

As more and more people are getting into the business of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), you may be realising that these NFTs are more than just a passing fad. In fact, the community reached seventy million dollars in 2021 and climbed to more than twelve billion dollars in the first quarter of 2022. Experts are wondering if in the evolution of NFT, utility NFTs are the next big thing? In this article, we will determine the scope of utility NFT and discuss its applicability.
What is utility NFT?
The NFT domain is still in its infancy and there are very few real-world cases to understand its applications. Essentially, NFTs are cryptographically unique assets that are formed using the blockchain network. The value of a NFT utility token can escalate the mere boundaries of investment, transforming the manner in which it works, interacts and plays.
Then, in the simplest of words, a utility NFT can be described as a non-fungible token that has applications beyond the traditional portrayal of the unique digital asset. In other words, it exhibits characteristics that were previously not correlated with it. One of the distinct characteristics of a utility NFT is the faculty of privileges, rights, and rewards that are given to the owner. In comparison to traditional NFTs, these rewards, rights or privileges are not given to the owner.
Let us explain this with the help of an example. Imagine that there is an event with 800 available spaces. The passes or the tickets that are available for this event will be unique, in the sense, that they will each have a unique or distinct number. Every single piece of the ticket/pass has the same purpose, or the same utility, which is providing the individual entry to the event. Utility NFTs are built on the same founding idea of serving a common purpose. So, utilising the same scenario, 800 NFTs will each have a specific uniqueness to them, but will serve the same function of allowing entrance to the event.
In a nutshell, any token that extends beyond the simple buying and holding application of a digital asset is characterised as a utility NFT.
How does a utility NFT work?
It is important to understand how NFTs work, if you are interested in utility NFT projects. The technical specifications of regular NFTs and utility NFTs are almost the same, where utility NFT also has cryptographic security features. Moreover, utility NFTs also contain features like transparency and immutability to help owners in verification. Hence, in other words, a utility token serves a specific function in a cryptocurrency smart-contract blockchain ecosystem. In contrast to cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, utility tokens are not created to become a real-world medium of transaction/exchange.
Can standard NFTs be converted to utility NFTs?
This is a common query and many tech enthusiasts wonder if they have to create a separate NFT with new or advanced technology or they can add a utility to a pre-existing NFT? To answer your question, let us give you an example. Imagine that a band has released its music on conventional platforms such as Spotify or iTunes. The album also included an NFT in the form of a digital artwork that enthusiasts or fans could download with the digital music. The entity becomes a utility NFT. If it helps the fan redeem other facilities like booking seats at a future concert or getting access to a limited edition vinyl copy. Hence, the creator has decided the purpose of the utility NFT and has added features to a standard digital art. Therefore, to answer your question, utility NFT can be created by adding special features.
Applications of utility NFT
The uses of utility tokens make it the future of many domains. Some notable sectors include gaming, where utility NFT can be used in the meta verse or play-to-earn games. Similarly, as the virtual world is growing, it has also propelled the demand for virtual estate and popular Metaverse projects such as Decentraland and Sandbox are using utility NFT to support such demands. A new breed of utility NFTs are offering real-time access to communities in social spaces. Such NFTs are known as access NFTs. One fine example of an access NFT is the Bored Ape Yatch Club that allows exclusive membership with its purchase.
Are utility NFTs the future?
The development of utility NFT is still in its infancy, however, its applicability to different domains such as social spaces, virtual real state, or gaming are making it buzzworthy. Currently, the applications may be limited, but the interest that it is gathering, guarantees that utility NFTs are definitely the future.
Conclusion
Utility NFT is still in its infancy stage, and therefore its applications still remain limited. However, the concept of utility showcases proof that NFTs are evolving to be more than visual arts and collectibles.