Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have emerged as the poster child for digital ownership. However, following Q3 2023, the narrative surrounding NFT sales took a bitter twist. According to a meticulous analysis by Binance Research, the period saw the market plunging into its lowest ebb in about three years. Sales figures stopped at a mere $299 million.
The Ether Effect and NFT Floor Price Struggles
The gloom encasing the NFT market in Q3 2023 was largely fanned by the dwindling Ether (ETH) price. In addition, there are the tumbling floor prices across numerous collections. September was the black sheep, marking the lowest point in NFT sales since January 2021.
Notable collections like Azuki, Bored Ape Yacht Club, and Mutant Ape Yacht Club saw floor prices crumble by over 25% on a quarter-to-quarter basis. The gaming and metaverse-focused NFT collections bore the brunt of the storm, with their values plummeting by a shocking 40%.
The average sales price of NFTs in September nosedived to $38.17, a stark contrast from the golden days of August 2021 when the figure soared at $791.84. Concurrently, the daily unique NFT buyer count retracted by 14%, dwindling to approximately 53,000. Market analysts have pinned this nosedive on a hostile market terrain coupled with a liquidity crunch.
Silver Linings: Ethereum and Immutable
Despite the gloomy clouds, not all was lost. The Ethereum blockchain and the layer-2 scaling solution, Immutable, witnessed their market shares swelling. Ethereum enjoyed a 6% upswing, while Immutable basked in a 4% growth. Immutable, a haven for popular blockchain games like Gods Unchained, even managed to top the sales count chart in Q3.
Interestingly, the gaming NFT sector bucked the trend. It showcases a surge in popularity. The top five collections, led by Gods Unchained, Axie Infinity, NBA Top Shot, NFL All Day, and Mythical Beings, brought a spark of hope to an otherwise dreary landscape.
A Broader Crypto Conundrum
Zooming out to a broader lens, the entire cryptocurrency market capitalization contracted by 8.6% in Q3. The fundraising scene within the crypto realm mirrored this downtrend, recording the slimmest figures since Q4 2020. The fundraising rounds and the amassed funds shrank by 24.9% and 21.4%, respectively.
Overall, the Q3 2023 narrative surrounding NFTs is a stark reminder of the volatile winds that blow across the digital asset landscape. While the Ethereum and Immutable platforms managed to snatch some growth, the broader picture reflects a market in dire need of a resurgence.
@cryptomodedotcom Are Yuga labs making games now? #cryptoann #cryptomode #nft #boredapeyachtclub #metaverse ♬ Hacker Battle ｜ House ｜ EDM(1213595) – Yosuke Hashimoto
