You know, I've been following the history of NFTs for a long time, and what really strikes me is that the prices for these digital assets are just astronomical. Take, for example, Merge by Pak, sold in December 2021 for $91.8 million. This is the most expensive NFT ever created, but here’s the catch — it was purchased not by a single collector, but by nearly 29,000 people together. Each took a piece, and together they created this record-breaking value.

Interestingly, Pak devised a completely different sales model. Instead of one owner, people bought "masses" that combined into a larger work. In the end, 312,686 units sold for $575 each. It was a breakthrough in how digital art can be sold.

But Pak isn’t alone in this race. Beeple also created his masterpiece — Everydays: The First 5000 Days. Imagine, he drew one piece every day for 5000 days in a row! In March 2021, this marvel was sold at Christie's auction for $69 million. The starting price was just $100, but once they found out it was Beeple, bids skyrocketed.

And then there’s Clock — which is a political statement. Pak created it together with Julian Assange. The NFT contains a timer that counts the days of Assange’s imprisonment and updates daily. In February 2022, AssangeDAO — an organization of Assange supporters — paid $52.7 million for this piece. The proceeds went toward his legal defense.

When it comes to the most expensive NFT in terms of unique design, CryptoPunks are legendary. CryptoPunk #5822, например, это один из девяти Alien Punk. Его купили за 23 миллиона. А есть ещё #7523 is the only alien punk wearing a medical mask. Sotheby’s sold it in 2021 for $11.75 million.

Beeple just can’t stop. Human One is a kinetic sculpture over 7 feet tall that displays different videos depending on the time of day. Christie's sold it for $29 million in November 2021. And here’s the cool part — Beeple can remotely update the piece, turning it into living art.

So if you thought the most expensive NFT was just a picture on a screen, you were wrong. Behind these works are years of creativity, innovative ideas, and real significance. Axie Infinity and Bored Ape Yacht Club also made big money — the first raised $4.27 billion, the second $3.16 billion in trading volume.

I believe we are only at the beginning of this story. The NFT market is evolving, artists are experimenting, collectors are searching for the next hit. And although 95% of NFTs are practically worthless, those projects with real value and history remain in memory forever. That’s the future of digital art.