6 mins readNon-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) have been around since 2014, yet their fame has exploded as of late with certain NFTs selling for millions of dollars. Unlike other digital assets and cryptocurrencies, these unique collectibles cannot be interchanged for another.
NFTs can be created from any kind of digital file, yet the majority of today's market is inundated with Digital Art. The appreciation for art has driven its cost to soar sky-high and passionate collectors are paying tremendous amounts to possess it!
It's time for us to take a peek at the 10 most expensive NFTs ever sold - an exciting read awaits!
How to Price NFT?
The value of an NFT is established by buyers and sellers. It's typically much easier to evaluate the worth of an NFT that mimics a physical object; however, most virtual-based NFTs only live on the blockchain.
Not only does each NFT collection come with its own supply and rarity; but other factors also contribute to the overall value of an NFT. Limited-series, unique use cases are highly sought after, driving up the demand (and hence price) for those specific types of collections. Additionally, trust in founders, artists, or a larger community can have a large impact on an individual NFT's worth over time.
10 Most Expensive NFTs Ever Sold
As of 2023, here is a comprehensive list of the most expensive Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) ever sold:
| Rank | NFT | Price | Date |
| 1. | The Merge | $91.8 Million | December 2, 2021 |
| 2. | Everydays: The First 5000 Days | $69.3 Million | March 2021 |
| 3. | Clock | $52.8 Milion | February 2022 |
| 4. | HUMAN ONE | $28.95 Million | November 2021 |
| 5. | CryptoPunk #5822 | $23.7 million | February 2022 |
| 6. | CryptoPunk #7523 | $11.75 Million | June 2021 |
| 7. | TPunk #3442 | $10.5 Million | August 2021 |
| 8. | CryptoPunk #4156 | $10.26 Million | December 2021 |
| 9. | CryptoPunk #5577 | $7.7 Million | February 2022 |
| 10. | CryptoPunk #3100 | $7.58 Million | March 2021 |
1. The Merge – $91.8 Million
Beeple’s “Every Day” was the most expensive NFT piece of art sold before 2021 came to an end, that is until Pak's artwork "The Merge" shattered records by selling for a whopping $91.8 million on Nifty Gateway! This unprecedented sale didn't go to just one individual but rather to 29,983 people who split it into 312,686 coins distributed between them.
Artist: Pak
2. Everydays: The First 5000 Days – $69.3 Million
Until the end of 2021, Beeple's artwork was considered to be the most expensive NFT art sold. His piece "Everyday" is a compilation of 5,000 drawings he created within a span of 5,000 days. The famous Christie house oversaw its auction and it ended up selling for an impressive $69 million!
Artist: Mike Winkelmann aka Beeple
3. Clock – $52.8 Million
To raise funds to stand up against the unjust imprisonment of Julian Assange, Wikileaks founder Assange created a costly NFT called "Clock." This token symbolizes an online counter that tracks the days he spent in London's Belmarsh prison while awaiting extradition to the United States on espionage charges. Thanks to this daring and creative effort, over $52 million was raised at auction!
As part of "The Merge" NFT, 10,000 AssangeDAO members held a stake in this Non-Fungible Token. All proceeds from the auction were kindly donated to the Holland Foundation which is committed to protecting Julian Assange's rights. This effort joins Edward Snowden’s initiative of championing freedom of expression worldwide.
Artist: Julian Assange and Pak
4. HUMAN ONE – $28.95 Million
"Human One" is the second most expensive artwork by Beeple. With the help of Christie’s, it was sold for a whopping $28.98 million! This life-size 3D NFT features an individual wearing a bronze or silver spacesuit that can be changed according to what the artist decides. What makes this even more special though is that Beeple assured he would upgrade this masterpiece over its lifetime so it stays dynamic and lasts through time!
Artist: Mike Winkelmann aka Beeple
5. CryptoPunk #5822 – $23.7 Million
Standing as the most expensive NFT in CryptoPunks' entire collection, this token is a nostalgic reminder of 80s pop and punk culture with its super pixelated video game aesthetic. Of the 10,000 cryptopunks available, those that possess more unique characteristics are deemed to be much rarer and therefore more valuable.
Cryptopunks come in humanoid forms, and the rarest of them all are zombies, monkeys, and aliens. Among those three categories, Alien cryptopunks have proven to be the most valuable due to their scarcity; with only nine out of 10,000 pieces available. This particular cryptopunk #5822 is an alien donning a blue bandana- making it one of its kind!
Artist: Matt Hall and John Watkinson, Larva Labs’s directors
6. CryptoPunk #7523 – $11.75 Million
Cryptopunk #7523 has been the most costly in the cryptopunks collection, and for a good reason. Not only is it one of the 9 ultra-rare aliens, but also its unique trait - is adorned with a surgical mask that harkens back to our current pandemic climate - makes it even more exceptional.
Artist: Matt Hall and John Watkinson, Larva Labs’s directors
7. TPunk #3442 – $10.5 Million
Similarly to CryptoPunks, these pixelated figures are based on classic and beloved characters. One, in particular, is #3442, which features an iconic joker figure. Not only that but The TPunk project also has the distinction of being the first-ever item released on Tron's blockchain system.
As such 120 million TRX was paid out to purchase TPunk #3442 - clearly indicating how highly sought after this exclusive piece really is!
Artist: Tpunks
8. CryptoPunk #4156 – $10.26 Million
This cryptopunk is a one-of-a-kind item, as it belongs to the exclusive 24-monkey collection. It features an eye-catching blue bandana that renders this NFT priceless! Believe it or not, its value skyrocketed in just about four weeks from $1.17 million to an astonishing estimated worth of $10.35 million - talk about investment potential!
Artist: Matt Hall and John Watkinson, Larva Labs’s directors
9. CryptoPunk #5577 – $7.7 Million
Robert Leshner, the founder of Compound Defi protocol made history as he purchased the ninth most expensive Non-Fungible Token (NFT) to date - a CrypoPunk ape wearing a brown hat.
Artist: Matt Hall and John Watkinson, Larva Labs’s directors
10. CryptoPunk #3100 – $7.58 Million
CryptoPunk #3100 is amongst a rare elite of nine extraterrestrial-inspired NFTs. This particular collectible features a blue and white forehead band, created in 2017 and sold on March 11th, 2021 for an eye-popping 3,000 ETH - that's 63 Million USD at the time this was written!
Artist: Matt Hall and John Watkinson, Larva Labs’s directors
Conclusion
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) are an incredibly desirable asset, with prices soaring due to their rarity and distinct features. Collectors pay extravagant amounts for these limited-edition digital items as a symbol of prestige and power. It is unmistakable that the NFT market is here to remain, almost certainly growing larger!
