NFTs) may not be making headlines as frequently as they did in 2021, but these digital assets are still generating billions of dollars in trading volume in 2023. Despite the market cooling down, sales of certain NFTs continue to break the million-dollar mark. This year alone, Yuga Labs' “Golden Key” sold for $1.6 million, while CryptoPunk 5066 was bought for $1.4 million and a Bored Ape was purchased for $1.3 million. In 2022, CryptoPunk 5822 made history when it was sold for 800 ETH, which was worth a whopping $23.7 million at the time.
In this article, we will limit the all-time list of the most expensive NFTs to single-edition NFTs, rather than open-edition NFTs. The Merge by Pak, which is a collection of 312,686 NFTs sold to 28,983 collectors over a few days in December 2021 for $91.8 million, may appear in some rankings, but it will not be featured here.
Will any sales break into the top 10 most expensive NFTs? Let's take a closer look at each of these pricey digital artworks and find out.
Everydays: The First 5000 Days by Beeple – $69.3 million
Everydays: The First 5000 Days is a digital collage consisting of 5,000 individual images that Beeple created every day for over 13 years. It was sold for $69.3 million in March 2021 at Christie's auction house, making it the most expensive NFT ever sold. The buyer, MetaKovan, said he sees the piece as a significant milestone in the history of digital art and a sign of things to come.
Clock by Pak – $52.7 million
Clock by Pak is a clock that tracks the number of days that WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange has been imprisoned and raised funds towards Assange’s legal defense. The piece was sold for $52.7 million in November 2021 to AssangeDAO, a decentralized autonomous organization that collectively raised the money to buy the artwork.
Human One by Beeple - $28.9 million
Human One is a unique NFT that has both a physical side and a digital component that changes according to Beeple’s input and will continue to change throughout the artist’s life. The artwork was sold for $28.9 million in November 2021.
CryptoPunk 5822 – $23.7 million
CryptoPunk 5822, created by Larva Labs, is a rare "alien" punk, one of only nine CryptoPunks with this trait out of 10,000 unique characters created in 2017. The NFT was sold for $23.7 million in February 2022.
CryptoPunk 7523 – $11.75 million
Another rare CryptoPunk on this list is CryptoPunk 7523, which was also sold at a Sotheby’s auction in June 2021. This avatar has the "alien" trait and was sold for $11.75 million.
TPunk 3442 by TPunks – $10.5 million
TPunk 3442 is part of a collection of 10,000 NFTs created in 2021 and known as “the first NFT on Tron Blockchain.” It was sold for $10.5 million in December 2021 to Tron Blockchain founder Justin Sun.
Crossroad by Beeple - $6.6 million
Crossroad is a political statement created by Beeple following the US presidential election in 2020. The artwork depicts Donald Trump lying on the ground while protesters hold signs with phrases like "Loser" and "Fake News." It was sold for $6.6 million in December 2020.
The First Supper by Mad Dog Jones – $6.6 million
The First Supper is a digital artwork created by Mad Dog Jones that depicts a virtual dinner party of influential tech industry figures. The piece was sold for $6.6 million in February 2021.
Ocean Front by XCOPY – $6.6 million
Ocean Front is a piece of digital art created by XCOPY that depicts a futuristic cityscape. It was sold for $6.6 million in December 2021.
Right Place & Right Time by Tyler Hobbs – $3.3 million
Right Place & Right Time is a generative artwork created by Tyler Hobbs that explores the relationship between chaos and order. It was sold for $3.3 million in March 2021.
Genesis by Trevor Jones and Alotta Money – $3.2 million
Genesis is a collaboration between Trevor Jones and Alotta Money that depicts a digital portrait of Satoshi Nakamoto, the anonymous creator of Bitcoin. The artwork was sold for $3.2 million in February 2021.
These NFTs have made history with their high sales prices, showcasing the growing interest in digital art and the potential of blockchain technology to revolutionize the art industry. With the market constantly evolving, it will be interesting to see what new records will be set in the coming years.
How to Create NFT That Will Sell For an Expensive Price?
Creating an NFT or NFT collection that will sell for an expensive price requires careful planning, execution, and promotion. Here are some tips to help increase the chances of creating an NFT that will sell for a high price:
Focus on uniqueness: Create something that stands out from the crowd. The more unique and one-of-a-kind the NFT, the more likely it is to fetch a high price.
Quality: Ensure that the artwork, music, or any other digital asset is of high quality. Poor quality assets may not be attractive to buyers.
Build a community: Creating a community around the NFT or NFT collection can help increase interest and engagement, which can lead to higher prices.
Rarity: Consider limiting the number of NFTs created. The more scarce the NFTs, the higher the demand and price.
Collaboration: Consider collaborating with other artists, musicians, or influencers. Collaborations can help increase exposure and create buzz around the NFT.
Promote the NFT: Promote the NFT on social media and other platforms to reach a wider audience. Consider working with a marketing agency or PR firm to help with promotion.
Hold auctions: Hold auctions to sell the NFTs to the highest bidder. Auctions can create a sense of competition and drive up prices.
Choose the right platform: Choose a reputable NFT marketplace to sell the NFT. Popular marketplaces like OpenSea, Nifty Gateway, and SuperRare can attract more buyers and lead to higher prices.
Creating an NFT that sells for an expensive price is not an easy task, but by following these tips and putting in the effort, it is possible to create an NFT that becomes highly valuable.