Updated on 05/20/2022: Applications for the Digital Collectibles AR alpha has now concluded. Thank you for your interest, and we look forward to sharing more about Digital Collectibles in AR in the near future.

Today, Instagram announced the launch of Digital Collectibles, a brand-new way for consumers and creators to share NFTs on Instagram. As part of this announcement, we also previewed the “See in AR” feature, coming this summer for Digital Collectibles. For the first time, you’ll be able to display 2D NFTs you own anywhere you want using mobile AR. And when you do, you’ll experience an entirely new pride of ownership in those digital items because you’ll be able to see them and share them in the physical places you’re in every day.

More and more, artists and creators are turning to technologies like NFTs to find new outlets for their work and new paths to monetization. At the same time, AR is increasingly becoming a central component of many everyday interactive and immersive mobile experiences. In turn, AR will play a key role in future NFTs that anyone can buy or sell and move anywhere they want throughout their homes and surroundings.

Rich content and monetization opportunities

With Spark AR, we’ll soon make it possible for creators to import their NFTs as 2D virtual objects into Instagram Stories. When combined with “See in AR” functionality, Digital Collectibles will give creators and consumers two important new ways to access, share, and appreciate their NFTs beyond their feed or their wallets. This will allow people to apply real context to artwork and other items, and make them feel more tangible. With AR, owning NFTs will feel more realistic because people will be able to share and talk about them in the places and spaces they share with friends.

While we’re starting with simple AR display and sharing, this will be a key step towards enabling fully AR and 3D-native immersive NFTs in the future, like virtual items and accessories, sculptures, clothing, and more.

In the future, creators will be able to use Digital Collectibles to find new ways to monetize on our platforms. The unique traits AR brings could also help unlock consumer demand and spur the flywheel even further.

Alpha testing coming soon

While we’re starting with a small number of Instagram creators and collectors, we’re eager to understand what Spark AR creators and collectors envision for Digital Collectibles and NFTs. To be part of our Digital Collectibles invite-only AR alpha coming soon, please visit this web page to apply. You’ll help shape the future of dynamic, distributed NFTs.

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