NFT sales jump 37% to $88m as Bitcoin overtakes Ethereum for first time in weeks

Non-fungible token sales jumped 37% to $88.29 million in the first week of January, marking the strongest weekly performance in months as Bitcoin-based collections overtook Ethereum for the first time in recent weeks.

The surge was driven largely by the $X@AI BRC-20 collection on Bitcoin, which generated $23.14 million in sales following a single $17.13 million transaction—one of the largest NFT sales recorded.

Bitcoin’s total NFT volume reached $29.95 million for the week, a 144% increase, while Ethereum posted $27.57 million despite a 39% gain, according to data from CryptoSlam

“NFT sales volume has skyrocketed by 37.41% to $88.29 million,” — CryptoSlam data.

NFT sales surge driven by record participation growth

The latest NFT sales surge was not limited to headline figures alone. Market participation also expanded significantly, reflecting renewed engagement from traders and collectors.

According to CryptoSlam, the number of NFT buyers increased by 22.90% to 342,044, while sellers rose by 24.17% to 242,004 over the same period. Total NFT transactions climbed 10.54% to 937,495, underscoring a broad-based recovery in activity rather than a narrow spike.

This growth suggests that the NFT sales surge is being supported by both sides of the market, with liquidity improving as more participants re-enter the space.

Analysts often view rising buyer and seller counts as a healthier signal than price-driven rallies alone, as they indicate deeper engagement across marketplaces.

“Market participation has continued its strong expansion,” — CryptoSlam data.

While some collections posted modest gains, others experienced sharp declines, highlighting the uneven nature of the current rebound. Still, the overall trajectory points to a market that is regaining momentum after a quieter end to 2025.

$X@AI BRC-20 collection leads the NFT sales surge

At the center of the NFT sales surge was the $X@AI BRC-20 collection on Bitcoin, which vaulted into first place by weekly sales volume. The collection generated $23.14 million in sales, representing a staggering 1,099.81% increase from the previous week.

Despite recording just 12 transactions, the collection matched 12 buyers with 12 sellers, reflecting extremely high-value, concentrated trading activity.

A single transaction accounted for much of this growth, with one $X@AI BRC-20 NFT selling for $17.13 million, equivalent to 195.0081 BTC. Two additional sales followed at $4.70 million and $1.32 million, cementing the collection’s dominance during the reporting period.

“$X@AI BRC-20 NFTs on Bitcoin have surged into first place with $23.14 million in sales,” — CryptoSlam data.

Other collections posted more modest but still notable performances. DMarket on the Mythos blockchain slipped to second place with $6.04 million in sales, up 14.37% week-on-week, supported by more than 166,000 transactions.

YES BOND on BNB ranked third with $2.72 million in sales, while CryptoPunks and Pudgy Penguins rounded out the top five with steady gains.

Bitcoin overtakes Ethereum amid NFT sales surge

The NFT sales surge also reshaped the blockchain leaderboard. Bitcoin claimed the top spot with $29.95 million in weekly NFT sales, a 144.41% increase from $12.12 million the prior week. Including $44,381 in wash trading, Bitcoin’s total NFT volume reached $29.99 million, supported by a 25.29% rise in buyers to 11,948.

Ethereum dropped to second place despite recording $27.57 million in sales, still up 39.08% from the previous week. However, Ethereum also logged $3.24 million in wash trading, and while buyer numbers rose to 23,570, the network could not keep pace with Bitcoin’s rapid acceleration.

“Bitcoin has claimed the top blockchain position with $29.95 million in sales,” — CryptoSlam data.

BNB Chain held third place with $7.00 million in sales, followed by Mythos Chain at $6.17 million and Immutable at $3.26 million. Base recorded one of the fastest growth rates, surging 111.10% to $3.11 million, while Polygon experienced a sharp 49.42% decline to $3.09 million despite rising buyer numbers.

The NFT sales surge highlights a shifting balance of power within the ecosystem, as Bitcoin-based NFTs gain traction alongside established Ethereum collections.

Whether this trend continues will depend on sustained participation and the market’s ability to absorb high-value trades without renewed volatility. For now, the data points to a reinvigorated sector entering 2026 with renewed momentum.