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10 Most Expensive NFTs Ever Sold: Overpriced Scams or True Masterpieces?

10 Most Expensive NFTs Ever Sold: Overpriced Scams or True Masterpieces?

Key points

  • The NFT market, set to rebound in 2024, is projected to generate $2.37 billion this year with an annual growth rate of 9.10%, reaching a potential $3.36 billion in the next four years.
  • From its 2014 inception, the NFT market has achieved a total market capitalization exceeding $4 billion and witnessed all-time sales volumes surpassing $78 billion.
  • The diverse evolution of the NFT market, driven by trends such as metaverse integration and community-focused utility, expands its reach beyond gaming and art into virtual real estate and the music industry.

 

 

As we enter 2024, the non-fungible tokens (NFT) market experiences meaningful recovery, with Statista predicting that the market could make $2.37 billion this year and see an annual growth rate of 9.10%, potentially reaching $3.36 billion in the next four years.

Since the first NFT was ever minted in 2014, the market has seen a total market capitalization surpassing $4 billion and all-time sales volumes exceeding $78 billion, according to CoinMarketCap.

With prominent NFT collections such as Axie Infinity and Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) oftentimes making headlines, what were the most expensive NFTs ever sold, and where is the market headed next?

In this article, we highlight the most expensive NFT sales ever.

The Diversity of the NFT Market

The real boom of the NFT market emerged at the end of 2017 with the launch of Ethereum-based blockchain games such as CryptoKitties and, later on, Axie Infinity, which have acted as stepping stones for many new investors who could now step into a niche market for digital collectibles while also playing a fun game.

However, over the past seven years, the NFT space has seen a great deal of change with virtual real estate and the music industry also joining in on the hype.

“A significant trend is the integration of NFTs with metaverse platforms, where they’re used for avatars, property ownership, and access to exclusive events. Another notable trend is the focus on community building and utility; NFTs that offer real-world benefits or membership in exclusive groups are increasingly popular,” Tyler Adams, the CEO and co-founder of COZ, told Techopedia.

Adams added that the emergence of the non-fungible item (NFI) technology allowed more people to enter the industry by enabling them to link the physical and digital realms.

“NFI technology is the door for Web3 mass adoption, enabling individuals to prove ownership of a physical item and authorizing specific actions on-chain or off-chain. It broadens the horizons for real-life applications, even to those with little to no familiarity in the blockchain sphere.”

However, the NFT market space continues to be highly dominated by art, celebrity, and athlete involvement as well as the gaming industry, Anndy Lian, the author of NFT: From Zero to Hero, added.

So, what is the most expensive NFT?

10 Most Expensive NFTs of All Time

COZ’s Adams explained that the most valuable NFTs often “share several commonalities.” One such similarity is that they are created by prominent artists or involve famous brands, such as Beeple’s Everydays: The First 5000 Days, sold for over $69 million.

“These NFTs often hold unique or historic significance, marking key moments in digital or artistic history. They also tend to receive high media attention, which drives up demand and value. Moreover, many of these groundbreaking NFTs introduce innovative concepts or employ technology in novel ways, setting them apart from more conventional offerings,” Adams said.

1. The Merge – $91 Million

The most expensive NFT sold is The Merge, the NFT collection created by digital artist PAK that was sold for $91,806,516 within just 48 hours following its release on 3 December 2021 on the NFT marketplace Nifty Gateway.

While being the most expensive NFT art, The Merge had also managed to break several other milestones, including becoming the largest-ever art sale by a living artist, be it a digital or physical copy.

 

2. Everydays: The First 5000 Days – $69 Million

Next on our list of most expensive NFTs sold is a digital artwork by Beeple, also known as Michael Winkelmann. Beeple’s Everydays: The First 5000 Days was actioned by Christie’s in March 2021 and was sold for $69,346,250.

The artwork was bought by Vignesh Sundaresan (Metakovan), a cryptocurrency investor and the founder of Metapurse.

3. Clock – $52 Million

Clock is a single NFT that counts how many days the founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, has spent in prison.

The NFT is a collaboration between Assange and Pak and was sold for $52,740,000 on 9 February 2022. It was created to help fund Assange’s legal defense during court proceedings.

 

4. Human One – $28 Million

Another NFT by Beeple, Human One, is a hybrid digital and physical artwork that was auctioned for $28,985,000 on 9 November 2021.

A seemingly unique artwork, Human One, is said to be “the story of the first human born in the metaverse.” The NFT will continue to evolve throughout Beeple’s life.

5. CryptoPunk #5822 – $23 Million

CryptoPunks is a series of 10,000 unique pixel art characters created as NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain by Larva Labs. Each CryptoPunk NFT has a set of unique characteristics. Most CryptoPunks are human; however, some of the rarest pieces depict zombies, apes, and aliens.

CryptoPunk #5822 is one of nine alien punks in the collection, making it rare and valuable. The Chain CEO, Deepak Thapliyal, bought the NFT on 13 February 2022 for $23,700,000.

 6. CryptoPunk #7523 – $11 Million

The CryptoPunks collections have seen some of the most major NFT sales on the market, with CryptoPunk #7523 scoring number six on our most expensive NFTs list.

This is the only punk in the collection that wears a surgical mask and is another one of nine aliens. It was sold for $11,800,000 and is currently owned by Sillytuna, according to its listing on Sotheby’s.

7. TPunk #3442 – $10 Million

Inspired by the CryptoPunks collection, TPunk #3442 was bought for $10,500,000 on 31 August 2021 by Justin Sun, the CEO of Tron.

 

8. CryptoPunk #4156 – $10 Million

CryptoPunk #4156 is one of 24 apes in the CryptoPunk collection and was sold for $10,350,000.

9. CryptoPunk # 5577 – $7 Million

Another one of 24 apes from the CryptoPunks collection, CryptoPunk #5577, was bought for $7,700,000 by Compound Finance CEO Robert Leshner.

10. CryptoPunk #3100 – $7 Million

Last on our biggest NFTs list is CryptoPunk #3100, a headband-wearing alien punk sold on 11 March 2021 for $7.58 million.

What Goes Into Valuing NFTs?

Adams explained that valuing an NFT’s price can be a subjective, as well as objective case. While an artist’s reputation may come in handy (as seen with NFTs created by Beeple), other factors may also come into play when identifying the most expensive NFT ever sold.

“Much like commercial goods, scarcity and uniqueness are also crucial; limited edition NFTs or those with unique features often have higher values. The provenance or ownership history can add to an NFT’s allure, especially if previously owned by a celebrity or a notable figure in the tech world,” he said.

Lian added that an NFT’s supply and demand could also affect its future price and utility. Moreover, celebrity endorsements can also be crucial in establishing an NFT’s value.

“Celebrities can use their large and loyal fan bases to promote NFTs to a wider and more diverse audience. This can increase the awareness and interest in the project, as well as the potential buyers and collectors. Celebrities can also lend their reputation and influence to NFTs, making them more appealing and trustworthy to investors,” Lian said.

The Future of NFTs: Metaverse Integration & Enhanced Interoperability

Lian explained that metaverse integration is one trend that could drive the future of NFTs, enabling cross-platform interoperability, accessibility, and immersion. In addition, decentralized finance (DeFi) collaborations can further enhance the value of NFTs by providing new means of financing, investing, and trading them, further driving adoption.

Adams added that enhanced interoperability across blockchain platforms could further increase the utility and appeal of NFTs in the near future. He said:

“As regulatory frameworks around NFTs develop, the market might see increased stability and trust, attracting more institutional investors. Technological advancements, such as Layer 2 solutions, could lower transaction costs and improve sustainability, making NFTs more accessible and appealing. The integration of NFTs with AI, AR, and VR technologies is also anticipated, potentially leading to new forms of interactive digital art.”

The Bottom Line

As the NFT marketplace anticipates robust growth in 2024, the value of the most expensive NFTs ever sold remains subjective, influenced by factors like scarcity, uniqueness, provenance, and celebrity endorsements.

With Pak’s The Merge taking the first place as the most valuable NFT at $91 million, other unique projects have also come forth, including a number of CryptoPunk pieces and Beeple’s works.

In the future, the NFT market is expected to embrace metaverse integration and enhanced interoperability, with the future of NFTs holding high promises.

 

Source: https://www.techopedia.com/most-expensive-nfts-ever-sold

FAQ

What is the current state of the non-fungible tokens (NFT) market, and what are the projected growth figures for 2024?

The NFT market is experiencing a meaningful recovery in 2024, with a projected value of $2.37 billion this year and an annual growth rate of 9.10%. Statista predicts that it could reach $3.36 billion in the next four years.

How has the NFT market evolved since 2017, and what are the key trends shaping its diversity?

The NFT market has diversified since 2017, with notable trends including the integration of NFTs with metaverse platforms, increased focus on community building and utility, and the emergence of non-fungible item (NFI) technology linking the physical and digital realms.

According to Anndy Lian, how is the NFT market currently dominated, and what sectors contribute significantly to its growth?

According to Anndy Lian and Tyler Adams, what trends are expected to drive the future of NFTs, and how might the market evolve in terms of technology and adoption?

Anndy Lian suggests that metaverse integration is a significant trend that could drive the future of NFTs, enabling cross-platform interoperability and immersion. Tyler Adams adds that enhanced interoperability across blockchain platforms, regulatory frameworks, technological advancements like Layer 2 solutions, and integration with AI, AR, and VR technologies are anticipated in the future.

Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.

Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.

www.anndy.com
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Will Blockchain Technology Unlock the Metaverse’s True Value?

Will Blockchain Technology Unlock the Metaverse’s True Value?

The metaverse is made up of virtual worlds where people can do many things they do in real life. To paraphrase Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, it’s an “embodied internet”, where instead of just viewing content “you are in it”. And cryptocurrency will almost certainly become the primary payment method in the metaverse.

UK-based blockchain VC company Outlier Ventures confirmed: “The defining characteristic of a true Metaverse is that it needs its own economy and currencies native to it, where value can be earnt, spent, lent, borrowed or invested interchangeably in both a physical or virtual sense and most importantly without the need for a government.”

As a result, I recommend that you research metaverse and its related technologies before making any key investments.

 

What is the metaverse?

Metaverses are inter-connected virtual worlds where people can do things they can’t do in real life, such as work, entertainment, shopping, fitness, and socializing. In a virtual environment, people can start their businesses, buy land, create artwork, and attend concerts. Metaverses create spaces for people to kill time by utilizing virtual reality, augmented reality, social media, and blockchain technology including NFTs. Although the development of the metaverse is still in its infancy, in simple terms it’s easy to see that it will eventually become a virtual world with a virtual economic system.

In the future, users may purchase clothing for their virtual characters rather than clothing for their real-life wardrobe. Rather than buying a piece of art to hang on the wall, it is preferable to purchase digital art to display in a virtual gallery.

 

The relationship between cryptocurrency and the metaverse

Cross-platform currency is a critical link in the virtual economic system. The emergence of cryptocurrency is as if it were tailor-made for the virtual world. It enables users to use cryptocurrency in metaverses in similar ways they would use cash in real life. Furthermore, transactions in metaverses are almost instantaneous, thanks to the blockchain technology underlying them, which aims to establish a trust mechanism for both parties to the transaction and ensure the transaction process’s safety.

In explaining the attraction of programmable crypto to metaverse developers expert Matthew Ball explained: “Most important is the fact that developers and users can invest their time and capital with confidence that a blockchain’s policies, incentives, or economics won’t change arbitrarily over time.”

Camilo Echeverri, Co-Founder of MGH DAO mentioned “Seeing all these developments of play-to-earn and metaverses is really motivating because Web3 is going to change everything, especially in the way we interact on the Internet.”

When asked what is metaverse to him. His answer was “The metaverse is a place on the Internet where you can watch your favourite movies, play your favourite games, listen to your favourite artist, and do everything you like with your friends and family.

Consider Decentraland, a decentralized 3D virtual reality platform. Users who want to buy items on the platform must use the platform’s token MANA as the transaction currency. Indeed, metaverse cryptocurrencies such as MANA, Sandbox (SAND), and Enjin (ENJ) have recently received a lot of attention. The popularity of various pet meme coins has also increased due to the popularity of metaverse’s cryptocurrency. Led by Dogecoin, especially in the US, and with celebrity backing from billionaire entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Mark Cuban, it’s not difficult to see the advantages of its payment-friendly features in terms of low fees and infinite supply for online communities and marketplaces.

Borget Sebastien, Co-Founder and COO, The Sandbox was also invited as a speaker at a Twitter Spaces session on metaverse said. “Imagine the metaverse as a digital parallel world where we can experience more social and immersive interactions from wherever we are in the world. We can choose our identity, play, collaborate, enjoy entertainment, and earn revenue. It will be fun and borderless.”

 

How to start participating in the metaverse

The metaverse is a concept that is still in its infancy. At the moment, there are many different ideas about how metaverses will look and what role they can play in our lives, both at work and at home. Meta (formerly Facebook) has ambitious plans for its future development as the pioneer of metaverses technology such as VR headsets. The plan calls for the introduction of virtual fitness equipment and space for virtual business meetings. And although VR technology has advanced significantly, there are still numerous technical issues that must be addressed before it reaches mass adoption.

However, we can participate in the metaverse today in a variety of ways as cryptocurrency investors. The simplest way to get started is to buy existing metaverse-related cryptocurrencies. These cryptocurrencies are available from major cryptocurrency exchanges. Simultaneously, you can purchase NFTs or even consider purchasing real estate and artwork in the metaverses world. However, I advise that if you want to join the metaverse, you should do a lot of research. Access to what’s happening in the existing metaverse, such as playing the online game Fortnite, is a good way to comprehend its potential and to start thinking about the expected value of your investments.

Do not join the metaverse based solely on celebrity endorsement and the current media hype, as you might with any other crypto investments. It is critical to devote as much time and effort as possible to understand how they work and which metaverse projects are most likely to survive and prosper in the long run. Similarly, buying NFTs at random simply because of the hype is not a reasonable investment strategy.

Before purchasing NFTs, you should investigate which NFTs are appropriate for your interests, which ones are likely to be profitable, and do the research to ensure a good experience in buying NFTs.

It should be noted that mature blockchain network projects should be chosen for investment as much as possible. Many metaverse projects that use crypto or blockchain technology are built on established ecosystems like Ethereum (ETH) or Solana (SOL), which will therefore benefit investors, and offer a lower-risk investment option. Because even if the more ambitious elements of an always-on metaverse are not realized, Ethereum or Solana will likely continue to prosper.

Anndy Lian, Chairman, BigONE Exchange commented too that “The economy is growing in metaverses. Cryptocurrency is playing a very big part in this whole development. A lot of governments do not have a good way to regulate De-Fi products. If we’re going to add DAO or metaverse to the scenario, it will take them a long time to catch up. We have to exercise self-regulation and constantly communicate with regulators to provide updates on the progress in the space, in order to minimise misconceptions of the crypto world.”

We don’t know how the metaverse will evolve in the future. People have been discussing how to develop it for many years, and the term ‘metaverse’ is decades old, but progress until very recently has been slow on creating these persistent virtual worlds. Although there may be changes this time around, it is critical not to invest based solely on hype.

All cryptocurrency investments are risky, and you should only invest funds that you can afford to lose money. Don’t let the fear of missing out (FOMO) drive your investments. If the metaverse is a worthwhile investment project, it will be worth waiting to invest in once your research is completed. As a result, I remind all investors to choose investment projects with caution and not rush into a decision.

 

Original Source: https://hackernoon.com/will-blockchain-technology-unlock-the-metaverses-true-value

What is metaverse?

Metaverses are inter-connected virtual worlds where people can do things they can’t do in real life, such as work, entertainment, shopping, fitness, and socializing. In a virtual environment, people can start their businesses, buy land, create artwork, and attend concerts. Metaverses create spaces for people to kill time by utilizing virtual reality, augmented reality, social media, and blockchain technology including NFTs.

What is the relationship between cryptocurrency and the metaverse?

Cross-platform currency is a critical link in the virtual economic system. The emergence of cryptocurrency is as if it were tailor-made for the virtual world. It enables users to use cryptocurrency in metaverses in similar ways they would use cash in real life. Furthermore, transactions in metaverses are almost instantaneous, thanks to the blockchain technology underlying them, which aims to establish a trust mechanism for both parties to the transaction and ensure the transaction process’s safety

How to start participating in the metaverse?

We can participate in the metaverse today in a variety of ways as cryptocurrency investors. The simplest way to get started is to buy existing metaverse-related cryptocurrencies. These cryptocurrencies are available from major cryptocurrency exchanges. Simultaneously, you can purchase NFTs or even consider purchasing real estate and artwork in the metaverses world.

What is Anndy Lian's view on metaverse now?

The economy is growing in metaverses. Cryptocurrency is playing a very big part in this whole development. A lot of governments do not have a good way to regulate De-Fi products. If we’re going to add DAO or metaverse to the scenario, it will take them a long time to catch up. We have to exercise self-regulation and constantly communicate with regulators to provide updates on the progress in the space, in order to minimise misconceptions of the crypto world.

Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.

Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.

www.anndy.com
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