Samsung’s 2022 smart TVs such as Micro LED, Neo QLED and The
Frame will have an NFT Platform app that can be used “for discovering,
purchasing and trading digital artwork,” according to an announcement on
Monday.
“With demand for NFTs on the rise, the need for a solution
to today’s fragmented viewing and purchasing landscape has never been greater,”
the company noted.
In 2022, the company aims to introduce the first smart TV
NFT explorer and marketplace aggregator. The upcoming platform will enable viewers
to browse and also trade NFTs without leaving the couch.
While it’s unclear exactly which NFT platforms or
marketplaces will be included for aggregation, Samsung promised its smart TVs
will not tamper with the image quality, keeping the NFT creator’s pre-set
values.
Other than integrating NFTs in its products, the South
Korean multinational conglomerate has been actively investing in NFT and
metaverse projects through its venture capital arm, Samsung Next. On Wednesday,
the firm participated in an investment round for a metaverse gaming platform.
Aside from Samsung, other big companies have also boarded
the NFT train. Back in July 2021, Coca-Cola got into NFTs for charitable
purposes. A month later, Visa purchased a “CryptoPunk” NFT for $150,000.
Meanwhile, digital art collections and digital collectible
NFT sales dominated last year, comprising 91% of total NFT sales. As the sales
rise, more and more NFT- and metaverse-based companies are raising significant
amounts to fund their projects. Blockchain gaming companies also raised more
than a billion dollars in investments last year.