Reddit launches new, NFT-like avatar project, enabling users to purchase custom Reddit avatars

This is either ingenious or cruel, I can not decide.

So you know NFTs? These cartoon-like avatar profile pictures that Web3 people love to embroider in their back hats? Well, Reddit has seen the NFT hype, and it’s gone: ‘You know what, we can do this? We could create our own Reddit NFTs, but build them into the platform itself.

As I say, possibly ingenious. Maybe not.

Anyway, today Reddit launches a new series of Collectible Avatars, which are mainly artist reminiscences of the Snoo brand character, which users can buy and then use in the app.

As explained by Reddit:

«Collectible avatars are limited edition avatars created by independent artists, in collaboration with Reddit, and give owners unique benefits on the Reddit platform. If someone sets their Collectible Avatar as their avatar on Reddit, they can mix and match the avatar equipment with other Reddit avatar equipment and accessories, and their profile picture in the comment sections will have a glow-like effect.

So NFT profile pictures, with extra “functionality”, which is not really a big selling point. But maybe Redditors will be interested in buying in and showing their unique personality in avatar form.

Aside from being able to flex your custom Snoo, Reddit avatars also let you support artists, with the original creators paying a portion of the cost of each Collectible Avatar sold.

Collectible Avatars is also logged in on the blockchain, which gives owners the rights to use their unique image both on and off Reddit.

If you want. I can not imagine that many users will be so attached to Reddit that they will use their Snoo avatar in other apps, but if you have built a reputation and presence because of Reddit, it may be a way to maximize recognition.

So how much would you expect to pay for Reddit NFT PFP?

Here is another way they differ from the NFT model:

“Each avatar has been priced at a fixed amount and can be purchased with fiat (government issued) currencies.”

So you do not need to be an expert on market dynamics to understand how much you actually have to pay, while still getting the universal ownership log that comes with blockchain tracking.

“Collectible avatars are currently stored on Polygon, a general Ethereum compliant blockchain. We chose Polygon because of its low cost transactions and sustainability commitments.”

Ethereum is “compatible”, not “based”, which is useful given the current downturn in the crypto markets.

Reddit has not given specific details about the cost of each image, but there is a shared example here, it seems that the prices will vary from $ 9.99 to $ 74.99, depending on the design.

So, will it work? Will the Redditors be keen to enter the NFT trend in their own unique way?

If we look at the general criticism of NFTs in the app, it does not look like there will be any big hits.

Reddit reported back in April that NFT-related discussion has increased by more than 400% in the last year, so there is a lot of discussion about the alternative in subreddit communities. But I want to question exactly how much of the talk is positive, and how much people hate the NFT community.

Somehow, however, Reddit is keen to explore what is possible with Web3-oriented tools.

“In the future, we see blockchain as a way to give more authority and independence to communities on Reddit. Reddit has always been a model for how decentralization can look online; our communities are self-built and driven, and as part of our mission to To better empower our communities, we are exploring tools to help them become even more self-sustaining and self-governing. ”

So whether Redditors likes it or not, it looks like we’ll see more of these types of options in the future – which in turn could be good. Can be paralyzed.

Collectible Avatars will be available to all Reddit users in the coming weeks, but you can get a first look at the first works of art by joining the ir / CollectibleAvatars community. Spaces are limited, but the avatars themselves will mainly look like the screenshots in this post.

Eventually, users will be able to purchase Collectible Avatars where they typically build avatars on Reddit, using local currencies.