Web2 Meets Web3 as Instagram Onboards NFT Features

Another web2-web3 bridge has been constructed as Meta’s social media platform Instagram turns towards NFTs.

Following a test launch in May, the app is rolling out NFT features to over 100 countries across Africa, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and the Americas.

Instagram users will be able to include NFTs in their feed and messages. AR stickers will also be availble for IG Stories. When used, NFT creators and collectors will be automatically tagged for attribution.

Third-party wallets Coinbase, Dapper, Rainbow, MetaMask and Trust Wallet will be supported on the platform, as well as Ethereum and Polygon blockchains.

Meta is also reportedly working on an NFT marketplace, but the timeline for this is unkown.

On a post on Instagram, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the pivot with photos of a Little League baseball card he made himself as a youngster.

“In honor of expanding digital collectible NFTs to 100 more countries on Instagram and launching new integrations with Coinbase and Dapper, I’m sharing my soon-to-be NFT old little league baseball card, which someone recently found and sent to me… 😂 @mcomicconnect has the backstory on my baseball card,” Zuckerberg wrote.

Love it or hate it, Instagram’s move could be pivotal in exposing web2 users to the web3 world.