THE 8 MOST EXPENSIVE NFT EVER SOLD
You probably thought at least once in your cryptographic life: why are some NFTs so expensive? In fact, why are they valuable at all? NFTs are valuable because they verify the authenticity of a non-fungible asset. Therefore, this means that each NFT is a unique non-fungible asset. For example, Picasso’s paintings are not fungible: you can make copies of his paintings, but the original will be unique.
In this article, we will take a closer look at some of the most expensive NFTs ever sold. You will see the 8 most expensive NFTs. So, without further ado, let’s get into the details.
Beeple Waterfront $6 million
Beeple NFTs are NFTs created by artist Mike Winkelmann, a graphic designer. One of his most prized NFTs is Beeple’s Ocean Front, which sold for $6 million in March 2021.
The art is called “Ocean Front” as it seems to speak to the current challenge of the earth’s climate change. The entire image consists of a tree that sits on an image of trailers and shipping containers that sit on a platform at the bottom of an ocean. Bidding for Beeple’s Ocean Front initially started at $2.7 million and eventually the buyer named Justin Sun had a winning bid of $6 million.
Beeple’s Crossroad $6.6m
The next expensive NFT on our list was also created by Mike Winkelmann, also known as Beeple. The name of the NFT is Crossroad and it sold for $6.6 million.
In the video which lasts 10 seconds, a former US president Donald Trump can be seen lying on a grassy field (with insults written on him) while people passing by on the street completely ignore him. In addition, a beautiful rainbow can be seen behind them. Crossroad shows why Beeple’s NFTs are so popular: they show something different from other NFTs, an image that most artists won’t dare to show.
CryptoPunk #7804 $7.6m
CryptoPunks is probably the most popular NFT collection built on the Ethereum network. The project was launched in 2017 by the Larva Labs studio, so it is considered one of the oldest NFT projects ever made. There are 10,000 randomly generated CryptoPunks. The project was inspired by electronic music artists Daft Punk.
CryptoPunk #7804 is one of the aliens developed that features a cap, pipe and cool tones to boot. This NFT was sold in March 2021 for an incredible $7.6 million. CryptoPunk #7804 was definitely one of those you wanted to mint immediately when it was released.
CryptoPunk #3100 $7.67m
Another CryptoPunk on our list is #3100 sold in March 2021 for #7.67 million, just one day after #7804 was sold and became even more expensive than its predecessor.
Another alien in the CryptoPunk collection shows an alien with a blue and white headband. 406 out of 10,000 CryptoPunks wear a headband. The initial bid for the NFT was $2 million a few days before it was sold. At the time of writing (February 2022), this NFT is on sale for a price of 35,000 ETH and there are still no bids.
CryptoPunk #7523 $11.75m
Last but not least, CryptoPunk on our list is that $7523 sold for an incredible $11.75 million in June 2021. This punk again belongs to the alien group of CryptoPunks. There are 9 aliens in total in the CryptoPunk collections.
CryptoPunk #7523 is also called a “Covid alien” as it shows an alien wearing a mask. The price it sold for, $11.75 million, means that this is the most expensive CryptoPunk sold as of today. It was sold at the London auction house.
Beeple’s Human One ($28.9 million)
Another expensive NFT on our list that was created by Beeple is Human One. This is a dynamic, life-generating sculpture. The image shows an astronaut wandering through changing environments and can change if the artist chooses to do so. Beeple even promised that there will be an “update” of the Human during his lifetime to this art that will probably never remain static.
The project became sought after among several investors and was eventually bought for $28.9 million by crypto billionaire Ryan Zurrer. It happened on 9 December 2021.
First 5000 Days: $69.3m
We arrived at NFT naped “First 5000 Days”. This is the second most expensive NFT ever sold. The creator of the image was Beeple or Michael Winkelmann, who was already well known to the crypto public at the time the First 5000 Days was sold. The NFT consists of 5000 digital images, an incredible work of art.
The initial price was, believe it or not, $100 and was made by the traditional customer. However, the biggest bids came in rather quickly: a $1 million bid occurred only an hour after the auction started. It eventually sold for $69.3 million on 21 February 2021. The image was bought by MetaKovan, the pseudonymous founder of Metapurse, a successful NFT investment fund.
Pak’s ‘The Merge’ $91.8m
And finally we are at the last NFT on our most expensive NFT list: NFT called The Merge. This NFT was the most expensive NFT ever sold. The Merge was built by a completely anonymous digital artist nicknamed Pak. It was sold on the NFT marketplace called Nifty Gateway on December 6, 2021, for a record $91.8 million. What needs to be noted here is that The Merge was a single artwork made up of a collection of “masses” that users could buy, so ultimately, 28,983 buyers were included in the sale.
Note: Please note that these are only our opinions based on my extensive research of the most expensive NFTs. In any case, please do your own research before deciding which ones are the most expensive in your opinion.
At this point, it is good to note that all opinions and suggestions written in this article are not considered financial advice.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Let’s look at some frequently asked questions when it comes to the most expensive NFTs.
How much was the most expensive NFT sold for?
The most expensive NFT sold to date was “The Merge” and the price was an incredible $91.8 million.
Why is NFT so expensive?
There are several factors that influence the price of an NFT. The most important are utility, ownership history, underlying value, buyer perception, liquidity premium and future value.
What is the rarest NFT?
This is a million dollar question as there are a crazy number of rare NFTs. However, if I have to pick one, it would probably be Beeple’s “first 5000 days” as I think it took the most effort to create an image consisting of 5000 different images. I don’t see how it can get any rarer than that, to be honest.
Who owns the most expensive NFT?
The answer here is simple: it’s Mike Winklemann or Beeple. From our list of the 8 most expensive NFTs in history, 3 were created by him: Crossroad, Ocean Front and The first 5000 days. He is by far the creator of the “GOAT” NFT (Greatest of all time).
What is the most expensive NFT in OpenSea?
The most expensive NFT on OpenSea is Ken Bone Punk (1 of 1). The current price is
42,069 ETH.
What is the most expensive NFT on Rarible?
The most expensive NFT on Rarible is Warhol Tribute. The current price is an incredible 1,000,000 ETH.
What is the most expensive Bored Ape NFT ever sold?
On the night of 30 January 2022, Bored Ape # 232 sold for a whopping 1080.69 ETH ($2.85 million). The sale occurred on the NFT marketplace – LooksRare.