NFTs (non-fungible tokens) came to public attention when Michael Winkelmann, an American digital artist, sold digital art at Christie's Auction house for $69.3 million. His creation, Everydays: the first 5000 days, is a collage of 5000 digital images. Since then, Sotheby's Auction House also started selling NFTs.
The popularity of NFTs increased during 2021 as more people flocked to NFT marketplaces, hoping to spot an NFT bargain or create an NFT of their own. In practical terms, there's much to learn about NFTs, so you don't waste money on an NFT with no resale value. It can also be costly to create and submit an NFT of your own onto the marketplace.
This guide teaches you how to invest in an NFT and the best marketplaces to buy NFTs. In conclusion, you will know precisely how to invest in your first NFT.
Contents
- What is an NFT
- How to invest in NFTs – Quick steps
- NFT investing explained
- How to Invest in NFTs
- Are NFTs a Good Investment?
- What to look for when buying an NFT
- What are the best NFTs to invest In?
- Where to invest in NFTs
- How to Invest in NFTs on Crypto.com
- Investing in NFT Companies
- Are NFT Stocks a Good Investment?
- What are the Best NFT Stocks to Invest In?
- How to Invest in NFT Stocks
- How To Buy NASDAQ Stocks On eToro
- Best Wallet for NFT Investing
- How to Invest in NFT Tokens – Conclusion
- FAQs
What Is An NFT?
An NFT (non-fungible token) is the tokenisation of a physical or a digital asset. It can be a photograph, video, art, in-game items, music and even a tweet. Non-fungible means you cannot swap one NFT for another like for like. For instance, fungible items are the dollar. If someone gives you a dollar note, you can offer a dollar note in return. You can exchange one Bitcoin (BTC) for another Bitcoin (BTC).
How To Invest In NFTs ― Quick Step by Step Guide
Before we start, you are undoubtedly eager to start making money from NFT investing, so here's a quick guide on buying an NFT.
- Step 1 – Open an account with eToro. Go to the official eToro website and create an account. Submit proof of identification documents such as a passport and a utility bill for proof of address.
- Step 2 – Fund your eToro account. eToro has a $10 minimum deposit requirement for all payment methods other than a bank transfer which is a $500 minimum.
- Step 3 – Purchase Ethereum. In the search bar, type in "ETH", then click on "Trade" and choose your position size. Finally, click on "Open trade".
- Step 4 – Choose an NFT marketplace. there are multiple NFT marketplaces, but we'll focus on Crypto.com. Click the "Sign up" tab on the website and create an NFT account.
- Step 5 – Verify your Crypto.com account. You can link up with your Crypto.com trading account or verify with a text message sent to your phone.
- Step 6 – Invest in an NFT token. Browse the NFT marketplace until you find one you like and wish to purchase. The marketplace has fixed price NFTs and timed auctions. After purchase, you'll find the NFT in your "Collectibles" section of your Crypto.com account.
Crypto asset investing is highly volatile and unregulated in some EU countries. No consumer protection. Tax on profits may apply.
NFT Investing Explained
With all financial investments, it's beneficial if you understand what you are buying. When you buy an NFT, you're purchasing a digital asset with documented guaranteed ownership on the blockchain, which will transfer to someone else only if you sell the NFT.
An NFT can be almost anything that can be created as a digital asset. Still, the most popular NFTs with the best trading volume are typically digital art or music, and with more blockchain games emerging, blockchain gaming items are gaining popularity.
NFTs are blockchain hosted with a digital stamp for your ownership. Blockchain technology is evolving exponentially. The Ethereum blockchain is one of the most popular networks, used by many other cryptocurrencies as a standard protocol. Currently, all NFTs require ETH as payment, though some marketplace convert the ETH to the currency of their platform.
How To Invest In NFTs
There are multiple NFT marketplaces available for NFT investors and traders. Still, the best ones provide a user-friendly interface, making it easy for NFT beginners to buy items from the marketplace. Your first decision is whether to browse fixed price items or start bidding on an NFT. For the latter, it's a fine line between finding a low-priced NFT and buying an NFT with resale value. If multiple people are watching an NFT listing, it shows the NFT has "kerb appeal" and will be easier to sell for a profit later down the line.
After purchasing your NFT, you must store it securely in a crypto wallet. Most marketplaces have a list of wallets they accept. The most common crypto wallet for NFTs is MetaMask.
Are NFTs A Good Investment?
Is investing in NFT digital art or buying in-game items a good idea? Similarly to the exponential growth of cryptocurrencies, there are so many NFT projects available now that it can be tricky to know the best NFT to buy. From pictures of ugly apes to horse racing projects and virtual land deals, how do you decide on the best NFT project?
Firstly, research a project you like and assess the scalability. Is the project planning future innovative NFT releases, and is the team active on the project community and social media. The more followers a project has, the better the chances of selling your NFT for a profit.
Secondly, choose an NFT you find attractive. If you like it, other people may also like it and want to buy it from you later.
Some NFT providers offer NFT giveaways as incentives to encourage you to their platform. Some of the early giveaways went on to sell for significant amounts, but there are no guarantees of making a profit from your NFTs. If you want to get involved in free giveaways, choose a reputable marketplace so you are less at risk of signing up with a scam NFT provider.
You can access an online NFT calendar highlighting the latest, verified NFT drops. Crypto.com often lists new NFT drops.
Read Also: The Top 10 NFT Protocols And Tokens
What To Look For When Buying An NFT
There are multiple factors to consider when buying an NFT. The last thing you want is to buy a dud NFT with little interest and a declining market value. This section is a guide for researching how to invest in NFTs:
Potential Value Increases
There is little point in buying an NFT that nobody else wants to buy. The first criteria for making a profit from investing in NFTs is to find an NFT that is likely to increase in value over time. For instance, in 2017, CryptoPunk 1422 sold for $74. In October 2021, it sold for a reported figure of $2 million. You may think this epic rise in value was a one-off, but that's not the case. Multiple NFTs have sold for significantly higher prices after purchasing.
When browsing the NFT marketplace, look for an NFT that has attracted the interest of others. Look at what NFTs are currently trending and research emerging trends. Your objective is to buy an NFT that you can sell for a profit.
Access to Exclusive Bonus Content
An NFT project that offers buyers exclusive access to bonus content is an attractive proposition. For instance, you may receive invites to exclusive events and early notifications of new NFT airdrops, giving you the first option to buy at lower prices.
Participation in Elite NFT Communities
Some of the top NFT projects have exclusive communities you can access if you buy one of their NFTs. For instance, the Bored Ape Yacht Club has the largest NFT collection by market cap. On its Discord server, Bored Ape collectors join the community, which does include some high-profile names and celebrities.
Unfortunately, the Bored Ape Yacht Club confirmed a system hack in late April 2022 after members received a fraudulent "mint" link by email. 54 NFTs were stolen, valued at over $13 million (Source: CoinDesk).
Can Support Creators
NFts are an excellent way for creators to publish and sell their work. Traditional art on centralised platforms has limitations for creators, but the scope for an artist on a decentralised platform is enormous. If you like a particular artist, it's ideal to register with a platform where you can support the digital artist by buying more of their work
Easy to Display Ownership
When you buy an NFT, you can display it anywhere, knowing that your ownership is documented on the blockchain. If someone claimed that your NFT belonged to them, you have absolute proof of ownership. For instance, Jack Dempsey told his first 2006 tweet for $2.9 million to Bridge Oracle CEO Sina Estavi.
Sina Estavi owned the tweet even though it remained in the public domain. Nobody could claim ownership of Jack Dempsey's first tweet unless Estavi sells it.
Crypto asset investing is highly volatile and unregulated in some EU countries. No consumer protection. Tax on profits may apply.
What Are The Best NFTs To Invest In?
Some NFTs projects gathered rapid and surprising momentum in the NFT market, becoming popular with NFT investors and subsequently increasing in value. Some of the top NFT assets are sought after by investors at all levels.
Below we have listed five of the top-performing NFT projects. Most of them may be outside your price range. If that's the case, consider what makes these NFTs popular. One day, you could buy an NFT at a bargain price that could turn out to be as successful as the five best NFT projects below:
1. CryptoPunks
CryptoPunks are one of the most popular NFT collections. Launched in 2017, CryptoPunks led the market with NFT collections. CryptoPunks rapidly became sought after for investment; for some, it paid off. The most expensive CryptoPunk ever sold is CryptoPunk #9998, which sold for 124,457 ETH. At the time, that was around $532 million.
2. Bored Ape Yacht Club
When celebrities get behind an NFT project, it's usual to see an explosion in sales. Snoop Dogg, Justi Bieber and Eminem are investors in CryptoPunk NFTs. If you haven't seen the NFT art, it's simply a picture of multi-coloured apes looking bored.
In 2021, the 101 first-edition Bored Ape Yacht Club tokens sold for $24.4 million at Sotheby's. Considering it was only 0.08 ETH to join the Bored Yacht Club on launch, sales have now surpassed 1080 ETH.
The Bored Ape Yacht Club has capitalised on exclusivity. If you want to become a member today, anticipate paying between 100 ETH to over 300 ETH.
3. Mythia
Mythia is a collection of anime and cyberpunk characters with over 3,000 pieces for the airdrop. Mythia collectors have the additional benefit of accessing the Mythia Discord servers and receiving notifications about future airdrops that could represent significant potential in the NFT market. Mythia also provides owners with a collection of software tools that help streamline NFT investing.
4. Ember
The Ember collection of 5,555 NFTs are unique digital art pieces that may garner appeal from investors due to the unique aesthetics and traits of each NFT. The Ember website says they regularly airdrop new items and suggest downloading the Embar app, which is available for iOS and Android.
5. Pudgy Penguins
The Pudgy Penguins launched in July 2021. It's a randomly-generated collection of 8,888 penguins. The NFT collection quickly became popular, trading over $140 million in sales since its launch date. You can buy a freshly minted Penguin for around 0.03 $ETH, but one Penguin sold for more than $450,000
Where To Invest In NFTs
Now that you have learned more about NFT investing, the next step is choosing the best platform for buying NFTs.
Crypto.com – Best NFT Investment Platform
As mentioned earlier, when buying NFTs, registering with an established reputable marketplace is essential. Crypto.com is a trustworthy platform for buying NFTs.
Crypto.com is one of the most popular cryptocurrency exchanges globally, and trading fees are low. In 2021, Crypto.com launched an NFT marketplace with NFTs hosted on its blockchain and Ethereum blockchain. Unlike most NFT platforms, there are no fees to buy NFTs on Crypto.com.
In addition, you can use a debit or credit card to buy NFTs, so you don't need cryptocurrency as most other NFT platforms require. This straightforward approach to buying NFTs makes Crypto.com an attractive option for NFT newbies.
Verifying your account is simple. You can connect to your Crypto.com trading account or receive a text message on your mobile phone. Another bonus is the Crypto.com mobile NFT app, considered one of the best in the NFT space.
How To Invest In NFTs On Crypto.com
If you're ready to invest in NFT art or NFT crypto with Crypto.com, it's good to have a simple roadmap for investing in NFTs. The five steps below are a streamlined process for buying NFTs using Crypto.com with zero transaction fees:
Step 1 – Buy Crypto for NFTs on eToro
You can use a debit or credit card, but you prefer the anonymity of paying with cryptocurrency. You can purchase cryptocurrency from eToro, such as ETH, ADA, SOL and BNB, which are tradable assets. eToro is a highly regulated crypto exchange with ASIC, FCA, CySEC, FINRA and FinCEN protection.
Once your eToro account is verified, you can deposit a minimum of $10 and search for your chosen crypto coin for purchase. Enter the amount you wish to buy and confirm the trade
Following this, search for the crypto you want to buy, enter your position size in the order box, and confirm the trade.
Step 2 – Transfer crypto from eToro to a crypto wallet
You need a crypto wallet to move your coins around and store them safely. Firstly, check that the wallet supports the blockchain network for the NFT you plan to buy. Two of the best crypto wallets are WalletConnect and MetaMask.
After opening a crypto wallet, send your newly purchased cryptocurrency from eToro to the wallet. You need the eToro money app to be able to do this transfer, but the process should take no more than a few minutes.
Step 3 – Create an Account with an NFT Marketplace
Crypto.com has an excellent reputation for security and low fees and is an ideal marketplace for NFTs.
On the Crypto.com NFT marketplace website, click on 'Sign Up' and enter the requested details. Choose a unique username and a strong password you can remember.
Step 4 – Verify your Crypto.com Account
There are two ways to verify your new Crypto.com account:
- If you have a Crypto.com trading account, you can connect from your settings menu by clicking "connect to app." Both accounts are then linked.
- If you don't have a trading account with Crypto.com, request an SMS by adding your phone number in the settings menu. Crypto.com send a security code to your phone, which you then enter into your account for verification
Step 5 – How to Buy NFTs on Crypto.com
Browse the NFT marketplace on Crypto.com and find an NFT you like and is within your budget. You can choose from a fixed-price listing or an auctioned NFT. When you're ready to buy, make the purchase from the cryptocurrency in your crypto wallet by using the Crypto.com pay feature. After the purchase completes, you will find it in the "collectables" section of your account.
Crypto asset investing is highly volatile and unregulated in some EU countries. No consumer protection. Tax on profits may apply.
Investing In NFT Companies
Another angle for investing in NFTs is capitalising on the growing NFT market by investing in NFT companies. Investing in single NFTs can equate to growth for that asset, but if it bombs, you have a worthless NFT.
Many cryptocurrency exchanges are branching into the NFT market by creating an NFT marketplace. If the popularity of NFTs continues to grow, it's a reasonable assumption that these companies will experience significant growth as the market expands. By becoming an equity investor, you can speculate on the development within whatever sector appeals to you.
Typical companies for investment could be:
- NFT companies developing brands to sell on various marketplaces
- Cryptocurrency exchanges launching NFT marketplaces
- Video game companies
- Blockchain companies developing in-game NFT items
The NFT market is still highly speculative and, compared to other markets, it's relatively new, despite some spectacular NFT sales over the last few years. Speculative investors are trying to figure out what makes an NFT successful, though market appeal still appears reasonably random. By purchasing shares in companies rather than NFTs, it presents greater appeal to investors that aren't risk-averse.
Are NFT Stocks A Good Investment?
Nobody can guarantee the outcome of an investment, whether that is stocks or NFTs. Still, investing in NFT stocks provides a broader exposure to the NFT market than purchasing one-off NFTs. However, the NFT market is more volatile than the stock market, so the investment would be considered a higher risk.
What are the benefits of buying NFT stocks?
- Broader Exposure to the Market: buying NFT stocks is an investment in the growth of the NFT market, giving you more overall exposure to the NFT market. For instance, if the NFT market as a whole expands, likely, NFT stocks will also experience growth
- Less risky than investing in NFTs: The NFT market is not regulated, but equity markets are highly regulated. Therefore, investors could consider it less risky to invest in stocks rather than directly buying NFTs
- You can buy with Fiat currency: Stock exchanges operate with fiat currencies rather than cryptocurrency. There are many reputable, regulated brokers available. Buying stocks with your debit or credit card is quick and simple
What Are The Best NFT Stocks To Invest In?
We recommend you research your stock options before investing in an NFT stock, but if you are ready to get started, we've put together a list of the top five NFT stocks for investment:
1. Coinbase (NASDAQ: COIN)
Coinbase is a highly reputable, established cryptocurrency exchange that has introduced an NFT marketplace to its platform. Coinbase is beginner-friendly and carries the same user-friendly ethos to its peer-to-peer NFT marketplace for its users to mint, trade and showcase their NFTs. As the NFT marketplace represents an additional revenue stream for Coinbase, the success could reflect in share prices.
2. eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY)
Is there anyone on the planet who isn't aware of eBay? Imagine buying an NFT on eBay with fiat currencies. eBay is strictly limiting NFT sales to a small selection of verified sellers. Still, there are rumours that eBay may begin accepting cryptocurrency payments, potentially opening up a more comprehensive range of NFTs on the platform.
3. Funko (NASDAQ: FNKO)
Funko provides pop culture collectables with licensing deals with big-name companies like Disney, Nickelodeon and Marvel. Funko released a range of digital collectable NFTs called "Digital Pops" in August 2021 and has since released more NFT collections. Funko is one of the first known companies that adapted its business model to reflect the growing NFT trend.
4. Dolphin Entertainment (NASDAQ: DLPN)
Dolphin Entertainment provides marketing and PR services to celebrities, studios and social media influencers. In August 2021, Dolphin announced a forthcoming partnership with West Realm Shire Services to create an entertainment and sports NFT marketplace.
Recently (March 2022), Variety.com announced that Dolpin.com has entered into a strategic partnership with The Flower Girls, a female-led, fine art, NFT collection with over 10,000 unique art pieces by the respected artist Varvara Alay
5. Plby Group (NASDAQ: PLBY)
The Plby group is a media and lifestyle company known for running Playboy magazine. In late 2021, Plby launched "Rabbitars", a collection of 11,953 3D NFT rabbits with reverence to Playboy. The rumours suggest that Plby's next move is to establish the Playboy Mansion into the metaverse, which could signal significant growth for the organisation.
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How To Invest In NFT Stocks
If you're excited about investing in NFT stocks, your first step is to choose a reputable broker that can cost-effectively transact and care of your investment.
eToro is a multi-asset exchange where you can purchase NASDAQ stocks. The platform is regulated by top-tier financial authorities, spanning many countries across the globe. In addition, eToro fees are low, and there are no commission fees for stock trading.
How To Buy NASDAQ Stocks On eToro
Here's a quick guide for purchasing stocks on eToro:
- Step 1: Create an eToro Account - open an account with eToro by clicking the "Join now" tab on the eToro website. Complete all details as required
- Step 2: Verify your Account - upload your KYC compliance documents, such as a photo ID (driving licence or passport) and a utility bill for proof of address
- Step 3: Fund your eToro account - the minimum deposit is $10 unless you are funding by bank transfer, in which case the minimum deposit is $500. Available payment methods are debit or credit card, bank transfer, PayPal, Neteller or Skrill. Bank transfers can take up to 3-4 days before appearing in your eToro account
- Step 4: Buy NFT Stocks - search for the NFT stock you want to buy and click on "trade". Enter how much stock you want to buy (the minimum is $10) and then click "Open trade"
Check Out: How To Buy Stocks On eToro - The Full Guide
Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.
Best Wallet for NFT Investing
If you're investing in NFTs, you will need a crypto wallet. It isn't safe to leave your cryptocurrencies on an open exchange. eToro has a dedicated crypto wallet, the eToro Money. You can store all supported coins on the eToro platform, including Ethereum (ETH). It's easy to instantly transfer your crypto tokens to the eToro money wallet, and it's available to download to iOS and Android devices.
Benefits of the eToro Money wallet
- Supports more than 500 different crypto assets
- It has an unlosable private key
- Advanced DDoS protection
- Exchange coins directly from the wallet
How To Invest In NFT Tokens – Conclusion
To sum up, this in-depth guide to investing in NFTs has covered the essential criteria for how to invest in NFTs, the best place to buy NFTs and how and where to invest in stock with NFT companies. We highlighted eToro for purchasing cryptocurrency tokens and NASDAQ stocks and recommended the Crypto.com NFT marketplace. It's best for low fees, and you can invest in NFTs with your debit or credit card. In addition, Crypto.com supports Ethereum-based NFTs, which means you can access some of the top NFT collections.
Trading or investing in financial instruments such as cryptos may not be suitable for all investors. It does involve risk and the possibility of a loss of capital. There are no guarantees for profiting from cryptocurrencies, and it's advisable only to risk what you can comfortably afford to lose.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Trading Education.
eToro – The Best NFT Cryptos Platform
eToro have proven themselves trustworthy within the Crypto industry over many years – we recommend you try them out.
Crypto asset investing is highly volatile and unregulated in some EU countries. No consumer protection. Tax on profits may apply.
FAQs
Are NFTs a good investment?
Nobody can predict the future of NFTs, and we cannot provide investment advice. All financial investments are risky, and the NFT market is especially volatile. Recently (May 2022), the entire NFT market has experienced a substantial drop in market cap.
How do I invest in NFTs?
Sign up for an account with eToro and buy some Ethereum (ETH). Open an account with the Crypto.com NFT marketplace and either buy NFTs with your cryptocurrency or you can use a debit or credit card. Full details are in this in-depth guide
What is the best platform to invest in NFTs?
We recommend the Crypto.com NFT marketplace as the best for low fees, security and trustworthiness
What are NFT stocks?
NFT stocks are shares in a company that has some connection with NFTs. For instance, Coinbase exchange's newly launched NFT marketplace. You can buy Coinbase shares, and if the overall NFT market expands, Coinbase share price may likely increase as members join its NFT marketplace to buy NFTs
Can you invest in NFT companies?
Yes, anyone can invest in NFT companies
Is investing in NFTs profitable?
As mentioned before, there cannot be guaranteed profitability from buying NFTs. The NFT market decides what is popular, which doesn't appear to be a formulaic process. We recommend looking for NFTs that you and others find attractive, with the objective being to sell your NFT later for a profit. You could, however, buy several NFTs that never increase in value.
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