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For many millennials — and even some younger members of Gen X — the 1990s were a blur of PC-based games and Nintendo cartridges. The rise of first-person shooters like Quake and Doom and the introduction of the first Pokemon games — Red and Blue — for Nintendo gave this generation plenty of diversity in their game play.

Final Fantasy provided immersive worlds and awe-inspiring graphics. And when it was time to step away from the screen, there were always virtual Tamagotchi pets to tend to.

While today, this generation spends more time battling student loan debt than monsters, it’s still nice to escape in a good game once in a while. And NFT gaming can satisfy that urge. Best of all, many of these games can allow you to earn NFTs or game coins, which can then be traded on a crypto exchange for U.S. dollars or cryptocurrency investments.

What Does NFT Mean in Gaming?

In NFT gaming, you can buy, sell, trade and earn NFTs, or non-fungible tokens. These exist on any one of many blockchains. They use the same technology as cryptocurrency, but the two should not be confused. NFTs are different from cryptocurrency because each NFT is unique.

NFTs have value within the gaming universe. In some cases, they can help you to play more effectively and level up. They can also be sold for actual dollars or cryptocurrency on a crypto exchange. Because of this, NFT gaming can be profitable.

This list of some of today’s best — and upcoming — NFT games was not chosen for their inherent profitability, since this varies widely. NFTs, like cryptocurrency, are speculative investments. You can win or lose when you play. But, unlike playing other games with no “play-to-earn” element, at least you do have a chance to win money.

Here are some of the most fun NFT games that will bring you back to your childhood.

Aavegotchi

If you remember your beloved Tamagotchi, the open-source game Aavegotchi will win your heart. Played in the Gotchiverse and easily accessed through your PC web browser, the role-playing game allows players to craft installations and battle characters to guide your Aavegotchi to victory.

Even the primitive graphics will bring you back to earlier versions of Super Mario Brothers and the Tamagotchi with its blocky, 32X16 pixel screen. Aavagotchi is not free to play, but the more you play, the more you can earn.

TokenGenreGHSTRPG

Pros

• Easy to play
• Earning money is simple
• GHST coin is appreciating in value recently

Cons

• Graphics are primitive
• Value of Aavegotchis can go down

CryptoKitties

If you like raising virtual pets but prefer somewhat cuter — read: modern — versions, the popular CryptoKitties might strike your fancy. Breed these collectible NFTs and then play games to win game currencies that you can use to buy more kitties or accessories for your cat.

CryptoKitties is played on the Ethereum blockchain and was one of the first NFT games introduced for fun and profit. You can start playing for free by taking the tutorial to learn how to breed your first Kitties.

TokenGenreETHVirtual Pet

Pros

• Free to get started
• Cats are adorable
• CryptoKitties have sold for six figures
• Potential to be highly profitable

Cons

• The value of Kitties may go down

Metalands

If you were a Quake or Doom fan back in the day, the Metalands first-person shooter game will take you right back to LAN parties in your best friend’s basement. Metalands combines team deathmatch and battle royale game play, with intricately detailed characters and aesthetically complex scenery for an immersive experience.

This play-to-earn game is completely free to get started and allows you to earn in-game currency and also convert in-game coins into crypto or US dollars through a crypto exchange.

TokenGenreMetaland DAOFPS

Pros

• Free to get started
• Excellent graphics

Cons

• May require teamwork to excel

My DeFi Pet

’90s’ kids loved their virtual pets, and the wealth of NFT games based on breeding, raising and loving virtual animals shows that these feelings still dominate their leisure activities. My DeFi Pet runs on the Binance Smart Chain and KardiaChain and is available for PC, with iOS and Android versions coming soon. You’ll need a BSC wallet and an investment in Bitcoin or Ethereum to get started.

You can earn money in My DeFi Pet by completing in-game missions and breeding and selling NFTs in the form of pets. Right now, the game allows you to earn money passively, by letting your pets evolve. But the game continues to add more features, such as the ability to battle your pets.

TokenGenreDPETVirtual Pet

Pros

• Easy to play
• Pets may rise in value, making this game profitable
• New features being added

Cons

• Pets can decrease in value
• Requires an investment in BTC or ETH to start
• Not many in-game activities beyond breeding and raising pets yet
• Some features still in development

Axie Infinity

Axie Infinity operates on the Ethereum blockchain and, similar to Pokémon, combines breeding and raising “Axies” with battling their Axies against other players. Axie Infinity has roughly 1.48 million daily players.

With only 30% of the total supply of AXS, the coin of the game, in circulation as of June 27, 2022, there is a lot of potential to continue earning money with this play-to-earn game.

TokenGenreAXSMonster Battle

Pros

• The more you play, the more you can earn
• Axies may increase in value
• AXS token considered one of the fastest rising cryptocurrencies for 2022

Cons

• Axies may decrease in value

The Sandbox

The Sandbox is not just a single NFT game, but a mobile gaming platform on the Ethereum blockchain with multiple play-to-earn challenges and various gaming environments.

You can build 3D items, including buildings, vehicles, costumes or creatures and then add them to the blockchain as NFTs in The Sandbox neighborhood of the metaverse. You can sell them in The Sandbox’s crypto marketplace with no coding experience.

If you spent a large part of your college years playing Minecraft, The Sandbox will satisfy your urge to create — and perhaps help you earn some extra cash.

TokenGenreSANDGame Creation

Pros

• Ability to build and sell your own creations
• Explore other players’ creations
• Partnerships with major brands like Adidas and Atari give it a good chance at long-term success

Cons

• Not yet fully developed
• Potential to go unnoticed among big brands

Gods Unchained

Were you more of a role-playing game card collector in the ’90s than a video game enthusiast? Gods Unchained brings the spirit of Magic: The Gathering to your web browser. With enticing graphics and an immersive world, Gods Unchained brings together the best of on-screen roleplaying with top trading card games.

And, you can earn money doing so. To date, more than $52 million worth of Gods Unchained cards have been exchanged, according to the game website. Best of all, it’s free to get started.

TokenGenreGODSCard

Pros

• Free to get started
• Own trading cards and sell for money
• Excellent graphics

Cons

• Cards may go down in value

Splinterlands

Splinterlands is also a collectible card game, where you battle your characters Pokémon style to win and level up. You can sell your cards for cryptocurrency — which you can then sell for real-world dollars. You can also lease or rent your cards to other players, earning income while you help other players reach their gaming goals.

In addition to earning money by selling your NFTs on various compatible marketplaces, you also have the chance to win tournament prizes. So far, Splinterlands has awarded more than $6 million in prizes according to the game’s official website.

TokenGenreSPSCard

Pros

• Leasing cards gives additional income opportunities
• Chance to win tournament prizes

Cons

• Collectible cards may go down in value

Zed Run

If you remember horse racing games in the arcades of your youth, you’ll want to gallop to download Zed Run now. Now in beta version, the game has already given away more than $2 million USD in cryptocurrency.

You can start for free by creating a horse stable, but you’ll need an Ethereum digital wallet like MetaMask to purchase your first horse and enter a race. Each horse has different attributes of speed, agility, and gene purity, so there is a bit more than just luck involved in winning a race.

If you’re looking for an exciting game without a ton of strategy and no role-playing, Zed Run can fit the bill. Coincu.com recently called Zed Run “one of the most incredibly interesting investment opportunities available right now.”

TokenGenreZED RUN/ETHHorse Racing

Pros

• Tons of prize money available
• Must buy a horse to begin

Cons

• You could lose money selling horses

Final Take

These NFT games can be profitable if you take the time to play, improve your characters and build up your earnings. They are also a fun diversion to everyday life that can take you back to the simpler days of your Nintendo 64. Best of all, you won’t have to blow into the cartridge to start these games — although you will have to connect your digital wallet.

FAQ

• Are there any free NFT games?
  • Some NFT games are free and still allow you an opportunity to earn NFTs and money. CryptoKitties allows you an opportunity to breed your first two Kitties free as a training. Metalands is a completely free NFT game.
• Is NFT gaming profitable?
  • NFT gaming can be incredibly profitable as long as you understand how to play and invest enough time in each game to make a difference. Players have won millions of dollars playing Zed Run. CryptoKitties’ cats have sold for as much as six figures.
  • Of course, as with any investment, you could also lose money playing the games or your NFTs may not sell on the market for as much as you’d expect.
• What are the upcoming NFT games?
  • Some of the most exciting upcoming NFT games, currently in beta version, include Pirates of the Arrland, a 3D pirate-themed game that will take you right back to the classic theme park ride of your youth, and Cantina Royale, a Star-Wars-inspired player vs. player shooting game.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: NFT Games That Will Bring You Back to the ’90s

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

While it’s certainly been a turbulent year for bitcoin, there’s seemingly nothing capable of standing in the cryptocurrency’s way when it comes to building momentum towards mainstream acceptance. With the news that a spot bitcoin ETF is set to land in Europe this summer, European investors will have unprecedented access to BTC on traditional markets. 

In July, Europe’s first spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund will arrive on the Euronext Amsterdam, which is a major stock exchange and part of the pan-European marketplace, Euronext.

The ETF is to be launched by London-based digital asset management platform, Jacobi Asset Management, and the fund will start trading in the Dutch capital under the ticker BCOIN. The move is set to give European institutional and retail investors alike the opportunity to invest in bitcoin and the cryptocurrency market via the ETF for a 1.5% annual management fee. 

“Our product is the first spot or physical-backed Bitcoin fund, and the fund is not allowed to lend, stake or leverage any of the assets it owns,” said Jamie Khurshid, CEO of Jacobi Asset Management, in an interview with Cointelegraph. “For the first time in Europe, investors buying an exchange-traded Bitcoin product will own the units that own the Bitcoin. There are other exchange-traded products in Europe but no other spot BTC ETF.”

The arrival of a spot bitcoin ETF comes at a time when markets are reeling from a cocktail of factors like high inflation rates, the war in Ukraine and further COVID-19 complications. Using the S&P 500 as an example, we can see that leading cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and ethereum are down by a significantly larger margin than traditional markets. However, for many investors, this deeper level of volatility presents an attractive opportunity to find larger profit margins. Now, for the first time, we have sufficient BTC coverage in Europe, we may see more investors looking to catch bitcoin’s bottom price ahead of a prospective recovery.

“This will be the first Bitcoin ETF on Euronext, or the first fund directly investing in Bitcoin. All other currently existing products on our segment are exchange-traded notes, or legally structured as debt instruments,” Stephane Boujnah, CEO of Euronext, said in a statement. 

Despite uncertain market conditions, history suggests that the timing of the Jacobi Bitcoin ETF may be a relatively good one when it hits European markets. With bitcoin operating at close to its historical bottom value following its post-halving bull cycles, it could be an excellent opportunity for investors to buy into the asset for investors who are optimistic about BTC’s future cyclical rallies.

Paving the way for Accessibility

The arrival of Europe’s first spot ETF is an excellent step for cryptocurrency accessibility in Europe. For investors who would prefer to retain their portfolios on more traditionally aligned stock exchanges, buying into a bitcoin exchange-traded fund can offer the same level of growth that cryptocurrencies are capable of without having to throw themselves into the unfamiliar world of crypto. 

According to Edd Carlton, who is a digital asset trader at Flow Traders, the listing of a spot bitcoin ETF is “aligned with the growing demand from institutional investors.” Carlton also noted that calls for a spot Bitcoin ETF have been made in the United States for many years.

Despite this, so far the only spot ETFs to be launched globally are based in Canada, Brazil and Jersey, and are considerably smaller in scale than many U.S. ETFs. This means that the arrival of the Jacobi Bitcoin ETF will be the biggest of its kind in the world. 

Although European ETF investing is far less developed than in the U.S., the accommodation of cryptocurrencies in a more traditional investing format is likely to be a popular move on the continent. At present, only around 15 to 20 percent of retail investors in Europe use ETFs, as opposed to around 40% of U.S. investors. While this means that there’s considerably lower trading volumes surrounding exchange-traded funds in Europe, it also means that the Jacobi Bitcoin ETF has been viewed as an opportunity to breathe new life into the market by the European Commission. 

By accommodating a spot bitcoin ETF in Europe, it’s now possible for institutions like insurance companies, mutual funds and pension funds alike to develop their exposure to bitcoin in a way that was previously impossible. Likewise, retail investors in Europe can look to stock trading platforms that incorporate ETFs as its core offering for access to crypto on a scale like never before. 

Although the market surrounding cryptocurrencies has suffered a turbulent start to 2022, the arrival of the Jacobi Bitcoin ETF is likely to see plenty of traffic once a recovery begins. For Europe as a whole, the continent’s first spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund is a bold step towards widespread crypto acceptance. 

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Need help navigating the digital asset learning curve? Get our practical and tech-focused advice here.

Welcome back to our digital asset blog post series, brought to you by securities compliance consulting firm Joot and MeetAmi Innovations, Canada’s leading wealth management platform providing access to digital asset investing and learning. The first post in our content partnership explored the opportunities and challenges related to digital asset adoption for investment advisory firms. In this post, we dive deeper into relevant compliance considerations and issues around technology integration as you weigh the pros and cons of digital asset adoption.

To start, let’s discuss the value of continuing education in this space.

How Does Technology Function as a Teaching and Learning Tool?

When it comes to continuing education, investment advisory firms have a dual purpose: to foster ongoing professional development and to guide clients on digital asset allocation in their portfolios. This learning process includes, among other things, understanding how

Coupled with a short- and long-term investment plan, continuing education helps ensure compliance is in sync with business and industry changes. Bo Howell, CEO of Joot and managing director of FinTech Law, recently gave a Cincinnati Bar Association Continuing Legal Education presentation titled “Building Blocks of Crypto.” This webinar provided background information on blockchain technology and sparked audience participation to weigh in on the future of this and other emerging technologies. Bo offered this advice to investment advisors and fund managers interested in developing crypto investment products: “Learn. Learn. Learn. RIAs and fund managers can’t simply chase another hot investment product. They need to have a working knowledge of how the underlying technology works, the risks to that technology (e.g., a blockchain fork or pending upgrade to the protocol), and the property rights attached to digital assets.” Ongoing education in this rapidly evolving space is crucial for industry participants to stay involved—and compliant.

Where’s the Disconnect?

Much of the digital asset movement has been built for and adopted by consumers for self-management, whereas advisors need tools to bulk-manage accounts and report into traditional systems. With over 300 million crypto users (a number forecasted to reach a billion by the end of 2022), 400+ global exchanges, and self-directed learning, the digital assets environment has traditionally been consumer-focused, and “all over the place.” Advisors need to be empowered to engage with digital assets on behalf of their clients. That empowerment comes from continuous learning and education, support, and simulated market interaction in a compliant, easily learned ecosystem.

AmiLearn is a new learning model for wealth advisors seeking proficiency in this new asset class. The platform consists of small bites, curated news, master classes, and communities of practice—all ledgered on the blockchain. The platform was designed to support this intense, ever-changing learning curve.

Educating Advisors on Key Fiduciary Obligations

Technology will serve a key function in educating advisors on new fiduciary obligations, including know-your-customer (KYC) standards as well as taxation, custody, and insurance issues. As local, federal, and global rules, regulations, and entire regulatory bodies are still being developed and understood, advisors need to stay updated on regulatory developments to meet their fiduciary duty and to effectively manage digital assets. Regular exposure to breaking news, legal precedents (both national and international), tech advancements, and developing projects is paramount for advisors as they implement risk management strategies.

Two other areas that frequently trip-up product sponsors are anti-money laundering (AML) regulation and cybersecurity requirements needed to protect assets. These regulatory issues must be considered before investment advisors and fund managers develop and launch a product or invest client assets in cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. Many still consider cryptocurrencies to be nothing more than an anonymous method of transacting illegal money, though that myth has been disproven thanks to tracing techniques and wallet transparency. Cybersecurity issues mostly arise in the transition from decentralized platforms (blockchains) to traditional finance systems or transactions between separate blockchains. The very nature of decentralizing lends itself to more secure networks of nodes. Advisors and their firms must consult with cybersecurity experts who specifically focus on the application at hand.

The Path Forward

The influence of technology in understanding and learning about digital assets cannot be understated. In a digital world that relies on cryptography, decentralization, international cooperation, transparency, and a plethora of cutting-edge technologies, traditional learning methods simply cannot keep pace with—or fully express—a true understanding of the digital asset ecosystem.

Stay tuned for more, relevant content in our digital asset series. In the meantime, reach out to MeetAmi and Joot with any questions or feedback. We’d love to hear from you.

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.