NFT Momentum Builds: Whale Snaps Up CryptoPunks Worth $4.3M During Market Rally

NFT Market Rebounds as CryptoPunks Buyer Drops $2.9M on Hoodie Traits

The non-fungible token (NFT) market has seen a sharp recovery, with total capitalization surging 66% over the past 30 days to reach $6 billion, according to CoinGecko. A significant portion of that momentum comes from renewed interest in blue-chip collections, particularly CryptoPunks.

A single buyer recently spent more than $2.9 million acquiring six rare hoodie-trait CryptoPunks in a rapid sweep on OpenSea. The high-profile move brings their total holdings to 12 punks and underscores a return of conviction among high-net-worth collectors.

CryptoPunks’ floor price has climbed nearly 29% over the past month to approximately 51 ETH (about $190,000), outpacing much of the broader market. Other notable collections, including Pudgy Penguins and Bored Ape Yacht Club, also posted gains of 66.7% and 9.8%, respectively.

The recent rally has pushed CryptoPunks’ market share above 30% of the total NFT sector, further cementing its status as a bellwether collection.

Despite the uptick, the NFT market remains below its 2021–2022 peak of $16.6 billion in capitalization. Structural shifts have followed, with platforms like X2Y2 shutting down and others pivoting away from NFT trading entirely.

Still, surging demand for iconic assets and a jump in high-value transactions suggest that NFTs may be entering a new phase of recalibrated growth, led by seasoned collectors and strategic capital inflows.