Top 10 NFT Application Cases Worldwide

What Is an NFT?

NFT stands for Non-Fungible Token. It is a unique token managed on the blockchain, enabling digital asset ownership and transaction history to be tracked and verified.

NFTs take many forms, including digital art, music, and in-game items. Each NFT carries a distinct identifier (token ID) and cannot be exchanged for another, making it a one-of-a-kind "collectible."

By giving digital data uniqueness, NFT technology transforms it into an asset with real value. This has led to high-value NFT sales and widespread attention in recent years. NFTs offer new monetization channels for digital creators and present innovative investment opportunities for collectors.

Key advantages of NFTs include:

• Proof of digital data uniqueness
• Scarcity and additional asset value for digital works
• Easy transactions and broad interoperability
• Open creation—anyone can mint NFTs
• No risk of physical damage or loss
• Greater revenue sharing for artists and creators
• Programmable features, such as membership credentials

Global NFT Use Case: NBA TOP SHOT

NBA TOP SHOT is an officially licensed digital card game from the NBA. Its cards feature highlight videos of NBA players, issued as NFTs. Users purchase card packs on the NBA TOP SHOT platform, each containing a random selection of cards, with prices varying by rarity and popularity.

Dapper Labs, the company behind NBA TOP SHOT, also created the landmark NFT game "CryptoKitties" and is a leader in blockchain gaming. Users can trade cards in the platform’s built-in marketplace and view real-time card prices and transaction history, creating a robust trading ecosystem.

NBA TOP SHOT gained rapid market recognition post-launch. Its market cap peaked at $1 billion, and a LeBron James card sold for about $230,000 (¥27 million), setting multiple sports NFT records. This example highlights NFTs’ vast commercial potential in sports entertainment.

Global NFT Use Case: LOUIS VUITTON

LOUIS VUITTON, one of the world’s top luxury brands, marked its founder’s 200th birthday with "LOUIS THE GAME," a mobile game blending NFT art. Players control the brand’s virtual ambassador, Louis, exploring global landmarks in-game.

The game features a creative NFT rewards system. Players randomly earn NFT art raffle tickets during gameplay. Thirty NFT artworks are available, including ten by acclaimed artist BEEPLE, whose NFT pieces have achieved record-breaking prices.

This case shows how traditional luxury brands use NFTs to connect with younger audiences. By merging brand history, gaming, and digital art, Louis Vuitton integrated NFTs into its marketing strategy, pioneering digital transformation in luxury.

Global NFT Use Case: The Nori Carbon Removal Marketplace

The Nori Carbon Removal Marketplace is an innovative platform tackling climate change by trading carbon reduction via NFTs. Carbon dioxide, a key greenhouse gas, drives global warming. Nori converts carbon reduction activities into tradable digital assets, enabling businesses and individuals to participate in climate action.

Through methods like reforestation and soil management, the platform reduces atmospheric CO₂. For each ton cut, one NFT is minted, recording the amount, location, and method on the blockchain for transparency and traceability.

This example expands NFTs from art and entertainment into sustainability. NFT technology makes carbon reduction quantifiable, tradable, and verifiable, creating innovative market solutions to climate challenges.

Global NFT Use Case: Burger King

Burger King collaborated with NFT platform Sweet for the "Keep It Real Meals" campaign, featuring hip-hop star Nelly, Brazilian pop singer Anitta, and influencer Lil Huddy with signature meal sets.

Customers scan a QR code on their meal box to redeem an NFT via Sweet. The campaign introduced 27 different NFTs and a playful collection system: collect three different NFTs from the same celebrity to unlock a 3D NFT or raffle entry for prizes like signed hoodies or video calls with the stars.

This case demonstrates how fast-food brands leverage NFTs for innovative marketing. By blending celebrity appeal, collectibility, and brand engagement, Burger King captured the attention of younger consumers, boosted its tech-forward reputation, and provided new digital marketing inspiration for the restaurant industry.

Global NFT Use Case: Spotify

Spotify, the world leader in music streaming, invested in Audius to improve royalty and rights distribution for musicians and podcasters. Audius serves approximately 6 million users and 100,000+ creators.

Using blockchain, Audius removes middlemen from music publishing and connects artists directly with fans. Creators can upload works, sell them as NFTs, or accept tips. They maintain full control over royalties and rights, free from traditional record label splits.

This partnership highlights NFTs’ role in transforming music. Blockchain and NFTs empower musicians with greater revenue share and control, protecting creator rights and paving the way for a decentralized music industry.

Domestic NFT Use Case: Leading Exchange

A major domestic digital asset platform has integrated crypto asset trading and NFT marketplace functions, allowing users to buy and sell NFTs in one unified app. Recently, it launched the first domestic NFT trading market supporting purchases and sales in fiat currency.

The platform’s innovation lies in embedding NFT features directly in its mobile app, making it easy to browse and manage NFT collections. To drive NFT adoption, it partners with creators and businesses to provide original content and customized services.

This case shows how domestic digital asset platforms are exploring NFTs. By lowering tech barriers and simplifying transactions, the platform enables everyday users to participate in NFT markets and advances domestic NFT adoption.

Domestic NFT Use Case: Nudge Inc.

Nudge Inc. launched a pilot program offering NFTs as credit card rewards. With its "Nudge NFT" service, cardholders can enter monthly raffles to win limited-edition NFT art by making purchases.

The company also hosted Japan’s first NFT auction, featuring works from notable creators and related merchandise. By integrating NFTs with financial services, Nudge explores new user incentive models.

Nudge’s experience reveals NFTs’ potential in finance. Rewarding card use with NFTs increases engagement and strengthens brand appeal, providing new strategies for digital transformation in traditional financial institutions.

Domestic NFT Use Case: CoinPost Inc.

CoinPost, a blockchain and crypto news outlet, recently tokenized its website ad slots as NFTs—sold on OpenSea, the world’s largest NFT marketplace.

Advertisers who buy NFT ad slots can store them in their digital wallets and freely update ad content. These slots are also tradable, allowing advertisers to transfer or share ad slot value.

This case shows NFTs’ innovation in digital advertising. By tokenizing ad slots, CoinPost redefines advertiser-media relationships and creates tradable, liquid ad assets, introducing new business models for digital advertising.

Domestic NFT Use Case: Tagpic Inc.

Tagpic provides NFT production support to its artists, streamlining the NFT creation process. The newly launched "Tagpic NFT" service sells NFTs made by Tagpic’s artists and creators.

The platform delivers end-to-end NFT production and sales, letting creators focus on content without tech or sales worries. This lowers entry barriers and gives fans new ways to support their favorite artists.

Tagpic’s case highlights NFT value in entertainment management. NFTs enable artists to sell digital works directly to fans, foster closer engagement, and earn higher revenue shares, supporting entertainment’s digital transformation.

Domestic NFT Use Case: Pacific League Marketing Inc.

Pacific League Marketing created NFTs of classic moments from Japan’s six Pacific League baseball teams. The "Pacific League Exciting Moments β" service sells video NFTs of memorable plays chosen by players and coaches.

Collectors can enjoy and own these rare highlights. The platform plans to expand its NFT offerings and develop more blockchain-based services for baseball fans.

This case demonstrates NFTs’ promise in sports. Tokenizing game highlights increases fan satisfaction and engagement, attracts younger fans, and opens new digital opportunities for traditional sports.

NFT Advantages: Increasing Digital Content Value

NFTs record ownership and rights holder data in digital files, verifying authenticity and uniqueness. This imparts scarcity and asset value, turning digital content into true assets.

Programmable features allow creators to earn ongoing transaction fees even after sales. Flexible mechanisms enable custom conditions, safeguarding creators’ long-term interests and driving NFT adoption.

This characteristic gives digital works asset value similar to physical art. Collectors receive blockchain-certified proof of unique ownership, reshaping digital content valuation.

NFT Advantages: Free Cross-Border and Cross-Platform Trading

NFTs are managed on blockchains, enabling unrestricted global trading. Surveys show widespread adoption across Asia, North America, Europe, and Latin America, opening international markets for creators and collectors.

Most NFTs use standardized protocols, allowing interoperability across platforms. For example, NFT items from Game A can be used in Game B, greatly increasing utility and liquidity.

This global reach and cross-platform compatibility offer creators wider market access and collectors more choices and asset liquidity, driving global digital asset market growth.

NFT Advantages: Diverse Commercial Opportunities

NFTs are non-substitutable digital assets, usable in diverse data and asset transactions across industries. While art and gaming are mainstream, applications are rapidly expanding. For example, DOLCE&GABBANA’s NFT auction reached ¥600 million in sales.

Sports and entertainment are also actively exploring NFTs. NFTs’ compatibility with crypto assets and the metaverse broadens application scope. From art collection and gaming to sports memorabilia and virtual real estate, NFTs are generating new business opportunities across sectors.

As technology matures and use cases expand, NFTs will drive innovation in education, healthcare, supply chain management, and more, becoming foundational infrastructure for the digital economy.

NFT Application Case Summary

NFTs use blockchain to make digital data unique, allowing it to function as a tradable asset. This article presents ten representative NFT cases from China and abroad, covering art, music, gaming, sports, fashion, finance, and environmental protection.

NFTs enable clear proof of digital ownership, greater transaction transparency, flexible sales models, and higher creator revenue shares. Clearly owned digital assets can be freely traded and generate value, making NFTs a key foundation for the digital economy era.

With NFT technology still developing, its potential is being continuously explored. From digital art to tokenized physical assets, and from personal collections to business applications, NFTs are redefining digital asset value. As technology and use cases advance, NFTs will play a growing role and drive new momentum for the digital economy.

FAQ

What are some NFT application cases? What are the representative examples in China and abroad?

International cases include Beeple’s "Everydays: The First 5000 Days," NBA Top Shot, and OpenSea. Domestic examples include Visual China’s Yuan Visual platform, Alipay digital collectibles, Tencent Huanhe, and Whale Explorer, covering digital art, collectibles, and virtual assets. The market is projected to reach ¥29.8 billion by 2026.

What practical problems do these ten NFT application cases solve?

These ten NFT cases address fraud reduction, minimizing paper use, securing property rights, and providing transparent transaction records, with applications in certificate authentication, copyright protection, and property rights confirmation.

How do domestic and international NFT application cases differ?

International NFTs are bought with digital currencies on blockchain platforms, supporting free trading and appreciation. Domestic NFTs use fiat currency, with limited circulation and a focus on cultural asset display and collection.

Which of these NFT application cases have been commercially implemented?

Industry leaders like Visual China and Tencent have achieved commercial implementation. Visual China’s Yuan Visual platform enables copyright trading and digital collectible issuance, with over ¥5 billion in transactions; Tencent Huanhe’s monthly trading volume reaches hundreds of millions; Alipay, Alibaba Auctions, and NetEase have also built mature digital collectible trading ecosystems.

What are NFT application cases in art, gaming, and collectibles?

In art, NFTs solve copyright protection through uniqueness and traceability, digitalizing art transactions. In gaming, projects like CryptoKitties tokenize assets for immersive experiences. In collectibles, NFTs ensure true ownership and secure transfers, with rising market volumes.

What are the user scale and market value for these NFT applications?

NFT user bases continue to grow, and market values are rising. Gaming items, digital art, and social tokens show the highest activity. With more use cases and increasing adoption, the market shows strong growth and great future potential.

What are the main risks and challenges in these NFT applications?

The main risks include technical, legal, trading, money laundering, and financial risks—such as smart contract vulnerabilities, unclear asset ownership, insufficient compliance, money laundering, and market speculation driving price bubbles. Robust regulation and industry standards are needed to prevent systemic financial risks.

What new directions exist for future NFT applications?

NFTs will further impact gaming, film, fashion, and music, and explore fractionalized NFT models, reshaping entertainment and asset trading experiences and advancing the Web3 ecosystem.