Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, have been through a long journey since the first NFT Quantum was minted in 2014. Since then, popular NFT collections, such as CryptoKitties, CryptoPunks and Bored Apes Yacht Club, caused a revolution in the digital world and helped the industry flourish creatively and financially.
NFTs became more popular in 2021, and prices skyrocketed so that many of the top NFT art sold for millions of dollars. Thinking of the most expensive NFTs, you may ask how high the prices get! As the NFT ecosystem is still developing and evolving, it is difficult to answer the question.
Besides, many talented artists have joined the NFT industry and minted some of the most popular NFT collections. They have improved the levels of creativity in the market, and many fascinating NFT collections are available now. Therefore, the numbers are still increasing.
This article provides a list of the most expensive NFT art ever sold. Notice that these pieces include collections and multi-NFTs as well as top single NFTs that have brought tens of millions to their creators and investors.
Readers should also keep in mind that things are changing rapidly in the NFT world, and bookmarking this page could help them to keep up with the latest information about top NFT art in 2023.
10 popular NFT art
People have always followed well-known NFT artists, NFT teams and their NFTs on the list of the top NFT art. In the following, we list some of the most expensive as well as popular NFTs available in the market.
1. The Merge by Pak
Sold for $91.8 million
The most popular NFT art at the time of writing is The Merge by Pak. Pak is an anonymous digital artist, programmer, and cryptocurrency investor best known for selling the world’s most expensive NFT collection The Merge. The Merge officially became the most expensive NFT ever sold. On December 2, 2021, the NFT sold for $91.8 million via Nifty Gateway.
The Merge is one of the few top NFT arts that has multiple owners, almost 30,000 collectors, maybe due to the crazy price it has on it. The sale was unique in that buyers did not buy the actual Ethereum NFTs. Instead, they paid for “mass” tokens that will be combined to create dynamic, distinctive NFT collectibles following the token sale.
2. Everydays: The First 5000 Days by Beeple
Sold for $69.3 million (38,525 ETH)
Mike Winkelman, known as Beeple in the NFT world, created Everydays: The First 5000 days in 2007. The NFT is a collage of 5000 digital images that Beeple drew over his everyday activity in the digital world.
Everyday: The First 5000 Days became the top NFT art after its sale at Christie Auction House in 2021. The NFT sold for 38,525 ETH to a single owner, a Singapore-based programmer Vignesh Sundaresan, known as Metaovan,
The NFT is unique in that it includes computer-drawn images as well as hand-drawn works. It also features photos of Jeff Bezos, homophobic stereotypes, Rap stars and Donald Trump over the white house.
3. CLOCK by Julian Assange and Pak
Sold for $52.7 million (16,593 ETH)
The next item on the list of top NFT art is CLOCK. It was created by Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, and well-known Pak. CLOCK depicts a timer that counts the number of days Julian Assange spent in Belmarsh prison.
CLOCK served to raise funds for Assange’s legal defense in court after being accused of hacking US government computers. In February 2022, 10,000 Assange DAO members paid $52.7 million and owned a share of this NFT.
100% of the price was donated to the Holland Foundation, which has been supporting the defense process of Assange. The money is spent in favor of freedom of speech.
4. Human One by Beeple
Sold for $28.9 million (4,700 ETH)
Beeple created another masterpiece in the NFT world. Human One is a 360-degree, hybrid artwork presenting an astronaut walking. This life-size 3D NFT is unique in that it can be updated by the artist, and in each update the background can be changed.
Human One sold for $28.9 million as a part of 21st century Evening Sale at Christie Auction House in November 2021.
5. CryptoPunk #5822
Sold for $23.7 million (8000 ETH)
Among the top NFT arts is CryptoPunk, a collection of 10,000 unique 24×24 pixel NFTs developed by Larva Labs in 2017. Punk #5822 is the most expensive item in the NFT collection. It is an alien-style punk in a blue bandana.
CryptoPunk #5822 sold for $23.7 million in February 2022. The new owner, Deepak Thapliyal, the CEO of Chain, shared an image of his new digital asset on Twitter immediately after the purchase.
6. CryptoPunk #7523
Sold for $11.7 million (4,700 ETH)
CryptoPunk collection has the next top NFT art of all time: CryptoPunk #7523. The super rare alien CryptoPunk#7523 got famous during the Covid-19 pandemic due to its prominent facemask trait.
CryptoPunk #7523 was sold for 11.7 million in June 2021. The sale occurred as a part of the Natively Digital auction by Sotheby. SillyTuna, the previous owner and a member of the CryptoPunk NFT community, sold the NFT to an unknown buyer.
The sale was a massive success for the NFT ecosystem and motivation to adopt NFTs.
7. Tpunk #3442
Sold for $10.5 million (120 million TRX)
Tpunks are the first NFTs on Tron blockchain. The project is inspired by CryptoPunk and includes 10,000 unique collectible characters.
The next top NFT art of all time is Tpunk #3442. It is a rare Joker that was sold to Justin Sun, the founder of Tron, in August 2021. He paid $10.5 million, equal to 120 million TRX, for the NFT and set the record of the highest sell in Tron blockchain for Tpunk #3442.
8. CryptoPunk #4156
Sold for $10.2 million (2500 ETH)
The list of the most popular NFTs of all time includes another Creation of Larva Labs. CryptoPunk #4156 is one of the 24 CryptoPunk monkeys and belongs to exclusives.
CrypoPunk #4156 sold for $10.2 million in December 2021. Although it was not the highest-selling CryptoPunk NFT, it was undoubtedly the most significant buzz for the collection in 2021.
9. CryptoPunk #5577
Sold for $7.7 million (2500 ETH)
The list of top NFT art continues with another creation of Larva Labs. CryptoPunk #5577 depicts a monkey punk wearing a cowboy hat, one of the rarest traits for CryptoPunks.
The NFT was purchased by Robert Leshner, the CEO of Compound Finance, for $7.7 million in February 2022.
10. CryptoPunk #7804
On bid for a $12.27 million offer
The last on the list of popular NFT art is CryproPunk #7804. It is one of the rarest NFTs in the collection and one of the nine aliens with the most unique features. It smokes a pipe and wears a beret and sunglasses.
CrypoPunk #7804 is currently for sale for almost $16 million. However, there are no bids on his punk.
In March 2021, CryptoPunk #7804 sold for 7.57 million (4200 ETH) to Dylan Field, the CEO of FIgma, a software company.
A final word
Since 2014, when Kevin McCoy mined his first NFT, Quantum, the NFT market has hosted unbelievably high prices for non-fungible tokens. Quantum is a pixelated octagon coming in diverse colors, which sold for $1.47 million to Alex Amsel in June 2021. But there have been higher prices on the list of sales, including single NFTs or the ones from a collection.
On the list of top NFT art of all time, names such as Beeple and Pak are glorious, and NFT collections such as CryptoPunks have a significant share. However, the NFT market has been through rapid changes and the list will not be permanent. The NFT market may experience major changes in sale orders in 2023. Be ready for that!
FAQ
What is the most expensive NFT to date?
till, in 2023, ‘The Merge’ remains the most expensive NFT of all time. It sold for $91.8 million in December 2021.
Why are NFTs so expensive?
NFTs are non-fungible tokens, meaning the owner is the only one who owns the thing. These properties are distinctive and unique because they confirm the validity of a non-fungible asset. They also live on a blockchain and cannot be changed.