1. Everydays: The First 5000 Days by Beeple
Artist: Mike Winkelmann (Beeple)
Price: $69.3 million
Beeple’s Everydays: The First 5000 Days is a digital collage consisting of 5,000 pieces of his daily digital art creations. This NFT was sold at a Christie’s auction in March 2021, making Beeple one of the highest-paid artists in the digital world. This landmark sale brought NFTs into the mainstream art market and demonstrated their massive potential.
2. CryptoPunks
Developer: Larva Labs
Significance: Among the first-ever NFTs
CryptoPunks are a collection of 10,000 unique 24x24 pixel art characters, each with distinct traits. Released in 2017, they were among the first NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain. Rare CryptoPunks, like Punk #7523 (known as “Covid Alien”), have sold for millions, with its price reaching $11.8 million in 2021. These NFTs are highly sought-after by collectors due to their historical importance.
3. Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC)
Developer: Yuga Labs
Price Range: $100,000 to millions per ape
The Bored Ape Yacht Club is a collection of 10,000 hand-drawn apes with randomized traits. Owning a Bored Ape grants access to exclusive events, merchandise, and even virtual experiences, making it more than just digital art. Celebrities like Eminem, Snoop Dogg, and Steph Curry have purchased these NFTs, driving their popularity and value sky-high.
4. The Merge by Pak
Artist: Pak
Price: $91.8 million (cumulative)
Pak’s The Merge broke records when it was sold for $91.8 million in December 2021 through a unique fractionalized NFT system. Over 28,000 collectors purchased pieces of this artwork, making it one of the most unique NFT sales to date.
5. Axie Infinity Virtual Assets
Platform: Axie Infinity
Axie Infinity, a blockchain-based game, allows players to buy, breed, and battle creatures called Axies. Some of these Axies have sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars, making them famous in the gaming and NFT communities. The game’s play-to-earn model has attracted millions of players worldwide.
6. Ringers #109 by Art Blocks
Creator: Dmitri Cherniak
Price: $6.93 million
Ringers #109, part of the Art Blocks platform, is a generative art piece that showcases the creative potential of NFTs. It was created using algorithmic art and became one of the most expensive Art Blocks NFTs ever sold.
7. NBA Top Shot Moments
Platform: NBA Top Shot
NBA Top Shot allows fans to purchase iconic moments from NBA history as NFTs. The platform has sold moments like LeBron James' iconic dunk for over $200,000. Its blend of sports and blockchain has made it immensely popular among basketball enthusiasts.
8. Decentraland Virtual Real Estate
Platform: Decentraland
Decentraland is a virtual world where users can buy, sell, and build on digital plots of land. Some virtual properties have sold for millions of dollars, reflecting the growing interest in the metaverse. High-profile sales include a plot purchased for $2.4 million in 2021.
Why Are These NFTs So Famous?
The fame of these NFTs stems from their uniqueness, high value, and the communities built around them. Many are considered historical artifacts in the NFT space, marking milestones in the evolution of digital ownership and blockchain technology. Additionally, celebrity endorsements and media coverage have amplified their popularity.
The Future of NFTs
As NFTs continue to evolve, they are likely to extend beyond art and collectibles into areas like gaming, real estate, and intellectual property rights. The most famous NFTs of today serve as a testament to the immense potential of this technology to redefine ownership in the digital age.
Source: https://blockchain-newspaper.info/category/nft