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NeoReach has officially launched a new report covering the state NFTs and The Metaverse. This report gives insight into the emerging crypto space, revealing top NFT launches, discord channels, thought leaders in the industry, and more.
The data presented in this report was collected from the top 25 Ethereum-based NFT launches of all time, sourced from OpenSea. We pulled the volume, floor price, and number of owners for each of the collections before utilizing our own data to pull further information about the launches, including affiliated brands and notable followers.
Using their metrics, we were able to compare the top NFT launches to each other and gather key takeaways on the state of the metaverse and crypto industry. This report gives a comprehensive overview of key terms and the chronology of the metaverse, cryptocurrency, and NFTs. Our analysis of the top NFT launches offers a deep dive into the industry, providing insight into what it takes to successfully launch an NFT collection. Ultimately, this report should generate a better understanding of the industry and how the metaverse, NFTs, and cryptocurrencies work together.
Download our Report on NFTs and The Metaverse here.
An Introduction to NFTs and The Metaverse
What is the Metaverse?
The metaverse is a three-dimensional virtual world in which consumers immerse themselves in the buying and selling of goods online. A combination of virtual worlds and augmented reality, the metaverse aims to seamlessly transition the connection between physical and digital lives.
What are NFTs?
NFT is an abbreviation for the phrase Non-Fungible Token – a form of cryptocurrency where data is digitally stored in a blockchain. They can be sold and traded, switching ownership from individual to individual upon buying and selling.
How are the two connected?
Blockchains are the heart of the metaverse, and NFTs are stored and tracked within blockchains.
Top NFT Collections
1. Crypto Punks
CryptoPunks is an NFT collection that was developed by Larva Labs in 2017. It consists of 10,000 unique characters designed by John Watkinson and Matt Hall. In March of 2022, Yuga Labs acquired CryptoPunks.
| Items in Collection | Floor Price | Volume | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10K | 61.95 | 959,529.21 | 3.6K |
2. Bored Ape Yacht Club
Created by Yuga Labs, the Bored Ape Yacht Club is an NFT collection that features 10,000 unique bored apes. The NFT project, launched in 2021, features images designed by Greg Solano and Wylie Aronow.
| Items in Collection | Floor Price | Volume | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10K | 99.5 | 635,753.65 | 6.4K |
3. Mutant Ape Yacht Club
The Mutant Ape Yacht Club is a spin-off of the Bored Ape Yacht Club. The collection was launched in August 2021 and features the same apes from the original collection. Except these apes have been exposed to a mutant serum and transformed. These can only be purchased by individuals who also purchased an NFT from the Bored Ape Yacht Club collection.
| Items in Collection | Floor Price | Volume | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19.4K | 19.7 | 431,534.04 | 13K |
4. Otherdeed for Otherside
Otherdeed is a collection that was released for the metaverse game Otherside, both developed by Yuga Labs. The collection features diverse land plots for buyers to own within the game.
| Items in Collection | Floor Price | Volume | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100K | 2.85 | 318,256.89 | 35K |
5. Artblocks Curated
Art Blocks is a platform founded by Snowfro, also known as Erick Calderon. The platform launched in 2020 and displays curated collections of NFT projects by a variety of artists and creators.
| Items in Collection | Floor Price | Volume | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|
| 58.1K | 3.5 | 297,987.58 | 12K |
6. Azuki
The Azuki NFT collection includes 10,000 unique avatars. Once purchased, buyers gain access to Azuki’s digital world and community, The Garden.
| Items in Collection | Floor Price | Volume | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10K | 11.99 | 254,453.90 | 5.1K |
7. Decentraland
Decentraland is a virtual world developed by its users, and the Decentraland NFT collection consists of land within the game. Buyers can collect these parcels of land, then buy and sell them as they help develop the world.
| Items in Collection | Floor Price | Volume | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|
| 97.6K | 2.2 | 230,044.94 | 7.4K |
8. CLONE X – TAKASHI MURAKAMI
CLONE X – X TAKASHI MURAKAMI launched in 2021. The collection consisted of nearly 20,000 3D avatars designed by virtual brand, RTFKT, and Japanese artist, Takashi Murakami. Clone X has worked on many brand collaborations, including Nike and Supreme.
| Items in Collection | Floor Price | Volume | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19.3K | 11.19 | 219,648.04 | 9.5K |
9. The Sandbox
The Sandbox is a metaverse gaming platform where users can participate in a virtual world and community. The land and assets from the NFT collection are then monetized within the game.
| Items in Collection | Floor Price | Volume | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|
| 160.5K | 1.99 | 171,831.40 | 21.5K |
10. Moonbirds
Founded by Kevin Rose, Moonbirds consists of 10,000 unique pixel-art owl avatars. Buying one of these NFTs gives the owner membership to an exclusive club run by the Proof Collective.
| Items in Collection | Floor Price | Volume | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10K | 27 | 158,292.92 | 6.6K |
For more insights on these top NFT launches, download our full report on NFTs and The Metaverse here.
Top NFT Discord Channels
1. OpenSea NFT Community (282K Members)
The NFT marketplace OpenSea has its own Discord server that features a number of NFT channels for industry trends and updates. From artists sharing information about an upcoming project to a user giving insight on projected trends, this server features a diverse range of industry participants.
2. CryptoPunks Discord (68.9K Members)
The CryptoPunks Discord server was established by Larva Labs, the developer of the CryptoPunks NFT project. It serves as a platform to discuss CryptoPunks, as well as related NFTs and the industry as a whole. Although only owners of a CryptoPunk NFT are able to contribute to the conversation, non-owners can view threads, receive updates from the developers, and learn more about the industry.
3. Brain Vomit’s Garden (1.3K Members)
Brain Vomit’s Garden is an NFT project that features 4,444 unique flower images. NFT owners receive access to exclusive drops and experiences. Brain Vomit, the company that developed this project, started a discord channel to provide updates on upcoming projects and initiatives.
4. Clone X (233K Members)
The Clone X discord community was established by Nike’s RTFKT, the developer behind the Clone X NFT collections. This community serves as a space for NFT owners and other curious minds to discuss industry topics and upcoming projects headed by RTFKT.
5. Vee Friends (364K Members)
The Vee Friends Discord server was established by the developers of the Vee Friends NFT project as a hub for information and NFT education. It has grown to support hundreds of thousands of users, becoming a community where members share ideas and discuss the industry.
6. Crypto Baristas (3.2K Members)
Crypto Baristas is an NFT collection that features a number of coffee-pouring characters. Purchasing an NFT from either of the two seasons of the project supports coffee initiatives in the physical world. The Crypto Baristas Discord server was established to inform members about the project, as well as to serve as a space for discussion and education.
To learn more about the growing digital communities within the space, download our full report on NFTs and The Metaverse here.
Marketing Through NFTs and The Metaverse
How do brands market within the metaverse?
Top brands like Netflix and Samsung have expanded their marketing techniques within the metaverse and crypto-sphere. Over the past few years, we have seen more and more brands explore the metaverse and NFTs through their marketing strategies.
Nike is a prime example. The brand acquired RTFKT, launched a line of digital sneakers or “Cryptokicks” with Clone X, and established a metaverse-like world, NIKELAND, in Roblox. Their “Cryptokicks” launch was a massive financial success, with single NFTs selling for up to $134,000.
Some other examples include Gucci, Tiffany, Adidas, and Dolce & Gabbana. By placing themselves at the forefront of the emerging NFT marketing space, these brands established themselves as thought leaders in both the marketing and NFT industries. By embracing the transition into the digital world, they enhance their brand identity, stay relevant, and set themselves apart from their competitors.
NFT Trends
As NFTs become more mainstream, new trends emerge in the marketing sphere.
Just this year, we have seen NFTs implemented in a variety of different industries. For example, while promoting season four of their show Stranger Things, Netflix launched collectible NFTs. Additionally, Coachella created an NFT marketplace on Solana that allows consumers to purchase lifetime festival passes. We have also seen a rise in the number of play-to-earn NFT games, as well as watch-to-earn advertisements.
Metaverse Trends
In addition to NFTs, we have also seen a number of emerging trends corresponding with increased popularity and knowledge of the metaverse.
Brands like Samsung leverage the metaverse space by creating virtual, interactive experiences for consumers. We have also seen the emergence of more metaverse games, following in the footsteps of games like Second Life and Roblox. Tech giants like Microsoft and Meta are even creating their own metaverses, like Microsoft’s Horizon Worlds. Virtual live performances emerged as a recent trend in the metaverse, including ABBA’s Abba-tars and Travis Scott’s Fortnite concert.
Based on our Research
After reviewing the state of the metaverse and crypto industry, we must ask: what’s next for the industry? Ultimately, we expect the overarching community to continue to strengthen and grow.
We project that long-term success will circle back into the creation of an engaged and authentic Web3 community. Purpose, value, and relevance will be the driving factors behind these communities, and connecting them will create bridges between new and old members.
Editor’s Note
This report presented a comprehensive overview of the state of the Metaverse, touching on its growing position in the marketing industry. By looking at and comparing the top NFT launches, we came to a better understanding of this position. As we continue to transition into the digital world, new forms of digital marketing will emerge.
That being said, NFT marketing is on the rise – and we have seen more and more industry power players begin to utilize it in their strategy. From Nike to Meta, a number of brands have already established themselves as thought leaders in the industry. Therefore, brands and marketers alike may look to these companies when analyzing and predicting future trends in the space.
In the next couple of years, we expect to see the metaverse and the crypto industry grow to new heights. Since these topics entered mainstream media, brands, marketers, and celebrities explored the crypto-sphere to make their mark on the industry – one that is only gaining momentum. We expect the trend to continue, the industry changing and growing with the metaverse.
Download our Report on NFTs and The Metaverse here.
