15 Most Expensive NFTs Ever Sold [2026 Updated List]

Key takeaways

• The record-breaking sales of 2021, like Pak ($91.8M) and Beeple ($69.3M), still hold the top spots, proving that early digital "masterpieces" have long-term staying power.

• New blockchains like TON and Solana are creating alternative markets, though Ethereum still holds 85% of high-value NFT volume

• The market has shifted from speculation to utility, with 2026 valuations focusing on provenance, cultural significance, and cross-platform functionality

The NFT market moves quickly, and the leaderboard of record-breaking sales changes often. The most expensive NFT ever fetched a staggering 91.8 million US dollars in late 2021. The rest of this list is in the millions, setting records. The intense enthusiasm of 2021 has given way to a more measured market reality in 2026, yet the stature of "Blue Chip" assets is still paramount. Below is a detailed look at the 15 most expensive NFT sales recorded so far.

Which are the most expensive NFTs sold?

A look at the list of the most expensive NFTs ever sold across different marketplaces and platforms.

Top 15 most expensive NFTs ever sold

A list of the highest-priced Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) sold to date.

1. The Merge – Pak ($91.8M): The Mass Unit Mechanic Explained

Artist: Pak
Sale Date: December 2021
Platform: Nifty Gateway
Total Units Sold: 266,445 mass units

The Merge is a collective artwork where buyers purchased "mass units" that merged into larger, unique tokens. Each unit costs $575 initially, with prices rising every six hours.

Total sales reached $91.8 million, making it the highest-grossing NFT project in history. The experiment challenged traditional notions of singular ownership and proved that decentralized art could function as both individual and collective property.

Key Details:

• Scarcity Logic: Dynamic supply based on buyer participation, with merging creating programmatic uniqueness.

• Cultural Impact: Redefined NFT sales models and inspired future fractionalized art experiments.

• Market Position: Unchallenged as the #1 sale for over four years, with no project approaching its total value.

Read next: How to calculate crypto tax in U.S.

2. Everydays: The First 5000 Days – Beeple ($69.3M): The Christie's Auction That Mainstreamed Digital Art

Artist: Beeple (Mike Winkelmann)
Sale Date: March 11, 2021
Platform: Christie's Auction House

This sale changed everything. When Christie's, a 255-year-old institution, auctioned a purely digital artwork as an NFT, legacy art collectors finally took notice. Beeple's 13-year daily art project became a cultural moment, landing him in the ranks of the three most valuable living artists alongside Jeff Koons and David Hockney.

Key Details:

• Original Medium: 5,000 daily digital artworks compiled into a single 21,069 x 21,069 pixel collage

• Valuation Benchmark: Established the "career retrospective" model for NFT pricing, where the body of work matters as much as individual pieces.

• Liquidity Profile: Illiquid asset with fewer than 10 potential global buyers at this price tier, making resale challenging.

3. Clock – Pak & Julian Assange ($52.7M): A Political Statement Funded by AssangeDAO

Artists: Pak & Julian Assange
Sale Date: February 2022

Clock displays a single number: the days Julian Assange has been imprisoned. The NFT updates daily, making it a living protest artwork. AssangeDAO raised $52.7 million in ETH from over 10,000 contributors specifically to purchase this piece, with proceeds supporting Assange's legal defense.

Key Details:

• Mechanism: Crowdfunded through a decentralized autonomous organization

• Political Premium: Activism-driven purchase created value beyond aesthetics or rarity.

• Dynamic Element: The counting mechanism makes it one of the few NFTs that changes programmatically with real-world events.

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4. HUMAN ONE – Beeple ($28.9M): The First Dynamic, Physical-Digital Hybrid Sculpture

Artist: Beeple
Sale Date: November 2021

HUMAN ONE merged physical craftsmanship with programmable digital art. The sculpture displays a continuously evolving astronaut figure, with Beeple retaining rights to update the artwork remotely throughout his lifetime. Buyers own both the physical object and its changing digital layer.

Key Details:

• Hybrid Innovation: First major NFT to successfully integrate museum-quality physical construction with blockchain verification.

• Installation Value: Requires 16 square feet of display space and dedicated power, making it a true "statement piece" for institutions or ultra-high-net-worth collectors.

5. CryptoPunk #5822 – Larva Labs ($23.7M): The Highest-Selling Individual CryptoPunk in History

Collection: CryptoPunk (Larva Labs)
Sale Date: February 2022
Price: 8,000 ETH
USD Value at Sale: $23.7M
Rarity Type: Alien (1 of 9)

CryptoPunk #5822 holds the all-time CryptoPunk sales record. As one of only nine Alien punks in the 10,000-piece collection, it represents the absolute pinnacle of pixel art NFT rarity. The sale came during the February 2022 peak when Yuga Labs acquired the CryptoPunks IP from Larva Labs.

Key Details:

• Scarcity Logic: Aliens comprise 0.09% of the total supply, with only 9 ever minted.

• Valuation Spread: Sold at 15,600% premium over the 2022 collection floor (0.51 ETH).

• Liquidity Profile: Extreme liquidity trap with fewer than 25 active global bidders at $20M+ tier.

6. CryptoPunk #7804 – Larva Labs ($16.4M): The 2024 Alien with Pipe Sale 

Collection: CryptoPunk (Larva Labs)
Initial Sale (2021): 4,200 ETH ($7.57M)
Resale (2024): 4,850 ETH ($16.4M)
Rarity Type: Alien with Pipe and Cap

The September 2024 resale of CryptoPunk #7804 marked a turning point. After two years of declining NFT prices, this Alien punk sold for $16.4 million, signaling renewed institutional interest in blue-chip NFTs. The pipe and cap accessories make it one of the most aesthetically distinctive Aliens.

Key Details:

• Scarcity Logic: 1 of 9 Aliens, 1 of 317 with Pipe (3.17%), 1 of 254 with Cap (2.54%).

• Yield: +116% USD gain over three years, outperforming most crypto assets during the same period.

• Provenance Boost: Dylan Field's ownership added "celebrity provenance" that persisted through resale.

7. CryptoPunk #3100 – Larva Labs ($16.0M): A Flip from an Anonymous Whale

Collection: CryptoPunk (Larva Labs)
Initial Sale (2021): 4,200 ETH ($7.67M)
Resale (2024): 4,500 ETH ($16.0M)
Rarity Type: Alien with Headband

CryptoPunk #3100 changed hands in November 2024 for $16 million, just two months after #7804's sale. The buyer remains anonymous despite on-chain transparency, though wallet analysis suggests a connection to a Singapore-based crypto fund. The headband makes it visually iconic within the Alien subset.

Key Details:

• Scarcity Logic: 1 of 9 Aliens, 1 of 406 with Headband (4.06%).

• Yield: +108% USD gain, with ETH appreciation accounting for roughly 40% of the return.

• Attribute Rarity: Single-attribute Aliens command premiums over multi-attribute versions in current market psychology.

• Liquidity Profile: High-risk asset with estimated 30-40 qualified buyers globally.

8. CryptoPunk #1563 – Larva Labs ($12.09M): The 2025 Flash Loan Sale

Collection: CryptoPunk (Larva Labs)
Sale Date: January 2025
Price: 3,200 ETH ($12.09M)
Rarity Type: Ape with Gold Chain

This January 2025 sale sparked debate about NFT market manipulation. The buyer used a complex DeFi strategy involving flash loans and leveraged ETH positions to acquire the CryptoPunk #1563, raising questions about whether such transactions represent "real" demand. Despite controversy, the sale settled on-chain and stands as legitimate.

Key Details:

• Controversy: Financed partially through DeFi flash loans

• Scarcity Logic: 1 of 24 Apes (0.24%), 1 of 169 with Gold Chain (1.69%).

• Financial Engineering: First documented use of flash loans in a $10M+ NFT purchase.

• Market Reaction: Mixed, with some celebrating DeFi innovation and others criticizing artificial price inflation.
  
  

9. CryptoPunk #7523 – Larva Labs ($11.75M): The Covid Alien

Collection: CryptoPunk (Larva Labs)
Sale Date: June 2021
Price: 4,700 ETH ($11.75M at time of sale)
Platform: Sotheby's "Natively Digital" Auction
Rarity Type: Alien with Medical Mask

CryptoPunk #7523 gained cultural relevance during the COVID-19 pandemic due to its medical mask attribute. Sotheby's capitalized on this timing in their June 2021 auction, marketing it as a "historical artifact" of the pandemic era. The medical mask was originally just one of 175 mask attributes, but context transformed its meaning.

Key Details:

• Scarcity Logic: 1 of 9 Aliens, 1 of 175 with Medical Mask (1.75%).

• Cultural Premium: Pandemic association added estimated 40-60% value premium over comparable Aliens.

• Auction House Validation: Sotheby's involvement brought traditional art collectors into the NFT space.

• Historical Positioning: Now viewed as a time capsule of 2020-2021 rather than just a rare collectible.

10. TPunk #3442 – Justin Sun ($10.5M): The Most Expensive NFT on the Tron Blockchain

Collection: TPunk (Tron Punks)
Sale Date: August 2021
Design: Modeled after "The Joker"

Justin Sun purchased TPunk #3442 for $10.5 million in what many viewed as a promotional stunt for the Tron blockchain. The collection was a direct homage to CryptoPunks, launching on Tron instead of Ethereum. While criticized as derivative, the sale demonstrated that high-value NFT markets could exist beyond Ethereum.

Key Details:

• Cross-Chain Positioning: Highest sale on Tron, but TPunks have minimal secondary market activity.

• Self-Dealing Questions: Justin Sun both founded Tron and bought the NFT, raising conflicts of interest.

• Marketing Value: The purchase generated significant press for Tron's NFT ecosystem.

• Liquidity Reality: Effectively illiquid with no comparable sales before or since.

11. CryptoPunk #4156 – Larva Labs ($10.26M): An Ape That Became a Symbol of NFT IP Rights

Collection: CryptoPunk (Larva Labs)
Sale Date: December 2021
Price: 2,500 ETH ($10.26M)
Rarity Type: Ape with Blue Bandana

CryptoPunk #4156 carries significance beyond its rarity. The previous owner, known as Punk4156, publicly criticized Larva Labs' restrictive IP terms, eventually selling the punk and switching to Bored Ape Yacht Club. The sale symbolized growing tension over NFT ownership rights that ultimately led to Yuga Labs' acquisition of CryptoPunks and the release of full IP rights to holders.

Key Details:

• Scarcity Logic: 1 of 24 Apes (0.24%), 1 of 481 with Blue Bandana (4.81%).

• IP Movement Impact: Catalyzed the push for CC0 and full commercial rights in NFT projects.

12. CryptoPunk #5577 – Larva Labs ($7.7M): An Ape with Cowboy Hat 

Collection: CryptoPunk (Larva Labs)
Sale Date: February 2022
Price: 2,501 ETH ($7.7M)
Rarity Type: Ape with Cowboy Hat

This Ape punk with a cowboy hat sold during February 2022's market peak. The buyer hasn't resold, and at current valuations, the punk would likely fetch 30-40% less. It represents the timing risks of buying at market tops, even for rare assets.

Key Details:

• Scarcity Logic: 1 of 24 Apes, 1 of 142 with Cowboy Hat (1.42%).

• Current Status: Down approximately 35% in ETH terms from purchase price.

13. CryptoPunk #3100 (Historical 2021 Sale) – $7.67M

Collection: CryptoPunk (Larva Labs)
Sale Date: March 2021
Price: 4,200 ETH ($7.67M)

Before its 2024 resale at $16 million, CryptoPunk #3100 made history in March 2021 as one of the first NFTs to cross $7 million. This original sale helped establish the premium pricing tier for ultra-rare NFTs.

Key Details:

• Historical Significance: Part of the March 2021 wave that brought NFTs into mainstream finance.

• Early Validator: Proved multi-million dollar NFT markets were sustainable beyond one-off hype.

• Holder Confidence: The three-year hold before resale demonstrated conviction in long-term value.

14. CryptoPunk #7804 (Historical 2021 Sale) – $7.56M

Collection: CryptoPunk (Larva Labs)
Sale Date: March 2021
Price: 4,200 ETH ($7.56M)

Dylan Field's March 2021 acquisition of CryptoPunk #7804 brought credibility from the tech and design communities, encouraging other founders to explore the space. Field was held for three years before selling at a profit in 2024.

Key Details:

• Celebrity Buyer Premium: Field's ownership increased punk's cultural cachet.

• Tech Industry Validation: One of the first major CEO purchases of an NFT.

• Strategic Hold: Field held for three years before selling at profit in 2024.

15. Right-Click and Save As Guy – XCOPY ($7.0M): Glitch Art Purchased by Snoop Dogg

Artist: XCOPY
Sale Date: December 2021
Price: 1,600 ETH ($7.0M)

XCOPY's piece became a meta-commentary on NFT skepticism. The title mocked critics who claimed you could just "right-click and save" NFTs. Snoop Dogg's purchase under his Cozomo de' Medici pseudonym added celebrity firepower and brought hip-hop culture into NFT collecting.

Key Details:

• Artist Premium: XCOPY is considered the "Banksy of NFTs," commanding consistent high prices.

• Cultural Relevance: The title directly addressed the most common NFT criticism.

• Celebrity Effect: Snoop's involvement brought hip-hop culture into NFT collecting.

• Animation Value: Motion graphics command premiums over static images in the XCOPY market.

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Which are the most expensive NFTs sold recently in 2025 and 2026?

The NFT market has evolved since its 2021 peak, with interesting activity emerging across new platforms and use cases in late 2025 and early 2026.

Snoop Dogg & The Telegram Gift Explosion

Telegram's integration of NFT "Gifts" created a surprising new market in late 2025. Snoop Dogg partnered with Telegram to launch a limited 100-piece collection in December 2025, with the rarest "Golden Microphone" gift selling for $420,000 in January 2026. 

The top 2026 Telegram gift sale sits at $850,000 for a "Platinum Premium Star" that grants lifetime Telegram Premium.

The TON Blockchain Surge

TON emerged as a legitimate NFT hub in 2025, driven by its integration with Telegram's 900 million users. In November 2025, the Telegram username "@meta" sold for $1.8 million in TON tokens. 

AI-Generative Art Peaks

AI-generated NFT art had a resurgence in 2025 after years of skepticism. "Synthetic Dreams #47" by Claire Silver sold for $1.2 million in October 2025. Refik Anadol's "Living Architecture" series brought in $3.8 million across 50 pieces in September 2025. 

Artists like Refik Anadol are now selling pieces that use "Live Data." These are AI paintings that change based on the weather or stock market. Private sales in 2026 for these pieces have reached the $5M+ range

Who are the biggest NFT artists?

The NFT art world has developed a clear hierarchy of creators who consistently command premium prices.

• The Titans: Beeple, Pak, and XCOPY.

• Generative Masters: Refik Anadol and Dmitri Cherniak.

• The Innovators: Hackatao, Mad Dog Jones, and FVCKRENDER.

Who are the top emerging NFT artists in 2026

Here are the artists who are gaining traction and setting new trends in 2026.

• Vera Molnár's Digital Estate released algorithmic works honoring her 1960s computer art legacy ($50,000-$680,000). 

• Luna Ikuta builds interactive NFTs on Solana (up to $120,000). 

• The Glitch Collective creates decentralized art on TON ($20,000-$95,000). 

• Karan Soni produces "Living Mandalas" that evolve based on blockchain activity ($30,000-$110,000).

But why are NFTs so expensive in 2026?

The driving force behind NFT prices in 2026 is now selectivity, rather than volume.

The speculative layer that once inflated thousands of projects has mostly disappeared. What remains is a thinner market with clearer value anchors: provenance, historical relevance, creator credibility, and settlement finality.

High prices persist because supply at the top is extremely limited. There will never be more CryptoPunks, Autoglyphs, or early Beeples. Meanwhile, the buyer base, though smaller, is more sophisticated.

NFTs today resemble early internet domain names or first-edition prints. Liquidity is lower, but conviction is higher. That combination supports high prices without requiring hype cycles to restart. In 2026, the market rewards genuine cultural artifacts, artistic merit, historical significance, and utility. However, trading and investing in NFTs attract taxes. You can calculate your profits and losses using a crypto profit calculator.

What are the NFT use cases in 2026?

• Metaverse & Identity: Your PFP is your verified digital passport.

• Gaming: True ownership of skins in "Play-to-Own" economies.

• Music: Direct fan-to-artist royalties via smart contracts.

• Real World Assets (RWA): You can now buy an NFT that represents ownership of a physical Rolex or a bottle of rare wine. 

• Real Estate: Fractional property ownership with instant deed transfers.

What's the best Blockchain for an NFT collection?

Ethereum: remains the default for high-value NFTs with the deepest liquidity and strongest collector base. Layer 2 solutions like Base and Arbitrum have reduced gas fees. 

Solana: provides fast transactions and extremely low fees, attracting gaming projects and high-volume collections. 

TON: integrates directly with Telegram's 900 million users, making it ideal for social NFTs and mainstream audiences.

Polygon: offers Ethereum compatibility with minimal fees for loyalty programs and customer rewards. 

Base: (Coinbase's Layer 2) brings simple onboarding through Coinbase's massive user base. For most creators, Ethereum via Layer 2 or Solana makes the most sense. Ethereum for serious collectors, Solana for high volume and low costs, TON for social features and mainstream adoption.

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Where can you buy NFTs?

The biggest platforms in 2026 are OpenSea for art. It remains the largest NFT marketplace by volume, supporting multiple chains with the widest selection. 

Magic Eden for gaming started on Solana but now supports multiple chains. and the TON Marketplace for Telegram social assets.

Where is the NFT market now?

The NFT market in early 2026 is down about 75% in volume from its 2021-2022 peak, but remaining collectors show stronger conviction, and blue-chip collections retain significant value. The key shift is the focus on utility. New demographics, like traditional art collectors via auction houses, are entering. 

Ultra-premium assets hold value, while the floor for many older projects has collapsed. Growth is primarily driven by social NFTs on TON and Solana. 

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Frequently asked questions

What's the highest selling NFT of 2026?

As of January 2026, the highest sale is CryptoPunk #1563 at $12.09 million. The sale used flash loan financing and remains the year's top verified transaction.

What is the most expensive NFT of all time?

The Merge by Pak holds the all-time record at $91.8 million. Nearly 30,000 collectors purchased mass units in December 2021.

What's the most famous NFT?

Beeple's Everydays: The First 5000 Days is the most culturally significant NFT. The $69.3 million Christie's sale brought NFTs into mainstream consciousness.

What are the biggest NFT collections?

CryptoPunks, Bored Ape Yacht Club, and Art Blocks dominate by cultural influence and market cap. CryptoPunks remain the most valuable with multiple sales exceeding $10 million.

Who bought the 69 million NFT?

Vignesh Sundaresan, known as MetaKovan, purchased Beeple's "Everydays" for $69.3 million. He's a crypto entrepreneur and the founder of Metapurse.

Are any NFTs still valuable in 2026?

Yes. Blue-chip collections maintain significant value. CryptoPunks Aliens still trade for $10M+, quality Art Blocks pieces fetch six figures, and work by Beeple, Pak, and XCOPY commands premium prices.