Unpopular opinion: The next NFT cycle will be led by IP.
Brands that escape crypto.
Phase 2 loading
Ok, so I'm not saying projects move away from crypto entirely...
I'm saying the strongest ones won't depend on it.
➡️ Media
➡️ Stores
➡️ Gaming
➡️ Streaming
➡️ Merchandise
When strong IP compounds...
Speculation spikes.
Culture spreads.
And we'll see a constant loop of evolution where NFT collections won't be seen as just JPEGs.
They'll have:
~ recognisable characters
~ emotional attachment
~ expandable worlds
~ distinct identities
Look at how traditional character IPs built their empires.
Disney, Marvel, Pokémon...
They won because their characters became generational.
They scaled because their stories could be told across film, games, merch, and culture.
They became toys, shows, collectibles, and full lifestyle brands.
This is what IP dominance looks like.
And as for “Web3” native IP, as distribution improves and we see broader brand recognition outside of crypto, we'll begin to see many being spoken about more publicly alongside your Pokémon's, or Disney's of the world.