Back in March 2021, Wesley Ng, like much of the world, became aware of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) for the first time. “I got a bit of FOMO,” the co-founder and CEO of Hong Kong-based tech accessories brand Casetify, said at the Marketing Pulse virtual conference last week. “So we created a one-of-one piece of collectible art, a phone case NFT, which is interoperable in metaverse space. Someone bought it – I mean I was shocked by the price.” After that, Ng started learning e
earning everything he could about NFTs and the metaverse and he quickly realised there was a lot of potential crossover with his company.
“If you look at Casetify’s mission, we are all about self-expression. Going back to the reason we started the company, I couldn’t find a phone case that I liked and that really represented me. I didn’t want to settle for what I saw in the Apple store. I wanted something that was truly unique. That’s why we created an app that allowed people to customise their phone cases with their Instagram pictures,” he said.
“When you look at the metaverse, the concept is all about self-expression. In the metaverse, you can be whoever you want to be. You can be a dog if you want. So for us, it’s a really natural extension to go into the metaverse.”
Verified NFTs on your phone case
Earlier this year, Casetify quietly launched NFT Your Case, a spin-off website where, instead of buying a phone case featuring one of the brand’s own designs, users can buy a phone case featuring their favourite NFT.
Instead of Casetify’s signature black camera ring , the NFT phone cases feature a blue ring, signifying that the NFT has been “verified” as belonging to the user.
This is possible because NFTs are bought and sold on the blockchain, which can’t be edited. Users just need to connect their crypto wallet to the website to show proof of purchase.
The NFT phone cases also feature a QR code which links back to the purchase, showing how much the user paid for it.
“That’s another flex, something you can show off to your friends,” Ng explained.
Just the beginning
NFT Your Case is just the beginning of Casetify’s move into the metaverse. The brand is currently working on a project in “stealth mode” that will go beyond its core business of selling phone cases.
“If you look at Casetify, we’ve been collaborating with a lot of brands and designers, we want to continue to do that in the metaverse. So if there are any brands, artists, or creators that are interested in getting into the metaverse space but don’t know how, feel free to reach out,” Ng said.
While he sees a lot of potential in the metaverse, he also acknowledged that it’s still early days, and he has already lost money on some NFT investments.
“What seems to be the clear winner right now, might not even be around in the next 10 or 20 years. I mean, look at Excite, look at AOL. The most important part is just to get started and have fun,” Ng said.
That’s what Casetify is doing.
“We have a really good team. They’re all very young, very hungry, very eager to learn about new technology. I think passion never fails,” he said.
