Top 10 Record-Breaking NFT Sales in 2023

Despite a challenging year for NFT sales, Dmitri Cherniak’s Ringers #879 (“The Goose“) topped the list of the most expensive non-fungible collectibles sold in 2023, followed by Yuga Labs’ CryptoPunks and Bored Ape Yacht Club.

These collections, including Cherniak as part of Art Blocks, continued to captivate collectors and investors alike, standing out even amidst broader market fluctuations and uncertainties.

Yuga Labs, initially known for its Bored Ape Yacht Club, and CryptoPunks, created by Larva Labs, saw a significant drop in their floor prices. Bored Ape Yacht Club’s floor price fell by 57.6%, while CryptoPunks experienced a 13.8% decrease from January 1 to November 28, 2023.

However, these collections still made up the majority of the top NFT sales of the year. Four sales each came from Bored Ape and CryptoPunks, joined by two from Art Blocks, Ringers and Fidenza, and a Mutant Ape NFT.

The list of the 10 most expensive NFT sales in 2023 is as follows:

• Ringers #879 (The Goose) — 2617 ETH: This Dmitri Cherniak NFT fetched $6.2 million at Sotheby’s on June 15. Its value stems from its algorithmic variations in pegs, sizes, colors, and orientations, creating thousands of unique visual combinations.

• CryptoPunks #5066 — 857 ETH: The second highest-priced NFT sale in 2023, transacted on February 6, owing to being 1 of 88 “ZombiePunks” and having rare attributes like a knitted cap and an earring. 
• Bored Ape Yacht Club #7090 — 800 ETH: Sold on February 7, this Bored Ape is distinguished by its unique features, including rainbow-colored teeth, gold fur, and heart glasses. 
• Fidenza #545 — 625 ETH: The sole non-CryptoPunks or Bored Apes NFT on the list, sold on OpenSea, created by Tyler Hobbs’ generative NFT collection Art Blocks instead. 
• CryptoPunk #7458 — 600 ETH: Another ZombiePunk with distinct traits, including sunglasses and a beard, sold on November 6.
• Bored Ape Yacht Club #1734 — 600 ETH: Cherished for its solid gold fur and smoking a cigarette, sold on July 13.
• CryptoPunks #8531 — 550 ETH: A rare “ZombiePunk” with stringy hair and shades, sold on July 15.
• Bored Ape Yacht Club #4980 — 530 ETH: Sold on May 15 for its unique blend of rare traits, including its cute pink and blue party hat. 
• Mutant Ape Yacht Club #30002 — 500 ETH: The only piece from the Mutant Ape Collection on this list, sold on September 1, is the sole NFT of the 20,000 MAYC NFTs with a “Mega Zombie” trait. 
• CryptoPunk #3307 — 500 ETH: Different from the others, notable for having absolutely no attributes, sold on August 4.

The high-value transactions of these NFTs, despite a general market downturn, indicate a continuing fascination with and confidence in the world of digital art and collectibles. As such, 2023 stands as a clear indicator of the selective resilience and potential of NFTs in the blockchain-centric landscape.

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