How to Make Money with NFTs: 10 Proven Ways

NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) have reshaped the digital world by unlocking new ways to prove ownership, monetize creativity, and invest in unique digital assets. Unlike traditional digital files that can be endlessly copied, NFTs offer verifiable proof of ownership, recorded on the blockchain. That uniqueness makes them a powerful tool for creators, collectors, and investors alike.

So, how do you actually make money with NFTs? Whether you’re an artist, trader, gamer, or Web3 entrepreneur, there’s an opportunity here for you. In this guide, we’ll walk through 10 proven ways to make money with NFTs, backed by real-world success stories and practical tips.

What Makes NFTs Valuable?

Element	Why It Drives Value
Scarcity	Limited supply creates exclusivity and demand.
Ownership	Blockchain verifies who owns what, transparently.
Utility	Access to perks, events, or digital experiences.

Making money with NFTs often comes down to this trio: scarcity, verified ownership, and meaningful utility. When combined, they create the foundation for long-term value and market demand.

How to Make Money with NFTs: 10 Proven Ways

Here are the 10 proven ways to make money with NFTs.

1. Create and Sell NFT Art

If you’re a digital artist, this is your sweet spot. NFTs allow you to mint your artwork on the blockchain and sell your NFT directly to collectors—no galleries, no middlemen. Whether it’s digital illustrations, animations, photography, or even AI-generated art, you can find your niche and build a loyal following.

Platforms like OpenSea, Foundation, and Rarible make it simple to list your art and set royalty percentages (usually 5–10%) so you earn every time your NFT is resold.

The key to success? Build your brand. Share behind-the-scenes content, tell the story behind each piece, and engage with NFT communities on Twitter and Discord. As your visibility grows, so will your sales.

Best For: Digital artists, illustrators, creative storytellers

Pro Tips: Start with lower prices to attract early buyers, collaborate with other creators, and offer limited editions to drive demand.

Also Read: How to Create an NFT for Free

2. Flip NFTs (Buy Low, Sell High)

Flipping NFTs means buying them at a low price and reselling when the value spikes. Sounds simple, but it requires research, timing, and a feel for what’s trending. This strategy works best in highly active collections or when new projects gain traction.

To start, explore NFT marketplaces like OpenSea, LooksRare, and Blur. Analyze price charts, monitor trading volumes, and use NFT tools like Icy Tools, NFTNerds, and Trait Sniper to assess rarity and historical performance.

Avoid hype cycles. Instead, focus on “blue-chip” NFT projects (e.g., CryptoPunks, Azuki, Pudgy Penguins) or promising early-stage collections that show strong community backing and utility.

Best For: Risk-tolerant traders and collectors who understand market trends.

Pro Tips: Set entry and exit prices in advance, avoid emotional trading, and reinvest profits into more stable assets to balance risk.

3. Stake NFTs for Passive Income

Just like staking crypto, NFT staking lets you lock up your NFTs in return for rewards, often in the form of crypto, in-game items, or governance tokens. It’s a passive income stream that allows you to benefit from your holdings without selling them.

Platforms such as MOBOX, NFTX, and Aavegotchi offer NFT staking. Some projects may even reward stakeholders with whitelist spots for future drops or early access to community events.

But don’t stake blindly—each project has different lock-up periods, reward rates, and risks. Always review the project’s tokenomics and reputation before committing your assets.

Best For: Long-term holders who want to earn while keeping ownership.

Pro Tips: Only stake NFTs you’re comfortable locking up, compare APY rates across platforms, and track your rewards regularly.

4. Play-to-Earn NFT Gaming

NFT gaming (aka play-to-earn) lets you earn crypto and digital assets while playing games. Your in-game items—characters, weapons, skins—are NFTs that you fully own and can trade, rent, or sell for profit.

Popular games like Axie Infinity, Gods Unchained, and Illuvium allow players to earn through battles, quests, or marketplace trades. As the gaming economy evolves, newer titles focus more on sustainability and community governance.

Some gamers also join guilds or scholarship programs where they can rent high-level NFT assets from others in exchange for a revenue split.

Best For: Gamers, esports players, and collectors of in-game assets

Pro Tips: Pick games with a strong community and active development. Track your earnings and reinvest in assets with high yield potential.

5. Launch an NFT Collection

Starting your own NFT collection can be both creatively fulfilling and financially rewarding. Think of it as launching a brand. Successful collections—like Bored Ape Yacht Club—combine great design with compelling storytelling, perks, and community.

You can build generative art collections, themed series, or interactive collectibles. The secret? Add layers of value. Offer real-world benefits like merch drops, IRL events, or future utility in your roadmap.

Marketing is key. Use Twitter Spaces, AMAs, giveaways, and collaborations with influencers to build buzz and a loyal holder base.

Best For: Artists, entrepreneurs, brand builders

Pro Tips: Offer transparent roadmaps, engage with your holders consistently, and adapt your project based on feedback and market conditions.

6. Rent Out Your NFTs

If you own high-value NFTs—especially those used in games or virtual worlds—you can rent them out to earn passive income. Think of it like Airbnb for digital assets.

Platforms like ReNFT and NFTfi facilitate rentals, ensuring that ownership remains with you while the borrower pays to use the asset temporarily. This is common in metaverse platforms (like Decentraland) and P2E games.

It’s a low-risk way to monetize your NFTs without selling them, especially if you own rare or in-demand assets.

Best For: NFT holders with utility-based or gaming assets

Pro Tips: Always use rental platforms with smart contract support, review borrower reputations, and set fair terms to attract demand.

7. License Your NFT IP Rights

Some NFTs come with commercial rights, allowing the holder to use the image or character in their own business ventures. You can also license your NFT to brands, musicians, or content creators for a fee.

Bored Ape owners have used their NFTs for product launches, clothing lines, and even music videos. If your NFT allows IP usage, it can become a brand asset in itself.

You can also retain copyright and license limited usage rights to others, keeping your IP while generating multiple streams of income.

Best For: Business-minded creators, marketers, brand developers

Pro Tips: Use smart contracts to define terms clearly. Explore licensing platforms like NFTKings or Mint Songs to streamline deals.

8. Earn Royalties from NFT Resales

When you mint an NFT, you can program in royalties so that you receive a percentage of all future sales. This makes NFT art and digital content a long-term revenue stream.

Every time someone resells your NFT on secondary marketplaces like OpenSea, Foundation, or Rarible, you get a cut automatically.

This is why NFTs are revolutionary for creators. Instead of being paid once, you earn over time as your work gains value and popularity.

Best For: Artists, musicians, storytellers looking for sustainable income

Pro Tips: Set a balanced royalty (e.g., 5–7%) to encourage resales. Promote your NFT regularly to maintain its value and visibility.

9. NFT Memberships & Subscriptions

NFTs can serve as keys to unlock gated content, exclusive events, or premium access to a creator’s ecosystem. Think Patreon, but powered by the blockchain.

With platforms like Unlock Protocol and Premint, you can create memberships where holding an NFT gives access to online courses, Discord communities, private newsletters, and more.

This model works well for educators, influencers, and community builders who want to monetize their knowledge and create deeper engagement.

Best For: Coaches, educators, content creators, founders

Pro Tips: Create tiered NFTs for different access levels. Keep your community engaged with frequent updates and value drops.

10. Invest in NFT Startups & Infrastructure

If you’re less into collecting and more into tech, consider investing in the platforms and protocols that power the NFT ecosystem. Instead of owning a single NFT, you own a stake in the tools that drive the industry.

This includes NFT marketplaces (like Blur, Magic Eden), analytics platforms (DappRadar, Nansen.ai), and layer-1 or layer-2 blockchain projects supporting NFTs.

Early-stage investments or token purchases can deliver long-term returns as the ecosystem matures and scales.

Best For: Venture-minded investors, crypto enthusiasts, builders

Pro Tips: Assess project teams, roadmaps, and tokenomics. Diversify across sectors like marketplaces, infrastructure, and developer tools.

Read More: Are NFTs a Good Investment?

Bonus: Combine Multiple NFT Income Streams

Why choose just one? Some of the most successful NFT players blend strategies, including selling art, flipping assets, staking NFTs, and launching communities.

By stacking income sources, you reduce risk and unlock more consistent returns. For example, an artist can sell NFTs and license them, while also earning royalties and launching a gated community.

Multi-strategy approaches let you maximize each asset’s value while staying agile in a fast-moving market.

NFT Profitability: Do’s and Don’ts

Do This	Don’t Do This
Use secure wallets and enable 2FA	Share your private keys or seed phrase
Vet projects and teams before minting	FOMO into hyped drops without research
Join active communities for learning & access	Ignore red flags or unaudited contracts
Track fees (gas, minting, listing)	Overlook costs that cut into profits
Offer real utility to drive long-term demand	Create NFTs without a clear value proposition

Conclusion

Making money with NFTs isn’t reserved for tech insiders or crypto whales. With the right approach, anyone can earn, grow, and build wealth in Web3.

Start small. Experiment. Learn the ropes. Then scale what works for you.

Whether you’re flipping collectibles, building a community, or launching a product, your NFT journey is uniquely yours. And it’s just getting started.

Remember: You don’t need to be first—you just need to be smart, intentional, and adaptable.

Disclaimer: This article is for information and education only, not financial or legal advice. NFTs are pretty speculative and can carry a lot of risk. Be sure to do your research and consult with a professional before making any big investment moves.