In 2024, the non-fungible token (NFT) market encountered a significant recovery, with Statista anticipating that the market could make $2.37 billion this year and achieve an annual growth rate of 9.10%, possibly touching $3.36 billion in the coming four years.
Since the first NFT was ever minted in 2014, the market has witnessed a total market capitalization exceeding $6 billion and sales volumes (24h) transcending $10 million, Following the CoinMarketCap.
With noteworthy NFT collections like Axie Infinity and Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) frequently creating headlines, what were the most expensive NFTs ever sold, and where is the market moving next?
In this blog, we will tell you the most expensive NFT sales ever.
The Wide Range of NFTs
The real economic upturn of the NFT market appeared at the end of 2017 with the introduction of Ethereum-based blockchain games like CryptoKitties and, later on, Axie Infinity, which have played the role of launching pad for many new investors who could not set their feet into a niche for virtual collectible also playing a fun game.
However, over the past seven years, the NFT space has witnessed a great amount of change with digital real estate and the music industry also coming in on the hype.
Some of The Most Expensive NFTs Ever
Some of The Most Expensive NFTs Ever
1. The Merge – $91 Million
The most expensive NFT sold is The Merge, the NFT collection made by virtual artist PAK that was sold for $91,806,516 within just 48 hours after its launch on December 3, 2021, on the NFT marketplace Nifty Gateway.
The Merge is not only the most expensive NFT art but also set records as the biggest art sale ever by a living artist, whether digital or physical.
2. Everydays: The First 5000 Days – $69 Million
Next on our list is a digital artwork called Everydays: The First 5000 Days by Beeple, whose real name is Michael Winkelmann. It was sold at Christie’s auction in March 2021 for $69,346,250.
Vignesh Sundaresan, also known as Metakovan, bought it. He is a cryptocurrency investor and the founder of Metapurse.
3. Clock – $52 Million
Clock is an NFT that tracks how many days Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, has spent in prison. Created with artist Pak, it was sold for $52,740,000 on February 9, 2022, to help fund Assange’s legal defense.
4. Human One – $28 Million
Human One is another NFT by Beeple. It’s a mix of digital and physical art, sold for $28,985,000 on November 9, 2021. This unique piece tells the story of the first human born in the metaverse and will keep changing throughout Beeple’s life.
5. CryptoPunk #5822 – $23 Million
CryptoPunk #5822 is one of nine alien characters in the CryptoPunks series, which features unique pixel art characters. It was bought for $23,700,000 by Deepak Thapliyal, CEO of Chain, on February 13, 2022.
6. CryptoPunk #3100 – $16 Million
CryptoPunk #3100, another rare piece from the CryptoPunks series, sold for 4,500 Ether, worth over $16 million, in March 2024. It had previously sold for $7.58 million on March 11, 2021.
7. CryptoPunk #7523 – $11 Million
CryptoPunk #7523 is unique for wearing a surgical mask and is one of nine alien characters. It was sold for $11,800,000 and is now owned by Sillytuna, listed on Sotheby’s.
8. TPunk #3442 – $10 Million
TPunk #3442, inspired by CryptoPunks, was bought for $10,500,000 on August 31, 2021, by Justin Sun, the CEO of Tron.
9. CryptoPunk #4156 – $10 Million
CryptoPunk #4156 is one of 24 apes in the CryptoPunks series and was sold for $10,350,000. It’s currently owned by the address 0x67954a and is not listed for sale.
10. CryptoPunk #5577 – $7 Million
CryptoPunk #5577, another ape from the CryptoPunks series, was purchased for $7,700,000 by Robert Leshner, CEO of Compound Finance.
The Bottom Line
As the NFT marketplace anticipates strong growth in 2024, the worth of the most expensive NFTs ever sold remains a matter of opinion, determined by factors like insufficiency, origin, and celebrity endorsements.
With Pak’s The Merge taking the first spot as the most appreciated NFT at $91 million, other special projects have also arisen, involving several CryptoPunk pieces and Beeple’s works.
In the long run, the NFT market is anticipated to include metaverse integration and optimized interoperability, with the future of NFTs possessing great promises.
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