Diving into the NFT world over the last four years, a study by Marc Baumann, the founder of FiftyOne Ventures, uncovered a whopping 1,500 NFT-related patent applications. This highlights that major brands are actively exploring the possibilities of NFTs and reveals fascinating trends in the Web3 space.

These patents aren’t just sitting in dusty archives; they span across diverse industries, from gaming and finance to media and retail, proving that NFTs are the Swiss Army knives of the digital world.

Now, let’s talk about the big fish in this NFT pond. We’ve got Nike, eBay, Sony, Snap Inc., The Walt Disney Company, Meta, and many more. Nike, in particular, has been sprinting ahead, collaborating with NFT maestros like RTFKT, Takashi Murakami, and FaZe Clan. Their ‘RTFKT x Nike Dunk Genesis CRYPTOKICKS’ collection alone is worth nearly $3 million! And they’ve even built their very own NFT marketplace, .SWOOSH, where NFT enthusiasts can hang out, trade, and unlock some exclusive drops.

But here’s the plot twist: some of these big-name brands only recently hopped onto the NFT rollercoaster. Bank of America, Snap Inc., and others jumped in during 2022, while in 2023, the party really got going. Sony, Meta, eBay, The Walt Disney Club, Samsung Electronics, and more joined the NFT fiesta, with many of them filing their NFT patents in the same month, March.

Hold on, there’s more! Mercedes-Benz, the car maestro, filed a patent this August for minting vehicle-related NFTs. And guess what? They recently unveiled their ‘CLA Concept’ car model, complete with its very own in-car NFT gallery. Talk about a futuristic ride!

Now, why should you care about NFT patents? Well, besides proving that your digital collectible is the real deal, they open up exciting ways to make money. You can tokenize your patents as NFTs, creating fresh avenues for funding and generating revenue. It’s like inventors turning into digital marketplace moguls.

And guess what? Despite the calm surface of the current NFT market, the study suggests that the NFT world is like a hidden treasure chest, waiting for more blockchain-based adventures to unfold. So, stay tuned; the NFT saga isn’t over yet!