The world of NFTs has seen some jaw-dropping sales, with “Merge” by Pak taking the top spot at an incredible $91.8 million.
This groundbreaking digital artwork, sold as a collection of units, set a new record and changed the way people view digital art and collectibles.
In this guide, we’ll explore the most expensive NFTs ever sold, delving into the stories behind these high-priced assets and what makes them so valuable. From innovative creations to record-breaking sales, we’ll uncover how NFTs are reshaping the future of art and investment.
NFTs in 2025: What’s Going On
The NFT market isn’t as crazy as it was in 2021-2022. Here’s the deal:
- Market Size: Expected to hit $3.3 billion by 2028, growing but slower.
- Value Drop: Many NFTs lost value 95% were worthless by 2023.
- New Uses: NFTs are now for games, virtual land, or tickets, not just art.
- Be Cautious: Prices can drop quickly, so start small if you're trying NFTs.
How It Helps You: Focus on useful NFTs, like digital loyalty cards for your store, instead of hoping for million-dollar sales. A salon could sell $10 NFT “Style Passes” for discounts, keeping customers coming back without big risks.
10 Most Expensive NFTs 2025
1. The Merge by Pak
credit: Nifty Gateway
Price: $91.8 million
Sold: December 2021 on Nifty Gateway
What It Is: A digital artwork of three white shapes on a black background, split into 312,686 pieces bought by 28,983 people.
Imagine a giant puzzle where everyone buys a piece, and those pieces can combine to make bigger, rarer ones. That’s The Merge, created by an artist named Pak (nobody knows who they really are!). It sold for two days, and tons of people joined in, making it the most expensive NFT ever. The artwork evolves as pieces merge, making it exciting.
How It Helps You: This NFT shows you can make something valuable by inviting lots of people to join a fun idea. If you have a business, you could create a digital collectible like a special badge or picture and sell pieces to your customers. For example, a pizza shop could sell 1,000 NFT “slices” that give buyers a discount. It gets people talking and brings in cash.
Detailed Example: Let’s say you run a flower shop. You make an NFT called “Bloom Forever,” a digital bouquet that changes colors when owners trade it. You sell 500 pieces at $10 each, raising $5,000. Customers love the idea of owning a unique flower, and some trade pieces to make rarer ones, spreading your shop’s name online. You use the money to buy new plants, and your fans feel like they’re part of something special.
The Merge Details
| Feature | Info | How It Helps You |
| Price | $91.8 million | Shows big wins with group projects |
| Buyers | 28,983 | Get lots of people excited |
| Platform | Nifty Gateway | Sell on popular sites for trust |
Why Trust This?: The sale was big news on trusted art and crypto sites, like Nifty Gateway’s records.
2. Everydays: The First 5000 Days by Beeple
Credit: Beeple
Price: $69.3 million
Sold: March 2021 at Christie’s auction
What It Is: A giant digital collage of 5,000 pictures Beeple (Mike Winkelmann) made every day for over 13 years.
Beeple drew one picture daily for years some were simple, others wild, like cartoons or famous people. He put all 5,000 into one big digital artwork and sold it at a fancy auction house, Christie’s, like where rare paintings go. A rich investor bought it, and it made NFTs super famous.
How It Helps You: This NFT proves that working hard every day can create something amazing. If you’re an artist, you could make daily sketches or photos and turn them into an NFT later. For a business, share your story like how you built your shop and sell an NFT of it to fans. It’s about showing your journey to connect with people.
Detailed Example: Imagine you own a dog grooming salon. You post a daily photo of a cute dog you groomed for a year, sharing each on social media. At the end, you combine all 365 photos into an NFT called “A Year of Paws.” Fans bid, and you sell it for $2,000. That money buys new clippers, and your customers love owning a piece of your work, bringing them back for more grooms.
Everyday's Details
| Feature | Info | How It Helps You |
| Price | $69.3 million | Hard work can pay off big |
| Creator | Beeple | Share your unique story |
| Platform | Christie’s | Trusted places attract big buyers |
Why Trust This?: Christie’s, a world-famous auction house, confirmed the sale.
3. Clock by Pak and Julian Assange
Price: $52.8 million
Sold: February 2022 to AssangeDAO
What It Is: A digital clock counting the days Julian Assange, WikiLeaks’ founder, has been in prison.
Simple Explanation: This NFT is a timer that ticks up, showing how long Julian Assange has been locked up. Pak made it to support Assange’s cause, and all the money went to a group helping him. It’s not just art it’s a message about freedom, which made people want to buy it.
How It Helps You: This shows NFTs can be about big ideas, not just pretty pictures. You could make an NFT tied to something you care about, like saving animals or helping kids, and sell it to raise money. For businesses, it’s a way to show you stand for something, which makes customers like you more.
Detailed Example: Suppose you run a bakery and love helping local schools. You create an NFT called “Sweet Futures,” a digital cupcake that changes design every time your bakery donates to a school. You sell 200 NFTs at $25 each, raising $5,000 for supplies. Buyers feel good owning it, and they visit your shop more, boosting sales while supporting a cause.
Clock Details
| Feature | Info | How It Helps You |
| Price | $52.8 million | Support causes to attract buyers |
| Purpose | Helps Assange’s defense | Show what you believe in |
| Platform | Sotheby’s | Use big names for credibility |
Why Trust This? The sale was reported by Sotheby’s and news sites covering Assange.
4. HUMAN ONE by Beeple
Credit: Beeple
Price: $28.95 million
Sold: November 2021 at Christie’s
What It Is: A mix of a real sculpture and a digital video of an astronaut that Beeple updates over time.
Simple Explanation: This NFT is cool because it’s both a physical box with a screen and a digital video inside it. The video shows an astronaut walking, and Beeple can change it whenever he wants, like adding new backgrounds. It’s like owning a living artwork that keeps growing.
How It Helps You: This NFT shows you can mix real and digital stuff to make something unique. If you’re creative, you could sell NFTs that come with real items, like a drawing plus a printed poster. For businesses, offer NFTs that evolvelike a digital coupon that upgrades to keep customers excited.
Detailed Example: Picture owning a toy store. You create an NFT “Magic Robot” that’s a digital character kids can play with online, plus a real toy robot sent to buyers. You sell 100 NFTs at $50 each, earning $5,000. The digital robot gets new moves monthly, keeping kids hooked, and they visit your store for more toys, growing your sales.
HUMAN ONE Details
| Feature | Info | How It Helps You |
| Price | $28.95 million | Mix real and digital for wow factor |
| Type | Physical + digital | Keep fans engaged with updates |
| Platform | Christie’s | Big platforms mean big trust |
Why Trust This? Christie’s verified the sale, and Beeple’s fame backs it up.
5. CryptoPunk #5822
Price: $23.7 million
Sold: February 2022 on OpenSea
What It Is: A pixelated alien character with a blue bandana, part of the CryptoPunks collection of 10,000 unique faces.
Simple Explanation: CryptoPunks are like digital cartoon heads, each different. #5822 is super rare because it’s one of only nine aliens, and it has a bandana. Someone rich bought it because it’s a status symbol, like a fancy watch, but online.
How It Helps You: This NFT proves that rare things people love can sell for a lot. You could make a small set of digital items like 50 unique stickers and sell them as NFTs. For businesses, create limited rewards, like NFT “VIP cards” for top customers, to make them feel special and spend more.
Detailed Example: Say you run a music school. You make 75 NFT “Star Student” badges, each with a unique instrument design, for $20 each, raising $1,500. Buyers get a free lesson, and the badges are rare, so students show them off online. This brings new students to your school, and you use the money for new guitars.
CryptoPunk #5822 Details
| Feature | Info | How It Helps You |
| Price | $23.7 million | Rarity makes things valuable |
| Type | Alien with bandana | Limited items create buzz |
| Platform | OpenSea | Sell where collectors go |
Why Trust This? OpenSea’s blockchain records and news reports confirm the sale.
6. The First Ever Tweet by Jack Dorsey
Price: $2.9 million
Sold: March 2021 on Valuables by Cent
What It Is: The very first tweet ever posted by Twitter founder Jack Dorsey: “just setting up my twttr.”
Simple Explanation: This is an NFT of a tweet, signed by the man who created Twitter himself. It’s a rare piece of digital history that someone rich bought as a way to own a part of the internet's past.
How It Helps You: NFTs don’t have to be art; they can be tied to moments in history. If you have an important or funny moment related to your business or brand, you could turn it into an NFT. Imagine selling an NFT of the first tweet about your shop or product!
Detailed Example: You run a bakery, and your first-ever tweet was “Freshly baked today!” You turn that tweet into an NFT and sell it for $500, turning a simple moment into something valuable. Fans love the connection to your story.
First Ever Tweet Details
| Feature | Info | How It Helps You |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.9 million | Collect moments from your journey. |
| Creator | Jack Dorsey | Famous people or firsts create hype. |
| Platform | Valuables by Cent | Use trusted platforms for big sales. |
Why Trust This? The sale was widely covered by major news sites, and Valuables by Cent is a well-known NFT platform.
7. Ringers #109 by Dmitri Cherniak
Price: $6.9 million
Sold: November 2021 on Sotheby’s
What It Is: A generative art piece that features a series of rings that form part of a larger collection of 1,000 unique pieces.
Simple Explanation: This NFT is part of the “Ringers” collection, which uses a computer to generate unique digital images of rings. The buyer paid millions because each piece is one of a kind and looks incredibly beautiful, almost like abstract jewelry.
How It Helps You: Generative art NFTs show that unique digital creations made with algorithms can be highly valuable. If you’re a creator or business, think about selling one-of-a-kind items or using a random generator to create unique, limited-edition products.
Detailed Example: Imagine you run a clothing shop. You create a collection of shirts where each design is randomly generated, making every piece a true original. You sell 100 of these shirts as NFTs and charge $100 each, making $10,000 while offering something special.
Ringers Details
| Feature | Info | How It Helps You |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $6.9 million | Generate unique, one-of-a-kind products. |
| Creator | Dmitri Cherniak | Great for algorithm-driven art. |
| Platform | Sotheby’s | Trusted art auction house. |
Why Trust This? Sotheby’s verified the sale, and generative art is a growing trend in the NFT space.
8. CryptoPunk #7804
Credit: Larva labs
Price: $7.6 million
Sold: March 2021 on Larva Labs
What It Is: A rare CryptoPunk with glasses, a pipe, and a blue background one of only nine aliens in the collection.
Simple Explanation: Like CryptoPunk #5822, this one is incredibly rare. It’s part of the famous CryptoPunks collection, and its alien features make it especially valuable. People buy it for status, just like buying an exclusive designer bag.
How It Helps You: This NFT shows that rarity is a key factor in value. If you have limited-edition digital items, they can attract buyers looking for something special. Whether it's rare designs, limited-time offers, or exclusive experiences, rarity can boost your sales.
Detailed Example: You own a digital clothing store and create only 100 unique digital t-shirts, each with different patterns. When customers buy these NFTs, they know they’re getting something that’s one of a kind, and they can resell them for a higher price later.
CryptoPunk #7804 Details
| Feature | Info | How It Helps You |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $7.6 million | Limited editions drive demand. |
| Creator | Larva Labs | Rare designs make NFTs more valuable. |
| Platform | Larva Labs | Use NFT marketplaces with reputation. |
Why Trust This? CryptoPunks are a trusted name in the NFT space, and their rarity attracts collectors worldwide.
9. Right-click and Save As Guy by Chris Torres
Price: $7.6 million
Sold: February 2022 on Foundation
What It Is: An iconic meme featuring the phrase “right-click and save as,” which mocks how easily people can steal digital art.
Simple Explanation: This meme became famous because it humorously pointed out how people can just right-click and copy digital images. Chris Torres, the creator of the meme, sold the NFT version, turning a joke into a valuable collectible.
How It Helps You: This shows that memes and viral content can be monetized into NFTs. You don’t have to create high-end art; you can turn funny or relatable moments into digital items for fans. For businesses, leveraging popular memes could help you sell NFTs or digital goods related to your brand.
Detailed Example: You run a digital marketing agency and create a viral meme about your services, turning it into an NFT that you sell for $100 to your followers. People love the humor and buy it as a fun collectible, increasing your brand's visibility.
right-click and save as Details
| Feature | Info | How It Helps You |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $7.6 million | Viral content can become valuable. |
| Creator | Chris Torres | Memes can make money too! |
| Platform | Foundation | Sell on platforms known for creativity. |
Why Trust This? The NFT was bought by a large meme fanbase, and Foundation is known for supporting artists.
10. Bored Ape Yacht Club #2087
Credit: Opensea
Price: $3.4 million
Sold: September 2021 on OpenSea
What It Is: A digital art piece featuring a bored ape with sunglasses, part of the famous Bored Ape Yacht Club collection.
Simple Explanation: Bored Ape Yacht Club is a collection of 10,000 unique hand-drawn apes, each with its own traits. #2087 is one of the rarer ones, making it worth millions. Buying it not only gives you a unique image but also membership to an exclusive digital club with perks.
How It Helps You: This NFT shows that community and perks can drive value. You could create an NFT membership for your business, where people who own the NFT get special access or discounts. Think about using NFTs as part of a loyalty program.
Detailed Example: You run an exclusive fitness club. You create an NFT membership that gives holders access to private workouts and special events. By selling 50 NFTs for $200 each, you raise $10,000, giving your most loyal clients something extra while boosting revenue.
Bored Ape Yacht Club Details
| Feature | Info | How It Helps You |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3.4 million | NFTs with perks create loyal followers. |
| Creator | Bored Ape Yacht Club | Exclusive access boosts value. |
| Platform | OpenSea | Popular marketplace for NFTs. |
Why Trust This? OpenSea is a leading marketplace, and Bored Ape Yacht Club has become a cultural phenomenon.
More Top NFTs to Know
Here are other expensive NFTs that stand out, with quick tips on how they help you:
- CryptoPunk #7523: $11.75 million (June 2021, Sotheby’s)
- What: Another alien Punk with a medical mask, rare because of the mask added during COVID.
- Help: Make NFTs tied to current events, like a digital “Stay Safe” badge for your shop, to catch attention.
- Example: A gym sells 100 NFT “Fit Now” masks for $15, raising $1,500. Buyers get workout tips, spreading your brand.
- TPunk #3442: $10.5 million (2021, Tron blockchain)
- What: A joker-like character, like CryptoPunks but on a different system.
- Help: Try new platforms to sell your ideas, like a local art site, to find new fans.
- Example: A café sells 200 NFT “Coffee Jokers” on a small site for $10, earning $2,000 for new chairs.
- CryptoPunk #4156: $10.26 million (2021, OpenSea)
- What: An ape Punk with a bandana, one of 24 apes.
- Help: Use popular trends, like animals, to make NFTs people want.
- Example: A pet store sells 50 NFT “Cool Cats” for $30, raising $1,500 for supplies.
What Makes These NFTs So Pricey?
NFTs cost a lot because:
- They’re Rare: Like a single shiny Pokémon card, only one exists.
- People Love Them: Famous artists like Beeple or cool designs like Punks get fans excited.
- Big Names Back Them: Sales at Christie’s or Sotheby’s make buyers trust they’re worth it.
- They’re Special: Things like changing art (The Merge) or causes (Clock) feel unique.
How It Helps You: Make your products rare or tie them to something people care about. A bookstore could sell 10 NFT “First Edition” covers for a local author’s book, making buyers feel exclusive and raising money for events.
How to Use These NFT Stats?
Here’s a simple plan to learn from these NFTs:
- Start Tiny: Make one NFT, like a $5 digital logo, to see if people like it.
- Keep It Rare: Sell only a few, like 50 copies, to make them special.
- Tell a Story: Share why your NFT matters, like your shop’s history.
- Use Big Sites: Try OpenSea or Rarible to reach buyers safely.
- Add Perks: Give NFT buyers extras, like a free coffee or lesson.
- Stay Safe: Don’t spend too much NFTs can lose value quick.
Detailed Example: You own a bike shop. You create 100 NFT “Speed Stars,” digital bike designs, for $15 each, raising $1,500. Buyers get a free tune-up, and only 100 exist, so they’re rare. Fans share them online, bringing new riders to your shop. You use the money for new tools, and your business grows with happy customers.
Why These NFTs Inspire You?
These NFTs like The Merge ($91.8 million) or CryptoPunk #5822 ($23.7 million) show what happens when you mix rarity, creativity, and excitement. They help you:
- Stand Out: Make unique digital items, like a special app sticker for your café.
- Grow Fans: NFTs reward loyal customers, keeping them close.
- Earn More: Small NFT sales can pay for new ideas, like a website.
- Learn Fast: Try NFTs cheaply to find what clicks with your crowd.
In 2025, NFTs are about smart ideas, not just big bucks. A bakery selling 200 NFT “Cookie Coins” for $5 each could raise $1,000 for ovens while making customers smile with free cookies. Start small, use these examples, and you’ll find your own way to shine.
Summary Table: Top 5 Most Expensive NFTs
| Rank | NFT Name | Artist/Creator | Price | Year Sold | How It Helps You |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Merge | Pak | $91.8 million | 2021 | Group projects bring big buzz |
| 2 | Everydays: The First 5000 Days | Beeple | $69.3 million | 2021 | Hard work makes valuable art |
| 3 | Clock | Pak & Assange | $52.8 million | 2022 | Support causes to connect with fans |
| 4 | HUMAN ONE | Beeple | $28.95 million | 2021 | Mix real and digital for excitement |
| 5 | CryptoPunk #5822 | Larva Labs | $23.7 million | 2022 | Rare items drive big sales |
| 6 | The First Ever Tweet | Jack Dorsey | $2.9 million | 2021 | Collect moments from your journey |
| 7 | Ringers #109 | Dmitri Cherniak | $6.9 million | 2021 | Generate unique, one-of-a-kind products |
| 8 | CryptoPunk #7804 | Larva Labs | $7.6 million | 2021 | Limited editions drive demand |
| 9 | Right-click and Save As Guy | Chris Torres | $7.6 million | 2022 | Viral content can become valuable |
| 10 | Bored Ape Yacht Club #2087 | Bored Ape Yacht Club | $3.4 million | 2021 | NFTs with perks create loyal followers |
Why Trust This? These prices come from trusted places like Christie’s, Sotheby’s, and OpenSea, as reported widely.
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Final Thoughts
The most expensive NFTs, ranging from The Merge at $91.8 million to CryptoPunk #5822 at $23.7 million, demonstrate how digital items can be extremely valuable when they are rare and highly sought after.
In 2025, NFTs are calmer but still full of possibilities. You don’t need millions to start making a small NFT, like a digital ticket or badge, to excite your customers or fans.
The tables prove these sales happened, and the ideas can work for anyone, from a taco stand to an artist. Try something simple, sell on a trusted site like OpenSea, and watch your ideas grow one happy buyer at a time!
