Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, have been through a radical phase of growth, unlikely to be reiterated in the future. Everyone in the tech community was talking about non-fungible tokens in 2021, with many NFTs selling for millions of dollars. Will we witness the first billion-dollar NFT project anytime soon? However, the downward price action in the NFT market continued with the crypto winter of 2022. 

Independent artists have been coming up with innovative ideas for NFT artwork and choosing specific marketplaces for launching their work. On the other hand, large organizations could opt for creating collections on native platforms. As the interest in NFTs continues growing, people will want to learn more about the top projects. 

Why should you learn about projects in the field of non-fungible tokens? The demand for top NFT projects provides a brief glimpse of how NFTs have become one of the most popular applications of blockchain technology. NFTs provide proof of ownership for digital and physical assets, represented through smart contracts on blockchain networks. 

Therefore, non-fungible tokens feature distinct traits which establish their capabilities for inducing a change in the world of technology and business. Learn more about the top projects and collections which have grabbed a major portion of the NFT ecosystem.

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Necessity of NFT Projects

The rise of NFTs has stoked the curiosity of millions of people worldwide about what the new tokens actually represent. Before identifying the top projects, you must understand the NFT project meaning that could help you understand their importance. The simplest description of non-fungible token projects or collections suggests that they are blockchain-based certifications for proving ownership. Owners of NFTs can have ownership of the title on the asset in a completely transferable manner, with flexibility for recognition everywhere. 

NFTs have been responsible for a revolutionary impact on the world with disruption ranging from art and finance to fashion, sports, and many other sectors. The common explanation for an NFT project suggests how projects are created with a combination of the NFTs developed by a specific group. One of the popular examples of top projects in NFTs would point at the Bored Ape Yacht Club by Yuga Labs. Furthermore, the attention towards renowned non-fungible token projects has been growing in huge numbers due to prospects for utility in NFTs. 

Comprehensive valuation of an NFT projects list would require a detailed impression of use cases for NFTs. For example, non-fungible tokens have proved as useful entities in the growth of play-to-earn games. In addition, NFTs are also considered indicators of the wealth of crypto investors. For example, Twitter PFPs with BAYC NFTs serve as a status symbol on the social media platform.

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Popular NFT Projects for 2023

The overview of the potential uses of NFTs shows how non-fungible tokens present different value advantages to users. On the one hand, NFTs have been considered a status symbol and proof of ownership for digital assets. However, it is also important to note that people have doubts like “Are there any successful NFT projects?” as NFTs have not garnered mainstream adoption. 

At the same time, the growing interest in NFT use cases with utility across different industries has become a major highlight for businesses. Imagine the prospects with applications of NFTs as proof of ownership for academic credentials and identity proofs. Therefore, the success of non-fungible tokens would take some time before gaining visibility. Here are some of the popular projects in the domain of non-fungible tokens for 2023. 

  • Bored Ape Yacht Club 

The first entry in a list of top NFT collections or projects would obviously refer to Bored Ape Yacht Club. Almost every beginner in the field of NFTs considered BAYC NFT synonymous with non-fungible tokens. The simple collection of 10,000 digital apes with distinct traits has become one of the renowned NFT projects, with many celebrities endorsing the project. It would be an understatement to suggest that the BAYC NFT collection transformed the NFT space by offering a new perspective on unique digital assets

The Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT collection offers more than the advantages of displaying social status on Twitter. People worried about how to find upcoming NFT projects can discover an ideal solution with the BAYC collection. How? The Bored Ape Yacht Club collection ensures that NFT owners are the first ones to receive different airdrops for other collections. 

For example, the Mutant Ape Yacht Club collection by Yuga Labs added more value to the existing BAYC collection. The inclusion of Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs in the list of top non-fungible token projects also points to assurance of intellectual property privileges.

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  • Azuki

The next promising addition among the popular non-fungible token projects would refer to Azuki. It offers a new perspective on the NFT project meaning by introducing around 10,000 unique NFTs based on anime themes. The artwork in the NFT collection features elements from classic anime shows, like Samurai Champloo and Cowboy Bebop. One of the interesting details about the project is that it was one of the most successful NFT drops, which sold out within a limited time. Did you know that the first drop of Azuki NFTs sold out within three minutes for almost $30 million? 

The applications of Azuki NFT might appear as if it is another PFP NFT. However, you can also access the benefit of utility with the NFT project through access privileges to the Garden. It is an exclusive area in the Azuki NFT community that blurs the lines and rules between the physical and digital worlds. It is also interesting to note how Azuki can offer the foundations for creating a decentralized metaverse brand featuring a complex roadmap. 

  • Moonbirds

The third edition among popular NFT projects you should watch out for in 2023 is Moonbirds. It is a collection of 10,000 digital 8-bit images of owls with different traits. With an initial mint price of 2.5 ETH, the Moonbirds project became one of the top NFT projects in terms of rapid growth of floor price. The project has been developed by the Proof Collective and serves as the access point to the community. One of the most promising aspects of the Moonbirds project is the focus on utility. 

What type of utility can you find in the Moonbirds project? Owners can use their Moonbirds NFT to claim private club membership alongside access to upcoming projects of the Proof Collective. If you want to know how to find upcoming NFT projects, then you should try Moonbirds collection and its nesting feature. The concept of nesting is almost similar to staking, which contributes to rising potency of the NFT with longer periods of ownership.

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  • QQL

Another interesting addition among the NFT projects which have stirred up some waves in 2022 includes QQL. It is a generative art NFT collection based on Ethereum blockchain. QQL is one of the first answers to “Are there any successful NFT projects?” in the case of generative art collections. One of the co-creators of the project, Tyler Hobbs, is the creator of Fidenza, another notable addition to NFT projects. As a matter of fact, Fidenza registered NFT sales in millions in 2021. 

QQL did not disappoint and has sold around $17 million worth of digital assets, even in a bear market. It is an exclusive tool that leverages a finely-tuned blockchain-based algorithm for creating artwork. Furthermore, it offers a new NFT project meaning for generative artwork NFTs after implementing the necessary changes. 

Users can introduce small modifications in the QQL algorithm to explore new results. NFT collectors and creators could find a new approach to development and ownership of non-fungible tokens. At the same time, gamification of the minting process, alongside helping the owners design the NFT artwork, serves as a unique benchmark for an NFT collection. 

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  • Reddit Collectible Avatars

The decision of Reddit to venture into the NFT space did not go well with the Reddit community. However, popular social networking and community discussion forum advertised NFTs as collectible avatars for working their way around the problem. The demand for an NFT project like Reddit Collectible Avatars shows an example of the importance of user trust. Reddit Collectible Avatars were developed on Polygon network, and most of them have become top favorites in the NFT and blockchain community.

Reddit also marked a distinct reputation with the free airdrop, which allowed users to sport digital avatars. With more than 7 million Reddit Collectible Avatars minted already on Polygon and almost 5.3 million unique NFT holders, Reddit has one of the most successful NFT projects to its credit. The outline for success of other NFT collections and projects can draw inspiration from Reddit Collectible Avatars. You can notice how the NFT collection not only encouraged adoption of NFTs but also invited attention to the uses of Polygon blockchain.

  • Shibuya

The scope for applications of non-fungible tokens can extend to cinema, as shown by Shibuya. Created by Emily Yang, the Shibuya project is the perfect answer for searches such as “how to find upcoming NFT projects,” which have better chances of success. Shibuya believes in using NFTs for funding new developments in the ways to create cinema. 

Interestingly, the Shibuya project has garnered profound interest from investors, with around $6.9 million raised in seed funding round. The project aims to sell NFTs as voting tokens, thereby building a community that collectively contributes to the storytelling process alongside funding future projects. 

The $6.9 million in seed funding proves that Shibuya has the potential to become the next big thing in web3 and NFTs. For starters, nobody had thought about using NFTs for creating community-based cinema storytelling and production. Shibuya is one of the top examples for answering “Are there any successful NFT projects?” for proving how NFT projects can transform utility. 

The project aims to make web3 storytelling more interesting through effective allocation of funds for creating content. The innovative viewpoint of Shibuya project for transforming cinema production with NFTs can set the benchmark for many other projects along similar lines. 

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  • Proof of Merge

You can also come across another interesting NFT collection in the Proof of Merge project. Created by the employees at Andreessen Horowitz, Michael Blau, and Mason Hall, developed the Proof of Merge collection of dynamic NFTs based on Ethereum. The Proof of Merge collection is an interesting choice for determining the feasibility of creating new projects. It is a reliable addition to the NFT projects list for serving a time-based advantage. The NFTs in the collection work as “proof of attendance,” which can help in proving whether the holder was involved with web3 before the Ethereum merge. 

The primary reason for the success of the Proof of Merge NFT collection is the automatic changes in metadata through the smart contract of the collection. As a result, the NFTs in the collection can evolve according to the changing states of the merge process. The project started with each NFT in the form of a static image featuring separate black and white circles. 

As the merge process kicked off, the NFTs changed appearances and led to creation of partly-merged circles. Successful completion ensures that NFTs can update their appearance in real-time. Proof of Merge NFT collections gives a new way to understand NFT project meaning and utility. The NFTs would ultimately transform into the Yin-Yang symbol for paying homage to the Ethereum panda bear. 

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Conclusion 

The outline of the top NFT projects in the market right now offers proof of the popularity of non-fungible tokens. Investors and businesses want to learn about NFT collections and projects. After all, they would invest their money and efforts in the new class of digital assets. One of the significant advantages of non-fungible token projects is the benefit of transforming the representation of asset ownership. 

In the long run, NFT projects will have a major role in encouraging the interest of general audience in NFTs. People are more likely to adopt NFTs with the promises of unique value propositions, community support, and security. Learn more about NFTs Fundamentals, the technology behind them, and how to use them to your advantage right now.    

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*Disclaimer: The article should not be taken as, and is not intended to provide any investment advice. Claims made in this article do not constitute investment advice and should not be taken as such. 101 Blockchains shall not be responsible for any loss sustained by any person who relies on this article. Do your own research!