Instagram Rolls Out NFT Support To More Than 100 Countries
These days, you can’t think “digital art” without thinking of non-fungible tokens. As such, Instagram—one of the main platforms for digital art (and, obviously, part of the umbrella of metaverse-seeking Meta)—plans to move with the times with NFT integration.
The social network first tested NFTs in May by giving a small group of creators and collectors in the US the ability to show off their tokens online. Now, Instagram is bringing those NFT features to over 100 countries spanning Africa, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and the Americas.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the expansion in a bizarre post of a real baseball card that was fronted by his nine-year-old self. The card itself will be minted as an NFT.
Meta says the international rollout will help “empower diverse voices” and boost accessibility to the NFT space, making it “more inclusive to all communities.” Back in May, Meta and Instagram said digital collectibles were another interesting way for artists and others to express themselves, and, importantly, a new avenue for creators to make money.
The expansion includes diversified support for the Coinbase, Dapper, and Phantom digital wallets, adding to the existing list of Rainbow, MetaMask, and Trust Wallet.
Currently, the social media app has Ethereum and Polygon integration, with Flow and Solana coming on board soon.
All users need to do to share NFTs is to hook up a compatible digital wallet to Instagram. Once connected, artists and holders will be able to select the digital artworks they wish to showcase on Instagram, kind of like choosing a photo from your camera roll. There will be no need to pay a fee to post or share NFTs.
NFTs on Instagram are distinguished from other images and videos by a shimmer effect, along with details of the asset. Depending on their privacy settings, creators and collectors may also be automatically tagged in digital collectible posts.
“Every day, creators inspire people and push culture forward around the world. With the incredible opportunity of blockchain technology, they can now leverage new tools to earn income, and fans can support their favorite creators by purchasing digital collectibles—art, images and videos, music or trading cards—as non-fungible tokens,” Meta shares in an updated statement.
