightful owner of that digital asset.

Most NFTs are one-of-a-kind items – the Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) generative NFT collection is a good example. The collection consists of 10,000 ape pictures, and none of them are exactly the same. The fact that there’s only one copy of each ape in existence is what makes them valuable.

While NFTs have been around since 2014, they truly exploded in 2021, thanks to big pushes from celebrities and sports figures. Endorsements from celebrities like Grimes and Matt Damon, as well as the success of NBA Top Shot, propelled NFTs into the mainstream. Since then, more and more people have flocked to NFTs (even making their own) to capitalize on the boom.

How do NFTs work?

NFTs exist on a blockchain, a public digital ledger that records transactions. While most NFTs are recorded on the Ethereum blockchain, some are hosted on alternative blockchains like Solana and Polygon.

Creating an NFT is called minting. It involves attaching a digital certificate to the piece of art and registering it on the blockchain. The digital certificate confirms your ownership of the art and records the NFT’s transaction history. If you buy an NFT from someone else, you can see all of its previous owners in the digital certificate.

Similar to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, you “store” NFTs in a digital wallet. Unlike physical wallets that hold money, digital wallets provide access to the NFTs recorded on the blockchain. 

What are NFTs used for?

NFTs are primarily used to signify ownership of digital assets and prevent fraud. But thanks to developments in the field, there are many other ways to use NFTs, like:

Certificates of ownership

One of the basic uses of NFTs is to verify your ownership of a digital asset. Say you have a CryptoPunks #124 NFT. While anybody on the Internet can save the picture, you’re the rightful owner because you have the digital certificate of ownership.

Digital collectibles

Some NFTs are designed as digital collectibles, similar to how people collect stamps or baseball cards. Stores like NBA Top Shot and Topps NFTs bring sports collectibles into the 21st century with digital collectibles you can trade with other collectors.

Investment vehicles

The scarcity of NFTs makes them great mediums for investment and speculation. Many collectors “flip” NFTs by buying them at a low price early on, then selling them for a higher value immediately after. Other collectors prefer to hold onto NFTs in hopes they’ll multiply in value in the future. 

Real estate documents

NFTs are essentially digital records secured on a blockchain, meaning they’re almost impossible to tamper with. The real estate industry can use NFTs as digital land deeds to speed up transactions and track property value changes.

Video game items

NFT-based gaming is taking the industry by storm. Players collect unique, one-of-a-kind in-game items they can use to power up their characters. Meanwhile, games like Axie Infinity implement a play-to-earn model, where players breed creatures to battle and trade with for real-world money.

Important platforms in the NFT space

The NFT space is more than just digital artwork and marketplaces. With more industries and players coming in, the NFT space is ever-expanding. Here are some common platforms you’ll find in the NFT space:

NFT marketplaces

Some of the best NFT marketplaces like OpenSea, Rarible, and Coinbase NFT are like the hubs of the NFT landscape. They host digital collectibles made by a wide range of creators and put them up for sale to the public. Many of these marketplaces also host NFT drops, where new NFT projects are launched.

Long-established players in the fine art world like Sotheby’s and Christie’s have also entered the NFT space. Notably, Christie’s hosted the auction where Beeple sold his Everydays: The First 5000 Days NFT for a whopping $69 million in 2021.

NFT launchpads

Launching an NFT project alone can be challenging for some people – this is where NFT launchpads come in. These companies help artists by providing fundraising and marketing for their NFT collections.

Metaverse

The easiest way to describe the metaverse is like the virtual world seen in Ready Player One. While we haven’t quite reached that level yet, virtual worlds like Decentraland let players create, mingle, and play in customizable LANDs.

How To Create An NFT?

Creating NFTs in crypto is a relatively simple process. All you need is your favorite creative software, artistic talent, and crypto in your wallet.

Here’s how to make an NFT in six easy steps:

• Come up with an idea. Depending on your objectives, you can create a piece that appeals to a wide audience or art that only a small niche would appreciate.
• Work on the art piece. Use your creative software to bring your idea to life. Consider generative art scripts if you’re planning to make large NFT collections like BAYC.
• Save your work. Ensure you have backups so you won’t have to start over if something happens.
• Sign up for a cryptocurrency exchange and connect your crypto wallet to the site.
• Choose the “Mint” option and go through the entire process.
• Pay the gas fee, and your NFT is officially minted. 

Now that your NFT is uploaded to the marketplace, you must promote it so people want to buy it. Some of the best NFTs also have the best marketing teams behind them. Here are some of the best marketing methods to promote your NFT:

• Create dedicated NFT collection social media accounts to post artwork and project updates.
• Start a Discord community to foster an active fanbase and gain early buyers.
• Work with NFT influencers to promote your collection.

Are NFTs dead?

It is true that NFTs experienced explosive growth in 2021, but the hype has truly faded in 2025, where only a handful of crypto bros talk about them. Back then the true meaning of NFTs was more of a status symbol than just trading it on the NFT marketplaces. Digital art collections like Bored Ape Yacht Club, and others were publicly shared on live TV and promises were made of their long-term viability. 

But referring to NFTs as “dead” would be premature.  By 2025, NFTs encompass more than simply digital art and collectibles.  The emphasis has switched to real-world uses, with sectors including virtual real estate, gaming, and intellectual property adopting NFTs to generate value outside of the speculative frenzy.  With the development of blockchain technology, NFTs are becoming instruments for digital ownership, asset tokenization, and even decentralized identity verification.

2025 decline of NFTs

The dominance of CryptoPunks has diminished as newer initiatives have surfaced and pushed the limits of what NFTs may represent, even though they are still largely recognized as the original digital collectible and retain major cultural importance.  The next stage of NFTs is now being defined by projects like CloneX, Azuki, and Pudgy Penguins, which go beyond the speculative art scene and include community-driven experiences, metaverse integration, and real-world application.

In order to ensure sustained involvement, Pudgy Penguins, for instance, has had success growing its brand through tangible goods and experiences for holders. Creating a community-driven environment with cross-platform connectivity has helped Azuki gain traction, while RTFKT Studios’ CloneX has solidified its position in the digital and physical worlds by using partnerships with well-known companies.

Although the original excitement surrounding NFTs has subsided, the fundamental technology is still thriving.  NFTs are increasingly regarded as essential elements of a larger, more sustainable digital economy; it’s no longer simply about the fast flip or speculative value.  These projects now concentrate on creating distinctive digital experiences, fostering real-world relationships, and enhancing communities in order to bring value.

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