A collector is a person who actively buys, sells, and inventories NFT and crypto-derivative digital assets. Collectors often combine the mindset of an investor, curator, and art enthusiast, building portfolios that reflect their taste, thesis, or long-term conviction in specific artists, projects, or themes.
In the context of cryptocurrency and NFTs, some collectors primarily hold assets long term and treat them as a form of digital art collection or cultural archive, while others are more active traders who regularly rebalance or selectively sell pieces. Collectors are distinct from short-term speculators whose main goal is to quickly flip assets for profit, although in practice there is overlap between collecting and investing behavior.
