We're looking at a second wave for NFTs—except this cycle plays out completely different from last time. It won't be the same chaotic speculation. Instead, we'll see institutional adoption, serious use cases, and mainstream integration that actually sticks.

The big shift? NFTs migrate from pure collectibles into identity infrastructure. Think verified credentials, proof of ownership, digital ID systems. Brands will tokenize authenticity at scale. We're talking seamless integration into everyday applications—not just hype projects pumping on social media.

This time the infrastructure's mature, the regulatory environment's clearer, and enterprises are ready to build. The numbers will dwarf what we saw before. Identity-linked NFTs become table stakes rather than novelty.