While NFTs can be represented by so much more than art, there’s no denying that this format of NFT is by far the most popular and sought-after in the digital world. These NFTs are becoming part of the art world in their own right, with some of the world’s biggest auction houses hosting NFT auctions and investors, collectors, and art enthusiasts getting in on the action.
It has grown so much that NFTs are trading hands for astronomical figures, possessing the same uniqueness that makes a painting or a sculpture worth so much to art fans.
In 2022 this took off to another level to show you how valuable the NFT market has become. Here are ten of the most expensive NFTs that have been bought.
Crossroad by Beeple – $6.6 million
Legendary NFT artist Beeple created this piece to respond to the 2020 US presidential election. The work shows a prone figure lying on the ground, symbolizing his defeat at the hands of Joe Biden.
The NFT also featured two videos, one for if Trump won and one for if he lost.
Right Click & Save As Guy by XCOPY – $7.08 million
Bought by legendary hip-hop artist Snoop Dogg, this piece was created to satirize people who do not recognize the worth of NFTs.
The piece serves as a reminder that the receipts associated with the art are unique and cannot be copied rather than the art itself.
NFT Collection
CryptoPunk #7804 by Larva Labs – $7.57 million
The following few entries on our list belong to the same collection, CryptoPunks. This collection of 10,000 unique images stands out for having some rare traits.
As well as the blue skin (only 9 have this), the pipe, shades, and cap make it unique and one of the highest sellers in the collection.
CryptoPunk #3100 by Larva Labs – $7.58 million
Another one of the nine blue-skinned “Alien” Punks, this one has a white and blue headband too, which only 405 other Punks are sporting in the whole collection.
CryptoPunk #7523 by Larva Labs – $11.7 million
The second most expensive CryptoPunk on this list is another with a host of design rarities.
Again, it’s an Alien Punk, but the earring, knitted cap, and medical mask are also rare, and this is the only Punk to feature all of them in one image.
CryptoPunk #5822 by Larva Labs – $23.7 million
The most expensive CryptoPunk ever sold for over twice as much as its nearest counterpart, this Alien has a bandana that only 332 other Punks are sporting.
HumanOne by Beeple – $28.9 million
Another entry from Beeple, this is a digital and physical hybrid piece. It is unique, even outside its NFT status, because it changes over time.
The piece shows an astronaut ambling through different backgrounds that change over time as
Beeple has remote access to the artwork and updates it periodically.
Clock by Julian Assange & Pak – $52.7 million
This NFT was supposed to raise funds to defend Julian Assange in his legal battle against espionage charges. The clock shows the number of days Assange has been behind bars.
Over 10,000 supporters own a share of this NFT.
Everyday: The First 5000 Days by Beeple – $69.3 million
People features on our list again, making him the world’s most prolific NFT artist.
The First 5000 Days is a collection of 5,000 works of art that Beeple produced each day in 2007.
It was sold as a collection to a sole owner and is the most expensive college piece ever created.
The Merge by Pak – $91.8 million
As talented as Beeple is, another famous NFT artist takes the top spot on this list. Although their identity is unknown, Pak has a massive presence in the digital art world.
The Merge technically isn’t a single NFT. But with a collection of 312,686 tokens, buyers could purchase as many as they wanted. The mass of the art went up as more and more tokens were purchased.
The final selling figure makes it the most expensive artwork by a living artist, not just in the NFT space but in art history.
Many more NFT pieces have sold for vast sums. And this list will continue to change as more pieces are created and increase in value due to their unique nature. But this shows that NFTs are becoming a factor in the art world in their own right.
It’s only set to continue!
