While the first NFT, Quantum, was created by Kevin McCoy and Anil Dash in 2014, NFTs only started making waves in 2017. While many people still don’t understand the science behind these creations, these days, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone that hasn’t at least heard of NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, before.
Keep reading to find out more about the most expensive NFTs out there.
1. Clock at $52.7 Million
“Clock” is one of the most famous NFTs and was created to support a social cause. Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange, created this digital art that represents a digital counter of the days Assange spent in prison. Assange was sent to Londons Belmarsh prison on espionage charges and waited there until he was extracted to the United States.
The NFT “Clock” was made to raise funds and shine a light on Assange’s imprisonment. This NFT was auctioned off for over $52 million. The proceeds from this auction were donated to the Holland Foundation, which has been a vocal supporter of Assange’s defense.
This social cause joined Edward Snowden’s initiative of freedom of speech.
2. Beeple Collection: Every Day at $69.3 Million
“Every Day: The First Five Thousand Days” is a Beeple piece and is the most expensive NFT that was sold to a sole owner at the end of 2021.
Beeple’s art draws inspiration from political figures and often represents dystopian societies. These art pieces are often controversial and spark debate.
Beeple’s art is seen as high-tier, so when they entered the NFT market, they already had respect within the community. The NFT “Every Day: The First Five Thousand Days” is a collage of 5000 pieces of Beeple’s work. Beeple pledged to create one piece of art each day in 2007, and this collage is the result of his effort.
This NFT was auctioned off for over $69 million to Vignesh Sundaresan.
3. Paks The Merge at $91.8 Million
Until the end of 2021, Beeple’s Every Day NFT was the most expensive NFT sold. Pak joined the scene shortly after this record-breaking auction and created “The Merge.”
“The Merge” ended up selling for over $91 million via Nifty Gateway. Whereas Beeple’s NFT was sold to a single owner, “The Merge” was not. This NFt was bought by almost 30,000 people, meaning the coins were distributed between all the buyers.
“The Merge” consists of interactive NFTs, explaining why it’s the most expensive NFT in the world. “The Merge” inspired many people to create their own NFTs, so if you’re looking for NFT artists, you don’t have to go far.
Expensive NFTs Explained
When it comes to expensive NFTs, it doesn’t always make sense. Like traditional art, only the buyer truly knows why they spend so much money on a piece of art. Luckily, it doesn’t cost you a cent to read about these popular NFTs from the comforts of your home.
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