Market value doubled, floor price and trading volume soared: Is NFT experiencing a new spring?

Author: DappRadar; Compiler: Felix, PANews

The NFT market is showing real signs of recovery.

After months of sideways trading, we are finally seeing momentum: floor prices are rising, market capitalization is rebounding, and some familiar names are surpassing old NFTs. From Pudgy Penguins surpassing BAYC to Art Blocks' unexpected return, the market atmosphere is changing.

This article will parse the latest data, highlight the best-performing categories and series, and explore whether this is a short-term fluctuation or the beginning of a larger trend.

Key points:

• In July, the market value of NFTs soared 94% to nearly $7 billion, the highest level since the beginning of 2025.

• Weekly volume surged 51% to $136 million, making July one of the best performing months since February.

• The average NFT price rose 40% in 7 days to $146, but trading volume only increased by 7%, clearly indicating that traders are moving to higher value assets.

• Pudgy Penguins surpassed BAYC in market value, with floor price up 539% since launch and 7% this week alone.

• CryptoPunks floor price rose 53%, marking the return of blue chip attention and Web3 elastic culture.

• Moonbirds trading volume soared 600%, driven by new owners and airdrop hype, but the floor price is still down 64% since its release.

1. NFT Market Overview

The NFT market is showing strong signs of recovery. Since the beginning of the month, the market value has risen 94% to $6.6 billion, the highest level since early 2025.

Weekly trading volume jumped 51% to $136 million, which is expected to make July one of the best performing months since February.

Sales increased by 7% month-on-month, but the overall sales this month will not exceed that of June. Last month, sales exceeded 5 million, and July just broke the 3 million mark. What is the reason? ETH is rising, and NFT is also rising. In just 7 days, the average price of NFT soared 40% to $146.

Trading volume decreased, prices rose, the market is changing. The blue chip stock craze is back.

2. Popular NFT categories - single-week performance

With the obvious return of the blue chip stock craze, this article focuses on the best performing NFT categories in the past week. As expected, PFP led the way, accounting for 37% of total trading volume. Close behind is RWA NFT, which accounts for 11%, indicating that the tokenization narrative still has vitality.

But not all categories have joined the rise. NFTs in the fields of sports, music and fashion have not seen an upward momentum. Although gaming NFTs performed steadily in the second quarter, their popularity has cooled slightly, with sales falling significantly this week.

Nevertheless, PFP's dominance is consistent with current market sentiment. Whenever the NFT market heats up, PFP always takes the lead, just like in previous bull cycles. Some things don't change easily.

3. This week's eye-catching NFT series

This week's market focus is on the big moves of the top NFTs, the return of heat, and a series of floor price activities.

Pudgy Penguins: A new heavyweight collection

Pudgy Penguins' market value has officially surpassed Bored Ape Yacht Club and is now second only to CryptoPunks. The floor price has risen by 539% since its release, and it has risen by another 7% in the past 7 days.

How did Pudgy Penguins do it? It's simple: they were released during the bear market. From IRL benefits to connecting Web2 and Web3, and now expanding in Asia through plush toys, the brand comes at a perfect time, especially with the hype of collectibles on the rise.

CryptoPunks: Back in the spotlight

The punk era never really ended, but it seems to have regained its luster. This week alone, the floor price has increased by 53%, and the series remains one of the most actively traded collectibles.

Don’t forget, this was a free mint in 2017. Whenever there’s new life in the market, Punks are thrust back into the spotlight. They remain the gold standard for Web3 influence. For some, owning a Punk is more than just about making money — it’s a status symbol, pure and simple. And right now, that status is becoming more and more popular.

Moonbirds: A surprise rebound

Moonbirds is back again, and to be honest, it caught us off guard. After fading from blue chip status, Moonbirds has staged a strong rebound:

• Floor price up 60%

• Trading volume up 600%

What caused this? Following its acquisition by Orange Cap Games in May, the company announced a partnership with Towns on July 19. Holders can now access a private on-chain space and increase points ahead of the airdrop.

It’s worth noting that Moonbirds is still down 64% in USD value since launch, so there’s still a long way to go. That said, momentum is building.

Art Blocks: Quiet Return

If anything can release the energy of a bull market, it is the return of Art Blocks. This week, it ranked among the most traded collections, with an average selling price soaring 156%.

On July 10, the platform announced a major change, launching collector profiles, wallet aggregation, achievements system, and providing a better user experience for ordinary collectors.

The market has noticed this too. Top projects like Fidenza have rekindled interest, and Feels like Art is starting to come back into the NFT discussion.

PFP and art are accelerating, and if history is any indication, this combination will kick off the next NFT bull run. No conclusion has been drawn yet, but the signal is there. Looking forward to next week's trend.

4. Summary

The past week has given us a glimpse of the possible resurgence of NFT: floor prices have climbed, PFP has regained its dominance, and Art has quietly returned strongly. Pudgy Penguins surpassed BAYC, CryptoPunks heated up again, and Moonbirds spread their wings, all of which suggest one thing: the market is shifting and attention is refocused on NFT.