In 2021, Beeple’s NFT sold for a record $69.3 million, but the NFT market has shifted in 2025 with trading volumes down 63% year-over-year in Q1 to $1.5 billion. Despite the slowdown, collections like Pudgy Penguins and CryptoPunks continue to attract buyers, adapting to emphasize utility and community over prices.

NFTs linked to real-world use cases are gaining traction as interest in PFP NFTs cools. Marketplaces like OpenSea broaden their focus, while NFTs tied to tickets and physical goods, like FIFA’s blockchain-based “Right to Buy” tokens for the 2026 World Cup, offer real-world benefits. Courtyard.io’s trading card NFTs show resilience, with over $12.7 million in sales in the past 30 days.

Read more at Cointelegraph: From boom-era prices to utility and real-world use