Bragging rights: Twitter previews verification badge for NFT profile pics

Twitter has unveiled an in-development tool that will enable users to display a verified nonfungible token (NFT) as their profile picture.

Mada Aflak, a senior software engineer at Twitter, shared a video demonstrating functionality that allows users to add NFTs to their accounts. Users can simply edit their profile, connect a cryptocurrency wallet, and import their OpenSea collection. Then, they can choose an avatar from their collection of NFT digital art.

The profile picture will also be marked with a badge to verify that the image is the genuine article, thereby allowing users to flex their hugely expensive CryptoPunk or Bored Ape profile picture and have everyone know it’s legit.

Aflak stated that the run-through was just an experiment using a mock-up, so anything could change, and she called on users to submit feedback and suggestions.

As promised, here is the first experiment. Feedbacks and ideas are welcome :) https://t.co/TDyhibCXfG pic.twitter.com/2ifru9T2Pa

— Mada Aflak (@af_mada) September 29, 2021

While the verified profile pic is generating all the excitement so far, Messari Research analyst Mason Nystrom speculated on other potential applications of Twitter integrating crypto wallets.

These could include verifying how long a user has owned an asset, recommending follows for other NFT owners, buying and selling directly from Twitter profiles, and creating social graphs of NFT owners.

It’s the latest crypto-friendly move from Twitter, which last week integrated Lightning Network payments with Twitter profiles, enabling users to send and receive Bitcoin (BTC) for tips or other payments.

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has long been a supporter of Bitcoin and promoting it via the platform. Dorsey also famously sold the first-ever tweet as an NFT.

OpenSea saw a gigantic $4 billion worth of sales in August, but sales pulled back in September with around $2.45 billion sales in the past 30 days, according to DappRadar.