The NFT market shows clear signs of recovery.

After months of sideways consolidation, the NFT market has finally shown signs of recovery. Floor prices have generally risen, market capitalization has rebounded, and some emerging projects have even surpassed established NFT series. From penguin projects overtaking Bored Apes to an unexpected revival in the art sector, the market atmosphere is changing.

This article will conduct an in-depth analysis of the latest data, focusing on the outstanding categories and series, and exploring whether this round of increase is a short-term fluctuation or the beginning of a long-term trend.

Main Highlights:

• In July, the market value of NFTs surged by 94%, reaching nearly $7 billion, hitting a new high since early 2025.
• Weekly trading volume surged by 51% to $136 million, with July expected to be one of the best months since February.
• The average price of NFTs has risen by 40% to $146 in the past 7 days, but the trading volume has only increased by 7%, indicating that traders are shifting towards high-value assets.
• The market value of the Penguin project has surpassed that of Bored Apes, with the floor price increasing by 539% since its launch, and rising another 7% this week.
• The floor price of the punk project has increased by 53%, indicating a rise in attention from blue-chip stocks and a return to Web3 culture.
• Driven by the new owners and airdrop expectations, the Moonbird project’s trading volume surged by 600%, but the floor price has still dropped by 64% since its launch.

1. Overview of the NFT Market

The NFT market is showing strong signs of recovery. Since the beginning of this month, the market capitalization has increased by 94% to $6.6 billion, reaching a new high since early 2025.

Weekly trading volume surged 51% to $136 million, and July is expected to be one of the best months since February.

Sales increased by 7% month-on-month, but overall sales in July are unlikely to exceed those in June. Last month's sales surpassed 5 million, while July just broke through 3 million. What is the reason? The price of Ethereum has risen, and NFT has also increased accordingly. In just one week, the average price of NFT skyrocketed by 40% to $146.

Trading volume is decreasing but prices are rising, indicating changes in the market. The blue-chip stock craze is making a comeback.

2. Performance of Popular NFT Categories Over the Week

With the noticeable return of blue-chip stock enthusiasm, profile picture projects lead the best-performing NFT category this week, accounting for 37% of total trading volume. Following that are physical asset NFTs, which account for 11%, indicating that the tokenization narrative still holds appeal.

However, not all categories have joined the rising ranks. There has been no significant increase in NFT in the fields of sports, music, and fashion. Although gaming NFTs performed steadily in the second quarter, their popularity has slightly cooled down, and sales have noticeably declined this week.

Nevertheless, the dominance of avatar projects aligns with the current market sentiment. Whenever the NFT market heats up, avatar projects are always the first to act, just like in previous bull market cycles. Some patterns do not change easily.

3. This Week's Featured NFT Series

This week's market focus is on the significant movements of leading NFTs, the return of enthusiasm, and a series of changes in floor prices.

Penguin Project: New Heavyweight Collectible

The market value of the Penguin project has officially surpassed that of the Bored Ape Yacht Club, ranking only behind the Punk project. Since its launch, the floor price has increased by 539%, and it has risen another 7% in the past 7 days.

How does the Penguin project achieve this? In short: they issue during bear markets. From real-world benefits to connecting Web2 and Web3, to expanding in Asia through plush toys, the brand's emergence is timely, especially amidst the current surge in collectibles.

Punk Project: Return to the Spotlight

The punk era has never truly ended, but it seems to be shining brightly once again. Just this week, the floor price has risen by 53%, and the series remains one of the most actively traded collectibles.

It is worth mentioning that this was a free minting project in 2017. Whenever the market gains new vitality, the Punk series returns to the spotlight. They remain the gold standard of Web3 influence. For some, owning a Punk collectible is not just for profit, but also a symbol of identity, pure and simple. And now, this status of identity is becoming increasingly popular.

Moonbird Project: Unexpected Rebound

The Moonbird project makes a strong comeback, which is indeed unexpected. After fading out of blue-chip status, the Moonbird project is showing a strong rebound:

• The floor price has increased by 60%
• Trading volume increased by 600%

What is the reason for this? After being acquired by a certain gaming company in May, the company announced a partnership with a certain project on July 19. Holders can now access the private blockchain space and increase their points before the airdrop.

It is worth noting that since its launch, the dollar value of the Moonbird project has still dropped by 64%, and there is still a long way to go in the future. Nevertheless, its momentum is gaining.

Art Sector: Quietly Returning

If there is anything that can unleash the energy of a bull market, it is the return of the art sector. This week, it has entered the ranks of the highest trading volume collectibles, with an average price soaring by 156%.

On July 10, the platform announced significant changes, introducing collector profiles, wallet aggregation, an achievement system, and providing a better user experience for ordinary collectors.

The market has also taken note of this. Top works like a certain well-known project have regained attention, and art seems to be returning to the center of NFT discussions.

Avatar-related projects and art are accelerating in development. If historical experience can prove anything, this combination will open the next round of the NFT bull market. While it is not yet conclusive, signals have already emerged. Looking forward to next week's trend.

4. Summary

In the past week, we have glimpsed the potential resurgence of NFTs: floor prices are rising, profile picture projects are regaining dominance, and the art sector is quietly making a strong comeback. Penguin projects have surpassed Bored Apes, Punk projects are heating up again, and Moonbirds are soaring high. All of this suggests one thing: the market is shifting, and attention is refocusing on NFTs.