Non-fungible tokens came into the spotlight in 2021. They were introduced on the crypto market way before, but the public didn’t show interest until then. Despite the crypto winter, non-fungible tokens continued to be in demand because people have seen the worth of digital assets. Even if some holders were concerned that they would lose finances due to the bear market, NFTs proved resilient. 95% of the total number of NFTs are minted on the Ethereum blockchain, and when the Ether’s price drops, NFTs values will follow suit.
Even if most non-fungible tokens have lost part of their value during the crypto winter, the market seems to bounce back since the beginning of 2023. Ethereum’s price registered a steady increase over the last few months, and the NFT market is expected to head on a growth trajectory, especially because developers have announced the launch of innovative platforms and projects.
This article explores the most popular non-fungible tokens of 2023 so you know which project to invest in; suppose you want to join the maet.
Bored Ape Yacht Club
Bored Ape Yacht Club is one of the most well-known NFT collections available on the Internet. Yuga Labs LLC launched the project, and consists of a collection of 9,999 randomly generated images of apes, created according to 170 different traits. Those who join the Bored Ape Yacht Club gain access to numerous products and activities. The project is stored on the Ethereum network and has attracted famous investors like Justin Bieber, Jimmy Fallon, Snoop Dogg, Timbaland, Paris Hilton, and Steph Curry.
Initially, each NFT cost 0.08 ETH, but as the project gained more popularity, the prices spiked to 91 ETH, with some apes getting more valuable than others.
Mutant Ape Yacht Club is a collection derived from the original one, including 20,000 Mutant Apes. They were created to reward the Bored Ape Yacht Club investors and encourage crypto holders to join the NFT by offering alternative products connected to a well-known collection.
Jump.trade
Jump.trade is a unique NFT project as it’s the first Cricket NFT people can play in the Metaverse. It sold over 55000 cricket player items in the first 10 minutes after the project was launched on the market. The holders can play games or earn passive income from owning the players. The game was launched in 2022, and since then, numerous cricket enthusiasts have joined the community.
Azuki
Azuki took the NDT sector by storm in 2022 when it was introduced, and it has maintained its popularity ever since. The project consists of 10,000 avatars that offer owners access to The Garden. Azuki is also running on the Ethereum blockchain and offers holders access to exclusive events and products. We listed Azuki among the NFT projects worth adding to your portfolio because initially, there were 8,700 items minted for 3,400 and sold out immediately. It took NFT enthusiasts only 4 minutes to purchase the entire collection. In only 30 days, the project gained $300 million in trading volume, and everyone has started to compare it with Bored Ape Yacht Club.
Azuki promotes the idea of mixing the digital and physical worlds in a community-only environment. Its alliances and characters are used in live events, NFT launches, and even streetwear.
World of Women
Unfortunately, the cryptosystem is still male-centric. However, efforts toward diversity and inclusivity are made, and projects like World of Women are created to encourage more diversity. World of Women is an NFT project started by women in collaboration with The Sandbox, the well-known play-to-earn metaverse game. It aims to grant $25 million to offer women education in the crypto sector so more could join and take advantage of its benefits.
The collection is composed of 10,000 pieces of artwork of randomly generated women. Reece Witherspoon, Eva Longoria, and Dez Bryant are only some of the celebrities who invested in this project.
Crypto Baristas
Crypto Baristas are the ideal non-fungible tokens for those who love coffee, as they are unique characters pouring coffee. The project was developed on the Rarible blockchain and consists of 60 hand-drawn characters by the Coffee Bros and Tony Bui. There are three types of Crypto Baristas NFTs according to their rarity level. The project aims to create a community of people interested in innovation, coffee, art, and investing.
This project is new in the sector, but the artwork was sold as soon as it was launched. The demand for secondary sales is huge at the moment, so it’s worth keeping an eye on the characters and their holders.
Cool Cats
Cool Cats was launched in 2021 and has become the third most popular NFT project sold on OpenSea. Investors can purchase Cool Cats items using Ethereum and other digital currencies on exchange platforms like SuperRare, Rarible, and OpenSea. The Cool Cats community is one of the most active in the industry, and the founders are working relentlessly to improve the project.
The NFT project boomed in popularity after Mike Tyson used a Cool Cat NFT as a Twitter profile picture. Among the celebrities who invested in cool cats are Alexis Ohanian, Reece Whiterspoon, and Steve Aoki.
Hape Prime
Hape Beast developed Hape Prime which became viral on social media immediately after its release in 2022. The collection of NFTs includes 3D artwork of hype beasts, which have been transposed into streetwear items.
Hape Prime is derived from the Bored Ape Yacht Club collection and is one of the most successful projects. At the moment, there are over 300,000 Twitter users following the official page of the project. Besides investing in NFTs, people also purchase clothing items from the collection the brand launched in 2022.
What’s more to say?
The NFT sector is constantly evolving, and new projects and platforms are launched daily. While some of them could grow to the popularity of the Bored Ape Yacht Club, others could remain unknown to the public for years. Whether you are an investor or collector, we hope the above top helped you figure out what projects you should turn your attention to.