The 5 Most Expensive NFTs - So Far!

Created in 2017, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have been experiencing a global craze since March 2021. Absurd for some, fascinating for others, crypto-art is turning the heads of its followers! And for good reason: the most expensive NFTs are also among the most expensive contemporary artworks. Today Artsper presents the 5 most expensive NFT works in the world… at least at the moment!

1. The Merge, the most expensive NFT work in the world

While Beeple held the record since March 2021, artist Pak took his place on December 4, 2021. His work The Merge is now the most expensive NFT sold thus far. The artwork was purchased on the website Nifty Gateway for a cool $91.8 million. Like a dematerialized jigsaw puzzle, this work is divided into 266,445 digital units shared between 28,983 buyers.

2. Everyday: The First Five Thousand Days, still among the most expensive NFTs

In second position is Everyday: The First Five Thousand Days, which will have kept its leading position for several months. In March 2021, the artist Michael Winkelmann – better known as Beeple – made art history. His digital collage made up of 5,000 images taken daily was featured at Christie’s Auction House. Purchased by Vignesh Sundaresan, it was sold for $69.3 million, enough to attract the attention of the general public to NFTs!

3. Human One, a new NFT in the top 3

On November 9, 2021, Beeple resold one of the most expensive NFTs in the world. In third place is now Human One, valued at $28.9 million. To take the fluctuating rate of NFTs to the extreme, Beeple created an evolving work. This life-size 3D NFT sculpture currently depicts a cosmonaut in a silver suit. But what about the next update? Beeple still has a lot of surprises in store for us, as he is committed to making this digital sculpture evolve according to his moods.

4. CryptoPunk, the most expensive NFT series

Between CryptoPunk #7523 ($11.8 million), #4156 ($10.35 million), #7804 ($7.56 million), #3100 ($7.51 million), the NTF CryptoPunk series is the most expensive in the world. It was created by Matt Hall and John Watkinson, the duo known as Larva Labs. This crypto art series is composed of 9 alien punks, each with a special feature. CryptoPunk #7523 is the most successful one thanks to his little accessory: a surgical mask. As an NFT artwork alluding to Covid 19, this CryptoPunk is a true symbolic reflection of our time.

5. Right-click and Save As guy, a nose-thumbing to the namesake movement

In early December 2021, a new NFT work entered the annals: Right-click and Save As guy. Created by artist Xcopy, it is now one of the most expensive NFTs, having sold for $7.09 million. This work refers to the movement “Right-Click, Save As,” which appeared during the year 2021. Internet users annoyed by the success of the NFTs had fun downloading and distributing the works sold at a high price. The result? An ironic nose-thumbing from Xcopy!

The NFT market, artistic revolution or aberrant speculation?

Estimated at $10.7 billion at the end of 2021, the NFT market rises in value a little more each day. The sale of The Merge, made in December of the same year, confirms this fact. It also broke the record for the most expensive work by a living artist. Jeff Koons’ Rabbit was dethroned in December 2021 by a digital work. In this way NFTs are redefining the art market, with still uncertain contours. A revolutionary approach of dematerialized art or senseless speculation on a background of creative inanity? Artsper lets you have the last word!