OPINION: NFTs are about to take a bigger role in your expanding digital life

As online interactions grow in importance, the ability to have a verifiable, unique digital identity will be crucial.

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What future awaits NFTs in 2024? Having followed the non-fungible-token market for many years now and looking at the recent numbers, as well as the state of the crypto community and general adoption, I must say I'm optimistic.

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The NFT market is poised to transcend its initial phase of speculative trading and digital-art collection, evolving into a more mature ecosystem that intersects with numerous aspects of our daily lives. This evolution is driven by the increasing realization that NFTs offer much more than just ownership of digital art; they can be integral to digital identity, community membership, gaming, finance and even education.

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In 2024, the role of NFTs in digital identity will become increasingly significant. As online interactions grow in importance, the ability to have a verifiable, unique digital identity will be crucial. NFTs, especially profile-picture (PFP) NFTs, will play a key role in this, allowing individuals to showcase their digital personas across various platforms securely and uniquely. This trend heralds a future where digital identities could be as unique and valued as their real-world counterparts.

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In the realm of apps, gaming and virtual worlds, NFTs are set to redefine user engagement. The integration of NFTs within these platforms will not only enhance the user experience but also provide users with tangible rewards that have real-world value. The foundation of this trend are the X-to-earn NFT models. X-to-earn models incentivize users to do certain activities, such as play, purchase, interact with other users, or even exercise. In return, these NFTs offer financial benefits, in-game benefits and even governance rights in virtual worlds or decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs).

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NFT rentals and loans are another area of innovative financial models that will expand the utility of NFTs. Rentals allow users to enjoy the benefits of high-value NFTs without full ownership, while loans enable NFT holders to obtain liquidity while retaining their digital assets. These models cater to the growing need for flexibility and accessibility in the NFT market.

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Beyond rentals and loans, we will see NFTs being used increasingly more as collateral in decentralized-finance (DeFi) protocols or integrated into traditional financial services. This integration will bridge the gap between decentralized and traditional finance, offering more flexibility and opportunities for NFT holders.

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The fusion of AI and NFTs will unlock new forms of art and creativity.

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In the creative sector, the fusion of AI and NFTs will unlock new forms of art and creativity, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in digital art. This will not only aid in the artistic expression but also in its curation, valuation and trading, making the market more dynamic and accessible. AI will be able to power not only generation, but also interaction with NFTs - it can authenticate tokens, predict their values and help with security features, enhancing both the integrity and dynamism of the NFT market. This relationship between AI and blockchain technology is more than an innovation - it will signify a leap toward a more intelligent and secure NFT ecosystem.

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Education is another sector where NFTs are making significant inroads. From verifying educational credentials to incentivizing learning, NFTs are unlocking new possibilities for educational institutions and learners alike. Pioneering institutions including MIT and Duke University are already issuing virtual degrees and certificates using NFTs, setting a precedent for others to follow.

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The educational applications of NFTs will continue to grow, with more institutions adopting them for credentialing and engaging students. This could revolutionize the way educational achievements are recorded, shared and verified, making the process more transparent and efficient.

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Regulatory frameworks for NFTs will start to take shape, addressing issues such as consumer protection, intellectual property rights, and taxation.

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In response to these developments, regulatory frameworks for NFTs will start to take shape, addressing issues such as consumer protection, intellectual-property rights and taxation. This will provide much-needed clarity and security for both creators and investors, fostering a healthier market environment.

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Community-driven projects and DAOs will gain more prominence as NFTs enable new forms of collective ownership and decision-making. This will empower communities, allowing them to have a more direct impact on the projects and platforms they care about.

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There you have it. In 2024, NFTs will undergo a substantial shift from mere collectibles to assets with practical utility, integrated into various aspects of our digital lives. All this is not just a reaction to the past year's volatility, but also a proactive approach to exploring uncharted territories within the digital-asset space.

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-Jurica Dujmovic