The concept of non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, exploded in popularity during 2021 and 2022 for the first time. However, 2023 witnessed a slowing down of sales. The most expensive NFT sales from the past few years have now come down to a meager amount rather than going up to millions.
The unfortunate state of the NFT business on the blockchain has witnessed multiple things, such as the hardware needed for it, before finally coming back in stock, and that too, at standard prices.
We have also come across several scams surrounding crypto and NFT projects with influencers such as Logan Paul coming under the spotlight post Coffeezilla’s documentary.
But we have come across collections such as CryptoPunks and the Bored Ape Yacht Club, which have become an expensive world of art with artists like Pak and Beeple selling their art for millions at the time.
But which are the most expensive NFTs of all time? Let’s check it out!
The Most Expensive NFT Sales Of All Time:
The non-fungible token market has taken a massive plunge since its popularity a few years ago. A while ago, you could have made serious money from trading in NFTs.
Here’s a detailed overview of the most expensive NFT sales of all time!
10. CryptoPunk #7804: 4200 ETH ($7.56 million)
On 11th March 2021, the world witnessed two massive Punk sales, and one of these sales was CryptoPunk #7804. Bought for an equivalent of 7.5 million dollars, the price tag of 4,200 ETH ended up amounting to almost 17 million dollars by the end of 2021.
9. CryptoPunk #3100: 4200 ETH ($7.57 million)
On 11th March 2021, while CryptoPunk #7804 was one of the biggest Punk sales, there was another equally massive sale. Yes, we are talking about CryptoPunk #3100. This sale took place during the final on-chain aline Punk sale in 2021.
8. CryptoPunk #5577: 2501 ETH ($7.7 million)
In February 2022, the CryptoPunk 35577 was sold for a whopping 2,500 ETH. This cute punk wearing a cowboy was most probably bought by the CEO of Compound Finance, Robert Leshner, who went on to type an excited ‘Yeehaw’ post the sale on Twitter.
7. CryptoPunk #4156: 2500 ETH ($10.2 million)
On 9th December 2021, CrypoPunk #4156 ended up getting sold for a whopping 2500 ETH, valued at 10.2 million dollars at the time.
6. Tpunk #3442: 120 million TRX ($10.5 million)
In August 2021, Justin Sun, the founder of TRON, bought Tpunk #3442, a rare ‘Joker’ in the NFT world. However, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged Sun and his companies with fraud and additional violations of securities law in 2023.
5. CryptoPunk #7523: 4700 ETH ($11.7 million)
Popularly called the ‘COVID Alien’ because of its well-known facemask characteristic, CryptoPunk #7523 was 2021’s biggest punk sale. It is vital to remember that the current blockchain doesn’t actually display this significant sale since it took place at the digital auction of Sotheby Natively in June.
4. CryptoPunk #5822: 8000 ETH ($23.7 million)
While CryptoPunk#5822 is not the most expensive NFT ever sold, it is definitely the most expensive CryptoPunk ever sold. This aline-style punk features a bandana in blue, and it sold for a whopping 23 million dollars on 12th February 2022 – which was twice the cost of the very next most expensive punk.
Deepak Thapliyal, the CEO of Chain, was the lucky buyer to tweet a photo of his punk post the purchase. It literally came very close to becoming the highest-grossing non-fungible token during the sale, missing its mark by only a few million dollars.
3. Beeple: 4700 ETH ($28.9 million)
Human One by Beeple legit got sold for 28.9 million dollars on 9th November 2021. At the time, Human One was simply auctioned off as a significant part of Christie’s 21st Century Evening Sale. The buyer? Ryan Zurrer, an entrepreneur, ended up buying the same.
2. Julian Assange and Pak, Clock: 16593 ETH ($52.7 million)
Pak and Julian Assange’s Clock is the 2nd most expensive NFT single to be sold of all time. This NFT features a timer which counts the total number of days that Assange spent isolated in prison. The sale took place in February 2022 as a part of Assange and Pak’s curated collection called Censored. This collection famously also showcased a dynamic, open edition.
1. Beeple, Everydays: The First 5000 Days: 38525 ETH ($69.3 million)
Coming to the most expensive NFT sale of all time – Beeple’s Everydays: The First 5000 Days! The sale amounted to 38525 ETH, which is worth a whopping 69.3 million dollars. One of the most active bidders of this NFT was Justin Sun. However, Vignesh Sundaresan, the founder of BitAccess, outbid Sun at the last moment by a solid $250,000.
And It’s A Wrap!
And it’s a wrap on the most expensive NFT sales of all time. There is no doubt that non-fungible tokens have become relatively less popular now as compared to the time when they were peaking. But that is not to mention they cannot blow up something down the line again.
If you are able to mind into all the right projects and actually feature some patience, you might end up sitting on some fortune down the line. Yes, you do risk losing all of it, but then that’s the whole fun of trading and playing around with NFTs.
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