New Ethereum token standard paves way for rentable NFTs

Quick Take

  • An Ethereum proposal for a token standard ERC-4907, allowing “rentable” NFTs reached, its final stages on Tuesday. 
  • ERC-4907 permits an individual to borrow an NFT for personal use without having to purchase it from the owner.
  • Rentable NFTs have use cases in blockchain gaming and metaverse spaces.

A new Ethereum token standard proposal allowing rentable non-fungible tokens (NFTs) reached its final stages earlier this week. 

The new rentable token type, dubbed ERC-4907, allows an NFT owner to permit another individual to use their NFT for a designated period of time. After that time ends, the user no longer has access to the NFT. 

While it’s unclear whether the proposed token standard has officially gone into effect, it permits users who may not have the funds or desire to purchase an NFT to still access whatever utility that token provides, whether it’s land in a virtual world or a weapon in a blockchain-based game. 

The ERC-4907 proposal was put in place by Double Protocol, a firm building out the infrastructure for rentable NFTs for gaming and metaverse use. 

THE SCOOP

Keep up with the latest news, trends, charts and views on crypto and DeFi with a new biweekly newsletter from The Block's Frank Chaparro

By signing-up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
By signing-up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Potential use cases for rental NFTs include renting out land in the metaverse. For instance, an individual who owns land in Decentraland may sublet their property to another individual. 

There are already some ways to rent play-to-earn gaming assets through decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) such as Merit Circle, however this proposal would address the issue in a new way. 

Double Protocol did not respond in time to The Block’s questions about whether the token standard has gone into effect.


© 2023 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

About Author

MK Manoylov has been a reporter for The Block since 2020 — joining just before bitcoin surpassed $20,000 for the first time. Since then, MK has written nearly 1,000 articles for the publication, covering any and all crypto news but with a penchant toward NFT, metaverse, web3 gaming, funding, crime, hack and crypto ecosystem stories. MK holds a graduate degree from New York University's Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program (SHERP) and has also covered health topics for WebMD and Insider. You can follow MK on X @MManoylov and on LinkedIn.