The next major wave of NFT adoption may be powered by tokenized real-world collectibles rather than speculative profile-picture projects, according to OpenSea Chief Marketing Officer Adam Hollander.
Speaking during recent industry discussions around the future of NFTs, Hollander said assets such as Pokémon cards, Rolex watches, event tickets, and gaming items could become the foundation of the next phase of blockchain-based ownership.
His comments reflect a growing shift within the digital asset industry, where companies are increasingly focusing on practical utility and real-world asset tokenization after the collapse of the speculative NFT frenzy that dominated markets in 2021 and 2022.
OpenSea Sees Utility Replacing NFT Speculation
Hollander argued that NFTs remain a powerful technology for verifying ownership of both physical and digital assets, even as the market value of many profile-picture collections such as Bored Ape Yacht Club and CryptoPunks has fallen sharply from peak levels.
“The next NFT cycle may be driven by tokenized Pokémon cards, Rolex watches, digital tickets, and in-game items,” Hollander reportedly said during an interview at the Consensus Miami conference.
Rather than focusing on speculative trading behavior, OpenSea believes future adoption could revolve around authentication, ownership verification, and simplified digital transfers for valuable real-world assets.
Tokenization allows physical items to be linked to blockchain-based records that verify authenticity, ownership history, and provenance. Industry advocates argue this could reduce fraud and improve transparency in collectibles, luxury goods, and ticketing markets.
Pokémon Cards and Rolex Watches Highlight Growing RWA Trend
The use of Pokémon trading cards and Rolex watches as examples reflects the rapidly expanding “real-world asset” (RWA) movement within crypto markets.
Rare Pokémon cards have become high-value collectibles, with some cards selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars in private auctions. Luxury watch markets, meanwhile, continue to face major counterfeit and authentication challenges.
Blockchain-based ownership records could help collectors verify authenticity, track maintenance history, and simplify secondary-market transactions without relying entirely on centralized databases or paper certificates.
Analysts say this shift toward utility-driven NFTs may help the industry regain credibility after the sharp decline in speculative trading volumes following the 2022 crypto market crash.
AI Could Accelerate NFT Adoption
Hollander also highlighted artificial intelligence as a major factor that could accelerate future NFT growth. According to his comments, AI tools are lowering barriers for creating digital art, animation, games, and tokenized assets.
“It’s becoming easier and easier for virtually anybody to create amazing things,” Hollander reportedly said.
The combination of AI-generated content and blockchain ownership infrastructure could create new opportunities for creators, gaming ecosystems, and digital commerce platforms.
Industry observers believe AI-assisted asset creation may also help broaden NFT adoption beyond traditional crypto-native communities.
OpenSea Expands Beyond Traditional NFTs
OpenSea itself has been undergoing a broader transformation as NFT markets mature. Founded in 2017, OpenSeaoriginally became the dominant NFT marketplace during the 2021 bull market.
The company has since expanded its platform capabilities through OS2, a rebuilt version of OpenSea that supports broader crypto asset trading across multiple blockchains.
Hollander said OpenSea is now working toward becoming a unified platform where users can manage NFTs, cryptocurrencies, and tokenized assets across wallets and chains in one place.
The company is also developing simplified onboarding features, including Apple Pay-style fiat payment systems and U.S. dollar pricing displays aimed at mainstream consumers unfamiliar with crypto-denominated transactions.
NFT Market Searches for Sustainable Growth
The broader NFT market has struggled to recover after transaction volumes and floor prices collapsed following the speculative boom of 2021 and early 2022. Many once-popular collections lost the majority of their value as investor interest shifted toward artificial intelligence, meme coins, and tokenized real-world assets.
However, supporters argue the underlying NFT technology still has long-term value for proving ownership, managing digital identities, and enabling blockchain-based commerce.
Hollander also addressed OpenSea’s long-awaited SEA token, suggesting the company is prioritizing long-term business sustainability over launching a short-term speculative token.
“If a token is launched and it is nothing more than a memecoin… then it doesn’t really deliver value,” Hollander reportedly said.
Tokenized Assets Could Reshape Digital Ownership
Industry analysts increasingly believe tokenized ownership systems may become one of blockchain’s most commercially viable use cases over the next decade.
Applications extend beyond collectibles and luxury goods into ticketing, gaming assets, intellectual property, real estate, and financial products.
If NFT markets successfully transition from speculative digital art toward real-world utility, platforms like OpenSea could play a central role in reshaping how ownership and authenticity are verified online.
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