NFT stands for non fungible token. It’s a digital asset where every token is unique.
That uniqueness makes NFTs powerful as proof of ownership. They can represent a digital painting, a music track, a meme, or even a piece of virtual land.
The idea entered the mainstream in 2021 when the artist Beeple sold a digital collage at Christie’s for 69 million dollars. Earlier that year, a 10-second Beeple clip sold for 6.6 million dollars. In both cases, buyers didn’t receive a canvas or a print. What they bought was an NFT, a blockchain record proving their copy is the original, verifiable one.
What does “non-fungible” mean?
- Fungible: identical and interchangeable. One bitcoin is the same as another, just like one dollar is always worth one dollar.
- Non-fungible: unique and not interchangeable. A concert ticket for seat A5 on Friday isn’t the same as one for seat B7 on Saturday.
NFTs follow this principle. Each token has traits no other token shares.
Why are NFTs important?
NFTs act as digital proof of authenticity. They’re already used for:
- Artworks and video clips
- Music releases and concert tickets
- Memes and social media posts
- In-game items like skins, weapons, or avatars
- Virtual real estate in online worlds
Because NFTs run on smart contracts, creators can also set royalties, earning a percentage every time their work is resold.
The value comes from provenance and demand, not from the pixels or files themselves. Just as rare comics or trading cards gain value from their history and scarcity, NFTs gain value because the blockchain records ownership in a way anyone can verify.
How do NFTs work?
On Ethereum and chains like Base, most NFTs use standards such as ERC-721 or ERC-1155. Each token has a unique ID and metadata — details like the creator, a link to the artwork, description, or attributes.
Cardano takes a different approach. NFTs there are native assets written directly into the blockchain ledger, without relying on smart contracts. This makes them lightweight and efficient, with ownership secured at the base layer of the chain.
One important detail: the NFT itself often doesn’t contain the artwork or file. Instead, it points to it, usually stored off-chain on systems like IPFS or Arweave. The token proves authenticity, but if the storage link fails, the file can disappear. That’s why provenance matters, and why projects are exploring more permanent storage solutions.
Advantages of NFTs
NFTs bring a few clear benefits:
- Proof of authenticity. Recorded on a blockchain, making ownership easy to verify and hard to fake.
- Open access. Anyone online can create, buy, or sell, lowering barriers that once limited art, music, or media.
- Ongoing royalties. Smart contracts can send creators a cut each time their NFT is resold.
- Shared ownership. High-value items can be split into smaller shares so more people can co-own them.
- Real-world use. In World Mobile, EarthNode NFTs act as licenses for validator nodes.
Disadvantages of NFTs
But there are risks to weigh:
- Price swings. NFT markets can be volatile, and some assets are hard to sell quickly.
- Fraud and scams. Fake collections and copied work exist, so buyers must check contracts and provenance.
- Storage risks. Many NFTs point to files stored off-chain. If that storage fails, the file can disappear even if the token remains.
- Legal uncertainty. Rules on taxes, securities, and IP differ by country and are still evolving.
- Learning curve. Wallets, gas fees, and bridges can be confusing for new users.
NFTs on World Mobile Chain
World Mobile Chain is EVM compatible, which means NFTs on WMC follow the same standards as Ethereum. They can be minted, transferred, and traded using familiar wallets and marketplaces.
The first marketplace on WMC is World Market, where users can explore, buy, and sell NFTs native to the chain.
World Mobile also issues NFTs with direct utility in the network, extending far beyond art or collectibles.
EarthNode NFTs (ENNFTs)
To operate an EarthNode, you must hold an EarthNode NFT. Each ENNFT locks 100,000 WMTx and serves as a license to run one of the network’s validator nodes. Only 1,000 ENNFTs exist, making them limited and highly significant within the ecosystem.
What’s next
Other NFTs are expected to play a role in the ecosystem:
- AirNode NFTs will represent individual AirNodes deployed around the world. These NFTs will allow AirNodes to be bought and sold on a secondary market.
- Hex NFTs will represent geographic zones, giving holders a stake in a specific coverage area and a share of the rewards. Like AirNodes, Hex NFTs will also be tradable.
Together, EarthNode, AirNode, and Hex NFTs form a class of utility NFTs with real-world impact, directly tied to rewards from World Mobile’s sharing economy.