
Dapper Labs stops issuing NFTs on NFL All Day and signs a new NFL licensing deal. The pivot away from mint-based sports collectibles puts focus on whether the Flow blockchain stays part of the partnership.
Dapper Labs said it has signed a new licensing agreement with the NFL and is discontinuing the release of NFTs on its All Day platform. The move ends a two-year experiment in minting video-highlight collectibles that never matched the initial frenzy of NBA Top Shot.
NFL All Day launched in 2022 on the Flow blockchain, offering officially licensed video moments as NFTs. The platform allowed fans to buy, sell, and trade these highlights, mirroring the model that drove Dapper’s NBA Top Shot to over $1 billion in transaction volume during the 2021 crypto bull market. NFL All Day never reached that scale. The decision to stop new issuance effectively closes the product, though existing NFTs will remain on-chain.
The broader NFT market has cooled significantly since its peak. Trading volumes across major platforms have cratered, and many sports-themed projects have struggled to retain users. Dapper Labs itself reduced headcount by 22% in 2023 as the NBA Top Shot user base shrank. Ending NFL All Day mints reflects a recalibration of Dapper’s sports strategy in a market where speculative demand for digital collectibles has evaporated.
Dapper Labs and the NFL have structured a new licensing agreement. The terms were not disclosed. The existence of a new deal signals that the partnership is not ending; rather, it is shifting away from the NFT minting model. Speculation centers on alternative digital engagement models: loyalty programs, digital tickets, or non-fungible collectibles that do not rely on constant new minting. The NFL, which had seen tepid adoption of All Day, likely wants a more stable digital collectibles strategy that is less tied to volatile crypto sentiment.
All Day was a source of transaction activity and demand for the Flow blockchain. Flow uses its native FLOW token for fees and staking. With no new mints, on-chain activity from NFL All Day will diminish. The price of FLOW has been under pressure, trading far below its all-time high. The critical unknown is whether the new licensing deal will continue to use Flow as its underlying infrastructure. If Dapper migrates the NFL partnership to another blockchain or a non-blockchain solution, the loss could weigh further on FLOW sentiment. Confirmation that Flow remains the settlement layer would be a positive signal for token holders.
The pivot also highlights a broader challenge for blockchain-based sports collectibles. Digital highlights lack the inherent scarcity and emotional connection that drive traditional memorabilia markets. Without speculative tailwinds, platforms need utility beyond speculation to sustain engagement. Dapper’s shift suggests that the NFT mint-and-flip model for sports moments has run its course.
The market will now wait for details of the new NFL licensing agreement. The scope, whether it involves Flow, and the revenue model will be the next concrete decision points for FLOW token traders. Dapper Labs’ ability to adapt its licensing relationships will determine whether it can retain the Flow ecosystem’s activity. Until those details emerge, the token may continue to drift.
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