Is there an industry evolving faster than cryptocurrency or technology? It’s hard to think of one, isn’t it?
This rapid advancement is driven by constant updates from companies striving to push the boundaries of what’s possible.
In the crypto world, just when you think innovation has reached its peak, a new concept emerges to further enhance the landscape.
Such is the case with NFTs and SFTs; while NFTs are widely recognized and celebrated, SFTs are lesser-known yet equally innovative.
Let’s delve into the details and compare NFTs with SFTs.
What Are Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)?
If you’ve ventured into the crypto space, you’ve probably heard of NFTs, CryptoPunks, or Axie Infinity.
To summarize, an NFT (Non-Fungible Token) is a unique digital asset that cannot be exchanged for another identical asset due to its distinct identification (metadata, ownership history) on the blockchain.
Each NFT is unique in its attributes, making them a fascinating type of digital asset.
NFTs can take various forms, including images (JPEG), music (MP3), videos (MP4), GIFs, and more. This versatility has made them popular in the crypto space, with use cases such as:
- In-game assets and the gaming industry
- Virtual real estate
- Art and collectibles
- Fashion
- Event tickets
- Exclusive memberships
- Luxury goods ownership
- The Metaverse
NFTs provide significant value through ownership. Each NFT contains data verifying the ownership of the asset, ensuring that a specific user is the legitimate holder of the digital collectible. This data includes the history of previous owners and various details about the NFT itself.
Most NFTs adhere to the ERC-721 token standard, which defines their functionality and capabilities. This protocol facilitates NFT transactions and creation, with each NFT on the Ethereum network following its rules. However, the smart contracts under this protocol only allow for sending one NFT per transaction, which, combined with Ethereum’s congestion, can lead to high transaction costs.
Advantages of NFTs
NFTs come with numerous valuable features, and their advantages include:
Proving Ownership and Authenticity NFTs contain metadata that verifies the ownership and authenticity of digital art, making digital collectibles easier to transfer and sell while protecting all parties involved. For instance, creating a digital artwork and transforming it into an NFT allows it to be traced back to you, the original creator.
Ease of Transfer NFTs were designed to be easily transferable. Today, you can find them on almost any crypto exchange, making it simple to buy, sell, or list an NFT without needing a third party. This accessibility makes NFTs increasingly popular among crypto enthusiasts worldwide.
Transparency Crypto’s inherent transparency, along with privacy, security, and decentralization, has attracted over 575 million identity-verified crypto asset users. NFTs, leveraging blockchain technology, offer similar transparency. This transparency allows users to easily learn about an NFT’s previous ownership, authenticity, and more, increasing trust and encouraging investment.
New Revenue Streams NFTs can generate new revenue streams for creators and owners. Artists can sell their work as unique NFTs, ensuring it won’t be replicated. Once popular, they can offer fans the opportunity to purchase digital copies, ensuring legitimacy.
Downsides of NFTs
Despite their advantages, NFTs have some downsides:
- They are subject to market volatility.
- Potential scams make thorough research essential before investing.
- Despite their security, they can be involved in thefts and frauds.
Top 3 NFTs
The Merge “The Merge” by Pak is the most expensive NFT ever sold, auctioned for $91.8 million on December 6, 2021, on Nifty Gateway. It includes 312,686 individual pieces held by 28,983 investors.
Everydays: The First 5,000 Days Created by Beeple (Mike Winkelmann), this NFT consists of 5,000 drawings made over 5,000 days. It was sold at a Christie’s auction in March 2021 for $69,346,250, starting from an initial bid of approximately $100.
Clock Developed by Pak, “Clock” is a digital artwork featuring a digital clock related to Julian Assange’s 2019 conviction. It sold for $52,740,000 in February 2022.
What Are Semi-Fungible Tokens (SFTs)?
SFTs (Semi-Fungible Tokens) combine features of NFTs and FTs (Fungible Tokens), offering greater accessibility and usability. An SFT is fungible until it meets a specific condition that makes it non-fungible.
For example, festival passes sold as digital assets are fungible until the festival begins. They can be traded like any token of the same value. Once the festival starts, the digital asset’s smart contract executes, turning the pass into a unique NFT linked to your festival experience.
How Do SFTs Work?
SFTs use the ERC-1155 token standard, developed by blockchain gaming developers The Sandbox, Horizon Games, and Enjin. This protocol manages both FTs and NFTs using a single smart contract, allowing for faster processing of in-game actions, reduced network congestion, and lower gas fees.
SFTs Use Cases
Primarily useful in the gaming industry, SFTs are also employed to sell tickets or offer vouchers. For instance, the RTFKT x Nike AR Hoodie project allows SFT holders to burn their ERC-1155 token in exchange for an ERC-721 token and a limited edition AR-featured hoodie.
NFTs vs. SFTs – The Final Verdict
And the winner is… both.
NFTs and SFTs each have significant advantages but serve slightly different purposes. In crypto games, NFTs reward significant in-game achievements, while SFTs are used for other actions.
The ERC-1155 standard was developed to manage both NFTs and FTs with a single smart contract. Artists, for example, might prefer selling their artwork as NFTs rather than fungible tokens.
In conclusion, NFTs and SFTs coexist harmoniously in the crypto space, each simplifying specific processes while maintaining the authenticity of digital collectibles and streamlining the relationship between NFTs and FTs.
FAQ
Is NFT better than crypto? NFTs are part of the crypto industry, offering unique digital assets with proof of authenticity and ownership history. Both NFTs and cryptocurrencies have their advantages and downsides, with slightly different use cases and technology.
What is the difference between NFTs and SFTs? NFTs are non-fungible, meaning they are unique and cannot be exchanged for another NFT. SFTs are fungible initially but become non-fungible upon meeting a specific condition.
What are the use cases of SFTs? SFTs can be used in crypto games for in-game rewards and to sell tickets or offer vouchers that become non-fungible once used.
Conclusion
The digital asset world continually surprises us with new concepts aimed at improving certain features or processes in the industry. NFTs, intriguing on their own, can be challenging in the gaming industry, especially when combined with other token types. SFTs were developed to offer a solution, allowing for both NFTs and FTs to coexist using the same smart contract.
