Pak's Merge is the highest-selling NFT in the world, sold for $91.8 million on December 2, 2021. It employs a unique sales method where buyers purchase a 'mass' to form a larger piece.
Other expensive NFTs sold include Beeple's Everydays the First 5000 Days, Clock, HUMAN ONE, and CryptoPunk #5822.
Based on total sales, the most expensive NFT collectibles are Axie Infinity ($4.27 billion) and Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC, $3.16 billion).
This guide will introduce the 15 highest-priced NFTs of all time, showcasing the growing value and significance of NFTs in the digital world. Each NFT has its unique story and creator, making them both interesting and valuable to collectors.
NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) have revolutionized the world of art and digital collectibles. Today, people can buy and sell digital goods and earn huge fortunes. NFTs are a unique type of digital asset that encompasses a wide range of content, including artwork, music, and videos. There are currently millions of NFTs circulating in the market, some of which are priced at millions of dollars.
The 15 Most Expensive NFTs in History
With more and more artists, celebrities and brands launching their NFTs, let's take a look at some of the most expensive NFTs ever.
1. Pak's The Merge - $91.8 million
The Merge, created by Pak, is the most expensive NFT in history. It sold for a record-breaking $91.8 million on December 2, 2021. Its high price was mainly due to factors such as scarcity, utility, the artist's reputation, and the active participation of the community at the time of its release.
Unlike most high-value NFTs, (The Merge) is not owned by a single collector. In fact, a total of 28,893 collectors have purchased 312,686 units of (The Merge) artwork, each priced at $575.
Why is it so precious?
What makes “The Merge” unique is its concept and sales method. It is not a single piece, but rather consists of “quantities” that buyers can purchase. The more quantities a buyer purchases, the larger their share in “The Merge”. This innovative model ultimately attracted 28,983 collectors, who purchased a total of 312,686 quantities. The final price reflects the total value of all these quantities.
However, some may object to the label "most expensive NFT" because it depends entirely on whether "The Merge" is considered a large artwork or a combination of multiple artworks.
Pak is an artist who has chosen to remain anonymous and has been a prominent figure in the digital art and cryptocurrency world for over two decades. He is best known for creating "Archillect," an AI program designed to curate and share visually impactful content.
In early 2022, Sotheby's, a renowned auction house, partnered with Nifty Gateway to auction another NFT collection by Pak, "The Fungible Collection." This collection, also sold in open format, ultimately fetched a staggering $16.8 million.
2. Beeple's Everydays: The First 5000 Days - $69 million
About Everydays: The second most expensive NFT masterpiece
Digital artist Michael Winkelmann, also known as Beeple, once held the record for the most expensive NFT. His work Everydays: The First 5000 Days sold for $69 million at Christie's in March 2021. Interestingly, its starting price was only $100. However, due to Beeple's immense popularity in the cryptocurrency and art world, the bidding quickly surged.
Everydays: The First 5000 Days is a collage of 5,000 individual artworks created by digital artist Beeple. This NFT work was sold at Christie's auction house on March 11, 2021, for $69.3 million.
Why is 5000 Days one of the most expensive NFTs?
Starting in May 2007, Beeple created one digital artwork every day for 5,000 consecutive days and compiled them into this massive and complex collage.
Vignesh Sundaresan, a Singapore-based programmer and cryptocurrency investor known online as MetaKovan, is the founder of the Metapurse NFT project. The transaction was completed in cryptocurrency, with Sundaresan using 42,329 Ether (ETH) to purchase the artwork.
The First 5000 Days reflects Beeple's growth as an artist and his ability to adapt to the digital art trend. The sale of this NFT marks a significant moment in the history of digital art, highlighting the growing recognition and value of NFTs in the art world.
3. Clock - $52.7 million
From political implications to the world's most expensive NFT
"The Clock" is a crypto artwork created by Pak in collaboration with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. The artwork contains a timer that records the number of days Assange has been imprisoned. The timer updates automatically every day to reflect the length of Assange's imprisonment. Finally, in February 2022, AssangeDAO, a group of more than 10,000 Assange supporters, purchased this NFT for $52.7 million.
Uniqueness and resonance create the most expensive rankings
This NFT is a dynamic artwork used to record the number of days Assange was imprisoned. The Julian Assange Defense Organization (AssangeDAO), a group with over 100,000 members whose common goal is to secure Julian Assange's release, ultimately purchased the NFT for 16,593 ETH.
The proceeds from this sale will support Assange's legal defense. The clock is not only an artwork but also a political manifesto, highlighting the intersection between digital art, activism, and the power of NFTs in supporting social causes. Pak's collaboration with Assange underscores the potential of NFTs to transcend traditional art forms and become a tool for social and political change.
4. Human One - $29 million
Beeple and Pak seem to be vying for the top spot on the NFT sales charts! Fourth on the list is Human One, a stunning kinetic sculpture that blends physics and digital technology; Beeple himself calls it "the first human portrait born in the metaverse."
The sculpture, which is over 7 feet tall, depicts a figure dressed in silver clothing and wearing a space helmet. The background of the sculpture is a dystopian landscape projected on four walls, featuring constantly changing scenes. Christie's auctioned this NFT artwork for nearly $29 million in November 2021.
Exclusive perks from the most expensive NFT artist: Forever-changed
Human One's physical sculpture is a dynamic 16K video sculpture that runs 24/7, displaying different images depending on the time of day. As the story unfolds, the video content also changes. The sculpture measures 87 inches x 40 inches x 40 inches and features a 16K resolution display encased in polished aluminum, framed in mahogany.
This NFT represents Beeple's vision for the future and its idea of merging the physical and digital worlds. Human One is constantly evolving because Beeple can remotely update the artwork, making it a living work of art that changes over time.
5. CryptoPunk#5822- $23 million
The story behind the most expensive collection: consistently amazing
As one of the earliest NFT projects, some pieces in the CryptoPunk series have sold for astonishingly high prices. Among them, CryptoPunk#5822stands out. It features a blue-skinned alien theme and is one of only nine Alien Punks. Deepak.eth, CEO of blockchain technology company Chain, purchased this rare NFT for approximately $23 million.
CryptoPunks, created by software company Larva Labs, comprises 10,000 unique virtual avatars launched on the Ethereum blockchain in 2017. These avatars were available for free to any user with an Ethereum wallet and have since become one of the most iconic and sought-after NFT projects on the market.
Timely innovation is the secret weapon
CryptoPunk#5822is particularly valuable because it is one of only nine alien punk-themed NFTs in the series. The CryptoPunks project, launched in 2017, is considered one of the earliest and most influential NFT projects, laying the foundation for the explosive growth of NFTs in the art and digital collectibles market. The CryptoPunks series also includes many other high-priced NFTs, such as:
#7804 - $16.42 million, sold on March 20, 2024
#3100 - $16.03 million, sold on March 4, 2024
#635 - $12.41 million, sold on April 25, 2024
#2924 - $4.45 million, sold on September 28, 2022
6. CryptoPunk#7523- $11.75 million
Another alien-themed NFT called CryptoPunk became the sixth most expensive NFT ever sold. Sotheby's auctioned CryptoPunk#7523in its iconic digital auction "Natively Digital: A Curated NFT Sale" in June 2021, and it eventually sold for $11.75 million, setting a record for the highest price ever paid for CryptoPunk at the time.
As the only alien punk to wear a medical mask, it is one of the rarest crypto punks in existence, and it also features a rare knitted hat and an earring.
7. TPunk#3442- $10.5 million
Next is TPunk #3442, which Tron CEO Justin Sun purchased in August 2021 for 120 million TRX (approximately $10.5 million at the time). This NFT is known as "The Joker" because it resembles Batman's villain. It is part of the Tpunks series, a derivative project of CryptoPunk that contains 10,000 NFTs.
Initially, each of these counterfeit NFTs cost 1,000 TRX, or $123, to mint. However, Justin Sun's acquisition caused TPunk's value to skyrocket, with many collectors scrambling to buy these NFTs. In fact, TPunk#3442is the most expensive NFT ever sold on the Tron blockchain.
8. CryptoPunk#4156- $10.26 million
CryptoPunk has once again achieved remarkable results! CryptoPunk#4156has become the eighth most expensive NFT to sell. Unlike the CryptoPunk mentioned above,#4156is an ape-shaped NFT and one of only 24 available. Due to its rarity, this CryptoPunk has been sold multiple times, most recently in December of last year for a staggering $10.26 million. In fact, just 10 months ago, it also sold for $1.25 million!
In addition, this punk doll also has a bandana, an attribute that only 5% of the dolls in the series possess. Moreover, it has only one special attribute, a rare feature that only 2% of the dolls in the series have. Currently, its owner has not put this punk doll up for sale.
9. CryptoPunk#5577- $7.7 million
In February 2022, another ape-shaped CryptoPunk NFT entered the list of best-selling NFTs. CryptoPunk NFT number 5577 sold for a whopping $7.7 million, becoming the fourth most expensive CryptoPunk NFT on the market. Many people believe that Robert Leshner, the founder of the Compound DeFi protocol, purchased this NFT.
This rare NFT has only one attribute, which is rare in itself because only 2% of punks own it. In addition, it is decorated with a cowboy hat, which is owned by only 1% of punks.
10. CryptoPunk#3100- $7.67 million
The fifth most expensive CryptoPunk NFT is CryptoPunk #3100, an Alien Punk that sold for $7.67 million about a year ago. In fact, this was the first time this Punk had been listed for sale since it was minted in 2017. As a rare Alien Punk, it quickly sold for a high price. It is worth mentioning that it also comes with a rare headband (only 406 Punks have this headband) and a unique attribute.
11. CryptoPunk#7804- $7.57 million
CryptoPunk#7804is a rare Alien Punk that sold for $7.57 million. In fact, it sold a day earlier than #3100, which was the most expensive punk at the time. However, unlike other Alien Punks on the list,#7804has some unique features.
First, it's the only alien punk with a pipe, which is a rare attribute as only 317 punks own it. Similarly, CryptoPunk#7804also comes with a hat, which only 254 punks own. Finally, it also has a pair of sunglasses, another rare feature, which only 378 punks own. Therefore, with all these features,#7804is a highly collectible NFT.
12. XCOPY (right-click and save as Guy) - $7 million
Top cryptocurrency artist XCOPY needs no introduction. Known for his dystopian and death-themed artworks, this anonymous artist sold his NFT piece "Right-click and Save As Guy" for a staggering $7 million. The buyer of this NFT is none other than Cozomo de' Medici, one of the most prestigious collectors in the NFT world.
This NFT piece is itself an iconic work of art in the industry. He named it Right Click And Save As Guy, which was just a joke because many people mistakenly believe that NFTs can be downloaded by right-clicking. The piece was created on December 6, 2018, and was initially sold for 1 Ethereum (ETH), which was about $90 at the time.
13. Dmitri Cherniak's Ringers#109- $6.93 million
Created by Canadian artist and programmer Dmitri Cherniak, Ringers is one of the most expensive NFT series on the Art Blocks platform. The series contains 1,000 generative art NFTs made up of “strings and nails”, and currently, even the cheapest Ringer costs about $88,000.
Among the works in this series, Ringers#109holds the record for the highest price ever paid for an NFT. In addition, it is also the most expensive NFT on the Art Blocks platform, which sold for $6.93 million last year.
14. CryptoPunk#8857- $6.63 million
Another CryptoPunk, CryptoPunk #8857, is one of the most expensive NFTs ever sold, fetching a staggering $6.63 million at an OpenSea auction. What makes it special is that it's one of 88 Zombie Punks, featuring an exaggerated hairstyle and cool 3D glasses. Clearly, CryptoPunks are incredibly popular, and this CryptoPunk#8857ranks 14th on the list of the most expensive NFTs, demonstrating the value and popularity of these digital collectibles!
15. Beeple's Crossroad - $6.6 million
This is incredibly significant; it's the most expensive NFT ever!
In February 2021, Beeple's NFT artwork "Crossroad" sold for $6.6 million on Nifty Gateway, setting a record for the highest price ever paid for an NFT at the time. Moreover, since NFTs were not yet widespread, such a high price was not common. However, Beeple had already made a name for himself in the art world by then. In fact, just two months earlier, he had sold a series of NFT artworks for $3.5 million, which was only the beginning of his greater achievements in the future.
Crossroad is a 10-second short film created in response to the 2020 US presidential election, presenting two drastically different endings: if Donald Trump wins, the film shows him in a victorious pose, but if he loses—which he did—the film shows him in a dejected expression.
Therefore, the final artwork depicts a naked man lying in the street (symbolizing Trump), with others walking past him. The man is covered in insulting words. Interestingly, this NFT sold out before the election.
While this list only includes the fifteen most expensive NFTs of all time, there are other NFTs that have sold for millions of dollars, including many works by CryptoPunks and Beeple. Other examples include XCOPY's (All Time High in the City), Edward Snowden's (Stay Free), and Bored Ape #8817, among others. In the coming months, we expect more NFTs to break current records.
in conclusion
The digital art world has witnessed an astonishing surge in NFT sales, with artists such as Pak and Beeple leading the way by creating highly valuable digital artworks. Works like (The Merge), (The First 5000 Days), (Clock), (HUMAN ONE), and (CryptoPunk #5822) represent the pinnacle of this new art form and are among the most expensive NFTs in the digital collectibles space.
Each piece has its own unique story, creator, and meaning, reflecting the diversity and dynamism of the NFT field. As the digital asset market continues to develop and artificial intelligence becomes more involved, we will see many original NFT artworks, but the aforementioned valuable artworks are undoubtedly an important milestone in the future development of NFTs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best-selling NFT collection right now?
According to CryptoSlam data, the Flying Tulip PUT NFT series is the best-selling series to date, with total sales of $11 million, followed by the Moonbirds series with total sales of $1.7 million.
What is the most expensive NFT?
The most expensive NFT artwork to date is Pak's "The Merge," which sold for $91.8 million on Nifty Gateway, one of the world's leading NFT trading platforms. This highly creative piece was sold in December 2021 by multiple collectors who purchased different quantities of each unit.
Which NFTs are the best-selling?
The most successful NFTs are usually unique and innovative, and are created by well-known artists. Works like the CryptoPunks series, Beeple's works, and other works with uniqueness or cultural significance tend to sell well. NFTs that incorporate real-world impact or practicality are also highly valuable.
Are NFTs still profitable?
Yes, NFTs can still be profitable, but success depends on a variety of factors. The NFT market is growing rapidly, with some works even selling for millions of dollars. However, the NFT market is extremely volatile, and not every NFT can generate profit. Factors such as the artist's reputation, the uniqueness of the NFT, and NFT market trends all play a crucial role.
How much is an NFT worth now?
The price range for NFTs is enormous, from blue-chip collectibles like CryptoPunks or Bored Ape Yacht Club fetching thousands or even millions of dollars, to many items with near-zero value. According to dappGambl, 95% of NFTs are said to have virtually no value. While established NFT collections have high reserve prices (minimum purchase price), many individual NFTs trade for just a few cents. Despite this wide price disparity, the total market capitalization of NFTs is estimated at approximately $2.6 billion as of January 2026.
#CryptoPunks #Pak #Beeple #TPunk
OpenSea content you care about
Browse | Create | Buy | Sell | Auction
Follow OpenSea on Binance Channel
Stay up-to-date with the latest information
