Imagine a world where digital artwork sells for millions of dollars. There, virtual real estate flourishes. Moreover, collectible in-game items have actual value. Welcome to the universe of Non-Fungible Tokens, or NFTs.
In recent years, NFTs have taken the tech and art sphere by storm. They have captivated the imaginations of creators, investors, and collectors alike.
In this article, we dive into the fascinating world of NFT statistics. We’ll explore the key metrics that shape the NFT landscape. Let’s discover everything from NFT price to the virtual assets growth in the gaming industry. Join us on this data-driven journey as we uncover the facts behind this phenomenon.
The NFT market began with negligible revenue in 2018 and catapulted to millions by 2023. This exponential growth trajectory symbolizes the interest and investment in the NFT space.
2018
0.2
–
2019
0.1
-57.9
2020
2.0
2,437.5
2021
810.9
39,845.8
2022
892.5
10.1
2023*
1,601.0
79.4
2024*
2,272.0
41.9
2025*
2,756.0
21.3
2026*
3,031.0
10.0
2027*
3,162.0
4.3
* Projected values
Despite a temporary dip in 2019, the subsequent years witnessed a rapid ascent. 2021 had a remarkable spike in revenue, reaching a 39,845.8 percent change.
The NFT market value in 2022 was US$892.5 million. Following the peak in 2021, there’s a sharp decline in 2022 to just 10.1 percent. This fact indicates that the growth achieved in the previous year was not sustainable.
According to Statista Market Insights, the years following 2022 will show fluctuating revenue changes. There will be some form of recovery and stabilization after the dramatic drop in 2022. However, post-2025, the revenue change might begin to decline steadily. It might drop to 10.0 percent in 2026 and further down to 4.3 percent in 2027. This suggests a potential saturation or slowing of the market.
Source: Statista
The average revenue per NFT user (ARPU) started from a modest US$2.5 and plummeted in 2019. It then soared to over US$150 in 2021. However, the ARPU experienced a noticeable decline in 2022, dropping to US$86.6.
According to Statista, in the upcoming years, the ARPU will show a recovery trend. The metrics from 2018 to 2027 might go upward.
2018
2.5 USD
2019
0.2 USD
2020
2.6 USD
2021
150.4 USD
2022
86.6 USD
2023*
114.8 USD
2024*
134.9 USD
2025*
150.1 USD
2025*
150.1 USD
2026*
158.5 USD
2027*
163.8 USD
* Projected values
Source: Statista
In 2022, the NFT market witnessed a slight contraction in trading volume compared to the previous year. This minor dip, from US$25.1 billion in 2021 to US$24.7 billion in 2022, might hint at market consolidation after a period of explosive growth.
The quarterly analysis from Q1 2022 to Q3 2023 paints a picture of variability. There was a significant peak in Q1 2022, followed by a gradual decline. The lowest trading volume was recorded in Q3 2023.
Q1 2022
12.6
44.9
Q2 2022
8.4
24.6
Q3 2022
2.8
14.9
Q4 2022
1.98
18.0
Q1 2023
4.7
20.5
Q2 2023
2.9
18.6
Q3 2023
1.39
11.5
The overall NFT market trend suggests a possible stabilization or declining interest in trading.
Have you wondered how many people own NFTs? According to Statista, there were 10.30 million users in 2022. By the end of 2023, the number will most likely rise to 13.95 million.
Starting from 0.12 million users in 2017, there has been a consistent and significant increase in the user number. According to Statista, the NFT market might reach a high of 19.31 million users by 2027.
The years between 2019 to 2023 saw an exponential growth in users. The number grew from 0.41 million in 2019 to 13.95 million in 2023.
2017
0.12
0.00
2018
0.08
0.00
2019
0.41
0.01
2020
0.79
0.01
2021
5.39
0.07
2022
10.30
0.14
2023*
13.95
0.18
2024*
16.84
0.22
2025*
18.35
0.23
2026*
19.13
0.24
2027*
19.31
0.24
* Projected values
From 2023 onwards, the consumer base might begin to stabilize. This could be due to the market reaching maturity or price stabilization. Also, NFTs could reach a broader audience.
The penetration rate began to increase starting in 2021. In fact, it jumped to 0.07% from 0.01% in 2020. This momentum continued with the rate nearly doubling every subsequent year until 2023, reaching 0.18%.
From 2023 to 2027, the number is projected to rise at a slower pace. This suggests that the rate of new user acquisition or adoption may slow down or stabilize. Despite the growth, a penetration rate of 0.24% in 2027 is still relatively low. This could mean the potential market size is vast. Also, there might be challenges in reaching a broader audience.
Source: Statista
The United States stands as the undisputed leader. This country showcases exponential growth from modest beginnings in 2018 to towering NFT figures in subsequent years. Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan also emerged as significant players. However, their revenue growth trajectories are not as steep as the U.S.
United States
90,910*
35,730*
851,900*
328,400,000*
415,800,000*
Germany
5,870*
5,160*
148,300*
58,280,000*
45,310,000*
United Kingdom
11,370*
4,180*
93,240*
41,810,000*
40,480,000*
Canada
7,970*
2,860*
62,710*
27,420,000*
32,900,000*
Japan
5,730*
4,120*
112,700*
38,610,000*
31,830,000*
* Revenue in thousands of USD
Therefore, we can see that the concentration of NFT market activity is in these five countries.
Source: Statista
NFT statistics from Google Trends show a regional disparity in consumer curiosity. In fact, consumers from Europe, Latin America, or the MENA region exhibited lower interest rates. Despite the U.S., U.K., and Germany being revenue leaders, their initial consumer interest levels were comparatively lower.
Numerous Asian countries are leading the list. In fact, China, Hong Kong, and Singapore hold the top 3 positions. This dominance is often attributed to the burgeoning popularity of blockchain gaming. Also, there is an increasing community of GameFi enthusiasts in the area. For example, an NFT game Axie Infinity became so popular in the Philippines that it caught the government’s attention. In January 2021, Axie Infinity’s revenue was only $100,000. By July 2021, the number had increased to more than $23 million. Within 6 months of the same year, the number of daily active users grew 30-fold.
In 2021’s summer, earnings from Axie Infinity were subject to taxation. Many had perceived this Vietnam-originated game as a platform where simply playing could yield monetary rewards. As a result, transactions witnessed a drop.
Source: Google Trends, Axieworld, INQUIRER.net
Finder’s statistics below reveal patterns in NFT ownership among 272,257 responders across 26 countries.
As of September 2022, India led with 7% of respondents owning NFTs. Vietnam and Indonesia followed with 6% and 5% respectively.
In contrast, Germany exhibits the lowest ownership percentage. This NFT data suggests that the adoption is more prevalent in emerging markets compared to developed countries.
Let’s take a closer look at the graph below.
* Percentages refer to the share of respondents who own an NFT.
Source: Finder
Let’s explore the NFT demographics in terms of gender. India displays the most significant percentage of male NFT owners. Meanwhile, Japan is the only country where female ownership slightly surpasses male ownership. The United States, among the leaders in NFT revenue, shows one of the largest gender gaps. This country has significantly more men owning NFTs than women.
India
8.4%
5.1%
3.2%
Nigeria
5.6%
3.0%
2.6%
United States of America
3.8%
1.3%
2.5%
Philippines
5.0%
2.4%
2.5%
Indonesia
4.9%
2.9%
2.0%
Singapore
5.6%
3.6%
2.0%
Ghana
4.7%
2.8%
1.9%
Ireland
3.6%
1.7%
1.8%
Argentina
3.1%
1.4%
1.7%
Australia
3.0%
1.4%
1.6%
Malaysia
3.8%
2.2%
1.6%
Sweden
2.4%
0.8%
1.6%
Norway
2.5%
1.0%
1.5%
South Africa
2.7%
1.3%
1.4%
Hong Kong
6.1%
4.7%
1.3%
Brazil
4.6%
3.5%
1.2%
Kenya
4.1%
2.8%
1.2%
United Kingdom
2.2%
0.9%
1.2%
Vietnam
6.4%
5.2%
1.2%
Venezuela
3.2%
2.2%
1.1%
Germany
1.6%
0.7%
0.9%
New Zealand
2.1%
1.1%
0.9%
Canada
1.9%
1.1%
0.8%
Colombia
2.8%
2.0%
0.8%
Mexico
2.3%
2.0%
0.3%
Japan
1.5%
1.6%
−0.1%
Average
3.8%
2.3%
1.5%
While revenue is concentrated in certain Western countries, some Asian ones have higher engagement. Gender disparities in ownership indicate an area for potential growth and inclusion within the NFT space.
Source: Finder
The table below provides information on NFT ownership split by age groups for selected countries. Specifically, the data is categorized into three age groups: 18-34, 35-54, and 55+.
Some observations from the table:
Singapore
9%
4%
3%
India
8%
7%
5%
United States
5%
3%
2%
Nigeria
5%
4%
3%
Brazil
5%
4%
3%
Philippines
5%
3%
2%
Hong Kong
5%
6%
5%
Indonesia
5%
3%
4%
Ireland
5%
2%
2%
Vietnam
5%
6%
11%
Ghana
4%
3%
9%
Malaysia
4%
3%
2%
Australia
4%
3%
3%
Kenya
4%
3%
5%
Argentina
3%
2%
1%
Norway
3%
2%
2%
Sweden
3%
2%
1%
Mexico
3%
2%
1%
Venezuela
3%
3%
2%
Colombia
3%
2%
2%
Canada
3%
2%
2%
United Kingdom
3%
2%
2%
New Zealand
3%
1%
2%
South Africa
3%
2%
2%
Germany
2%
1%
1%
Japan
2%
2%
2%
Thus, younger age groups (18-34) in most countries have a higher NFT ownership percentage. However, some countries, like Vietnam and Ireland, have a significant percentage of older individuals (55+) owning NFTs.
Source: Finder
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NFTs were initially rooted in art and music. However, their influence has expanded to encompass other sectors, including film, fashion, and gaming. Additionally, they have impacted sports, ticketing, supply chains, and luxury goods. Let’s explore some NFT statistics across different fields.
In 2022, a global survey revealed the levels of interest in NFTs among game developers:
Thus, a majority of developers are currently uninterested in integrating NFTs into their projects. However, there is still a portion that sees potential in this technology. The 7% of developers who are very interested could be early adopters paving the way for broader acceptance in the future.
Next, let’s take a look at statistics on the top 5 NFT games in 2022.
Alien Worlds
WAX, Binance Smart Chain
956,000
US$158,640,000
Splinterlands
WAX, Hive
585,000
US$48,000,000
Bomb Crypto
Binance Smart Chain
559,000
US$13,600,000
MOBOX: NFT Farmer
Binance Smart Chain
224,000
US$348,869,000
Axie Infinity
Ronin, Ethereum
180,000
US$4,100,000,000
Between April 2021 and October 2023, the art segment experienced significant fluctuations in NFT sales. 28.4 thousand NFTs were sold over the month by April 15, 2021. These transactions totaled approximately US$78 million.
The peak occurred in August 2021, with around 117.4 thousand sales. However, there was a notable decline afterward.
As of October 15, 2023, the number of sales recorded over 30 days on Ethereum, Ronin, and Flow blockchains was approximately 4.1 thousand. Therefore, the value was only about US$7.6 million, which is 10 times less than in April 2021.
Now, let’s have a look at the greatest examples of NFTs in art.
The music NFT market was valued at US$ 1,350 million in 2021. It is projected to surge to US$ 15,010 million by 2031. There might be a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 28.23% from 2021 to 2031.
Let’s have a look at some musicians, who have embraced music NFTs.
In January 2023, NYX Professional Makeup launched a beauty incubator called GORJS. It was presented as a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO). GORJS was accompanied by 1,000 Ethereum NFTs named “FKWME Pass”. These tokens were available for public purchase from February 1 at 0.19 ETH each.
Another beauty company, Shiseido, commemorated its 150th anniversary by venturing into the metaverse with CULT. The #AliveWithBeauty campaign introduced 150 exclusive NFTs. Token owners got access to skincare benefits, event tickets, and additional rewards over time.
A May 2022 survey found that approximately one-third of U.S. sports fans had purchased cryptocurrency and/or NFTs. The propensity to acquire these digital assets was higher among avid fans compared to casual ones.
Regarding NFTs in this domain, a joint venture between the NBA and Dapper Labs has revolutionized basketball collectibles. NBA Top Shot was launched in 2020 and has since gathered over 1 million users. It facilitates buying, selling, and trading NBA video clip NFTs. Notably, a LeBron James dunk Moment NFT, with only 49 copies, is listed for US$1 million. However, affordable starter packs are also available for US$9.
Source: Statista, NBA Top Shot
According to Statista, the key players on the market are Blur, LooksRare, OpenSea, and X2Y2. However, DappRadar shows a slightly different picture. In terms of trading volume, we have Immutable X Market instead of LooksRare.
Let’s review the detailed NFT statistics of top players by trading volume and traders count.
OpenSea lost its crown in trading volume, sliding to third place. In contrast, Blur ascended to the top. In fact, it boasted a trading volume of over US$226 million. Notably, private sales became more significant. Meanwhile, once-prominent platforms like Magic Eden vanished from the top 5.
In August 2022, OpenSea was bustling with over 1.47 million traders. However, a year later, it saw a steep decline to 483,694. This marketplace was not the only one experiencing a trader count decrease. Even Axie Marketplace and AtomicHub experienced similar downturns. Meanwhile, new entrants like Element Market and Blur gained traction.
The number of daily Unique Active Wallets (dUAW) increased by 44% from August 2022 to August 2023. Moreover, the dominance grew by 4% over the year. Therefore, dUAW captured a larger market share in the NFT ecosystem in 2023.
August 2022
217,126
11%
US$800M
7.2M
977,522
August 2023
314,614
15%
US$559M
3.2M
701,560
% change
0.44
0.04
-31%
-55%
-28%
On the other hand, trading volume experienced a decline of 31%. It dropped from US$800M in August 2022 to US$559M in August 2023. Thus, while there were more unique active wallets, the total value of NFT transactions was reduced. The possible reasons might be a decrease in average transaction value or a decline in high-value sales.
Moreover, the sales count decreased by 55%, from 7.2M in August 2022 to 3.2M in August 2023. This decrease might be attributed to several factors. For instance, a shift in consumer interest or market stabilization after a peak period might be the reason.
The number of unique traders also reduced by 28%. It dropped from 977,522 in August 2022 to 701,560 in August 2023. Despite the growth in active wallets, fewer distinct traders were involved in transactions. New entrants could be fewer, or some previous traders may have become inactive.
Source: DappRadar
Let’s have a look at NFT statistics regarding the most expensive tokens sold as of November 1, 2023.
Clock (by Pak)
US$53M / 16,593 ETH
US$53M / 16,593 ETH
US$53M
5
CryptoPunks #5822
US$2K / 8.0 ETH
US$24M / 8,000 ETH
US$24M
7
CryptoPunks #5577
US$8M / 2,501 ETH
US$8M / 2,501 ETH
US$8M
5
CryptoPunks #3100
US$2K / 8.0 ETH
US$8M / 4,200 ETH
US$8M
4
CryptoPunks #7804
US$16K / 12 ETH
US$8M / 4,200 ETH
US$8M
4
Art Blocks Ringers #109
US$129 / 0.10 ETH
US$7M / 2,100 ETH
US$7M
4
CryptoPunks #8857
US$2K / 2.5 ETH
US$7M / 2,000 ETH
US$7M
5
SuperRare All Time High in the City
US$91 / 0.50 ETH
US$6M / 1,630 ETH
US$9M
8
SuperRare A Coin for the Ferryman
US$137 / 0.50 ETH
US$6M / 1,330 ETH
US$6M
5
Art Blocks Ringers #879
US$129 / 0.100 ETH
US$6M / 1,800 ETH
US$6M
8
Let’s analyze NFT price trends based on the data above. The majority of NFTs showcased a substantial rise in their last sale price compared to their initial sale price. On average, NFTs have experienced multi-million dollar increases, with several jumping from a few thousand dollars (or even just a hundred) to values upwards of US$6M to US$24M. The average NFT price is US$7M if we exclude the top 2 sales that fall out of the trend.
A smaller portion, like “Clock” by Pak, retained their value throughout. We can notice no change from their initial to last sale price.
The last sale price might indicate the NFT’s current perceived value. However, the number of unique owners can provide insight into how often the NFT was traded. On average, each NFT was owned by about 5 to 7 unique individuals, suggesting a reasonably active market for these items.
Also, we can see that the “CryptoPunks” category stands out. Indeed, this collection holds multiple positions in the list of the most expensive and popular NFTs sold.
Source: NonFungible
Let’s compare the top 5 NFT collections in August 2022 and August 2023
In terms of having the most traders, in August 2022:
In August 2023:
It’s evident that Axie Infinity and NBA Top Shot maintained their positions in the top 5 from 2022 to 2023. However, their number of traders decreased. Meanwhile, new entrants like LIBERTAS OMNIBUS, zkSync Name Service, and Mythical Beings emerged in the 2023 rankings. Collections like ENS and NFL All Day from 2022 did not appear in the 2023 list.
By NFT sales volume, in August 2022:
In August 2023:
Therefore, we can see, that “Sorare” lost its top spot to “Gods Unchained”. Overall, sales volumes dropped significantly. Previously dominant “Axie Infinity” slipped in rank. At the same time, the new entrant “NFL All Day” emerged in the top five.
Regarding the trading volume, in August 2022:
In August 2023:
To sum up, “Bored Ape Yacht Club” still held its position as a leader. Moreover, it increased its trading volume to US$55.4M. New collections like “DeGods” and “Mutant Ape Yacht Club” made significant strides. They have trading volumes of US$51.9M and US$34.3M, respectively.
Source: DappRadar
The NFT statistics below show the worldwide Google search interest in the term from September 2020 to September 2023. It measures search interest relative to the highest point on the chart, with 100 indicating peak popularity and 50 signifying half as popular.
We can see an initial increase in interest from 2020, peaking significantly in early 2022. The highest search interest was reached on January 23, 2022, with a value of 100 (indicating peak popularity). After that, there’s a sharp decline in interest throughout 2022. By September 10, 2023, the search interest had reduced to a value of 5.
So, NFTs saw a meteoric rise in public interest in the lead-up to 2022. However, this trend was not sustained. By 2023, the global search interest had significantly diminished.
Source: Google Trends
The current state of NFTs is under a period of change and reevaluation. Despite decreases in the number of traders and trading volumes in several marketplaces and collections, there are positive aspects. The rise in daily Unique Active Wallets indicates a consistent and engaged audience, even in difficult times. Moreover, the market continues to see high-value NFT transactions, showing ongoing interest in top-tier digital assets.
Looking to the future, the NFT market seems set for gradual growth. Forecasts show an increase to US$231.98 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 33.7% from 2022. These NFT statistics suggest the potential transformation of the digital environment.
Also, NFTs may increasingly impact various sectors. For example, more artists and musicians might want to use NFTs as another source of income. Moreover, utilizing tokens can help prevent piracy. For developers, leveraging NFTs is an opportunity to engage and retain users. Since players can earn money while gaming, there is an enticement to stay online.
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CONTACT USAbsolutely. Despite market fluctuations, NFTs continue to attract attention and investment, with growing applications across diverse sectors.
The NFT market has seen shifts in marketplace dominance, changes in top collections, and overall resilience, evidenced by a 44% increase in daily Unique Active Wallets.
As of the latest NFT statistics, the market size by the end of 2022 was US$892.5 million. Projections suggest it could reach around US$231.98 billion by 2030.
Determining the exact number of NFTs is challenging. However, a NonFungible.com report shows that there were over 2.4 million NFT sales from November 7, 2022 to November 5, 2023. For this period, there were 605,624 primary sales.
