Are NFTs Still a Thing? Here’s Why They Might Be the Smartest (or Strangest) Investment You Make This Year
Key Points
NFTs aren’t dead — they just matured. Less hype, more strategy. More emotional and brand-driven use cases rooted in why people actually buy NFTs: for identity, status, access, belonging, and connection.
Marketing with NFTs is about connection, not just collectibles. Build community, reward loyalty, and make your brand part of someone’s story.
The real value? Emotion. Whether it’s belonging, status, identity, or nostalgia — NFTs still tap into something very real.
It started with a TrumpCoin joke.
We were sitting around talking post-election chaos — someone mentioned they bought some TrumpCoin just to see what happens (apparently it’s trending again, go figure) — and then out of nowhere someone goes:
“Wait… is anyone still into NFTs?”
At first, we all laughed. Like, really?
Beeple already made his $69 million. Isn’t that whole world over?
But then I paused. Because as a digital marketer, my brain instantly kicked in.
NFTs aren’t gone. They just evolved. Quietly. Strategically. Emotionally.
And if you’re in marketing, branding, digital culture — or just curious about what the heck people are doing with their crypto wallets these days — it’s worth taking a second look.
So let’s talk about it — with facts, stats, and a whole lot of human psychology.
Because understanding why people buy NFTs isn’t just about tech — it’s about emotion, value, and what it means to belong.
8 Reasons Why People Still Buy NFTs in 2026
1. Exclusivity Still Sells — Always Has, Always Will
The biggest allure of NFTs? They’re exclusive.
Creators know the game. Drop limited editions. Make them rare. Watch the demand spike. It’s basic scarcity marketing — but with blockchain.
Take the Bored Ape Yacht Club, for example. Just 10,000 pieces. Unique traits. Huge hype. One of them — Ape #8817 — sold for $3.4 million. Why? Because it wasn’t just a JPEG. It was a ticket into a community. A flex. A digital VIP pass.
People still crave that — especially in a world where status symbols have gone virtual.
2. They’re Irreplaceable (Literally)
NFTs can’t be duplicated. That’s not just marketing fluff — that’s how the smart contracts work.
The blockchain tech underneath makes them tamper-proof and impossible to replicate. That’s a big deal. No fakes. No stolen JPEGs pretending to be “the real thing.”
It’s the digital version of owning an original Picasso — even if it’s a pixelated duck wearing sunglasses.
3. They’re a Form of Investment (With Big Risk and Big Reward)
Yes, some people are in it for the art.
But let’s be real — many are in it for the flip.
A guy named Pablo Rodriguez-Fraile bought a 10-second NFT video for $67K in 2020. He sold it a year later for $6.6 million.
That’s the kind of story that keeps people buying.
A survey by CenturyLink of 1,000 Americans found:
36% bought NFTs hoping to resell for profit
32% bought to own something exclusive or fancy (like virtual homes or high-end avatars)
Only 22% said they wouldn’t buy NFTs at all
So no, it’s not dead. It’s just evolved into a smarter game. A quieter one. But one that still pays off — if you know how to play it.
4. People Don’t Trust Traditional Currencies Anymore
Covid hit. Inflation soared. Suddenly, fiat felt flimsy.
And when your money loses value in your bank account, people start looking elsewhere.
Crypto exploded during the pandemic. And along with it, NFTs. They offered decentralization, control, and something tangible (well… sort of) in a time when everything else felt uncertain.
NFTs became digital gold for a generation raised on TikTok and GameStop rebellion.
5. Support for Creators Became a Currency of Its Own
Some people buy NFTs to invest. Others?
They buy them to support.
Artists like Grimes, Kings of Leon, and Steve Aoki launched NFTs as a way for fans to own a slice of the art. It’s not just a download — it’s a connection.
Imagine owning part of your favorite album. Or a digital concert ticket that also lives in your crypto wallet forever.
That emotional value? Huge. Especially when loyalty becomes the new algorithm.
6. Because Community Still Matters in the Crypto Space (And Every Business Should Pay Attention)
Crypto may be decentralized, but community drives everything.
Owning a Bored Ape or a World of Women NFT isn’t just about the art — it’s about access, identity, and belonging.
You’re not just buying a token. You’re buying into a club: a private Discord, a gated event, a product drop you can’t get anywhere else. That NFT becomes a digital handshake — a status symbol.
People spend thousands on them for the same reason someone buys a $3,000 handbag or a Rolex: not just for what it does, but for what it says.
And here’s what every business needs to know before jumping into crypto:
If you’re thinking about launching your own NFT or exploring web3 — don’t just focus on the tech. Focus on the tribe. On the emotional currency.
NFTs only work when they mean something to the people holding them. That’s the real asset — not the art, but the sense of being seen.
If your community doesn’t feel that connection? The blockchain won’t save you.
7. They Feel Like Collectibles (And Come With Perks)
From Marvel comic NFTs to NFL game highlights, the world of NFTs is full of digital memorabilia.
It’s not all avatars and pixel art.
Some NFTs come with real-world perks: VIP access, early merch, backstage passes. Others are bundled with music, videos, or limited-edition experiences.
To the collector’s mind, it’s the same thrill as a rare vinyl or vintage sneaker drop — but with blockchain bragging rights.
8. NFT Gaming Is a Whole Universe of Its Own
If you’ve missed this, pay attention: NFT gaming is huge.
Games now let you own skins, characters, cards, even land. That’s not just cool — that’s revenue. Because you can sell or trade those assets with other players.
It’s part digital playground, part economy.
Some games are play-to-earn. Some are free-to-play with NFT upgrades.
But the key is this: gamers want ownership, and NFTs give them that.
The result? A new kind of digital loyalty — one where players actually own part of the game they love.
But… Is It Still Worth It. Why Do People Buy NFTs?
That’s the million-dollar (or $69 million) question.
Here’s the truth: NFTs aren’t guaranteed money. The market is volatile. Hype fades.
Some projects flop. Remember Jack Dorsey’s first tweet NFT? It sold for millions, then re-listed and flopped at auction.
So yes — there’s risk.
But there’s also opportunity. Especially if you:
Do your research;
Invest in creators, not just collectibles;
Use NFTs as part of a larger brand or marketing funnel.
So How Do We Use NFTs in Marketing?
This is the part that gets me excited — because I’m a digital marketer. And NFTs are an emotional product.
If you’re building a brand — especially in lifestyle, music, sports, or fashion — NFTs can:
Reward your superfans (access-only drops, bonus content, exclusive merch;)
Build loyalty through ownership;
Gamify your product journey.
Think of NFTs not just as assets, but as experiences.
That’s the future. Not Bored Apes on T-shirts. But community-driven, value-backed, loyalty-tied digital tools that make people feel something.
And when people feel something?
That’s when they buy.
