After months of sideways movement, we’re finally seeing momentum: floor prices are rising, market cap is bouncing back, and some familiar names are flipping the old giants. From Pudgy Penguins outpacing BAYC to Art Blocks making a surprise return, there’s a shift in energy, and it’s worth watching.
In this mini report, we break down the latest data, highlight the top-performing categories and collections, and look at whether this is just a spike…or the start of something bigger.
Key Takeaways
- NFT market cap surged 94% in July, reaching almost $7B, the highest level since early 2025.
- Weekly trading volume spiked 51%, hitting $136M, setting July up to be the best month since February.
- Average NFT price jumped 40% in 7 days, reaching $146, while sales rose just 7%, a clear signal that traders are shifting toward higher-value assets.
- Pudgy Penguins flipped BAYC by market cap, floor price is up 539% since mint and 7% this week alone.
- CryptoPunks floor price increased 53%, marking a return of blue-chip attention and Web3 flex culture.
- Moonbirds trading volume soared 600%, powered by new ownership and airdrop hype, but the floor price is still down by 64% since mint.
1. NFT Market overview
The NFT market is showing serious signs of life. Since the start of the month, market cap is up 94%, hitting $6.6 billion, levels we haven’t seen since early 2025.
Weekly trading volume jumped 51%, reaching $136 million, setting up July to potentially close as one of the best months since February.
Sales count is up 7% week-over-week, but here’s the twist, overall sales this month won’t beat June. Back then we saw over 5 million sales, while July just crossed the 3 million mark. Why? ETH is up, and so are NFTs. In just 7 days, the average price of an NFT spiked 40%, landing at $146.
Fewer trades, higher prices, the market’s shifting. Blue-chip vibes are back.
2. Top NFT categories – weekly performance
With blue-chip vibes clearly back, we zoomed in on the top-performing NFT categories over the past week, and no surprise here, PFPs are leading the charge, accounting for 37% of total volume. Right behind them, RWA NFTs are holding their ground with 11%, showing that the tokenization narrative still has legs.
But not every category joined the rally. Sports, Music, and Fashion NFTs didn’t catch the same momentum. And while Gaming NFTs had a solid Q2, they’ve cooled off slightly, with a noticeable dip in sales this week.
Still, the dominance of PFPs fits the current sentiment. Every time the NFT market heats up, PFPs are first to run, just like previous bull cycles. Some things don’t change.
3. NFT collections that stood out this week
Let’s talk winners, and this week, it’s all about big moves, comebacks, and a whole lot of floor price action.
Pudgy Penguins: the new heavyweight
The Penguins did it, they’ve officially surpassed Bored Ape Yacht Club by market cap, now sitting right behind CryptoPunks. Since mint, the floor price is up 539%, and they’ve tacked on another 7% gain in just the past 7 days.
So how did they pull this off? Simple: they built during the bear. From IRL perks to bridging Web2 and Web3, and now expanding across Asia with their plush toys, the brand is hitting at the right time, especially with collectibles hype running hot (just look at Labubu).
CryptoPunks: Back in the spotlight
The Punk era never really ended, but it sure feels like it’s having a moment again. This week alone, floor price jumped 53%, and the collection remains one of the most actively traded.
Let’s not forget, this was a free mint in 2017. Every time there’s new energy in the market, Punks get pulled back into the spotlight. They’re still the gold standard of Web3 clout. For some, owning a Punk is about more than profit — it’s status, pure and simple. And right now, that status is trending.
Moonbirds: A surprise flight
Honestly, this one caught us off guard, Moonbirds are back. After fading from blue-chip status, they just staged a serious bounce:
- Floor price up 60%
- Trading volume up 600%
What triggered it? A partnership with Towns was announced on July 19, following their acquisition by Orange Cap Games in May. Holders now get access to a private, on-chain space and boosted points ahead of an airdrop.
But let’s be real: since mint, the collection is still down 64% in USD, so there’s a long flight ahead. That said, momentum is building.
Art Blocks: the quiet comeback
If anything gives off bull market energy, it’s seeing Art Blocks back in the mix. They’ve made it into the top traded collections this week, with the average sale price jumping 156%.
On July 10, the platform announced a major shift, launching Collector Profiles, wallet aggregation, achievements, and a better UX for casual collectors.
The market noticed. Top-tier projects like Fidenza saw renewed interest, and it feels like Art is starting to rotate back into the NFT conversation.
PFPs and Art are revving up, and if history tells us anything, that combo is what kickstarts the next NFT bull. We’re not calling it yet… but the signals are there. Let’s see what next week brings.
4. Closing thoughts
The past week gave us a glimpse of what an NFT revival could look like: floor prices climbing, PFPs reclaiming dominance, and Art making a quiet but strong comeback. Pudgy Penguins flipping BAYC, CryptoPunks heating up again, and Moonbirds taking flight all hint at one thing: the market is shifting, and attention is back.
But don’t just take our word for it, you can track all of this in real time on DappRadar’s NFT Rankings. From volume spikes to floor price changes, everything you need is there.
And we’re just getting started. Very soon, we’ll be rolling out Hivemind, our new AI-powered agentic system that turns raw blockchain data into contextual insights. It’s built to help you make sense of the NFT market faster, smarter, and with way less noise. Hivemind brings together swarms of specialized agents that analyze chains, collections, categories, and even social signals, so you can stop digging and start discovering.
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