NFTs: What Are They, and How to Invest?

Here’s what non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are all about, and why the market is seemingly going crazy for stocks in companies in this sector.

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are quite the rage right now in the cryptocurrency universe. Whenever such acronyms create a buzz in the investing world, it’s imperative that individuals find out what the craze is all about.

An NFT is a unit of data that is backed by a digital ledger called blockchain. It is a representation of a distinct digital item that investors can buy and sell if they consider it to have value. Indeed, it appears to have the potential to become massive soon. So, it’s imperative that investors learn the details concerning an NFT to find out if it’s worth their time.

How do NFTs exactly work?

NFTs can really represent nearly anything available on a digital platform. Yes, this includes tweets, video clips, jpegs, gifs, and more. Individuals can make use of the Ethereum network to create digital tokens for their content, which can potentially be worth millions in the future.

To put it in simply, non-fungible tokens could be any digital asset that the creator wants to make unique. These assets run on a digital ledger which validates all the details of the NFT.

Here’s an example: Recently, Jack Dorsey, the founder of Twitter, sold his first tweet for more than $2.9 million. This tweet will continue to be on the social media platform. However, the winning bidder would have ownership of the NFT. It will be signed and verified by Jack Dorsey himself.

Some investors have compared NFTs to owning the “master copy” of an LP. While collectors can buy the mass-produced copies on the open market, there are only so many master copies to buy. These are valuable mainly because of scarcity.

As a result, the price of these non-fungible tokens is tied to the supply and demand of these items. It’s really a speculative environment similar to that of the high-end art market. At least, that’s what early NFT investors are betting on.

How to get in on the NFT trade?

In North America, many companies such as CurrencyWorks (TSXV:CWRK) have been making efforts to provide investors with access to NFTs.

Indeed, the shares of CurrencyWorks have soared more than 400% this year as investors pile into this trade. CurrencyWorks is a FinTech company that primarily focuses on blockchain. It already has an extensive platform dedicated to NFT. However, it plans to grow this platform to include Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Although NFTs are relatively new in the investing world, it appears that investors are willing to invest in this asset class right now. However, investors must note that there’s a great deal of speculation surrounding NFTs right now. Hence, investors should proceed with extreme caution.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium service or advisor. We’re Motley! Questioning an investing thesis — even one of our own — helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer, so we sometimes publish articles that may not be in line with recommendations, rankings or other content.

Fool contributor Chris MacDonald has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.

More on Tech Stocks

Hourglass and stock price chart
Tech Stocks

1 Canadian Stock Ready to Surge Into 2025

There is a lot of uncertainty about the market in general as we move closer to the following year, but…

Read more »

stock research, analyze data
Tech Stocks

Apple vs. Shopify: Which Stock Is the Better Buy for the Next 3 Years?

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Shopify (TSX:SHOP) are great tech titans, but they're ending the year with huge momentum.

Read more »

Investor reading the newspaper
Dividend Stocks

Emerging Investment Trends to Watch for in 2025

Canadians must watch out for and be guided by emerging investment trends to ensure financial success in 2025.

Read more »

nvidia headquarters with grey nvidia sign in front with nvidia logo
Tech Stocks

If You’d Invested $100/Month in Nvidia Starting a Decade Ago, Here’s How Much You’d Have Now

Nvidia has helped long-term investors create generational wealth. But is the tech stock still a good buy right now?

Read more »

chart reflected in eyeglass lenses
Tech Stocks

Is Shopify Stock a Buy, Sell, or Hold for 2025?

Shopify (TSX:SHOP) still looks like a tempting growth stock going into a new year with strength.

Read more »

A shopper makes purchases from an online store.
Tech Stocks

The Smartest Growth Stock to Buy With $1,000 Right Now

Given its solid sales growth, improved profitability, and healthy growth prospects, Shopify would be an excellent buy.

Read more »

Representation of deep learning neural networks and connectivity
Tech Stocks

Opinion: This AI Stock Has a Chance to Turn $1,000 Into $10,000 in 5 Years

If you’re looking for an undervalued Canadian AI stock with huge upside potential, BlackBerry (TSX:BB) should certainly be on your…

Read more »

chip with the letters "AI" on it
Dividend Stocks

The Top Canadian AI Stocks to Buy for 2025

AI stocks are certainly strong companies, and there are steady gainers in Canada as well. But these three are the…

Read more »