NFTs aren’t just about owning some cartoon animal pictures.
They are just starters. And when you add utility to those pictures, the value of that NFT rises exponentially.
Utility NFTs are opening up new avenues for innovation, monetization, and user engagement across various industries.
Let’s learn more about what these types of NFTs do to the ecosystem and how they work.
Utility NFTs, unlike traditional NFTs that primarily represent digital art or collectables, serve a functional purpose beyond mere ownership.
This type of Non-Fungible Tokens derives their value from the practical benefits or functionalities they offer to their holders.
Utility NFTs can be likened to digital keys or tokens that unlock access to specific goods, services, or experiences in both the digital and physical realms.
They bridge the gap between the digital and physical worlds by leveraging blockchain technology to provide secure and transparent ownership of assets and privileges.
For example, a utility NFT could represent a ticket to a virtual concert, granting the holder exclusive access to the live performance or behind-the-scenes content.
Alternatively, it could serve as a license for a piece of software, allowing the owner to use the program or access premium features.
In the realm of gaming, utility NFTs might enable players to own in-game assets, such as characters, weapons, or virtual real estate, with verifiable ownership and the ability to trade or transfer them seamlessly.
Similar Read: NFTs Are Valuable Only Because Of These 3 Real Utilities
Utility is the use case that is attached to an NFT.
If I buy a Bored Ape, I get status.
If I buy an ENS Domain, I get a .eth name that I can attach to my wallet address. And that makes it easy for my friends to send me crypto and make me a millionaire.
If I buy one of Justin Bieber’s hit tracks ‘Company’ NFTs, that earns me 0.0005% royalties when the song is streamed.
And I can go on..
The key here is the experiences an NFT can unlock once you become the owner (aka HODLer).
An NFT can be your monthly gym subscription, a lifetime entry pass to a concert, or an allowlist to buy expensive & exclusive products.
Read more about the 10 NFT Utility Types here.
Let’s look at how these NFT Projects & businesses are attaching Utilities to their NFT collections.
Merging legacy luxury experience with NFTs
Le Bristol Paris has launched a collection of 11 NFTs that allow their owners to prove their authenticity through blockchain technology.
The 11 NFTs, in this series called “The Bristol Unlocked”, were created in collaboration with the start-up Metav.rs. And the 11 owners of the NFTs will form a very private club: the H3ritage.
This membership will allow them to unlock exclusive and unique offers such as dishes and cocktails not present on the menu, as well as access to the pool or to private events.
Vodafone UK has partnered with BLOCKv, a blockchain startup, to launch an interactive campaign called Find Unlimited, offering participants the chance to win an iPhone 11.
Similar to the popular game Pokemon Go, Find Unlimited requires users to explore Central London in search of unique digital items called “Vatoms.”
These Vatoms are NFTs generated by BLOCKv’s platform and recorded on the blockchain, ensuring their uniqueness and ownership.
The campaign drops 36 AR Vatoms across six busy locations in Central London, each of which can be interacted with only once by users.
Vodafone customers receive exclusive clues about the locations of these Vatoms, giving them a head start in the game. The game is playable for two hours during the day, encouraging active engagement from participants.
By incentivizing consumer engagement through the gamified experience of Find Unlimited, Vodafone UK demonstrates the potential of utility NFTs to enhance marketing campaigns and drive customer interaction.
Proof of Graduation
Sungkyunkwan University, a leading private research institution in South Korea, made waves by becoming the first university in the country to incorporate NFTs into its academic credentialing system.
During their online graduation ceremony, the university awarded NFT-based certificates to three outstanding students who excelled in in-school competitions.
However, Sungkyunkwan University isn’t stopping there.
They are actively exploring further integration of blockchain technology to streamline various administrative services across their campuses. By leveraging blockchain’s transparency, security, and immutability, the university aims to enhance efficiency and trust in its administrative processes.
This forward-thinking initiative has inspired other educational institutions in South Korea to follow suit. Institutions like Soongsil and Chung-Ang University have joined the technological shift, partnering with local blockchain developers to adopt NFT and metaverse technologies into their graduation services.
This collaborative effort signals a growing trend towards the adoption of blockchain solutions in the education sector, promising innovative solutions for academic administration and student credentialing.
Like any NFTs, Utility NFTs leverage blockchain technology to offer unique functionalities and experiences within specific ecosystems.
These digital assets are created through a process called “minting,” during which a unique digital signature or “hash” is assigned to the NFT and recorded on the blockchain. This immutable record ensures the authenticity and scarcity of the token.
Once minted, utility NFTs can be imbued with various uses and functionalities, limited only by the imagination of the project creators.
In other words, Utility NFTs = NFTs + Team’s imagination of embedding functionalities into the NFTs that benefit both parties.
These functionalities could include access to digital or physical goods, membership privileges, voting rights in decentralized governance systems, participation in exclusive events, and more.
When a user acquires a utility NFT, they gain access to the associated benefits or functionalities.
This could involve unlocking exclusive content, accessing restricted areas of a digital platform, or enjoying special perks within a community.
The ownership of the utility NFT is verifiable on the blockchain, ensuring transparency and security.
Utility NFTs can also be freely traded and exchanged in the marketplace once they are initially purchased.
As demand for the utility NFT increases, its value may appreciate, leading to potential profit opportunities for holders.
Additionally, HODLers may have the ability to transfer the associated benefits or privileges to others, further enhancing the token’s utility and value proposition.
Let’s delve deeper into why utility NFTs matter:
Let’s consider the Finance industry.
Utility NFTs hold promise in the realm of decentralized finance (DeFi) by enabling innovative use cases such as tokenized assets, collateralized loans, and decentralized exchanges.
These NFTs can represent ownership stakes in real-world assets like real estate or artwork, allowing fractional ownership and liquidity.
Additionally, utility NFTs can facilitate identity verification, reputation systems, and other financial services on the blockchain.
Utility NFTs empower creators by providing them with new ways to monetize their work and engage with their audience.
Creators can tokenize their content, creations, or intellectual property, retaining more control over their distribution and revenue streams.
Additionally, users benefit from decentralized ownership of assets, allowing them to directly support their favorite creators, participate in governance decisions, and receive unique rewards or incentives.
Utility NFTs are more than just digital art; they unlock a world of possibilities.
By attaching functionalities to NFTs, they become valuable tools across industries, from gaming to finance, empowering creators and users alike.