Current State of the Non-Fungible Token Market

In the landscape of crypto-collections, NFTs (non-fungible tokens) offer new investment opportunities and digital culture. In this article, we analyze the global NFT data and emerging trends, starting from the most recent market figures.

Global Data: Capital and Volume of Non-Fungible Tokens

According to CoinGecko, the “Global Stats” section provides an updated indication of the NFT market:

• The global market capitalization of NFTs is estimated to be around 4 billion USD. (CoinGecko)
• The most recent total NFT sales volume reports approximately 3 million USD.
• A daily change of –2% is reported for the 24-hour market capitalization.

These numbers suggest that the NFT market today is no longer at its explosive peak, but requires more nuanced readings:

• A relatively modest capital compared to the overall crypto ecosystem.
• A daily volume lower compared to historical highs (previous years had much higher volumes).
• A signal of market correction or stabilization.

Dominance of Major Collections

The same report indicates that the dominance of a specific collection reaches 31.4%.

This data suggests that a single NFT collection holds nearly one-third of the total monitored market capitalization. This phenomenon has several implications:

• High concentration: a few collections dominate the market, which reduces “horizontal” distribution.
• Systemic risk: if that collection experiences a downturn, it can drag a significant portion of the market downwards.
• Importance of “blue-chip NFT”: just like in the traditional investment world, the most renowned collections attract capital and maintain relative stability.

Blockchain and Collection Tracking

The report indicates that the statistics cover up to 20 chains (blockchain) and include only collections that have been assigned a “market capitalization”.
The main implications:

• Multi-chain distribution: NFTs are no longer exclusive to the Ethereum blockchain; alternative chains (e.g., Solana, Base, etc.) are gaining prominence.
• Counting Methodology: only collections with a “market cap” valuation are included — this may exclude many smaller or emerging collections.
• Need for depth in analysis: when analyzing a portfolio or a collection, it is useful to verify the chain of affiliation, liquidity, and distribution.

Here are some updated insights on the leading NFT collections that continue to record significant sales, useful for understanding where there is still activity. The data is sourced from CoinGecko and other recent sources.

Top NFT Collections with Active Sales

CryptoPunks

• CryptoPunks holds approximately 30-33% of the market dominance among the collections tracked by CoinGecko.
• On the top collections page, CryptoPunks appears as the leader in market capitalization: for instance, the “floor price” is indicated at 35 ETH (~US$ 124,000) in a recent snapshot.
• The daily volume for the collection also appears (see “24h Volume” column). This suggests that the collection is still active and being traded.
• Insight: This is a “blue-chip” in the NFT world, with high relative liquidity and strong recognition; however, entry requires significant capital due to the high floor price.

Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC)

• BAYC emerges as one of the leading collections, with a market dominance indicated around 5-7% in recent data.
• Even though its share has decreased compared to past peaks (as indicated in an analysis: “BAYC’s dominance has dropped from ~29% to ~12.8% by October 2024”).
• Insight: Although no longer as dominant as it once was, BAYC still maintains a good level of transactions and recognition, making it still relevant for those looking to engage with established collections.

Pudgy Penguins

Pudgy Penguins feature in the dominance rankings among the top 10-20 collections, with a share around 5-6% in recent data.

In CoinGecko’s 2024 annual report, Pudgy Penguins also recorded an increase in use as collateral in NFT loans, indicating ecosystem activity.

It is certainly a collection that can offer a compromise between recognizability and a more accessible cost compared to top-tier ones like CryptoPunks or BAYC.

Some Key Numbers and How to Interpret Them

• The total market capitalization of NFTs tracked by CoinGecko is around US$ 3.9-4.0 billion, with a daily sales volume hovering around US$ 3-5 million.
• These figures indicate that the NFT market is not at the explosive level of peak hype periods, yet it still maintains substantial activity in the major collections.
• The concentration is high: a few collections (like CryptoPunks) dominate a very large portion of the market. This implies that for many smaller projects, liquidity can be significantly reduced or the market less active.

Considerations for Those Looking to Trade

If you want to invest in or collect NFTs with a good chance of selling, focusing on “blue-chip” collections like CryptoPunks or BAYC offers greater liquidity but requires a substantial budget.

For more modest budgets, collections like Pudgy Penguins can be more accessible choices, but one must accept a higher risk (less liquidity, greater buy/sell spread).

It is useful to monitor the floor price, recent sales volume, and market dominance to assess the health of a collection: data available on CoinGecko and other aggregators.

Pay attention to the “real utility” factor and the community behind the collection: today, many successful NFT projects go beyond pure collecting (metaverses, games, memberships, etc.).

Monitoring Tools: “NFT Portfolio”

The “NFT Portfolio” section of CoinGecko provides a service to monitor portfolios that include NFTs. Although it does not provide aggregated market numbers, it serves as a useful operational tool for collectors and investors.
Main features:

• Individual tracking of NFT holdings.
• Integration with other crypto assets.
• Ability to manage lists and monitor performance.

Analysis and Critical Context

The numbers indicate that the NFT market is not (at least at this moment) in a phase of rapid expansion as in the past. A capitalization of a few billion and very modest volumes suggest a phase of consolidation.

• Opportunity: if the market is in a “quiet” phase, undervalued collections or “diamonds in the rough” may emerge.

• Risks: concentration and low liquidity imply that exiting a position could prove to be complex.
• Strategy: focus on dominant collections for greater stability or on emerging niches with higher risks but potential upside.
  5.3 Trends to watch
  
• Increase in cross-chain adoption: NFTs on non-Ethereum blockchains can offer advantages in terms of cost and innovation.
• Integration with metaverses, gaming, and digital rights: the value of NFTs could shift from mere collectibility to real utility.
• Regulation and taxation: increasing regulatory scrutiny can influence volume, valuations, and investor behavior.

Future Prospects for Non-Fungible Tokens

In the short term, we expect the non-fungible token market to operate under low volatility conditions, with possible localized micro-recoveries in certain collections or categories (e.g., gaming NFTs, real utility). In the medium to long term, the market could resume expansion if:

• Trust and liquidity are being rebuilt.
• Regulatory scenarios are becoming clearer.
• New use cases are emerging that go beyond “digital art” and “collecting”.

Current NFT data highlights a market less frenetic compared to peak enthusiasm moments, but not necessarily in irreversible decline.

The current global capitalization, limited volumes, and strong dominance of a few collections make the context more selective and competitive.

For those investing or collecting, it becomes crucial to: analyze liquidity, evaluate the chain, and seek real utility beyond the mere digital asset. The NFT market could return to growth, but only accompanied by concrete innovation and greater adoption.