How Are Phygital NFTs Merging Real & Digital Worlds?

Pavithra Umashankar
Nerd For Tech
Published in
4 min readMar 28, 2023
Phygital NFTs Merging Real & Digital Worlds

Phygital NFTs are changing how people interact with the physical and digital worlds, offering unique experiences and bridging the gap. With the rise of web3 and NFTs, more brands are adopting a phygital approach to their products, connecting real-world items to virtual ones.

Let’s explore phygital NFTs, their benefits, and how businesses use them today to connect with their customers in exciting new ways. So, let’s delve deeper into this exciting frontier of digital innovation!

What Are Phygital NFTs?

Phygital NFTs combine physical and digital elements, transforming Blockchain. Coined by Momentum, they integrate with real-world assets, creating a decentralized system gaining virtual popularity.

Phygital NFTs are versatile, displaying art in AR and redeeming physical products, offering unlimited experiences. Collectors own a unique piece of both worlds, more than digital assets. This innovation draws NFT enthusiasts, an exciting time for creators. The possibilities are endless, and the market is excited to see where this leads!

How Can Brands Benefit From Phygital NFTs?

It is possible to stay relevant and engage with their customers by incorporating phygital NFTs into their marketing strategies. These unique digital assets offer a range of benefits for brands, including

Benefits of Phygital NFTs

Nurture Customer Loyalty: By offering exclusive phygital NFTs to customers, brands can create a sense of exclusivity and reward their most loyal customers. This can foster increased loyalty and repeat business.

Generate Revenue: Brands can sell phygital NFTs as collectibles or limited edition products, creating a new revenue stream. Also, they can use NFTs to incentivize customer behavior, such as making a purchase or referring a friend.

More Augmented Reality in NFTs: Incorporating Augmented Reality into phygital NFTs can offer customers an interactive and engaging experience. For example, a brand could create a virtual showroom where customers can view products in 3D or take part in virtual experiences.

Increase Visibility: Brands can use phygital NFTs to increase their visibility by offering prizes in contests or giveaways. They can attract new customers and create buzz around the brand.

Better In-person Experiences: Brands can use phygital NFTs to enhance in-person experiences, such as events or pop-up shops. By offering exclusive NFTs to attendees, brands can create a sense of exclusivity and provide a unique experience for customers.

Several brands have already embraced phygital NFTs to engage with their communities.

Brands Embracing Phygital NFTs
  • Starbucks Odyssey, for example, used NFTs to offer exclusive experiences to its customers.
  • While Timex and the Bored Ape Yacht Club used NFTs to create limited-edition watches.
  • The Whiskey Barrel used NFTs to offer exclusive access to rare and limited-edition whiskies.
  • Bstroy x Givenchy created a unique fashion experience through phygital NFTs.
  • Cult and Rain also utilized NFTs to offer exclusive experiences to their customers.

These brands are examples of the potential benefits of incorporating phygital NFTs into marketing strategies.

Phygital NFTs: Examples of Innovative Use Cases

The unique phygital NFT tokens are changing how crypto enthusiasts think about ownership and the value of physical assets. Here are a few examples of phygital NFTs used in different industries:

  • Metaverse Fashion and Merchandise

NFTs can represent virtual fashion houses and collections, providing proof of ownership and enhancing the customer experience. For example, the blow depicts Metagolden’s “Ethereum Expedition.”:

Metagolden’s “Ethereum Expedition”
  • Physical Sneakers

NFT sneakers are paired with physical sneakers to offer a unique ownership experience, with companies like Nike and RTFKT leading the way.

  • Food and Beverage

NFTs can represent physical food and beverage items, with Blockbar’s NFTs providing proof of authenticity for bottles of whisky.

  • Luxury Items

Digital tokens can represent physical luxury items like high-end jewelry, with companies like Truefacet using NFTs to prevent fraud and provide assurance of authenticity.

Are Phygital NFTs the Future Trend?

Phygital NFTs are the best solutions to acquire the fusion of physical and digital assets, making them an innovative trend worth considering. They create a digital record of ownership and history, adding value to physical objects and authenticating products for luxury brands and collectors. However, challenges include the need for practical and cost-effective tracking solutions for physical items and competition from traditional NFTs.

Despite this, the potential for phygital NFTs is significant, with new use cases and innovations expected to emerge as more brands experiment with these hybrid tokens. From collectibles to real-world objects, the opportunities to uncover are many!

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