NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) are unique digital tokens that can be used on certain cryptocurrency platforms. They are often used to represent rare or unique digital assets, such as digital artwork, music recordings, rare images, or virtual items in online games.
Accumulation and collection are two important parts of the NFT world. And sport has been part of human history for a long time. Put them together and you get dedicated communities that share, trade and discuss the collectibles they hold. We have compiled a list of top 7 NFT collections that sports fans must know.
NBA Top Shot
The NES Top Shot sports collection includes a number of highlight videos from popular basketball games. Some NFTs are worth up to tens of thousands of dollars. NBA Top Shot is an example; it is a digital collectible that marries the experience of traditional sports trading card collecting with blockchain technology. The project was overseen by Dapper Labs in partnership with the National Basketball Association, and was a huge success.
Sister
Counting Antoine Griezmann and Gerard Pique among its official supporters, Sorare is a platform for collecting football NFTs as well as baseball and basketball.
Fans can purchase trading cards from players around the world, which they can use to manage virtual teams. Despite launching in 2019, the platform still seems to have been made by an incredibly enthusiastic fan. This should improve over time.
2022, for example, has been a year of expansion for the Sorare community into other sports. Initially an NFT football project, Sorare partnered with MBL and the NBA to launch NFTs and games for baseball and basketball fans.
MLB Champions
MLB Champions originally launched in 2018 as a game that used NFTs. Although play ended in 2020, NFT MLB Champions are now traded on secondary markets.
The most expensive NFT MLB champion sold is Aaron Judge, who left for $1.1k on September 29, 2022.
NFL All Day
NFL All Day is the American football version of NBA Top Shot. The platforms look alike and Dapper Labs tries to generate the same hype with each new collection.
Although the prizes are not as high as NBA Top Shot and the players are not as internationally known, this collection also engages the sports community. The NFL’s greatest moments are officially licensed and fans can keep and redeem them as they wish. One of the highest sales on record is a Pat Mahomes NFT for $30,000, but as new seasons begin and rarities change, the project still has a lot to develop.
WNBA Top Shot
WNBA Top Shot is a pioneer and as you might have guessed from the name, the women’s league version of NBA Top Shot.
With this project, you can collect the best moments of the best WNBA players, such as Sue Bird, A’Ja Wilson and Sylvia Fowles. Supported by the NBA, it is also one of the largest female-led NFT projects in the space.
Partners
Socios not only offers Fan Tokens, but also launched its first group of Fan NFTs on October 31, 2022. Prior to a game against AS Roma, the company launched Fan NFTs in partnership with Italian football club AC Milan . Socios and its parent company, Chilliz, have partnered with renowned sports teams and leagues internationally.
NFT DeRace
DeRace is an online platform and community for racehorse fans where you can buy and breed NTF horses. DeRace Horses (DRCHRS) has a floor price of $76.08 at the time of writing. There are a total of 6206 minted NFTs, held by 1630 owners, with a market capitalization of $509,427.44. The platform has its own currency, the DERC. Players can also participate in different races using the NFTs they have purchased.
The cryptocurrency prices and NFTs can be volatile, but the impact of NFTs on the sports industry is undeniable. From NBA Top Shot to WNBA Top Shot and from Sorare to DeRace, it’s clear that NFTs are embraced by fans and athletes alike. Therefore, these technologies will continue to revolutionize the way we watch and participate in sporting events.
