In the world of digital assets, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are becoming increasingly popular. Unlike fungible assets which can be easily swapped or transferred, NFTs are unique and cannot be replaced.
NFTs are often compared to collectibles, as they are one-of-a-kind digital assets that have no physical form. However, NFTs can be purchased and traded just like any other item in the digital and crypto worlds.
Furthermore, NFTs serves as proof of ownership for a particular asset. In this article, we will explore the NFT craze and the best NFT tokens to buy in 2022.
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Non Fungible Tokens vs Tokenization
NFTs and NFT tokens are both collectible elements that can potentially appreciate, so they may be of interest to investors. However, they are quite different from one another.
NFTs are unique cryptographic tokens based on blockchain technology, specifically the Ethereum blockchain. Unlike fungible tokens, NFTs cannot be replicated or duplicated. This makes them ideal for representing real-world items like artwork, collectibles, and even real estate.
By “tokenizing” these assets, we can make buying, selling, and trading them more efficient while reducing the probability of fraud.
What Is An NFT?
A non-fungible token is a representation of digital or physical assets that is unique and cannot be replaced with another asset. They have a special code that identifies them, like Bitcoin or Ethereum.
Each NFT has a signature that is stored in a smart contract, which proves ownership of the NFT. NFTs are more reliable than other assets on the Ethereum blockchain market because their transactions are public and recorded.
What Is Tokenization?
Tokenization is the process of securing data by converting it into tokens. These tokens are randomly generated numbers that have no value or association with the original data.
This makes it difficult for hackers to decipher the data, as there is no mathematical correlation between the token and the original data. As such, tokenization is an effective security solution to protect sensitive customer data from cyberattacks, such as data breaches.
In the case of NFT coins, they are tokenized to support the NFT ecosystem through investment and trading.
Finding the Best NFT Tokens to Invest in
When you’re looking for the best Non-Fungible Token to buy, there are a few factors that you should consider before making your investment.
Let’s take a look at what these factors are before we dive into the different NFT tokens that are currently available.
Creator of the Collection
A crucial factor to consider when evaluating any non-fungible token is its developer. Well-known creators of NFTs tend to outperform seemingly less popular NFT tokens — which matches up with the feedback received about CryptoPunks, and Larva Labs’ previous projects.
Price Point
NFT tokens are not just commodities — they’re an investment. Sometimes, the best ones appreciate, which makes a high-risk investment like buying NFTs look like a solid bet for investors. As an example, CryptoPunks were valued at $1 or more when they first appeared in 2017, but a few years later, you’re looking at millions.
Before you invest in your own NFT, it’s essential to understand the inherent risks and to recognize your financial situation.
Additional Features
One of the best parts about NFTs is their ability to offer additional value — far beyond just an exchange of ownership.
For example, Bored Ape Yacht Club provides exclusive access to a Discord server where users can communicate and get to know other like-minded people. Additionally, some NFT collections also include exclusive events where collectors can meet and socialize in person.
Ownership by Celebrities
Last year, NFTs were a hot commodity for celebrities and artists alike — this trend shows no sign of slowing down. Rick Ross recently bought a CryptoKitty for $140,000, which is one of the top non-fungible tokens to date. Although the sale has not been verified by the blockchain platform, Ross likely paid with Ethereum.
NFT Protocols & Tokens
Non-Fungible Tokens are all the rage right now, and for good reason. They’re unique, not mutually interchangeable which adds to their value, and they have the potential to appreciate over time. If you’re looking to make an NFT investment, then you’ll want to check out the projects listed below.
These are some of the best tokens on the market, thanks to their market capitalization, mainstream appeal, and potential for value growth. So dive in and explore each NFT project individually to see what makes them so special.
1. Lucky Block NFTs – Platinum Rollers Club Collection
The brand new “Platinum Rollers Club” collection from Lucky Block is the most exciting NFT drop and the best NFT to flip right now! If you’re looking to invest in altcoins this year, Lucky Block is one of the best options out there due to its innovative use case and unique tokenomics.
With the launch of the Lucky Block crypto-lottery app just around the corner, now is the perfect time to get your hands on one of the 10,000 unique NFTs that are part of this collection. Each NFT comes with its own set of valuable benefits, so don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity!
The Platinum Rollers Club collection was minted on March 19th, 2022, with rare editions that were randomly assigned. They can be purchased for $1,500.
One of the most talked-about aspects of the Platinum Rollers Club is its jackpot for daily NFT holders. The jackpot is doled out to anyone who owns a Platinum Rollers Club daily NFT. Any Rare Edition NFT (with the serial number located in the bottom-right corner) doubles whatever prize pool they win, making this an extremely attractive club to join.
In addition, Lucky Block offers daily cryptocurrency prize draws through its intuitive online platform. For just $5, you can purchase a ticket to stand a chance of winning the lottery — which currently has a prize pool of $2.2 million. That’s two chances to win every day.
The native token behind the Lucky Block ecosystem is the LBLOCK (LBL) coin. Its current market cap is $49+ Mil.
2. Cryptomines Reborn (CRUX)
CryptoMines Reborn is the next big play-to-earn game that is taking the intergalactic gaming world by storm. This game is based on the Binance (BNB) Chain and offers players the chance to obtain NFTs by mining for the cryptocurrency CryptoMines Reborn, or CRUX.
To get started, you’ll need to acquire main NFTs, spaceships, and space workers. Spaceships are used to travel through different galaxies and collect WCRUX, while space workers serve as your main mining force. By fusion spaceships and workers, you can create fleets.
Spaceships can be acquired through the in-game lottery system, where each ship has a different rarity and different difficulty percentages to get them. Meanwhile, workers are minted one at a time using loot boxes, with their rarity and Mining Power assigned at random. Fuel is another resource you’ll require to travel across the Metaverse — you need a certain amount of it to set off on an expedition.
In this game, all assets are minted with the ERC-721 standard and can be traded in the NFT Markets. NFT transactions are subject to a 15% tax, which is paid by the seller. With these assets, you can improve your fleets and make a difference in the game!
CryptoMines Reborn officially launched on April 5, 2022, and is a new and improved version of the game that was shut down in late 2021 which used ETERNAL tokens.
It now has a staking feature that allows players to get CRUX rewards. Its developers publish all updates on the game and its ecosystem on the Medium platform.
3. Bored Ape Yacht Club
NFT investors were eagerly anticipating the Bored Ape Yacht Club drop. This collection of 10,000 unique NFTs represents unique digital art that has garnered a lot of attention from wealthy investors worldwide.
Bored Ape NFTs are more than just digital art pieces – they also grant token holders access to the exclusive Bored Ape Yacht Club. This club brings together successful entrepreneurs, celebrities, and other like-minded individuals in a private Discord server. You’ll also be first in line for additional NFT drops, including the Bored Ape Kennel Club and Mutant Ape Yacht Club.
ApeCoin (APE) is the governance token that powers the APE ecosystem. Token holders of ApeCoin can vote and participate in the governance of the ApeCoin DAO. In addition, ApeCoin can be used to access games, merchandise, events, and services.
NFTs have been taking the world by storm and Yuga Labs is at the forefront of this new industry. The company has created the Bored Ape NFTs, which have been met with great success. On March 12th, 2022, Yuga Labs took things one step further by acquiring the intellectual property rights of the CryptoPunks and Meebits NFT collections from Larva Labs. This move sent shockwaves through the NFT community and caused the prices of all three NFTs to skyrocket.
4. CryptoPunks
NFTs have been around for a while, but they only started becoming popular in 2021. One of the oldest NFT projects is CryptoPunks, which was launched in 2017. Although CryptoPunks were not originally highly coveted, their price skyrocketed this year as more people became interested in NFTs.
The CryptoPunks NFTs are another digital asset that garners some of the most unique and interesting opportunities available today. Each Punk has its distinct characteristics and appearance, with aliens and zombies being among the most valuable. Unlike many other NFTs, the value of CryptoPunks comes not from their visual appeal but from the fact that they have been around for a long time. This makes them a great investment for those interested in building a long-term portfolio of digital assets.
With the floor price of a Punk costing upwards of $200,000, it’s no wonder that CryptoPunks are some of the most popular NFTs around – especially among celebrities. From Jay-Z and Snoop Dogg to Steve Aoki and Logan Paul, many high-profile individuals have snapped up a unique Punk for themselves. The most expensive CryptoPunk NFT was sold last year for an impressive $11.75 million! With such a high price tag, it’s no wonder that CryptoPunks is one of the best NFT projects to date.
5. Pudgy Penguins
If you’re looking for a fun and unique NFT collection to buy, Pudgy Penguins is a great option. This collection contains 8,888 NFTs, each one detailing a different cartoon penguin with its characteristics. Some of these characteristics are considered rarer than others, which makes each Penguin highly collectible. Pudgy Penguins has become very popular with high net worth investors, so if you’re looking to add an NFT to your investment portfolio, this is a great option.
The Pudgy Penguins are currently selling for just over $4,000, making them a great investment for those looking to get into the market. Some Pudgy Penguins have sold for incredible amounts – with one investor buying a Penguin for a remarkable $463,000!
In January 2022, the Pudgy Penguin NFT collection made headlines when its founders were voted out after failing to meet their goals. The former founders had promised a game and native token for the NFTs, but neither materialized. This led to a power struggle among those who wanted control of the collection. As the commotion continues, the price of Pudgy Penguins has increased, leading some to believe that the media attention could be a good thing for the collection.
6. Decentraland
If you’re looking for an exciting and unique way to earn cryptocurrency, then Decentraland is worth considering. In Decentraland, users interact via augmented reality where they can create avatars and buy plots of land that are structured as NFTs.
This means that they can be traded with other users and monetized play-to-earn. The intriguing thing about Decentraland is that it is home to many of the most popular NFT games.
Decentraland is a virtual world powered by the Ethereum blockchain. In this world, users can buy and trade virtual land parcels using the native MANA cryptocurrency. Thanks to the growing popularity of the metaverse concept, Decentraland’s in-game items have become highly sought after, with land parcels often selling for tens of thousands of dollars.
7. Doodles
A great option for investing in NFT tokens is Doodles. This collection consists of 10,000 pieces of original artwork, all created by three renowned digital artists. The artists behind Doodles – who go by the names Tulip, Poopie, and Burnt Toast – have already had a lot of success with NFTs. Two of them were involved in the creation of the hugely popular CryptoKitties NFTs
Doodles are fun, unique characters that come in a variety of different styles and designs. From spacemen to skeletons to aliens, there is sure to be a Doodle that appeals to everyone. The initial collection launched in October 2021 and sold out quickly, with many people eager to get their hands on these rare and collectible items.
Currently, the Doodles floor price is sitting at an impressive 13 ETH. This equates to around $38,100 and has left many people wondering why this NFT collection has gathered so much attention. One possibility is that the art is very accessible and anyone can enjoy it. Another reason could be that the developers have a lot of experience in the NFT space and the know-how to create a successful product. Whatever the reasons, it’s clear that the Doodles are here to stay.
8. Autograph.io
Tom Brady, an NFL legend, has partnered with Autograph.io, an NFT marketplace, to help him launch his collection of digital items. Brady isn’t the only celebrity to take advantage of the platform’s capabilities, though – as an “NFT Agency,” Autograph.io provides a way for brands to launch their collections and reach a wide audience. The team recently secured $170 million in Series B funding.
The platform has attracted high-profile investors, most notably The Weeknd. The Canadian singer has joined the platform alongside senior Apple executive Eddy Cue to make NFTs easier to create and maintain. Other celebrities involved in the project include Tiger Woods, Tony Hawk, and Usain Bolt — many of whom are already working with Autograph on product releases.
Autograph has partnered with DraftKings and has started their NFT sale on Polygon. According to reports in November 2021, Autograph had sold over 100,000 NFTs, with some priced as low as $12 for retail investors — making them easily accessible and even more popular for all owners.
9. The Galaktic Gang Collection
Rather than selling their NFTs to the rich and famous, Galaktic Gang, an NFT collection of 5,555 digital art pieces, has instead decided to gift them back to their community. Made by a well-known Peruvian-Canadian artist, these NFTs sport a distinct ‘psychedelic’ look that has captivated users around the world. The team at Galaktic Gang understands that everyone deserves a little extra — not just those with deep pockets
In December 2021, the collection of NFTs went on sale, with 10% of the profits being donated to charity. The collection quickly sold out, and the NFTs have since been doing very well on the secondary market. For example, Galaktic Guy #5111 recently sold for over $140,000.
10. Axies
Axie Infinity is a blockchain-based NFT game where players can obtain, train, and battle Axies to earn cryptocurrency. The base of the game is its cute little monsters (called Axies), descended from CryptoKitties with a few tweaks — each Axie has unique genes and capabilities which must be unlocked to become stronger. Players can use these abilities against other players and earn cryptocurrency as a reward!
Axie Infinity has a robust NFT ecosystem, which is made more exciting by the participation of people who wouldn’t normally be interested in an online game. That’s because Axies can also be legally owned and traded by high-profile individuals and celebrities, who have stated they intend to breed the best Axies that can be found on the market.
The game has continued to gain steam, with the Axie platform’s native token, Axie Infinity AXS, being used by fans to speculate on the future of the game. Users can also collect and breed Axies and obtain further NFTs (non-fungible tokens), which are made available through the game’s marketplace.
11. Theta Token
Theta is the first decentralized video streaming network that provides solutions to all three facets of video distribution. Through innovative infrastructure and an incentive system, users can stream video clips without incurring large costs or expending tremendous amounts of data.
Theta uses its unique protocol to create streaming services better than any existing video platform on the market. Theta’s innovative peer-to-peer (P2P) network improves video delivery by using the unused bandwidth of individual users to relay data and increase the speed at which videos are delivered.
Theta has two native coins. The THETA token is the governance token for voting on protocol changes, and the second is TFUEL, which executes transactions on the blockchain.
Theta is also open-source software. This means that developers can use Theta’s underlying code to create new services built on top of the Theta network. Applications built using Theta’s open-source framework will continue to remain on the Theta network, rather than being forced onto competing blockchain networks.
12. Sandbox Metaverse
The Sandbox allows users to build, own, and monetize their gaming experiences on the Ethereum blockchain. It’s a virtual world where users can download games, play games, and earn game tokens that they can sell for real money, trade in-game with other users, or even use them as currency in mainstream stores. The platform uses smart contracts to automate microtransactions and reward gameplay — no coding experience is required, so most people can start playing right away.
In the Sandbox Metaverse, you’ll be able to create digital assets and sell them as NFTs, create and games with the Sandbox Game Maker, a part of their game development package. Once you’ve created your own game or NFT it can be uploaded to the Sandbox marketplace for trading.
Sandbox SAND is an ERC-20 Ethereum-based utility token used in the Sandbox to interact with the game and its players. Players can earn Sand from winning games, participating in events, or selling their cosmetic items; then use it to buy and sell equipment, facilities, or other cosmetic items.
Best NFT Marketplaces
An NFT marketplace is a platform where users can buy, sell, and display physical or digital objects — it’s the best way to sell and trade your NFTs. These multipurpose markets allow you to mint your NFT tokens and also offer some of the best NFT tokens to invest in.
To buy or sell an NFT, you’ll likely need to use a dedicated marketplace. Each one of these NFT platforms has its process for how it operates — such as which assets it allows and what percentage it takes as a commission when an asset is sold. The good news is that there are a variety of marketplaces available with different features, commission rates, and advantages.
OpenSea
OpenSea is among the largest NFT marketplaces that host many popular NFTs under three categories of unique digital assets: games, art, and music. If you want to sell your creations, you can create an account on OpenSea and list them for sale, or you can purchase items listed by other users.
All the cryptocurrencies that OpenSea currently supports are Ethereum, Solana, and USDC. Payment options are more extensive and include more crypto coins such as BTC and XMR. The site recently announced it will also accept fiat currencies, but they’re a bit more difficult to integrate.
OpenSea has a very user-friendly interface for its users to set up an account, browse and even create NFTs.
The only fee that OpenSea charges is a 2.5% transaction fee when you sell your NFT. However, to list an item, you must have the NFT in your inventory first. To have an item in your inventory, you must pay gas fees — or transaction fees — to use Ethereum’s blockchain to transfer them.
Polygon provides a means of listing your NFTs without a gas fee! Polygon will list any NFTs you want, but the logo must be displayed on the item’s graphic when it is listed.
OpenSea has simplified the marketplace experience for NFT owners, buyers, and sellers alike. With its intuitive interface and multiple methods of payment and delivery, OpenSea is among the best places to find or sell non-fungible items.
Rarible
Rarible is a decentralized marketplace that allows users to buy, sell and trade art, collectibles, video game skins, and NFTs. You can buy and trade Rarible with Ethereum, Flow, and Tezos. Rarible charges a flat 2.5% fee on every transaction, plus any gas fees required for the blockchain you choose to use.
Instead of a traditional company structure, Rarible’s business model is based on its native token, RARI. RARI is a governance token that allows holders to vote on future products and services offerings as well as participate in contests and giveaways.
In 2021, Rarible announced a partnership with Adobe to make it easier to verify and protect the metadata for digital content, including NFTs. With Adobe’s massive user base and Rarible’s decentralized verification protocol, no one will be able to “fake” or plagiarize an NFT. And anyone can use the marketplace knowing that their content is protected by the best software currently available.
NBA Top Shot
The NBA Top Shot Marketplace is the world’s leading marketplace for NFTs of valuable and cherished basketball memorabilia. Through a partnership with the NBA, buyers can purchase digital NFT representations of some of the most iconic moments in basketball history — including Michael Jordan’s legendary “Air Jordan” dunk in game 4 of the 1988 NBA Finals.
The NBA has been hard at work on a marketplace for both selling and purchasing NFTs. With its large and reputable brand name, it’s safe to say that the NBA is leading the way for professional sports teams looking to get involved in crypto. In addition to the NBA, several other organizations including the MLB, NHL, and NFL have already begun releasing NFTs as well!
With the NBA Top Shot marketplace and others like it, sports fans will be able to buy a piece of the game. When customers purchase NFTs, they’re receiving an asset that can appreciate. There are multiple purchasable items, including merchandise and tickets.
NBA Top Shot accepts credit/debit cards for transactions or select cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, DAI, or USDC. Fees are added to the purchase price regardless of the payment method.
Binance
Binance is one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world. It started supporting non-fungible tokens in 2019 and has since acted as a host for several NFTs that are registered via Crypto.com, which describes itself as a highly curated non-fungible token marketplace.
Binance NFT offers a wide variety of digital assets. The only thing that differentiates it from most other platforms is its extremely low trading fees, which only cost 1% of the asset price. It is also user-friendly and simple to use, so it can be directly used by any type of person — even those without much prior experience with blockchain or crypto trading.
Nifty Gateway
Nifty Gateway, which made headlines when it was acquired by Gemini, is known for hosting unique and affordable NFT sales, including “The Merge” by digital artist Fabian Giesenbauer, which sold on the platform for a fraction of the original asking price of $91.8 million.
This NFT marketplace focuses on high-quality art, especially celebrity art. To boost demand, Nifty Gateway uses an “open editions” program. When new tokens come out, you can only buy editions for a limited time, which creates a rush of excitement around releases. This marketplace does allow you to make purchases with your credit card.
SuperRare
SuperRare is a high-quality NFT art marketplace that allows users to discover, create and collect NFT art. SuperRare guarantees that all NFT art on its platform is credible and of the highest quality. To maintain the credibility of its platform, it only accepts high-quality submissions — any submittals that don’t meet the criteria are immediately rejected.
Given SuperRare’s thorough quality assurance process, investors can be confident that the NFTs they purchase are of a high caliber. NFT sellers are charged 15% of their first sale on the primary market. There is also a flat 3% transaction fee that anyone who makes a purchase pays.
SuperRare is one of the leading NFT marketplaces on the blockchain. If you’re looking for a premium item, you’ll find what you’re looking for on this marketplace.
Enjin
Enjin is a blockchain development company based in Singapore. It specializes in creating games and communities around blockchain technology and has gained international recognition for its cryptocurrency-based gaming ecosystem — Enjin Coin.
Enjin Coin is the world’s first customizable token designed specifically for the gaming industry. Enjin’s system supports the creation of other cryptocurrencies, called ERC20 Tokens, that can be integrated into games themselves.
There are many instances where you may need a virtual asset that can perform actions in a game, app, or website. That is where the Enjin Platform API comes in — by interacting with the API, developers can create NFTs that can perform any number of tasks. For example, if you wanted to turn your social media page into a game, you could make an NFT that could act as a weapon users could earn.
As of 2021, the Enjin Marketplace has launched over 2.15 billion tokens — most of which have been unique, programmable assets usable in virtual gaming worlds. However, the use case of NFTs is quickly growing beyond gaming to other industries.
Best Wallets for Storing NFT Tokens
With the rapid growth of the NFT market, a strong cryptocurrency wallet is an important part of setting up an investment strategy. Furthermore, with each investor comes a unique set of needs and preferences. As a result, it’s best to find the right wallet based on your individual needs: what are you looking to store, how much money do you have to invest, and are you willing to take on risk?
Features and security are important for any crypto wallet that you want to use for your NFTs. It’s important to compare NFT wallet features before signing up for one. If you carry any NFT tokens in your digital wallet, it’s also crucial to keep as many digital assets in an offline cold storage wallet as possible. User-friendliness should also be considered — especially if you’re a newcomer to the NFT market.
For investors who are looking for the best NFT wallets to suit their needs, here are five of the leading NFT wallets that have proven to be popular among users:
- MetaMask
- Coinbase Wallet
- Enjin
- Trust Wallet
- AlphaWallet
Best NFT Tokens to Buy – Conclusion
The NFT market has exploded onto the scene with a huge range of NFT tokens available for purchase. However, not all NFT tokens are created equal. Hopefully, this article has taken you through some of the most popular NFTs available and introduced you to a large number of ‘true’ utility tokens that will meet your preference on your NFT journey.
