How to Find Hot NFT Drops

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What’s hot when it comes to NFT drops is a million-dollar question. After all, folks who minted non-fungible tokens from early collections like CryptoPunks and Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) hit the NFT jackpot when floor prices skyrocketed and rare NFTs sold for hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars.

Today, NFTs — unique digital assets that live on blockchains — have infiltrated a myriad of sectors, including art, music, film, sports, fashion, live shows, and event ticketing. And even as the crypto bear market keeps NFT prices in check, brands, companies, celebrities, and entire countries are investing in Web3 and NFT technology at record rates.

What began as an experiment to see if unique, digital assets created (“minted”) and stored on the Ethereum blockchain could be valuable has turned into a billion-dollar industry in a few short years. So, it should come as no surprise that with all the hype many people are wondering how they can find the hottest NFT drops to mint the next big digital asset.

Unfortunately, finding a “hot” NFT drop is not as easy as it sounds, and ultimately, no one knows for sure if an NFT will be valuable after its created. The problem for collectors, speculators, and NFT “snipers” is that there are so many new NFTs and NFT collections released (“dropped”) that sorting through the noise can be tiresome, and many NFTs and projects are likely to have no value whatsoever in the long run.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t mint NFTs when they drop. But if you’re going to mint an NFT at drop, you must be willing to do research, check NFT drop schedules, follow social media and Discord channels, and ultimately never risk money you aren’t willing to lose. Let’s get started.

What are NFTs and what is an NFT Drop?

Non-fungible tokens are unique digital assets stored on blockchains like Ethereum, Solana, and Polygon. They can represent several types of digital files, from digital, art, music, and videos, to in-game objects and skins that can be used in blockchain-based video games.

Most NFTs are bought and sold using the cryptocurrencies that are native to the blockchain the NFT is minted on. For example, Ethereum-based NFTs like World of Women (WoW) are bought and sold using ETH, and Solana-based NFTs like DeGods are traded with SOL. In some cases, like with Dapper Labs’ NBA Top Shot, NFTs can be purchased with credit or debit cards, but this is not the norm.

When a non-fungible token or NFT project is released, it is called an NFT drop. The term drop in the NFT world is used the way musicians “drop” a new album or single. If you know about an NFT drop, it means you know the time, date, and place an NFT will be minted. You also know the mint price — the price in crypto you will pay to create the NFT. Purchasing an NFT at drop means if the NFT becomes valuable, you will have paid the lowest price for the digital asset.

Also, if you purchase a generative art NFT at drop, you could get lucky and mint a rare NFT from the collection. Rare NFTs from hot digital art generative NFT collections can be very valuable.

While not all NFT drops are popular, some can sell out in a matter of minutes. Projects that are in high demand often indicate a strong community and other factors that could lead to a successful NFT or NFT collection. To get in on a hot NFT drop, the first thing to dois familiarize yourself with some of the NFT marketplaces and Web3 platforms with NFT drop calendars.

NFT Drop Calendars

There are several Web3 sites that offer NFT drop calendars to announce upcoming NFT drops. Getting to know these sites is a great way to get started in your search for the next blue-chip NFT.

Listed below are three of the most trusted Web3 platforms with NFT drop calendars:

  • NFT Drops Calendar. This platform will keep you updated on all the upcoming NFT drops, giveaways, and events. The site features NFT drops on Ethereum, Solana, WAX, Cardano, and several other blockchains. NFT drops with a verified badge are considered more reliable and you can subscribe to their newsletter for word on new drops.
  • Rarity.Tools. This Web3 site provides trusted rarity rankings of NFTs and an Upcoming NFT sales page featuring new NFT drops with valuable information like the time, date, and price of the drop, as well as links to the project’s website and social media pages.
  • Rarity Sniper. Our site features one of the hottest NFT Drops Calendars for Ethereum, Solana, and other blockchains. You can also check the rarity of your NFT and follow Rarity Sniper NFT News to find new NFT drops from celebrities and brands.

Following the upcoming NFT drop calendars on the above platforms is a great way to find new projects and NFT drops before they happen. You can also get started by checking out the drop calendars from some of the top NFT marketplaces.

Follow NFT Marketplaces

Another place to look for upcoming NFT drops are on popular NFT marketplaces. Many NFTs drops occur on NFT marketplaces, and most marketplaces have an upcoming drop calendar or a filter to search for NFTs that are on live auction.

Here are two important marketplaces to get started:

  • OpenSea. This is the first and most popular secondary NFT marketplace. It sells NFTs minted on Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, and more. You can filter NFT searches to see NFTs that are on live auction. The Rarible marketplace also has this filter feature.
  • MagicEden. This is the top NFT marketplace for the Solana blockchain. It features an NFT Drops calendar where you can browse future NFT drops, the time, date, links to the project’s community and if whitelist spots are available.

You can also follow curated NFT marketplaces, especially if you’re interested in 1:1 NFT artwork. The benefit of curated marketplaces is that there’s a screening process and a team behind the artists that drop NFT projects. Whereas anyone can mint an NFT on marketplaces like OpenSea and Rarible, on curated marketplaces, artists must be accepted or invited to mint.

Here are three curated NFT marketplaces to look for upcoming NFT drops:

  • Nifty Gateway. The Gemini-owned and Mark Cuban-backed art marketplace has an easy-to-use upcoming drops schedule.
  • Makers Place. This Web3 platform helps popular franchises, brands, celebrities, artists, and athletes drop NFT collections. It is a good site to check for upcoming NFT drops.
  • KnownOrigin. Here you can find 1:1 NFT art from some of the most talented digital artists working in the Web3 space. To find upcoming drops from KnownOrigin, click on the Community tab and the Drops icon.

The upside of purchasing curated NFTs is that the artists have a reputation and some support behind their NFT drop. This makes it less likely for the NFT to be worth nothing after mint. The downside is that the NFTs can be more expensive.

Twitter & Discord

Following upcoming NFT drops on different platforms and marketplaces is just the first step. Once you’ve isolated some of the projects you’re interested in, it’s time to get active on social media and community channels to do some research.

Twitter is a big deal in the NFT and crypto space and all NFT projects worth their grain in pixels are on Twitter. So, once you’ve found an NFT project with an upcoming drop, follow its Twitter account to check the number of followers and the level of community engagement. An active, fun, vibrant community can go a long way when it comes to NFT projects.

Do the same thing on Discord — another popular social media channel for NFT projects. Entering the project’s Discord can help you get a sense of how much enthusiasm a community has, and you can ask the developers questions and see how quickly they reply and if they sound legit.

Many NFT projects give out whitelist spots for buyers to get in early on an NFT drop or to purchase NFTs at discounted prices. By joining these social media channels and being active in a project’s community, you are more likely to be given a whitelist spot on a hot NFT drop.

Analyze the NFT Project’s Roadmap

Besides social media research, you will also want to visit the project’s website to research the roadmap and gather as much information as possible about the NFT project before you decide to purchase at drop. Some of the things to look for in an NFT’s Roadmap include:

  • NFT drop information such as the mint price, drop date, and time and place
  • NFT rarity tiers
  • Upcoming events
  • Merchandise releases
  • Perks, rewards, & exclusive events
  • DAO information
  • Utility tokens for yield farming
  • Free airdrops/giveaways
  • NFT storefronts
  • An NFT Game

An NFT project should have a well-outlined roadmap with long-term plans. Also, look to see if the creators of the project have a record that proves they’ll be able to deliver on the roadmap’s promises. If the roadmap seems too good to be true, there’s a good chance it is.

Questions to Ask Before Buying NFT Drops

How do you know if an NFT project will get “rugged” or shoot to the moon? The truth is, you don’t know, and you can’t know. But you can make more informed decisions, and one of the best ways to do that is to ask the right questions. After all, spending your hard-earned ETH or SOL on an NFT drop is akin to spending your hard-earned cash.

Here are some questions to ask to investigate the potential of an NFT or NFT collection:

  • Who, if anyone, is backing the NFT project?
  • Who is creating the NFT project and what is their background/history?
  • Will the NFTs have any IRL utility?
  • Will the NFTs have utility in gaming or the metaverse?
  • Is the roadmap detailed, desirable, and doable?
  • Is the community enthusiastic?

A new NFT from a studio like Yuga Labs, the creators of BAYC and Mutant Ape Yacht Club, is almost guaranteed to have some legs. But because its developers already have a name, it will also be more highly sought out after and accordingly priced.

Maybe take some time to consider the risks associated with buying NFT drops from known names, brands, celebrities, or studios — or taking a chance on a hot new drop from an unknown. And don’t let FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) influence your decisions. If you’re not sure about an NFT drop, it’s probably best to wait until the next one.

Follow Your Favorite Artists & Brands

Another way to learn about upcoming NFT drops is to follow your favorite artists and brands that are involved in Web3. As NFT and blockchain technology transform ownership and enable artists to connect with fans in novel ways, more creators, brands, and companies are getting onboard.

The benefit of purchasing an NFT drop from someone or some entity you know and respect is that the NFT will likely retain value as long the creators continue to be active in the space. And if you’re a fan of the artist, your participation in their NFT project helps give the NFT value and makes you part of a community.

Here is a short list of some of the artists, companies, and brands active in Web3:

  • Musicians. Snoop Dogg, Steve Aoki, Timbaland, Paris Hilton, Usher, DojaCat, Mariah Carey.
  • Artists. Beeple, Micah Johnson, Junji, Ivana Belakova, Jim Carrey, Takashi Murakami.
  • Fashion. Gucci, Puma, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Dior, Wrangler.
  • Alcohol. Absolut, Jack Daniels, Moët Hennessy USA, Rémy Martin, Crown Royale, Bud Light.
  • Sports. Lebron James, Usain Bolt, Tony Hawk, Stephen Curry, Jorge Lorenzo, Floyd Mayweather.

There are thousands of creatives working in Web3 these days, and non-fungible tokens are also being used in the film, gaming, automobile, and the digital collectibles sectors, and to show proof-of-attendance.

Following major brands, artists, and celebrities that are active in the Web3 on social media can be a fun way to find hot NFT drops to support. For many people, buying NFTs linked to something they enjoy is more desirable than purchasing random NFTs, and when people are passionate about an NFT project they’re more likely to do research and be active in the project’s community after purchase.

Final Thoughts on NFT Drops

Although no one can predict if an NFT project is going to succeed, there are a range of NFT drops and trusted platforms and Web3 sources available to help you find them. Minting NFT drops is risky, and you should be willing to lose whatever crypto asset you invest in the purchase if you’re going to play the NFT game.

But by continuing to read, research, and experiment in the NFT space you can acquire a better understanding of the nascent technology and how it’s reshaping the world. To check out the latest NFT drops, follow our NFT Drops Calendar on Rarity Sniper. And for daily articles about NFTs and cryptocurrency, you can follow us at Rarity Sniper News.