How do Enterprises Create Value with NFTs?

Summary

Non-fungible tokens moved beyond digital collectibles in 2021, prompting global brands to explore what tangible value NFTs might offer their business rather than treating them purely as a marketing novelty. This session distills insights from an expert panel discussion on how enterprises are approaching NFT strategy, moving past the hype to examine practical utility.

NFTs can function beyond a simple record of ownership, adding utility through membership access, event entry, professional certification and crowdfunding models, while embedded metadata and smart contracts can reduce administrative overhead and create new recurring revenue streams through secondary market royalties.

For enterprise leaders considering an NFT initiative, the session frames three essential questions to work through before launch: what specific problem NFTs solve for the business, what community engagement strategy will sustain long-term value beyond a one-off drop, and how to align stakeholders across leadership, IT and other functions who may still be unfamiliar with the technology. It also surveys the practical barriers still standing in the way of enterprise adoption, including onboarding friction for new participants, a shortage of specialised talent and limited experience executing agile NFT strategy.

Real-world examples from McDonald's, Nike, Alfa Romeo and other global brands illustrate how companies are already experimenting with NFTs in this space.