Crypto Basics

NFTs Explained: What Are Non-Fungible Tokens?

A definitive guide to explain NFTs, or non-fungible tokens.
Token Metrics Team
7 minutes
MIN

NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are gaining widespread popularity in the market for digital art and collectibles. In recent years, NFTs have become a cultural phenomenon, attracting the attention of crypto enthusiasts, digital art creators, and celebrities alike. As the Web 3.0 ecosystem continues to grow and adoption increases, many believe that NFTs will play a key role in the ownership of assets online.

So what are NFTs? Let's find out.

NFT Basics

NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are a type of digital asset that represents ownership of something on the blockchain.

NFTs can be anything such as art, collectibles, music, profile pictures or PFP, DAO memberships, event tickets, gaming assets, virtual land, domain names, and so on. They can represent either completely digital assets or tokenized versions of assets that exist in the real world. Currently, there is a lot of excitement around using NFTs to sell virtual art.

Characteristics of NFTs

  • Ownership: NFT represents digital ownership of an item on a blockchain
  • Permanent: NFTs have data permanently stored within the token. This information includes images, messages, signatures, or any other data
  • Programmable: An NFT can be programmed to do anything. For example, an NFT artwork might be programmed to pay the artist royalties on every secondary sale of that artwork
  • Unique: NFTs are unique, and that uniqueness can be confirmed on a blockchain

How to Make an NFT

To create an NFT, or non-fungible token, you will need to first prepare your media file. NFTs can support a wide range of file types, including audio, images, and even 3D files. Some popular file types that are supported by NFTs include MP3, JPG, PNG, and GIF. You can also use 3D file formats like GLB to create NFTs that represent unique, digital objects.

Once your media is ready, you will need to set up a non-custodial wallet to securely store the cryptocurrency that you will use to buy, sell, and create NFTs. Non-custodial wallets are important because they allow you to retain control of your private keys, which are needed to access your cryptocurrency and make transactions. There are many different wallet options available, so it is important to do your research and choose one that is secure and user-friendly.

Once you have set up your wallet, you will need to buy Ethereum, or other fungible tokens depending on the blockchain being used, to cover the cost of minting your NFT. Ethereum is the most commonly used blockchain for NFTs, and it is typically the easiest to get started with. You can buy Ethereum using a variety of methods, including through a cryptocurrency exchange or from other individuals who are willing to sell.

Once you have your Ethereum, you will need to connect your wallet to an NFT marketplace like Rarible or OpenSea. These platforms allow you to easily create and mint your NFT, as well as trade and purchase NFTs created by others. To connect your wallet, simply tap the "Connect" button in the top right corner of the marketplace's website. This will create an account for you on the platform and allow you to begin creating your NFT.

To create your NFT, upload your media file to the platform and provide a description of your asset. You can choose to create a standalone piece, or create multiple NFTs of the same piece, each with its own unique characteristics. You can also set rules around royalties and other aspects of your NFT to ensure that you are fairly compensated for your work.

Once you are ready to mint your NFT, the process will require you to pay a small amount of ETH for transaction fees. This is necessary to get your NFT added to the blockchain and verified as unique. Once your NFT is minted, it will be available for trade and purchase on the marketplace. You can monitor the progress of your NFT and track its sales through your wallet or the marketplace's website.

NFT Secondary Markets

Creators make NFTs using blockchain-based minting platforms to retain more control over their creative output. Once NFTs are minted on a non-custodial wallet-compatible website, collectors and traders can sell these assets on the secondary market.

Here is a list of the most used NFT marketplaces:

  • OpenSea: OpenSea is the first and largest marketplace for NFTs. OpenSea is building tools that allow consumers to trade their items, creators to launch new digital works, and developers to build rich, integrated marketplaces for their digital items. It recently announced the support for Solana-based NFTs.
  • Coinbase NFT: Coinbase, a cryptocurrency exchange, recently launched its NFT marketplace in beta version to the public. This marketplace acts as a social media platform in which users can not only buy and sell NFTs but also interact with and showcase their collections using user profiles, likes, and comments.
  • Solanart: Solanart is the first and largest fully-fledged NFT marketplace on Solana. Users can get quick and easy access to digital collectibles, and explore, buy, and sell NFTs that run on the Solana blockchain.
  • Rarible: Rarible is a do-it-yourself NFT marketplace where you can mint NFTs when and how you please. Creators are highly favorable towards Rarible, as the minting process is free, easy, and unrestricted. Rarible’s native governance token “RARI” is used to incentivize platform users and give the community members a voice.
  • Nifty Gateway: Nifty Gateway is owned by the Gemini crypto exchange and has become one of the most known NFT marketplaces lately. They focus on viral drops from artists like Beeple, Trevor Jones, Pak, and more.
  • SuperRare: SuperRare (SR) is one of Ethereum’s debut crypto-art NFT marketplaces. Artists must be accepted to the platform before they can list their assets.

Notable NFT Projects

NFT-based companies have seen significant growth in recent years. Some notable examples include:

  • Yuga Labs: a blockchain technology company that creates Ethereum-based NFTs and digital collectibles. Yuga's most valuable NFT collection is Bored Ape Yacht Club, which has seen a floor price of over 150 ETH at its all-time high. In addition to apes, Yuga has also created dog NFTs, mutant apes, and deeds for its Metaverse. The company recently acquired Larva Labs, bringing high-value projects like Cryptopunks and Meebits under the Yuga brand. Yuga is backed by investors like Coinbase, Samsung, and Mark Cuban.
  • Doodles: a collection of 10,000 Ethereum-based NFTs created by artist BurntToast. The Doodles collection includes a wide range of visual traits, heads, costumes, and colorways. Owners of Doodles NFTs have exclusive access to new experiences like Space Doodles and Dooplicator.
  • Okay Bears: a collection of 10,000 Solana-based NFTs. Ownership of an Okay Bear grants access to a community of collectors and exclusive products, merchandise, and events.

Investing in NFTs

NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, provide many benefits as an investment vehicle.

One of the main advantages of NFTs is that they allow physical objects, such as artwork, to be tokenized.

Additionally, NFTs offer greater liquidity for investors, making it easier to trade and sell their assets.

The Future of NFTs

NFTs offer a new way to represent and prove ownership of assets on the blockchain.

This technology has already been used for digital art, collectibles, and in-game assets, but it has the potential to be applied to a wide range of other industries as well. For example, tokenized real estate could provide a way for people to invest in property without the barriers to entry that currently exist.

High-end fashion brands like Louis Vuitton have also expressed interest in using NFTs to track the ownership of luxury items.

Additionally, NFTs can be used to tokenize certifications, degrees, and licenses, providing a way to securely track and maintain this sensitive data on the blockchain.

Overall, the potential applications for NFTs are nearly limitless.

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Token Metrics Team
Token Metrics Team

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Research

Backtesting Token Metrics AI: Can AI Grades Really Predict Altcoin Breakouts?

Token Metrics Team
5 min
MIN

To test the accuracy of Token Metrics' proprietary AI signals, we conducted a detailed six-month backtest across three different tokens — Fartcoin, Bittensor ($TAO), and Ethereum. Each represents a unique narrative: memecoins, AI infrastructure, and blue-chip Layer 1s. Our goal? To evaluate how well the AI’s bullish and bearish signals timed market trends and price action.

Fartcoin:

The green and red dots on the following Fartcoin price chart represent the bullish and bearish market signals, respectively. Since Nov 26, 2024, Token Metrics AI has given 4 trading signals for Fartcoin. Let’s analyze each signal separately.

The Fartcoin chart above displays green and red dots that mark bullish and bearish signals from the Token Metrics AI, respectively. Over the last six months — starting November 26, 2024 — our system produced four significant trade signals for Fartcoin. Let’s evaluate them one by one.

The first major signal was bullish on November 26, 2024, when Fartcoin was trading at $0.29. This signal preceded a massive run-up, with the price topping out at $2.49. That’s an astounding 758% gain — all captured within just under two months. It’s one of the most powerful validations of the AI model’s ability to anticipate momentum early.

Following that rally, a bearish signal was triggered on January 26, 2025, just before the market corrected. Fartcoin retraced sharply, plunging 74.76% from the highs. Traders who acted on this bearish alert could have avoided substantial drawdowns — or even profited through short-side exposure.

On March 25, 2025, the AI turned bullish again, as Fartcoin traded near $0.53. Over the next several weeks, the token surged to $1.58, a 198% rally. Again, the AI proved its ability to detect upward momentum early.

Most recently, on June 1, 2025, Token Metrics AI flipped bearish once again. The current Trader Grade of 24.34 reinforces this view. For now, the system warns of weakness in the memecoin market — a trend that appears to be playing out in real-time.

Across all four trades, the AI captured both the explosive upside and protected traders from steep corrections — a rare feat in the volatile world of meme tokens.

Bittensor

Next, we examine Bittensor, the native asset of the decentralized AI Layer 1 network. Over the last six months, Token Metrics AI produced five key signals — and the results were a mixed bag but still largely insightful.

In December 2024, the AI turned bearish around $510, which preceded a sharp decline to $314 by February — a 38.4% drawdown. This alert helped traders sidestep a brutal correction during a high-volatility period.

On February 21, 2025, the system flipped bullish, but this trade didn't play out as expected. The price dropped 25.4% after the signal. Interestingly, the AI reversed again with a bearish signal just five days later, showing how fast sentiment and momentum can shift in emerging narratives like AI tokens.

The third signal marked a solid win: Bittensor dropped from $327 to $182.9 following the bearish call — another 44% drop captured in advance.

In April 2025, momentum returned. The AI issued a bullish alert on April 19, with TAO at $281. By the end of May, the token had rallied to over $474, resulting in a 68.6% gain — one of the best performing bullish signals in the dataset.

On June 4, the latest red dot (bearish) appeared. The model anticipates another downward move — time will tell if it materializes, but the track record suggests caution is warranted.

Ethereum

Finally, we analyze the AI’s predictive power for Ethereum, the second-largest crypto by market cap. Over the six-month window, Token Metrics AI made three major calls — and each one captured critical pivots in ETH’s price.

On November 7, 2024, a green dot (bullish) appeared when ETH was priced at $2,880. The price then surged to $4,030 in less than 40 days, marking a 40% gain. For ETH, such a move is substantial and was well-timed.

By December 24, the AI flipped bearish with ETH trading at $3,490. This signal was perhaps the most important, as it came ahead of a major downturn. ETH eventually bottomed out near $1,540 in April 2025, avoiding a 55.8% drawdown for those who acted on the signal.

In May 2025, the AI signaled another bullish trend with ETH around $1,850. Since then, the asset rallied to $2,800, creating a 51% gain.

These three trades — two bullish and one bearish — show the AI’s potential in navigating large-cap assets during both hype cycles and corrections.Backtesting Token Metrics AI across memecoins, AI narratives, and Ethereum shows consistent results: early identification of breakouts, timely exit signals, and minimized risk exposure. While no model is perfect, the six-month history reveals a tool capable of delivering real value — especially when used alongside sound risk management.

Whether you’re a trader looking to time the next big altcoin rally or an investor managing downside in turbulent markets, Token Metrics AI signals — available via the fastest crypto API — offer a powerful edge.

Backtesting Token Metrics AI across memecoins, AI narratives, and Ethereum shows consistent results: early identification of breakouts, timely exit signals, and minimized risk exposure. While no model is perfect, the six-month history reveals a tool capable of delivering real value — especially when used alongside sound risk management.

Whether you’re a trader looking to time the next big altcoin rally or an investor managing downside in turbulent markets, Token Metrics AI signals — available via the fastest crypto API — offer a powerful edge.

Research

Token Metrics API vs. CoinGecko API: Which Crypto API Should You Choose in 2025?

Token Metrics Team
7 min
MIN

As the crypto ecosystem rapidly matures, developers, quant traders, and crypto-native startups are relying more than ever on high-quality APIs to build data-powered applications. Whether you're crafting a trading bot, developing a crypto research platform, or launching a GPT agent for market analysis, choosing the right API is critical.

Two names dominate the space in 2025: CoinGecko and Token Metrics. But while both offer access to market data, they serve fundamentally different purposes. CoinGecko is a trusted source for market-wide token listings and exchange metadata. Token Metrics, on the other hand, delivers AI-powered intelligence for predictive analytics and decision-making.

Let’s break down how they compare—and why the Token Metrics API is the superior choice for advanced, insight-driven builders.

🧠 AI Intelligence: Token Metrics Leads the Pack

At the core of Token Metrics is machine learning and natural language processing. It’s not just a data feed. It’s an AI that interprets the market.

Features exclusive to Token Metrics API:

  • Trader Grade (0–100) – Short-term momentum score based on volume, volatility, and technicals
  • Investor Grade (0–100) – Long-term asset quality score using fundamentals, community metrics, liquidity, and funding
  • Bullish/Bearish AI Signals – Real-time alerts based on over 80 weighted indicators
  • Sector-Based Smart Indices – Curated index sets grouped by theme (AI, DeFi, Gaming, RWA, etc.)
  • Sentiment Scores – Derived from social and news data using NLP
  • LLM-Friendly AI Reports – Structured, API-returned GPT summaries per token
  • Conversational Agent Access – GPT-based assistant that queries the API using natural language

In contrast, CoinGecko is primarily a token and exchange aggregator. It offers static data: price, volume, market cap, supply, etc. It’s incredibly useful for basic info—but it lacks context or predictive modeling.

Winner: Token Metrics — The only crypto API built for AI-native applications and intelligent automation.

🔍 Data Depth & Coverage

While CoinGecko covers more tokens and more exchanges, Token Metrics focuses on providing actionable insights rather than exhaustively listing everything.

Feature                                                   Token Metrics API                                    CoinGecko API

Real-time + historical OHLCV              ✅                                                          ✅

Trader/Investor Grades                        ✅ AI-powered                                     ❌

Exchange Aggregation                         ✅ (Used in indices, not exposed)     ✅

Sentiment & Social Scoring                  ✅ NLP-driven                                     ❌

AI Signals                                               ✅                                                         ❌

Token Fundamentals                            ✅ Summary via deepdive         ⚠️ Limited

                                                                        endpoint

NFT Market Data                                  ❌                                                          ✅

On-Chain Behavior                               ✅ Signals + Indices                   ⚠️ Pro-only (limited)

If you're building something analytics-heavy—especially trading or AI-driven—Token Metrics gives you depth, not just breadth.

Verdict: CoinGecko wins on broad metadata coverage. Token Metrics wins on intelligence and strategic utility.

🛠 Developer Experience

One of the biggest barriers in Web3 is getting devs from “idea” to “prototype” without friction. Token Metrics makes that easy.

Token Metrics API Includes:

  • SDKs for Python, Node.js, and Postman
  • Quick-start guides and GitHub sample projects
  • Integrated usage dashboard to track limits and history
  • Conversational agent to explore data interactively
  • Clear, logical endpoint structure across 21 data types

CoinGecko:

  • Simple REST API
  • JSON responses
  • Minimal docs
  • No SDKs
  • No built-in tooling (must build from scratch)

Winner: Token Metrics — Serious devs save hours with ready-to-go SDKs and utilities.

📊 Monitoring, Quotas & Support

CoinGecko Free Tier:

  • 10–30 requests/min
  • No API key needed
  • Public endpoints
  • No email support
  • Rate limiting enforced via IP

Token Metrics Free Tier:

  • 5,000 requests/month
  • 1 request/min
  • Full access to AI signals, grades, rankings
  • Telegram & email support
  • Upgrade paths to 20K–500K requests/month

While CoinGecko’s no-login access is beginner-friendly, Token Metrics offers far more power per call. With just a few queries, your app can determine which tokens are gaining momentum, which are losing steam, and how portfolios should be adjusted.

Winner: Token Metrics — Better for sustained usage, scaling, and production reliability.

💸 Pricing & Value

Plan Feature                CoinGecko Pro            Token Metrics API

Entry Price                  ~$150/month                $99/month

AI Grades & Signals            ❌                               ✅ 

Sentiment Analytics            ❌                               ✅

Sector Index Insights          ❌                               ✅

NLP Token Summaries       ❌                                ✅

Developer SDKs                  ❌                                ✅

Token-Based Discounts     ❌                                ✅ (up to 35% with $TMAI)

For what you pay, Token Metrics delivers quant models and intelligent signal streams — not just raw price.

Winner: Token Metrics — Cheaper entry, deeper value.

🧠 Use Cases Where Token Metrics API Shines

  • Trading Bots
    Use Trader Grade and Signal endpoints to enter/exit based on AI triggers.
  • GPT Agents
    Generate conversational answers for “What’s the best AI token this week?” using structured summaries.
  • Crypto Dashboards
    Power sortable, filtered token tables by grade, signal, or narrative.
  • Portfolio Rebalancers
    Track real-time signals for tokens held, flag risk zones, and show sector exposure.
  • LLM Plugins
    Build chat-based investment tools with explainability and score-based logic.

🧠 Final Verdict: CoinGecko for Info, Token Metrics for Intelligence

If you're building a crypto price tracker, NFT aggregator, or exchange overview site, CoinGecko is a solid foundation. It’s reliable, broad, and easy to get started.

But if your product needs to think, adapt, or help users make better decisions, then Token Metrics API is in another class entirely.

You're not just accessing data — you're integrating AI, machine learning, and predictive analytics into your app. That’s the difference between showing the market and understanding it.

🔗 Ready to Build Smarter?

  • ✅ 5,000 free API calls/month
  • 🤖 Trader & Investor Grades
  • 📊 Live Bull/Bear signals
  • 🧠 AI-powered summaries and GPT compatibility
  • ⚡ 21 endpoints + Python/JS SDKs

👉 Start with Token Metrics API

Research

Python Quick-Start with Token Metrics: The Ultimate Crypto Price API

Token Metrics Team
10 min
MIN

If you’re a Python developer looking to build smarter crypto apps, bots, or dashboards, you need two things: reliable data and AI-powered insights. The Token Metrics API gives you both. In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to quickly get started using Token Metrics as your Python crypto price API, including how to authenticate, install the SDK, and run your first request in minutes.

Whether you’re pulling live market data, integrating Trader Grades into your trading strategy, or backtesting with OHLCV data, this guide has you covered.

🚀 Quick Setup for Developers in a Hurry

Install the official Token Metrics Python SDK:

pip install tokenmetrics

Or if you prefer working with requests directly, no problem. We’ll show both methods below.

🔑 Step 1: Generate Your API Key

Before anything else, you’ll need a Token Metrics account.

  1. Go to app.tokenmetrics.com/en/api
  2. Log in and navigate to the API Keys Dashboard
  3. Click Generate API Key
  4. Name your key (e.g., “Development”, “Production”)
  5. Copy it immediately — keep it secret.

You can monitor usage, rate limits, and quotas right from the dashboard. Track each key’s status, last used date, and revoke access at any time.

📈 Step 2: Retrieve Crypto Prices in Python

Here’s a simple example to fetch the latest price data for Ethereum (ETH):

import requests

API_KEY = "YOUR_API_KEY"

headers = {"x-api-key": API_KEY}

url = "https://api.tokenmetrics.com/v2/daily-ohlcv?symbol=ETH&startDate=<YYYY-MM-DD>&endDate=<YYYY-MM-DD>"

response = requests.get(url, headers=headers)

data = response.json()

for candle in data['data']:

    print(f"Date: {candle['DATE']} | Close: ${candle['CLOSE']}")

You now have a working python crypto price API pipeline. Customize startDate or endDate to get specific range of historical data.

📊 Add AI-Powered Trader Grades

Token Metrics’ secret sauce is its AI-driven token ratings. Here’s how to access Trader Grades for ETH:

grade_url = "https://api.tokenmetrics.com/v2/trader-grades?symbol=ETH&limit=30d"

grades = requests.get(grade_url, headers=headers).json()['data']

for day in grades:

    print(f"{day['DATE']} — Trader Grade: {day['TA_GRADE']}")

Use this data to automate trading logic (e.g., enter trades when Grade > 85) or overlay on charts.

🔁 Combine Data for Backtesting

Want to test a strategy? Merge OHLCV and Trader Grades for any token:

import pandas as pd

ohlcv_df = pd.DataFrame(data['data'])

grades_df = pd.DataFrame(grades)

combined_df = pd.merge(ohlcv_df, grades_df, on="DATE")

print(combined_df.head())

Now you can run simulations, build analytics dashboards, or train your own models.

⚙️ Endpoint Coverage for Python Devs

  • /daily-ohlcv: Historical price data
  • /trader-grades: AI signal grades (0–100)
  • /trading-signals: Bullish/Bearish signals for short and long positions.
  • /sentiment: AI-modeled sentiment scores
  • /tmai: Ask questions in plain English

All endpoints return structured JSON and can be queried via requests, axios, or any modern client.

🧠 Developer Tips

  • Each request = 1 credit (tracked in real time)
  • Rate limits depend on your plan (Free = 1 req/min)
  • Use the API Usage Dashboard to monitor and optimize
  • Free plan = 5,000 calls/month — perfect for testing and building MVPs

💸 Bonus: Save 35% with $TMAI

You can reduce your API bill by up to 35% by staking and paying with Token Metrics’ native token, $TMAI. Available via the settings → payments page.

🌐 Final Thoughts

If you're searching for the best python crypto price API with more than just price data, Token Metrics is the ultimate choice. It combines market data with proprietary AI intelligence, trader/investor grades, sentiment scores, and backtest-ready endpoints—all in one platform.

✅ Real-time & historical data
✅ RESTful endpoints
✅ Python-ready SDKs and docs
✅ Free plan to start building today

Start building today → tokenmetrics.com/api

Looking for SDK docs? Explore the full Python Quick Start Guide

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