Blue Chip is an investment term that first surfaced in the 1920s when Oliver Gingold, a stock quote clerk at Dow Jones & Company, noticed that certain high-priced stocks were trading at $200 or more per share.
Poker players bet in blue, white, and red chips with the blue chips having a higher value.
Blue-chip NFTs are generally considered to be safer bets for investors — they have a proven track record of stability and growth, and are thought to be good long-term investments that are relatively safer investments than most others.
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Blue Chip in The Traditional Stock World
Blue chip doesn’t just mean companies with a long track record – it means companies that have been around for ages, have a long-standing reputation for dealing fairly and honestly, and are well-recognized.
While Blue Chip companies aren’t always the best investment because they’re seen as “safer” investments than others, they can also be chosen as an alternative in times of market uncertainty.
In traditional finance, investing in blue chip stocks was considered to be a safe bet, compared to more speculative stocks that have a higher risk of losing value. T
The term “blue chip” actually has its origins in the world of gambling. Blue chips were used in certain high-stakes games where they held the highest value and eventually came to be seen as a sign of wealth and success.
In the realm of NFTs, however, the term takes on a different meaning. Here, blue chip NFTs are those that are rare and highly sought-after by collectors. This could be due to their artistic value, their one-of-a-kind nature, or any number of other factors.
Blue Chip NFTs
In traditional finance, blue chips are all about longevity, but that simply doesn’t exist in the NFT world because NFTs are still a fairly new concept.
Different people have different interpretations of what a blue chip NFT is, but generally when the term blue chip NFT is used it is agreed that it will be a project with high future value. In other words, it will have similar stability and growth potential to a traditional blue chip stock.
Investing in NFTs could lead to long-term gains, but your chances of striking it big are low. Blue chip NFT projects provide much more stability, but they may not increase in value as quickly as other projects.
For those who are looking for something more stable, NFTs with better odds of increasing in value over time are referred to as blue chip NFTs.
What Makes a Blue Chip NFT?
There is no definitive answer on what makes a blue chip NFT as the NFT space changes consistently as it is still new and the parameters are being decided upon and challenged daily.
The NFT market is a wild west of innovation and growth, but this rapid expansion has contributed to the notion that NFT investing could be risky if you are not familiar. However, there are some predictors/factors we can look to when making a more educated claim about blue-chip status.
These factors are:
- The Art
- The Artist & The Brand
- The Developers & The Utility
- The Floor Price & The Sales Volume
- Celebrity Endorsements
- The Community
Factors That Makeup Blue Chip NFTs
The Art
In the art world, there are a lot of opinions. People have different definitions of art and even what pieces are good but ultimately, it is subjective.
NFTs have been likened to a new form of digital art, and like any other form of art, they are subject to trends. Successful projects are often copied in terms of style or structure, as people look to replicate what has worked before. This is why we see similar patterns emerge across different NFT platforms.
CryptoPunks and Bored Ape Yacht Club are good examples of blue chip projects that have been in essence, replicated in terms of NFT collections.
CryptoPunks was one of the first projects of its kind, and since then there have been countless punk derivative projects. Some may see these as knockoffs or infringements on the original idea, but the fact remains that punks have become a valuable commodity. It’s no surprise that others have hopped onto the trend.
The Artist
Social capital is a form of currency, and in the art world, artists are like any other trader. Many projects that are high in value come from creators who are in high demand making the NFT project that much more valuable.
If you have knowledge and skill in an area, it means that you’re capable of producing something that will create value for others. Artists who have a track record of success outside of NFTs can translate that into a successful NFT project.
Artists with a history and track record of success outside of NFTs can translate into a successful NFT project.
The NFT space is bringing new artists to the forefront of the culture.
Some of the most successful projects out there with blue chip status have been the ones that took a chance on new artists.
Cool Cats (Clon), Creature World (Danny Cole), and Doodles (Burnt Toast) are all examples of this. These projects have been extremely successful because of the involvement of the artists. They help to give the project a voice and without them, the project would lose a lot of value.
Developers & Utility
While the artist determines the initial design of a Non-Fungible token, it’s the dev team that’s responsible for coding the smart contract and adding utility to the NFT. Without their efforts, a future blue chip might not be possible.
Floor Price & Sales Volume
The floor price is an essential aspect of the NFT space. The value and size of NFT projects are fundamentally tied to a floor price — an all-time low figure that can’t be crossed. This ensures that a project is never going to be worthless, and helps investors separate the wheat from the chaff. It also prevents short-term market fluctuations from affecting NFT prices too dramatically — so fluctuations like these won’t wipe out entire projects and their communities.
Celebrity Endorsements
NFTs have seen a surge in popularity thanks to endorsements from celebrities such as Snoop Dogg, Justin Bieber, Post Malone, and Jimmy Fallon. Their support can make or break a project in its early stages.
However, you still want to do your own research before investing in an NFT project. Make sure the celebrity backing the project is truly invested in its success, and not just looking to make some quick cash.
Community
The supportive community behind non-fungible tokens like Bored Ape, Cryptokitties, Cool Cats, CryptoBots, and the recently announced Creature World, is strong. When users interact with other holders in the community, they can unlock hidden value from their digital assets.
As the world becomes more and more digitized, it’s no surprise that a new way of connecting is emerging – through NFT communities. These virtual communities are formed around shared interests in NFTs and provide a space for like-minded individuals to connect and collaborate. It’s pretty cool to see what these communities are creating, and how they’re supporting projects they’re passionate about.
Investing In Blue Chip NFT Projects
An NFT is a digital representation of a physical asset. Unlike stocks, which are classified by how they are traded and recorded, not by the assets they represent, Non-Fungible Tokens’ value comes from the assets they represent.
Because an NFT can be freely transferred and traded in a peer-to-peer economy, NFT investing has become a unique yet popular way for collectors to invest.
As the NFT market continues to trend downwards, data shows that funds are still flowing into blue chip NFT projects. This indicates that investors believe in the long-term potential of these projects, despite the current market conditions. This is a positive sign for the future of the NFT industry.
Blue-Chips Investment Approach
It is nearly impossible to buy into blue chip NFTs because they are so expensive. For investors who want to invest in blue chip projects but can’t afford to drop $20,000 in a single token, a good strategy is to track teams with good projects that have been gaining momentum with the potential to become future blue chips.
Below are a few more tips for investing in future blue chip NFTs:
– Do your own research and only invest in projects with a strong team behind them that you can trust.
– Be patient and don’t invest in anything that has had a sudden, big increase in price recently; it’s likely to go back down again.
– Only invest in projects that you’re passionate about and that you believe in; if you love the art, you’ll be more likely to stick with it through the tough times.
– Look out for projects that are quiet about their prices; if they’re not constantly talking about how much their NFT is worth, it’s a good sign.
Everyone is supportive of the NFT space and its potential. Unfortunately, there are still a few projects that turn out to be scams and tarnish the reputation of everyone in the community. That’s why it’s important to be cautious and make sure you do your homework before investing.
Buy the Cheapest NFT or The Most Expensive?
NFTs are unique, digital assets that can be bought and sold. Prices for NFTs can vary widely, depending on their value. For example, Bored Ape Yacht Club is worth millions of dollars.
If you’re a beginner, invest in the most common, least expensive NFT project. Easy to sell and easy to resell for a profit, these are high-value projects that will serve as well in your portfolio as they do on your bookshelf.
If you’re more advanced, keep an eye out for an exclusive or limited edition NFT. These rarer titles are harder to find but are also worth more.
An advanced method of finding blue chips is to mimic the habits of their purchasers using FLOLiO‘s filters or rarity ranker. For example, if an investor has been buying rare NFTs with the trait “wears gold crown”, try finding an NFT that matches it.
A project’s Discord chat is the go-to place for NFT trading and sharing. There, people will privately sell their digital assets for a discount to save on transaction fees and existing members can help you with your purchases.
From one Discord community to another, members share tips and tricks on how to succeed in the NFT world — from which wallets are best to store your funds to which exchanges have the best customer support.
Avoiding Scams
Scams in the NFT world are pretty common and frequent and there is no exact approach to avoiding scams. But, we can minimize their effects by taking steps to stay out of reach.
-First, store your NFTs in hardware wallets.
-Second, be wary if someone approaches you directly — don’t be afraid to ignore anyone who seems shady or spammy.
-Third and finally, don’t purchase an NFT if the deal seems too good to be true.
Current Blue Chip NFT Projects
Now that we know what a Blue Chip NFT is and what it takes for a project to be considered blue chips let’s review a few projects considered blue chips.
Azuki
Azuki is a blockchain project that seeks to solve the biggest problems in the space: adoption and education. By creating an ecosystem of real-world applications, Azuki will be able to make blockchain technology mainstream — getting the everyday person involved in the system that could change the world. It has already started to recruit top talent for its team, with plans to launch an exclusive shop for those who own their NFT.
Bored Ape Yacht Club
The success of Bored Ape was instant — a digital asset that celebrities loved and the public supported. It sold 10,000 digital NFTs, each with 170 possible traits, clothing, expressions, and accessories. Each NFT was randomly generated using Ethereum blockchain technology.
Celebrities like Shaquille O’Neil, Paris Hilton, Eminem, Justin Bieber, Jimmy Fallon, and others jumped in to get their own “ape” on the blockchain.
Clone X
Clone X is an NFT collection of 20,000 3D avatars with rich and detailed customization options. The technology behind them allows owners to swap parts of the avatar’s model, or mix and match them with other works of art.
These avatars can be used for any purpose — from using them as an avatar in the metaverse to using them as your profile picture on our platform. To date, users have put over 122,000 ETH into these rare NFTs.
Cool Cats
NFTs featuring unique animals are widely popular, and the Cool Cats collection is leading the pack! With 9,999 randomly generated NFTs, there’s sure to be a cat for everyone. And since they’re all stored on the Ethereum blockchain, you can rest assured that your kitty is safe and sound.
Currently, there is an average daily volume of 210 ETH, equating to about $610,000 worth of cats being exchanged each day.
CryptoPunks
Cryptopunks are one of the fastest-growing collectibles on the Ethereum blockchain. This NFT offers 10,000 unique collectible characters that are generated through an algorithm. Recently, CryptoPunks made headlines when it was announced that Visa had purchased one of their indivisible collectibles for $150K in ETH. Now, millions of people own CryptoPunks — and many even use them as investments to safeguard their funds!
Doodles
The Doodle collection has been a hot seller since it was first released — with each design unique and brought to life by an artist’s hand, every Doodle is truly a piece of art in itself. Now, this brand is set to launch a new line of products that takes the Doodle collection to space with the “Doodle Space” theme! With only 10 designs, each Doodle Space product will be an amazing gift for any doodle lover.
The floor price of the Doodle NFT has reached $35,000. This breaks the previous record for an NFT sale, and cements the Doodle collection as one of the most valuable in the world, with a market cap of over $350 million.
World of Women
The World of Women is a digital art collection that features 10,000 beautiful and detailed objects that are animated to mimic real life. Initially sold among high-end art circles for $30,000, World of Women has brought the artwork right into your hands with the use of blockchain technology — you can now access artwork previously only accessible to the most wealthy investors in the world!
Future Blue Chips
Blue-chip NFTs are well known and established by definition, but they also have to navigate the pitfalls of stagnating growth due to their size. Newer projects that haven’t taken off yet understand the importance of virality and are excited about what’s to come — at times this is the key to success.
With the current expansion and hype about NFTs, there are thousands of new projects minting every day. Finding the next one to experience steady gains is not easy — especially because most current NFTs have a low probability of retaining their value in the long run.
NFTs that have some notoriety right now, but have a good possibility of sticking around for the long term and are what we consider future blue chips.
Determining Potential Future Blue Chips
To start building out a blue chip NFT collection, you first need to determine the features that you plan to look for. Below, we have compiled an extensive list of the features that potential blue-chip NFTs should have — this should help guide your decision-making process as you pick out which NFT projects are right for you.
-The creator of the collection
-The quality of the collection itself
-The potential use cases for the NFTs
-Sales volume trends
-Floor price (past and present)
-Community action
-Noteworthy endorsements
Future Blue Chip Collections
CloneX by RTFKT
CloneX is one of the most promising NFT projects. With a floor price of 14.8 ETH, it is already being considered a blue chip NFT.
Its decentralized nature, together with the fact that every brand can benefit from this project, also adds value to its legacy. The blockchain solution, which is being developed by a team of experienced developers, does not doubt that it will be able to change the fashion industry for the better.
Nike recently announced that it will acquire the technology behind CloneX to incorporate 3D printing into its product development process. Not only will this benefit the Nike brand, but it will also help kickstart global adoption of the technology as a whole.
CyberKongz
As one of the many projects to take the lead as a favorite in 2021, CyberKongz is a virtual collectible project which has gained considerable value and is seen already amongst many NFT collectors as a blue chip NFT.
Known for its exclusive community and the multitude of attributes represented in its ecosystem, CyberKongz allows NFT enthusiasts to share and exchange knowledge about their favorite asset class.
Derace
Horse racing is one of the oldest sports in the world, and Derace is looking to capitalize on that by incorporating it into the blockchain. This could be a way to land itself into Blue Chip status, as the legal market handle on horse racing in the United States in 2018 was $11.26 billion.
NFTs are a big part of what makes this possible, as they are unique and can be used in-game. This makes them particularly valuable to fans of the sport and the platform. So if you’re looking for a new and exciting way to gamble, keep an eye on Derace!
Meebits
Meebits is a collection that features unique 3D avatars that are also usable in virtual worlds such as metaverses. Meebits is made by the same creators as CryptoPunks, and its high-quality avatars might lead to a similar outcome. Meebits is a collection that features 20,000 unique 3D avatars that are of noticeably higher quality than the CryptoPunks.
The fact that Meebits can be used in the Metaverse trend and was developed by the CryptoPunks creators is what makes it a potential blue-chip NFT collection.
To Conclude
With the NFT market still being so brand new, it’s hard to say which project might become a future blue chip but that shouldn’t stop you from capitalizing on their potential. We hope the information in this article will help you make a more informed decision about what a blue chip NFT is and which projects, should you choose to invest in, deserves your attention.
