6 Top NFT Trends to Watch Out For (2024 & 2025)

The world of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) is changing quickly. As technology and creativity come together, new NFT trends are appearing. These trends are set to shape the future of digital arts in 2024 and 2025. This guide explores these top upcoming NFT trends, giving you insights into the future of NFT use cases.

Key Takeaways:

1. According to CryptoSlam, the total NFT sales volume is over US$65 billion, with Ethereum, Solana, and Bitcoin being the top blockchains for NFT traders.
2. The top NFT trends to watch out for are the rise of utility NFTs, the tokenization of real-world assets, NFTs in the music industry, hybrid NFTs, Bitcoin NFTs, and the gaming expansion of digital collectibles.
3. The Global Non-fungible Token (NFT) Market is expected to reach US$152.54 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 34.2% from 2024 to 2030 (Source: VMR report).

The Top NFT Trends in 2024

1. Utility NFTs

In the early days, NFTs were primarily used for digital art and collectibles. However, the trend is shifting towards other emerging NFT sectors such as utility NFTs. These tokens are not just about owning a digital asset; they offer additional functionalities and benefits. For instance, utility NFTs can provide access to exclusive content, events, or communities. They can also represent ownership of real-world assets such as real estate or vehicles.

The demand for utility NFTs is growing as they offer more value to the holder. In 2024 and 2025, we can expect to see more projects integrating utility features into their NFTs. This trend will likely attract a broader audience, including those interested in the practical applications of NFTs beyond art and collectibles. 

For example, the Bored Ape Yacht Club ($BAYC) has introduced practical benefits through their NFTs. For example, they organize ApeFest, an annual event exclusively for NFT holders. Participants can gather to showcase their collections and enjoy activities such as live music, auctions, and games. This adds extra value to owning a $BAYC NFT, making it more than just a digital asset.

2. Real-World Assets (RWA) NFTs

The tokenization of real-world assets is a trend that is gaining traction. NFTs can represent ownership of physical items like real estate, art, and even luxury goods. This tokenization provides a way to divide ownership, making it easier for people to invest in high-value assets. You can also call it fractional NFTs.

For example, an NFT can represent a share in a piece of real estate, allowing multiple investors to own a part of the property. This approach makes investments that were previously out of reach for many people more accessible. In 2024 and 2025, we can expect to see more real-world assets being tokenized, opening up new investment opportunities. 

According to a report, the real-world asset tokenization or the tokenization of global illiquid assets to be a $16T business opportunity by 2030.

3. Hybrid NFTs

Hybrid NFTs blend digital assets with real-world items. For example, owning a digital artwork NFT might also give you a physical print. This mix makes the NFTs more appealing and valuable. It bridges the gap between the digital and physical worlds.

One notable example is Nike’s Cryptokicks. These are digital shoes that come with a physical pair. Cryptokicks generated over $10 million in sales in their first month. This shows the strong demand for hybrid NFTs.

RTFKT x Nike Dunk Genesis CRYPTOKICKS: Source: OpenSea

Hybrid NFT trends are likely to grow in the coming years. As more brands and creators explore this trend, we can expect more innovative products. Hybrid NFTs could become a standard in various industries, from fashion to entertainment.

4. NFTs in the Music Industry

The music industry is another area where NFTs are making a significant impact. Artists can tokenize their music, offering exclusive tracks, albums, or concert tickets as NFTs. This approach provides a new revenue stream for artists and a unique way for fans to support their favorite musicians.

NFTs in the music industry can also include royalties. For instance, an NFT can be programmed to pay a percentage of future sales back to the original artist, ensuring ongoing revenue. As more musicians and record labels explore the potential of NFTs, this trend will continue to grow, transforming how music is distributed and monetized.

According to some estimates, an artist only gets about 4 cents for every song played on Spotify. That means to make just $4,000, an artist would need a whopping one million streams. Therefore, Music NFTs can be a more lucrative and alternative option.

Types of music NFTs. Source: Chainlink

5. Gaming NFT Expansion

The gaming industry has always been a place for innovation, and NFTs are no exception. In 2024 and 2025, expect NFT gaming to explode into a full-fledged phenomenon. 

Here’s why: NFT-based games allow players to truly own in-game items, like weapons, skins, or virtual land. This ownership opens doors for a whole new level of engagement – players can trade, sell, or even rent out their in-game assets, creating a thriving digital economy within the game itself.

As more game developers adopt this model, we can expect a big increase in NFT-based games and a growing market for in-game NFTs. For example, Axie Infinity has already generated over $4 billion in sales volume, showing the potential of NFTs in gaming.

Axie Infinity gaming marketplace and NFTs: Source: Axie Infinity

6. Bitcoin NFTs

Minting NFTs on Bitcoin has always been harder compared to blockchains like Ethereum. This difficulty arises because Bitcoin has limited smart contract capabilities and lacks a standard token format for NFTs, such as Ethereum’s ERC-721.

Recently, Bitcoin NFTs have gained significant attention. This increase in interest and popularity followed the introduction of the Ordinals protocol in January 2023, which allows for direct NFT minting on the Bitcoin blockchain.

According to CryptoSlam, the Bitcoin blockchain is now ranked second after Ethereum in NFT trading volume and sales. This trend is expanding the NFT market beyond Ethereum, offering more options for creators and collectors.

Bitcoin NFTs example. Source: rarepepes.com

Final Thoughts

The future of NFTs is bright, with many NFT trends set to shape the landscape in 2024 and 2025. From utility NFTs and tokenization of RWAs to hybrid NFTs and the expansion into gaming, the possibilities are vast. By staying informed about these top NFT trends, you can better understand the potential of digital art and how they may impact various industries.

Whether you are an artist, a gamer, a music lover, or an investor, the world of NFTs offers something for everyone. As we look to the future, it is clear that NFTs will play a significant role in the digital economy and bring new investment opportunities, and transform the way we create, interact, and transact in the digital world.