Introduction to Programmable NFTs
Programmable NFT, which means programmable NFT, refers to NFT that can be updated after minting.
Programmable NFT stores the metadata of NFT in a mutable format, and the instructions and conditions for metadata changes are encoded in advance in the NFT smart contract. Metadata can be updated manually by the owner or based on the conditions set in the smart contract.
About Metadata
NFTs essentially consist of two components: TokenID and metadata.
TokenID is a unique identifier that represents the ownership of NFT, and metadata is an object related to NFT. TokenID ensures that the ownership of NFT can be verified; while the content of metadata ensures the functionality of NFT.
NFT metadata includes the token’s name, properties, and links to files, etc.
For example, NFT projects like Generative Art usually contain a series of different attributes, and the scarcity of different attributes varies. These attributes are stored in the metadata of the NFT. In addition, the metadata usually contains an IPFS link to the picture or video of the NFT.
Application Scenario
1. Games
Players can use programmable NFTs to represent their in-game characters, thereby enhancing the gaming experience. For example, as players gain experience, their character growth can be reflected through the changing appearance of the NFT.
2. Digital identity
Programmable NFTs can be used to represent digital identities or passports. Thanks to the flexibility of programmable NFTs, users can automatically update their digital identities without having to replace digital identity documents. Details such as place of residence, marital status, and contact information can all be automatically updated.
3. Virtual real estate
NFTs can be used to tokenize real-world assets, and using programmable NFTs to represent real properties can reflect changing factors such as real estate prices, age, and ownership in real time, providing greater flexibility.
4. Artwork
Digital artists can use programmable NFTs to change the image of their artworks with real-time data, and these changes can make the artworks more unique. For example, the appearance of NFT artworks can change with the current weather or season.
5. Pass
Programmable NFTs can be used to represent passes to participate in specific activities. For example, tickets to sports events can upgrade the level of a user's ticket as the number and duration of a user's participation in a sporting event increases.
Advantage
Provides opportunities to innovate and develop NFTs over time. Projects can maintain people's interest in NFTs and form user stickiness by continuously adding new features.
Automatic updates can be triggered based on real-world input, providing greater flexibility in the use of NFTs.
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Changes to certain properties during the evolution of an NFT may affect scarcity.
The conditions that trigger NFT updates may limit the circulation of NFTs (for example, obtaining a certain attribute requires that the NFT has not been transferred within one year).
The amount of data contained in programmable NFTs is large, and the on-chain storage cost is high.
When obtaining off-chain data, it is necessary to use an oracle, which makes contract development difficult and requires higher performance from the public chain.
Cognitive conflict problem: the concept of mutability may conflict with the user's perception that on-chain data cannot be tampered with.
Some projects may have a long change cycle, which will wear out investors' patience.
Project cases
1、First Supper
First Supper is a programmable NFT work consisting of 22 layers. The work was jointly launched by AsyncArt and crypto artists.
The main body of First Supper is a main canvas, which also includes a file stored on the chain, recording the map of the layers and the location of the layers in the main canvas. Each layer is specific, visible, and also stored on the chain. The layer has multiple parameters: artist, owner, main canvas to which it belongs, and layer parameters.
Each layer of First Supper has independent ownership and control. The main canvas and 22 layers are tokenized separately on Ethereum. That is to say, the painting First Supper has 1 main canvas NFT and 22 different layer NFTs. On each layer page, the owner can change the layer settings at any time.
2、Music Blueprint
Music Blueprint is a tool for musicians to create music NFT generation sets. Creators upload recorded audio to the Async Canvas tool, which allows creators to layer the tracks of a song and add different variations to those tracks; when collectors mint, the algorithm will randomly construct a unique audio version from the combination of these tracks.
The creator determines the maximum number of copies that can be minted. Only when a collector chooses to mint a version will that version of the song appear. Music Blueprints enables producers to bring their fans closer to the creative process, allowing fans to participate in the final cut and exploring new creative outlets for creators beyond the traditional single release method.
3、CyberBrokers
Cyberbrokers is an NFT project with a total of 10001. Cyberbrokers character accessories can be combined and disassembled at will, and users can change the character's clothing, accessories, and hairstyle, etc.
CyberBrokers artwork is composed of SVG files that are broken down into components, compressed, and stored as separate layers on Ethereum. Users can reconstruct CyberBrokers directly from the assets using an on-chain transcoder. CyberBrokers metadata will also be stored on-chain, and cached images of compiled CyberBrokers are stored via IPFS.
4、I have NFT
LIOM (Life in Our Minds) is a dynamic NFT project that takes the form of a 3D animated video. This series of NFTs can respond to the actions of collectors, change the appearance of the NFTs after minting, and combine together to form an interactive virtual sculpture: The Mother Flock.
When users mint NFTs, the appearance of the NFT will be randomly generated based on the contents of the holder's wallet. After minting, the appearance of the NFT will also change with the user's holding time, number of transactions, and NFT holdings in the wallet. If the holder has a partner's NFT in the wallet, they can also unlock some custom functions.
5. Aavegotchi
Aavegotchi is an NFT development game created based on Aave. Players can stake ERC20 tokens supported by Aave, generate Aavegotchi NFTs, and interact with the Aavegotchi metaverse.
Each Aavegotchi is assigned a set of traits at birth using the Chainlink VRF random number generator. Aavegotchi traits can change based on intimacy, level, wearables, and consumables.
Factors that influence Aavegotchi’s characteristics:
Intimacy, the frequency of intimate interactions can determine the value. The longer the owner interacts with Aavegotchi and the more frequently, the higher the value will be.
Level, participate in voting and games in Aavegotchi DAO to gain more experience points and upgrade levels. Every few levels, Aavegotchi will gain a soul point, which can change ghost characteristics.
By wearing equipment, players can control the attributes of the ghost by controlling the wearable device. For example, when wearing a sword, the aggressiveness of Aavegotchi will increase.
6、Sketchy Pages
Sketchy Pages is a sub-project of Sketchy Ape Book Club. It is a dynamic programmable NFT. Users can record messages in the NFT's smart contract and support modification at any time. NFT displays different images based on the input content.
7、3Face
3Face is a work of art that can read transaction data from the holder’s wallet and change its appearance.
The creators of 3Face liken it to an "energy creature" that lives in symbiosis with collectors, as it absorbs collectors' wallet data and reflects their personality back to them. Collectors can accumulate more transaction history to change the parameters of their 3Face, which can incentivize Web3 users to link their mental state to online behavior.
Summarize
The emergence of programmable NFTs has allowed us to see another possibility for NFTs, that is, NFTs no longer exist in the form of simple PFP images, but have more usage and interaction scenarios.
Programmable NFTs allow for more interactions between NFTs and collectors, such as upgrading character equipment in games, improving membership levels in ticketing systems, and players matching artworks according to their personal preferences in combinable art, all of which make NFTs more playable.
