For decades, athletes only made money when they signed a contract, endorsement or short-lived sponsorship. Once the deal ended, so did the income. The growth of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights has given athletes a new path to transform their identity into income. But HypeU takes NIL a step further, by offering athletes something no sponsorship can match: lifetime royalties from Digital Trading Cards (DTCs).
Here’s how it works, why it’s different from traditional NIL deals, and why it’s changing the way athletes think about their future.
The Problem With Traditional NIL Deals
NIL sponsorships are great, but they have limits.
- They usually benefit athletes with massive followings.
- They are short-term and can be unpredictable.
- Many athletes depend on agents or brands to handle negotiations.
- Once the campaign ends, there’s no long-term income.
This leaves many athletes, especially at the high school and college levels, without sustainable NIL earnings.
How HypeU Changes the NIL Game
HypeU empowers athletes to become their own brand managers. Instead of waiting for a sponsorship call, athletes can mint their own cards, sell directly to fans and earn royalties for life.
Key differences from NIL sponsorships:
- Direct-to-Fan: Athletes sell cards straight to their supporters.
- Immediate Income: Athletes keep 90% of first time sales. 10% is paid as a HypeU broker/transaction fee.
- Ongoing Earnings: Every resale pays royalties.
- Inclusive Model: Works for high school, college, and pro athletes. Youth teams and organizations can also use HypeU for fundraising efforts.
Understanding Royalties on HypeU
Every time a card changes hands in the HypeU marketplace, the athlete earns a cut.
- COMMON and EPIC card resales – Athlete earns 2.5% royalty, 2.5% HypeU broker/transaction fee, and 95% to the owner/seller of the card
- LEGENDARY card resales – Athlete earns 5% royalty, 2.5% HypeU broker/transaction fee, and 92.5% to the owner/seller of the card
This ensures that even if a card gains value years later, the original athlete continues to benefit.
Also Read: Why HypeU is the Future of NIL and Sports Collectibles
Why Royalties Beat One-Time Deals?
Unlike sponsorships, royalties don’t end when the campaign is over. They:
- Scale with your career, as you grow, so does demand.
- Reward you for past milestones, not just present fame.
- Provide recurring income for years to come.
For example, if a rookie’s card resells after a breakout season, the athlete earns again, without lifting a finger.
Athletes at Every Level Can Benefit
HypeU isn’t just for professionals:
- High School Athletes can raise funds for training while growing their fanbase.
- College Players can add a new stream of NIL income beyond brand deals.
- Pro Athletes can deepen connections with fans through exclusive drops.
- Youth and Organizations too can fundraise using HypeU collector cards.
This inclusivity makes royalties possible for athletes across the board.
Fans Win Too
Royalties don’t just benefit athletes. Fans also gain:
- Buy Athletes early, and as they excel, so too should the demand for their HypeU cards.
- As athletes build their brand and fan following, collectors benefit through higher resale values.
- Confidence knowing their purchase supports athletes directly.
- A chance to own authentic, trackable collectibles.
- Opportunities to trade and resell while keeping athletes in the loop.
It creates a win-win economy where both sides benefit.
Building a Future of Ownership
The vision of HypeU’s royalty system is that it creates long-term financial security. Even if an athlete’s career shifts, their cards continue to circulate and generate revenue. It’s ownership that extends beyond the playing years.
Final Word
NIL created opportunities for athletes to profit from their identity in their sport of choice. But HypeU goes further. A digital marketplace open to all, any Athlete can free of charge
- Download the HypeU app (or use our website) to create their very own blockchain registered digital assets, and
- Raise revenue from the sale of their cards to their fans and collectors, and receive 100% of the sale proceeds less only a 10% broker/transaction fee collected by HypeU. No agents. No middle person. No agreements or contracts to negotiate or sign with anyone.
Fans and collectors in turn receive blockchain registered, digital assets, with their rarity and price known at the time of purchase. No need to grade HypeU cards. After purchase, all cards are securely held in your HypeU Locker, transparent to the world and to all future collectors of the Athlete(s) you hold.
Lastly, Athletes get paid instantaneous at time of sale, with USD direct deposited into their HypeU Wallet. 2.5% to 5% royalties are earned and paid to the Athlete on all future resales, encouraging Athletes to jump higher and train even harder with lifetime residual income streams. Try doing that with your Dad’s paper baseball cards.
HypeU – Mint.Sell.Play