Shiba Inu ecosystem developers are introducing a new service called Shibacals: Authenticated Collectibles that will use Near Field Communication (NFC) chips to digitally authenticate physical items and link them to NFTs. Lead developer Shytoshi Kusama shared in a Thursday update that this could boost the value of these collectibles and help prove ownership.
For example, a tag can be generated for a real-world product, such as a T-shirt, which is tied to a user’s NFT collection in a way that authenticates the owner of the T-shirt and the NFT as the same person. On resale, these tags can be verified on the blockchain so buyers can differentiate between original products and copies.
The NFT craze is, in part, due to the verifiable ownership and scarcity that digital items on the blockchain offer, Kusama explained. But, what about physical objects? As mass adoption unfolds (preferably on Shibarium), and scammers move from wallets to tangible items, how will we authenticate these items?
The Shibacals tags will not be limited to the Shibarium ecosystem and could be used to verify products on any blockchain. Following the update, SHIB, BONE, and LEASH tokens all saw significant gains.