The crypto industry is slowly but surely improving many other non-crypto-related fields, and the fact that so much can be changed with blockchain technology is truly intriguing. NFTs are another stunning innovation powered by blockchain technology, and users seem to be eager to find and trade various digital collectibles.
Being able to take many shapes and have multiple features, non-fungible tokens can increase users’ revenue and have many other remarkable benefits. And if you used to collect and exchange trading cards, now it’s your time to shine. Trading cards made their way into the NFT world, and everyone is thrilled to be able to collect them.
So, what exactly are NFT trading cards, how do they work, and what are some of the most popular such collections?
What Are NFT Trading Cards?
Just like any other NFT (Non-Fungible Token), an NFT trading card is a unique digital asset built on top of a blockchain (in most cases, Ethereum). NFT trading cards can be traded on dedicated NFT marketplaces and provide high levels of security and transparency. Furthermore, ownership is also extremely transparent.
NFT trading cards are surely inspired by traditional trading cards, which were created in the 1860s, when baseball cards emerged as a marketing strategy developed by tobacco companies. Many collectors were significantly intrigued by the concept and started looking for as many collectibles as possible.
Unlike traditional trading cards, NFT trading cards are entirely unique. You will never find 2 NFTs that look the same, and this also applies to NFT trading cards. So, if you receive a specific NFT and you want to trade it, it is impossible to get an identical card.
Usually, NFT trading cards can be inspired by video games, cartoons, sports, and many more. You can find them on various marketplaces or earn and purchase them as in-game digital assets in specific games. While some NFT trading cards can be just a few cents, others can even reach millions of dollars. This depends on factors such as their rarity, historical significance, and demand.
How Do NFT Trading Cards Work?
Although traditional and NFT trading cards may seem to be similar, they have some key differences. And the primary one is the fact that NFT trading cards are digital and completely unique. They are developed and stored on a blockchain and based on blockchain technology.
Usually, such cards have intriguing designs and can be animated. NFT trading cards can also take the form of videos, interactive designs, or even AR (Augmented Reality) cards. This can improve the experience users have with NFT trading cards.
Thanks to blockchain technology, NFT’s provenance is carefully stored along with the artwork, thus eliminating worries regarding replicas and counterfeits. So, when you purchase or earn a new NFT, you can be sure that it is authentic and that you are the only user who owns it.
As we mentioned earlier, NFT cards can be traded and purchased on dedicated marketplaces, where users can meet other NFT enthusiasts and enjoy a dynamic space where they can share their digital collectibles.
Benefits of NFT Trading Cards
NFT trading cards come with many benefits for both their holders and developers. First, their rarity and limited availability increase the level of scarcity for numerous NFT cards. Unlike traditional collectibles, which are mostly produced en masse, digital trading cards cannot, and they will always be one of a kind. This rarity enhances their appeal, and those who own nft trading cards can rest assured that nobody else holds them.
Furthermore, sometimes, NFT trading cards offer significant revenue for those holding them. If you bought a rare NFT trading card, and the game or collection has gained remarkable popularity in the meantime, it is highly possible that the card can be sold for a lot more than its fixed prices from before.
Sometimes, and actually most of the times, NFT trading cards are developed by popular artists, for popular companies and games. And this can increase the engagement of a game and its NFT collections.
Combining digital trading cards with intriguing games and applications can also cultivate an interactive experience that truly surpasses traditional gaming and collecting. This can bring significantly more collectors to the world of NFT trading cards and blockchain-based games.
Top NFT Trading Cards
Considering that NFTs have become so popular, many artists started to develop various collections. Furthermore, many trading card games have been launched during the past years. But some collections remain among the most popular and profitable. And this list will offer you some options if you want to purchase NFT cards.
NBA Top Shot
NBA Top Shot is an NFT marketplace where basketball fans can purchase, sell, and trade NFTs presenting NBA moments. The NFTs offer users various highlights from NBA games. Most of them have remained in history. Fans can also purchase packs of moments, just like packs of physical cards.
Over time, NBA Top Shot has sold over $500 worth of sports trading cards. At the moment, some NBA Top Shot NFTs are valued at around $10, while others can reach even thousands of dollars. The most expensive NBA Top Shot NFT was a LeBron James dunk against the Houston Rockets and was sold for $230,023. It is a legendary NFT.
Axie Infinity
Axie Infinity is a P2E (Play-to-Earn) game launched by Sky Mavis. The game uses NFTs and blockchain technology to introduce users to the world of cryptocurrency games. Axie Infinity was launched in 2018 and is available on iOS, Android, MacOS, and Windows.
The Axie Infinity characters are Pokémon-like NFT-based creatures called Axies. Each character has unique features and traits and can help players compete in various battles that can bring them more rewards in the form of crypto tokens or gaming trading cards.
Players can improve their characters or create new ones using the NFTs they earn and purchasing more digital collectibles from the in-game marketplace. The most expensive Axie NFT was sold for approximately $800,000 (at the time of purchase). The Axie is called “Sir Gregory” and is one of the 19 Axies with triple magical parts (Pink Turnip claws, Dreamy Papi eyes, and Lam Handsome teeth).
Gods Unchained
Gods Unchained is an NFT-based game developed by Robert and Jamie Ferguson that has quickly become one of the most popular NFT games worldwide. Gods Unchained users can compete in multiplayer battles by creating decks of trading cards to use against other players. Once they have some NFT trading cards, players can trade them or buy some more in the in-game marketplace.
Users who earn new NFTs while playing Gods Unchained are also allowed to trade or sell them for crypto, so they can increase their earnings through such digital collectibles. Each NFT has various features and traits that can help players during battles.
When combined the right way, Gods Unchained NFT trading cards can help users win every battle they compete in.
SoRare
SoRare is a blockchain-based soccer game that encourages users to trade, purchase, and sell a virtual soccer team through NFT trading cards presenting various players. The game is developed on the Ethereum network.
SoRare allows players to participate in virtual games with 5-player teams they build with NFT trading cards. Thanks to its collaborations with various European teams, along with the MLS, Korean, and Japanese soccer leagues, SoRare players can build teams with their favorite players from numerous teams.
Dark Country
Dark Country is a blockchain-based game perfect for those passionate about the Wild West and cowboys. It is a gothic-themed game that presents ghostly cowboys, Indians, zombies, demons, and other types of ghosts.
Immortal Games combined various elements to integrate NFTs into the Dark Country game it developed. The game is developed on a multichain framework for better interoperability, this being a key advantage for players. Dark Country also has a reward system and allows users to participate in various tournaments and community events.
FAQ
Are NFT trading cards profitable?
Depending on the game they are part of, NFT trading cards can be pretty profitable. The price of an NFT trading card can be influenced by the game’s popularity, the market demand, and many more factors.
Can you sell trading cards as NFTs?
Yes, you can sell trading cards as NFTs. As we all know, NFTs can also be developed to prove ownership and provenance of a specific artwork. So, you can also mint an NFT that is based on a physical trading card. Furthermore, if you own an NFT trading card, you can trade it on popular general marketplaces or in-game marketplaces.
What can you do with NFT trading cards?
You can use NFT trading cards to play the games they are part of. For instance, in Axie Infinity, you use the NFT trading cards to compete against other players. Users can also sell, purchase, or trade NFT trading cards on various platforms, just like they would trade digital assets.
How to buy NFT trading cards?
You can buy NFT trading cards on in-game marketplaces or on other popular platforms such as OpenSea. It strongly depends on the game and the NFT. Buying NFT trading cards should include reseaching the options available thoroughly.
In Conclusion
NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) have become surprisingly popular lately, and so have the games leveraging blockchain technology. So, developers started to launch NFT games where users can trade, buy, and sell NFTs to play those specific games. This is how the NFT trading card industry has emerged.
An NFT trading card is a newer and updated version of physical trading cards that offer secure and transparent ownership. NFT trading cards can also be collected and sold for tremendous prices, considering that they are unique digital assets. Just like any other valuable asset, trading card NFTs can bring you significant revenue, depending on the market trends.
Some of the most popular NFT trading cards and games are Axie Infinity, SoRare, Gods Unchained, Dark Country, and NBA Top Shot.
