The 10 Original NFT Projects

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) mainly gained traction in 2021, with cryptocurrencies aficionados and speculators scrambling to have a piece of the action.

Now, what exactly are NFTs, and which of the most promising NFT crypto initiatives are gathering steam?

And have they made any progress since their inception?

Let’s get into it!

What Are NFTs and Why Are They So Popular?

NFTs are non-fungible virtual tokens that operate on Ethereum and some private block-chain using smart contracts. They may be utilized to transfer resources and utilize the network to confirm the validity.

NFTs were initially proposed in 2015, with the initial projects starting to launch in 2017. Unique goods, such as collectibles, are sold online using NFTs. 

Since every token is one-of-a-kind and can never be duplicated, NFTs generate exclusivity, making it desirable to consumers, artisans, and many other vendors. They’re purchased and sold at events, and payments are made in cryptocurrencies like Ethereum (ETH) and Bitcoins (BTC).

NFTs have a solid use cases in the rapidly developing field of Decentralized Finance (DeFi). They may be used to obtain valuable possessions like: artwork, unique antiques, or even property investment, or as financing for insurers, shareholder options, or securities.

10 Original NFT Projects 

1. CryptoPunks: Ranking First in NFT Sales 

Date created: June 2017
Creator: Larva Labs

CryptoPunks was among the earliest NFT initiatives, created by the US company Larva Labs in June 2017 on the Ethereum network. 

Approximately 10,000 “punks” (fictional animation avatars) exist, with 6,039 men and 3,840 women. These are created using software code and have distinct characteristics. Every punk has a single owner and therefore is recorded on the Ethereum platform.

These will be initially complimentary, and anybody with an Ethereum account can acquire them. They were immediately claimed and traded on markets, though. The worth of punk nowadays is determined by the number of items carried by punk.

CryptoPunks’ value is rising as a result of its unusual and distinctive trait. With a cost of 4,200 ETH, the CryptoPunk 7804 is the most expensive cryptocurrency collectible ever sold.

2. Cryptokitties 

The CryptoKitties network was officially started in 2017 by start-up Dapper Labs, responsible for bringing NFTs into the public. That was the first to implement the ERC-721 protocol that enables the creation of one-of-a-kind digital content. 

Upon the Ethereum platform, participants nurture and digital market kittens for income in the CryptoKitties videogame. Every CryptoKitties coin represents a particular virtual kitten and is non-fungible. The popularity of CryptoKitties recently skyrocketed again, with over 1 million everyday transactions at their peak in 2018.

3. Decentraland

Decentraland is a decentralized interactive virtual environment driven by the Ethereum network, allowing programmers to develop and monetize material and apps. It was founded in February 2020. Customers may buy digital private land, customize characters, participate in government, and exchange uncommon digital treasures.

To engage in Decentraland, individuals will require exchangeable currencies as well as NFTs. They use an internet browser to link to the cryptocurrency wallet and create avatars, given a digital passport to reflect their online identity. 

To acquire land and in-game goods, Decentraland employs its MANA currency, which can be bought through bitcoin exchanges. Today, Decentraland is one of the most visited NFTs networks in the market. 

4. Rarible 

Rarible was created in January 2020 as an NFT platform for making and selling rare items. Artwork, cartoons, entertainment, web addresses, and DeFi insurance plans are among the digital content supported by the network.

Issuing NFTs is simple with Ethereum wallets and enables creators to offer previews for their upcoming material. 

Rarible made headlines when it launched its governing currency, RARI, more widely used in the DeFi sector, to become a decentralized independent organization.

Rarible showcases how NFTs may be integrated with DeFi by partnering with Nexus Mutual and Yearn Finance, a cryptocurrency insurance network, in September 2020 to give NFT insurance coverage.

5. Sorare

Administrators may exchange authentic virtual collectibles in Sorare, a virtual football game published in 2019. The site is rapidly expanding, with a worldwide audience accumulating, purchasing, and trading blockchain-backed NFTs of their loved superstars. 

Unique, Super Rare, and Rare individual tokens are the three categories of scarcities in Sorare. One special edition, ten Super Rare versions, and 100 Rare copies of every character deck. Sorare just completed a sales revenue of over ETH 25,000 with 12,000 members.

6. Pudgy Penguin

Mr. Patterson and three fellow computer science students at the University of Central Florida created the Pudgy Penguin, an Ethereum-based NFT initiative, in July 2021. 

There seem to be 8,888 different penguins with different personalities. On the OpenSea platform, all of the seats sold out in just 19 minutes.

OpenSea additionally reveals over 4,000 Pudgy Penguins buyers, a 7-day average selling cost of over ETH 2, and over ETH 20,000 in trading activity.

7. OpenSea

OpenSea, which was established in 2017. It includes digital artwork, Decentraland, CryptoKitties, and domain names among the more than 50 unique goods available for trade. 

Producers can use the program to create markets for their virtual assets based on Ethereum and compatible specifications like ERC1155 or ERC721 and receive commissions from byproducts. To autonomously exchange collectibles, game developers can create bespoke shops. OpenSea is the world’s biggest decentralized NFT platform today. 

8. Flow

Dapper labs released the Flow playroom in 2020. After Dapper’s Cryptokitties congested the whole of Ethereum in 2017, a new frame of potential for a substitute opened up; as a result, FLOW was formed, and it is currently regarded as the cornerstone of a younger breed of applications, entertainment, and virtual collectibles.

Consumers may purchase flow on a crypto exchange like Gate and Kraken, and they can potentially engage with it through the VIV3 NFT marketplace by purchasing artworks.

9. Synthesis 

Synthesis Banking is a smart contract based on Ethereum. The platform helps individuals to trade in a variety of assets without the need for an intermediary.

CERTIK conducts the inspections, which provides customers with the validity and confirmation of the operations. Liquidity mining, cross-exchange market manipulation, and arbitrage are some of Synthesis Bank’s offerings.

According to recent trends, NFT would be active in the marketplace for a considerable amount of time, which will provide Synthesis Bank with various changes in the cryptocurrency world.

10. Enjin

Enjin, a prominent cryptocurrency NFT initiative that offers a range of virtual items for monetization and selling videogames, was founded in 2009.

Enjin released the Enjin currency (ENJ) in 2017 to help with payments. It has started working on a block-chain environment for NFTs. The network unveiled the planet’s inaugural gameplay multiverses in 2018, and over 40 game designers utilized it for developing games.

Enjin was projected to have the most significant market valuation among all NFTs in March 2021, with over 2 billion NFTs empowered. It also has the cheapest cryptocurrency with the most potential for growth in 2021.

Final Thoughts

NFTs can change virtual uniqueness and give digital content rights a different meaning. Initiatives have gained traction as celebs have begun to collaborate with NFT initiatives, with some achieving record-breaking revenues. 

Consequently, we expect the NFT market to expand in 2021 and far beyond, and closer cooperation between NFTs and DeFi to render products increasingly accessible and lucrative. To summarize, it appears that merging art with collectible qualities is among the most innovative new methods to attract consumers.

• Category: NFT