Perhaps when you hear of the term NFT or non-fungible tokens, all that comes to mind is digital art or pixelated apes. But you may fail to realize that NFTs are more than just flashy collectibles. In reality, these tokens are a versatile technology with the ability to alter how startups operate and engage customers. Picture, for instance, a scenario where a startup rewards loyal customers with a unique NFT, allowing them to explore special experiences.
Well, such scenarios have become a norm across several industries. In fact, in a recent report by crypto exchange Binance, NFT sales in August 2025 experienced a 4% gain, following a strong momentum witnessed in the previous month. On a larger scale, SkyQuest Technology expects the global NFT market to grow to $701.15 billion by 2033, up from $65.47 billion in 2025.
Even more interesting is how many of these NFT transactions take advantage of fast and low-cost blockchain networks like the XRP ledger. Startups are increasingly exploring XRP for minting and transferring tokens because of the network’s scalability and minimal fees. And because of the reduced transaction costs, it becomes even more practical for startups to integrate NFTs into their operations.
Tokens as tickets and loyalty programs
If you’ve been doing business for some time, you know the importance of effective loyalty features. Cropink has published a report along these lines, suggesting that seven in ten consumers consider these features crucial to their purchase experience. And if you don’t offer them, you may risk losing up to 84% of shoppers, who, according to the institution, stick with a brand that offers a loyalty program.
But as much as these features could help improve competitiveness, you don’t want them to feel generic or easily ignored. Remember, it’s easy for customers to forget about points or let them go to waste in traditional loyalty programs. NFTs, however, bring a sense of uniqueness and ownership. Each token is verifiably one-of-a-kind, and its value can extend beyond the initial reward. To put that into perspective, picture a startup issuing an NFT-based event ticket that evolves as a customer interacts more with a service.
If you attend the business’s workshop, your ticket levels up and unlocks access to special discounts. Well, such experiences can quickly transform what would have been a simple transaction into an engaging journey, where customers feel genuinely connected to the brand. Mark you: since modern consumers are becoming more discerning, customer acquisition costs are rising.
That’s why retention has become the real battleground. You want to try as much as you can to turn one-time buyers into people who feel proud to be part of your startup’s story. Thankfully, offering NFT-based loyalty perks could help with that.
NFTs for intellectual property and digital identity
Proving ownership of ideas and creations can be a real headache for startups, especially in the digital world, where copying and redistribution happen at lightning speed. Since these businesses often thrive on innovation, there’s usually a heightened risk of exposure when it comes to proprietary ideas.
Take the lawsuit where ZeniMax accused Oculus (later acquired by Facebook) of misusing proprietary documents that belonged to ZeniMax, for instance. With this example alone, it’s clear that even well-funded companies could fall prey to IP infringement. And if ownership isn’t clearly protected, a competitive advantage could quickly be lost. So, to avoid such losses, a software startup could actually issue NFTs representing licenses for proprietary code. This ensures each license is unique and non-transferable.
Beyond software, consider personal branding and digital identity. At a time when the metaverse is becoming a reality, NFTs could serve as avatars or even badges that travel across platforms. For instance, a business offering professional courses could reward participants with tokens that validate their completion and can be proudly displayed on LinkedIn profiles. A good example is when MICA Ahmedabad’s Media & Entertainment Management (MEM) awarded course-completion certificates as non-fungible tokens to its students.
Rather than just receiving a traditional paper/Digital PDF that’s susceptible to tampering, students received NFTs that were permanently stored on the blockchain. And if this is possible with a learning institution, startups can also do the same for their training programs.
NFTs as fundraising and community-building tools
In the early days of startups, when resources are limited, fundraising can feel like a tightrope walk. And, unfortunately, Growth List cites lack of financing as the primary reason 47% of new businesses fail. By the time you’re getting the needed support to scale, you might have already missed critical opportunities to build a loyal customer base. But when you sell NFTs tied to things like voting rights, you can quickly turn supporters into active stakeholders.
It’s just like giving your community a front-row seat to your startup’s journey. Instead of them just cheering from the sidelines, they actually hold a piece of the action in their digital wallets. Perhaps the best part of these tokens is how, besides raising funds, they can help foster a passionate user base that feels personally invested in a startup’s success.
Agreeably, NFTs are more than digital art. They’re great tools for startups to innovate and connect with users more deeply. When it comes to protecting intellectual property, these tokens can also be handy. In fundraising, NFTs could transform traditional campaigns into community-driven initiatives and offer supporters both a sense of ownership and a stake in the company’s growth.
