NFTs might look quiet after the big hype crash, but don’t count them out yet.
Animoca Brands co-founder Yat Siu says a dedicated group of wealthy collectors is still driving serious activity, treating digital pieces like long-term luxury assets rather than quick flips.
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Monthly sales are holding steady around $300 million, a far cry from the $1 billion peaks of 2021-22, but still meaningful for those in the know.
What Yat Siu Actually Said About the Market Right Now
Siu, who’s a big collector himself, made the case at the CfC St. Moritz conference.
These buyers aren’t chasing pumps, but they’re building communities around art, just like traditional collectors bond over Picassos, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, or Rolexes. “It’s a club,” he put it.
His own portfolio is down 80% or so, but he never planned to sell anyway:
“These are long assets that matter.” He pointed to billionaires like Adam Weitsman publicly scooping up Otherside lands and Bored Apes.
The blockchain shows everything transparently, no hiding the numbers. Five years ago this market was zero, so $300 million monthly now is relative progress, not failure.
How This Fits Current NFT Sector Patterns
The space has clearly stratified since the 2021-22 mania. High-value trades (aka whales dropping $10K+) keep volume alive even as overall sales dropped 37% in 2025 to around $5.5 billion.
We’ve seen similar shifts in other crypto niches, memecoins went from frenzy to selective plays, DeFi from wild yield farms to more sustainable protocols.
NFT projects like Otherside or Bored Apes still attract committed holders who see cultural value.
It’s less about mass retail flipping and more about a niche of deep-pocketed believers sticking around.
The recent NFT Paris cancellation? Siu blamed France’s crypto crackdown and security risks (kidnappings of execs), not dying demand.
NFTs as Digital Luxury Collectibles, Is This a Real Thing?
This is pretty similar how traditional luxury markets work. Art auctions or supercar circles thrive on exclusivity and shared passion, buyers aren’t flipping for profit every cycle. They’re part of a scene, and it’s about status.
NFTs offer the same, digital scarcity, community belonging, verifiable ownership on-chain.
Think of it like early gaming economies, Counter Strike skins or Runescape names started niche but built real value through dedicated owners.
In crypto, wealthy collectors are doing the same with art and virtual land. The scale isn’t mass-market anymore, but for those involved, it’s resilient.
TradFi has always had this tiered system, most people buy index funds, a few chase rare wines or watches.
NFTs seem to be settling into that “high-end collectible” lane rather than disappearing.
Okay, NFTs Aren’t Dead, So What?
On the upside, this quiet strength means the tech foundation is solid, blockchain provenance keeps trust high, and committed holders provide stability.
If more projects lean into utility or culture (gaming, RWAs), the market could slowly rebuild appeal. Downside?
Mass adoption feels far off, retail interest has cooled hard, and volatility still scares casuals. And no one wants to pay thousands for a jpeg profile picture. Not anymore.
Hype cycles might return, but the real risk is stagnation if whales alone can’t drive innovation.
Still, after years of “NFTs are dead” headlines, Siu’s take reminds us, zero to $300 million monthly isn’t nothing. It’s a foundation, not a grave.
VC in Disguise or Genuine Long-Term Play?
Some might shrug, whale-driven markets can feel elite or manipulated. Critics say it’s just rich guys propping up a fad. Maybe there’s truth there.
But the on-chain data doesn’t lie, and Siu’s point stands, these aren’t flippers. They want to own, and that changes the game from speculation to something closer to real collecting.
Yes, it’s quite likely that NFTs aren’t roaring back to 2021 levels anytime soon, but they’re not buried either.
A core group of wealthy believers is keeping it alive, one long-hold at a time. We’ll see if this niche grows or stays small forever.
Disclosure:This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.
Kriptoworld.com accepts no liability for any errors in the articles or for any financial loss resulting from incorrect information.
Cryptocurrency and Web3 expert, founder of Kriptoworld
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With years of experience covering the blockchain space, András delivers insightful reporting on DeFi, tokenization, altcoins, and crypto regulations shaping the digital economy.
📅 Published: January 21, 2026 • 🕓 Last updated: January 21, 2026
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