Shopify is leaning into NFTs as the future of e-commerce.
The e-commerce giant, which allows small businesses to create custom e-commerce stores, is launched NFT-gated store fronts as a new feature for brands that want to make their stores more exclusive, Shopify announced on Wednesday.
“Invite your community into a world that recognizes and rewards loyalty,” says a narrator in Shopify’s announcement video, which shows a skateboard woman walking through a pastel portal and becoming a Doodles NFT.
“Token holders connect to a crypto wallet to unlock exclusive shopping experiences, from early access to drops and limited collections to unique experiences and other surprises,” the video explains.
Shopify sine “gm” store (gated items, and a pun on the Crypto Twitter acronym for “good morning”) Is currently in beta, and only those with existing NFT collections are eligible to apply for early access.
Those who have not yet been approved can still add one NFT token gateway app as Shopthru or Single to their Shopify store fronts.
As part of its token-gated store launch, Shopify revealed that it has already partnered with Adam Bomb Squad, Doodles, Women’s worldInvisible friends, Superplastic, Staple versesand Cool cats NFT collections to create token-gated store fronts.
In addition to online token gating, Shopify adds “IRL” token gating in physical stores, which means that only qualified NFT holders can purchase selected items on the physical site.
Why does this matter? First, it means the future of Web3 Shopping is about exclusivity. And while NFTs are often simplified as digital art, or “jpgs”, these unique blockchain tokens that mean ownership of an asset are increasingly being used as membership passes, tickets to eventsand “keys” that unlock benefits.
And this is not it Shopify sine first entry NFTs: The company has been on Web3 for a while now, when it announced the rollout of NFT sales through its platform last year. On Shopify, brands can create and sell NFTs to customers on Ethereum, PolygonSolana or Flow.
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