#5 Azuki
Source: AzukiReleased: January 12, 2022Blockchain: EthereumQuantity: 10,000Mint Price: 1 ETH
Developed and run by Chiru Labs, Azuki is well known for its lively community and anime-inspired artwork. Created by four anonymous founders, led by ZZZZagabond, the project blurs the lines between the physical and digital worlds.
Since minting on January 12, 2022, Azuki has collaborated with numerous brands and artists, such as Line Friends, a popular media property, to blend their characters with Azuki’s Beanz NFT collection. Azuki also teamed up with Korean hip-hop trio Epik High for a visual art collaboration at Coachella 2022, integrating Azuki NFTs into their stage visuals.
In July 2023, Azuki also hosted a major online event called “Follow The Rabbit,” featuring live performances from artists such as Lil Jon and Nelly and interactive art exhibits. It marked the release of the Azuki Elementals collection, which introduced 20,000 new NFTs across four elemental domains.
Azuki has been actively expanding its influence into the anime and comic sectors. One major project is an anime adaptation titled “Enter The Garden,” produced in collaboration with Dentsu, Qzil.la, and IMAGICA Infos.
Azuki is currently working towards integrating real-life NFTs, such as streetwear and collectibles, and expanding into the metaverse with projects like Bobu Fractionalization.
Current Floor Price: 3.89 ETH
Trading Volume (30d): 2067 ETH
#4 Milady
Source: MiladyReleased: August 15, 2022Blockchain: EthereumQuantity: 10,000Mint Price: 0.05 ETH
Founded by Charlotte Fang and managed by Remilia Collective, Milady Maker gained widespread acclaim for its eclectic, retro-aesthetic avatars reminiscent of early internet culture.
Released on August 15, 2022, the collection quickly became a hot topic gaining praise from NFT enthusiasts and collectors for its unique and nostalgic style.
The Milady NFTs, designed by “Milady Sonora”, feature anime-girl-style avatars with a neo-chibi aesthetic inspired by Tokyo’s modern pop culture.
In October 2022, Milady Maker hosted its first major digital art exhibition, followed by a music festival in December 2022, events which played a crucial role in boosting holder loyalty.
Milady Maker’s floor price spiked significantly in March 2023, driven by new strategic approaches taken by the team. Notably, Milady Maker collaborated with EtherRock to create an exclusive collection of 1,200 PFP NFTs, alongside releasing new interactive experiences, such as wearable NFT customization and expansions into new metaverse platforms.
In June 2023, the team revealed plans to integrate Milady PFPs into broader virtual environments, including access to a highly customized Minecraft server, and expanding gaming experiences for NFT holders.
Current Floor Price: 5.49 ETH
Trading Volume (30d): 3756 ETH
#3 Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC)
Source: BAYCReleased: April 23, 2021Blockchain: EthereumQuantity: 10,000Mint Price: 0.08 ETH
Founded and managed by Yuga Labs, Bored Ape Yacht Club is an NFT industry staple known for its strong community and high-profile celebrity endorsements.
Minted on April 23, 2021, BAYC NFTs quickly became a symbol of status and exclusivity. BAYC has seen continuous growth, with numerous spin-offs, including the Mutant Ape Yacht Club (MAYC) launched in August 2021 and the Bored Ape Kennel Club (BAKC) launched in June 2021.
Major events, such as their annual “Ape Fest,” which debuted during New York NFT Week in November 2021, and collaborations with high-profile brands such as Gucci and Adidas, have helped to cement BAYC’s prized status.
The success of BAYC provided Yuga Labs with the resources necessary to acquire CryptoPunks from Larva Labs in March 2022, consolidating two of the most iconic NFT collections under one umbrella.
BAYC is now expanding into the metaverse with the development of “The Otherside,” an immersive virtual world designed to provide a range of experiences for NFT holders.
Current Floor Price: 9.30 ETH
Trading Volume (30d): 5571 ETH
#2 Pudgy Penguins
Source: Pudgy PenguinsReleased: July 22, 2021Blockchain: EthereumQuantity: 8,888Mint Price: 0.03 ETH
Created by Clayton Patterson, Pudgy Penguins debuted on July 22, 2021, with adorable, cartoonish penguin avatars.
Following a potential rug pull by co-founder ColeThereum, Luca Neta acquired Pudgy Penguins in April 2022 for 750 ETH (approximately $2.5 million USD) – and has seen tremendous growth since then.
The Pudgy Penguins project focuses on family-friendly content. They have a toy distribution deal with Walmart, where the Pudgy Toys line is available in over 3,100 Walmart locations across the U.S. This line includes plush toys, action figures, and mystery collectibles, each with a QR code that unlocks digital traits and collectibles in the Pudgy World online game
The project has also built a huge following on social media, with over 1 million followers on Instagram and significant engagement on TikTok, helping drive the brand’s visibility and popularity.
Pudgy Penguins’ efforts to break into mainstream appeal include launching an IP licensing platform, OverpassIP. This platform allows NFT holders to submit their penguins for potential inclusion in toy lines and other merchandise and pays royalty payments to the owners.
The team is currently exploring gaming and interactive experiences for holders, such as Pudgy World, an online platform where users can customize their penguins, participate in story-driven missions, and explore various quests.
Current Floor Price: 10.63 ETH
Trading Volume (30d): 6485 ETH
#1 CryptoPunks
Source: CryptopunksReleased: June 23, 2017Blockchain: EthereumQuantity: 10,000Mint Price: Free (+ gas fees)
Created by Larva Labs – and managed by Yuga Labs as of March 2022 – CryptoPunks pioneered the concept of digital collectibles.
Launched in June 2017, CryptoPunks consists of 10,000 unique pixel-art characters, including humans, zombies, apes, and aliens.
Created by Matt Hall and John Watkinson, the CryptoPunks project was initially inspired by the London punk movement, the cyberpunk genre, and the early days of blockchain technology.
CryptoPunks have since become cultural icons, featured in art galleries and exhibitions worldwide. The collection has seen numerous high-profile sales, with the highest recorded in February 2022, when an Alien Punk sold for 8,000 ETH (approximately $23 million USD).
The acquisition by Yuga Labs in March 2022 brought new initiatives to the project, including integrations into Otherside, a metaverse platform powered by ApeCoin, and the Punks Legacy Project – seeing CryptoPunks be donated to contemporary art museums worldwide, such as ICA Miami and the Centre Pompidou.
Current Floor Price: 25.09 ETH
Trading Volume (30d): 3037 ETH
Although the NFT market is a far cry from its heights in 2021, these blue-chip NFT collections are still highly-desirable, highly-coveted and highly-valued.
As the NFT market continues to grow, these high-profile blue-chip PFP NFT collections, each with its own appeal and devoted following – will continue to set the standards for ingenuity, innovation, and cultural impact.
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*All investment/financial opinions expressed by NFT Plazas are from the personal research and experience of our site moderators and are intended as educational material only. Individuals are required to fully research any product prior to making any kind of investment.
Riding crypto waves since 2012, bridging digital and physical worlds through prose.
