Our weekly crypto derivatives analytics report delves into macro events; the current state of crypto and trading signals from spot trading volume; and futures, options and perpetual contracts.

In the past week, cryptocurrencies have surged as optimism grows that the US-China trade war may be easing. Following two days of talks, the US announced a 90-day tariff reduction on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%. ETH has been the biggest winner among the top 10 tokens, rising 40% in a week, though this has led to significant changes in implied volatility. BTC regained $100K for the first time since early February, with positive bias in OTM call skews, but its volatility market remains weak compared to ETH.

Please check out the report’s highlights.

Open interest for ETH surged by $900M over the past week, coinciding with a 40% rise in its spot price. This increase followed US-China trade negotiations, leading to a temporary 30% tariff reduction on Chinese goods. On May 12, 2025, after US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent confirmed the agreement, open interest and perpetual trading volumes hit monthly highs of $9B and $23B, respectively. While open interest has stabilized, trading volumes declined after peaking during a brief pause in the crypto rally between May 11 and 12, 2025.

BTC volatility smiles suggest risk-on sentiment

Despite low short-term volatility expectations, BTC's short-tenor smiles indicate a continued risk-on sentiment, with a 5% skew toward out-of-the-money calls. Early in the week, put option volume surpassed $200M, outpacing $140M for calls, while open interest remains higher for puts than calls.

ETH has outperformed BTC for the second consecutive week, achieving a remarkable 59% return over the past month. This rally came with volatility: ETH's front-end volatility briefly doubled BTC’s 7-day tenor, leading to an inverted term structure. By Monday, ETH had pulled back some gains, causing front-end volatility to drop swiftly, a faster resolution than seen in previous inversions.

However, another rise in spot price toward $2.6K reignited volatility expectations. Open interest and options trading for ETH remain skewed toward calls, with volumes exceeding $150M on May 13, 2025, coinciding with a second price surge after a brief retreat on May 12, 2025.

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Bybit X Block Scholes crypto derivatives analytics report (May 14, 2025): BTC volatility remains weak relative to ETH

Strategic Bitcoin reserve (SBR): Established on March 6, 2025, integrating Bitcoin into national reserves

Strategic Bitcoin reserve hopes are all the rage

On March 6, 2025, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to establish the nation's first strategic Bitcoin reserve (SBR). This pivotal initiative positions Bitcoin alongside traditional reserves like gold and oil, signaling a significant endorsement of digital assets by the federal government. The SBR aims to centralize and manage all Bitcoin acquired through legal forfeitures, ensuring these assets serve as long-term strategic holdings rather than being sold off.

The creation of the SBR reflects Trump's broader vision of making the US a global leader in cryptocurrency. By integrating Bitcoin into national reserves, the administration seeks to harness the benefits of digital currencies while providing a hedge against economic turbulence. This strategic move has also spurred state-level policies, as seen in New Hampshire, where legislation was recently passed allowing state investments in cryptocurrencies and precious metals. Such developments indicate a growing trend of governmental adoption of digital assets, reinforcing the legitimacy of cryptocurrencies in the financial landscape.

Institutional accumulation drives down Bitcoin availability

In the private sector, institutional investors are increasingly accumulating Bitcoin. Companies like Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) have expanded their holdings significantly, purchasing an additional 13,390 BTC for $1.34 billion, which brings their total to 568,840 BTC. Similarly, Metaplanet Inc. invested $126 million to acquire 1,241 BTC, surpassing the national Bitcoin holdings of some countries. This trend highlights a shift in Bitcoin ownership, with retail investors often taking profits during market rallies, leading to a redistribution of Bitcoin toward institutional entities.

As of May 13, 2025, over 19.86 million BTC have been mined. Wallets holding at least 100 BTC account for 60.84% of the total supply, while those with 10 or more BTC control 82.51%. With Bitcoin's price once again having surpassed $100K, it becomes evident that only about 17.5% of Bitcoin is held by wallets with less than $1 million in BTC. This concentration of ownership raises concerns about market accessibility for smaller investors.

The 10–100 BTC tier is primarily composed of small institutional investors, while wallets with over 100 BTC are predominantly held by institutions and liquidity providers. This oligarchic trend suggests that as cryptocurrency market caps rise, retail traders may feel pressured to sell during downturns, further consolidating wealth among larger holders. Notably, the increasing costs associated with 

, such as electricity and equipment, compel many miners — often retail investors — to sell portions of their holdings to cover expenses, exacerbating this trend.

Bitcoin concentration leaves smaller investors at disadvantage

The establishment of the SBR represents a critical milestone in the integration of digital assets into national financial strategies, positioning the US at the forefront of the cryptocurrency revolution. As of mid-May 2025, Bitcoin's price has fluctuated between $102K and $105K, maintaining an optimistic long-term outlook despite short-term volatility. Continued institutional interest, bolstered by supportive governmental policies, enhances the legitimacy and stability of Bitcoin as an asset class.

However, as smaller investors continue to sell during market rallies, larger wallets are increasingly accumulating supply, tightening their grip on the market. Currently, over 80% of Bitcoin's supply is held in wallets containing $1 million or more in BTC. This trend suggests that while individual portfolios may grow, retail investors could find themselves at a disadvantage in an increasingly concentrated market.

In conclusion, the strategic Bitcoin reserve and the surge in institutional investments signal a positive shift for Bitcoin's legitimacy and its role in the global financial system. However, the growing disparity in Bitcoin ownership underscores the need for retail investors to navigate the market carefully. As these dynamics evolve, awareness of trends in institutional accumulation and wealth concentration will be crucial for all participants in the cryptocurrency ecosystem.

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Bybit x Santiment social sentiment report: Bitcoin reserve hopes leave Bitcoin holdings more concentrated

The Smart Copy Mode is a simple-to-use copy trading feature on Bybit that lets you reap profits from the crypto market even without prior trading experience.

Trading cryptocurrencies can be a lucrative way to earn from the ever-volatile crypto market. However, most people shy away from it due to the intense 

Thankfully, the world of trading now has helpful tools that have simplified crypto trading and made it easier even for beginners to make money from price movements.

First launched as part of a major upgrade in early 2023, Smart Copy Mode offers a simplified way to follow experienced traders known as Master Traders and automatically mirror their strategies. Today, it's one of the easiest and most intuitive ways for anyone, even beginning traders, to tap into the expertise of top-performing traders on Bybit and earn profits.

In this article, we’ll explore how Bybit Smart Copy Mode works and how you can safely make profits as a 

Smart Copy Mode is a simple-to-use copy trading feature on Bybit that lets you reap profits from the crypto market even without prior trading experience.

 Smart Copy Mode is part of the three major upgrades to the Bybit Copy Trading platform 

As of 2025, it remains one of the simplest and safest ways for users to realize returns from automatically mimicking successful Master Traders on the platform.

The Smart Copy Mode requires only three steps to follow a 

 and start earning. All you’ll need to do is enter an investment amount (minimum 100 USDT), select a Bybit account to transfer the funds from and click the 

The entire process is optimized for ease and risk control, making it ideal for anyone looking to trade without micromanaging their positions.

Here are some key features of the Bybit Smart Copy Mode that make it easier to trade while minimizing risks:

Rather than blindly copying a Master Trader’s full position size, Smart Copy Mode calculates a ratio based on both your balance and the Master Trader’s, helping you manage exposure proportionally.

Case in point: Let’s say a Master Trader has 10 BTC in their account but they enter a long position with only 1 BTC. In typical copy trading, a Follower who has 1 BTC in their account will automatically copy the trade with the whole 1 BTC, which exposes their entire portfolio.

However, with the Smart Copy Mode, a ratio calculated based on the available balances in the Follower’s and the Master Trader’s accounts will be exposed for copy trading. In this case, if the ratio is calculated to be 10%, the Follower’s copy trade amount will be 0.1 BTC instead of their full balance of 1 BTC. 

This proportional sizing is especially useful for beginners who may not want to expose their entire portfolio to a single trade.

Another amazing feature of the Smart Copy Mode is the Bybit CopyGuard which is designed to limit losses by adding an extra layer of protection for Followers. While most Master Traders strive to consistently implement successful trading strategies, it’s not uncommon to find some trades that will incur losses.

In such instances as a copy trader, you will incur losses similar to the Master Trader. That’s where the Bybit CopyGuard feature comes in handy.

With CopyGuard turned on, all of the Follower’s trades are optimized in the sense that the entry will always be at an optimal price not worse than that of the Master Trader. If an optimal price is not attained, the trade won’t be copied. However, note that at the point of trade execution, 

 may occur, causing small price discrepancies. However, CopyGuard filters out major price differences that could lead to instant losses. 

To give Followers even greater control over their risk exposure, Bybit now offers a Trailing Stop feature within Smart Copy Mode.

This tool automatically adjusts your exit point based on your account’s highest recorded equity. You simply set a retracement percentage (e.g., 20%), and if your equity drops by that percentage from its peak, all positions will be closed, locking in profits and limiting potential losses. 

Let’s say your account equity fluctuates as follows: 500, 450, 600, 900, 800, 1,000, 800. With a 20% retracement rate, the trailing exit equity adjusts accordingly: 400, 400, 480, 720, 720, 800, 800. When your actual equity drops to 800, the trailing stop triggers and your copy trading positions are automatically closed. 

, the final equity upon exit may differ slightly from the calculated exit equity.

The Trailing Stop feature is especially useful for volatile markets, helping you secure gains without manually monitoring every trade.

Together, Bybit’s copy by ratio, CopyGuard and Trailing Stop features work together to ensure that Followers have an extra layer of protection against losses when engaging in copy trading. 

Smart Copy Mode vs. Advanced Copy Mode: Which is better?

 allow you to choose between the Smart Copy Mode or the Advanced Copy Mode. While both provide an avenue for you to successfully copy a Master Trader’s strategy, there are several differences between the two that may make you opt for one over another. They are:

From the above comparison, it’s highly recommended to go for the Smart Copy Mode if you are a beginner to crypto or copy trading since it provides you with loss-limiting features before you learn your way around the field. For advanced traders, you can go for the Bybit Advanced Copy Mode or stick to the Smart Copy Mode.

Smart Copy Mode has made it easier to realize gains from copy trading.

 Regardless of your status as a beginning or advanced trader, you can have the assurance of a safe trading experience even with margin trading as all the risks are mitigated for you through the Smart Copy Mode.

Compared to the Advanced Copy Mode, the copy by ratio, CopyGuard 

 features within Smart Copy Mode help limit losses through reduced risk exposure. The enhanced automated settings on Smart Copy Mode are sure ways to successfully copy Master Traders without fear of wiping out your account. So, 

Beginner

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Bybit Smart Copy Mode: The way to secure copy trading profits

Invest like a VC with just $20. Common Wealth (WLTH) opens access to early-stage crypto projects through a transparent, community-driven platform.

The traditional venture capitalist (VC) investing model is often elitist and out of reach for many retail investors. While this is particularly the case in the world of traditional finance (TradFi), access to promising early-stage crypto assets is also frequently reserved for larger entities, namely institutional investors and 

. When we hear about a wildly successful crypto project and its token, we often find that its early backers are well-known investment funds or cashed-up VCs. These early investors are the ones who benefit the most from the token’s meteoric rise on the market.

 chain that aims to democratize the way VC investment works in the crypto industry. By using a community-driven approach to sourcing and investing in promising projects, the Common Wealth platform reduces barriers to entry to VC activities. Smaller-scale retail investors, both casual and experienced, are the primary beneficiaries of Common Wealth's unique approach to crypto investment.

Common Wealth has partnered with a network of notable crypto investors who refer high-potential projects to the platform, where these projects are carefully evaluated and qualified to be included in the investment products available to the user community. The entire evaluation process is also driven by community governance procedures, making it transparent and secure. Thanks to Common Wealth, investing in high-potential early-stage crypto opportunities is now open to anyone — even investors who want to start with as little as $20.

 (WLTH) is a decentralized platform that allows anyone to become a crypto VC by using a vetting-based, democratized, community-driven approach to selecting promising cryptocurrency investment opportunities.

The core idea behind the project is to tear down barriers to entry for crypto investment, particularly concerning early-stage promising ventures. Common Wealth has partnered with a group of prominent, savvy crypto investors (referred to as “Oracles”) who refer high-potential crypto investment opportunities to the platform. All the referrals are based on projects or assets that at least one so-called Oracle has personally invested in. As of May 2025, the platform works with ten Oracles, all of whom are notable investors with solid track records and standing in the crypto investment world.

The platform's governance community scrutinizes each referred project via “Oracle Ask Me Anything” (AMA) sessions, proposal workshops and analytics. Community investors then vote to decide on the projects' final eligibility. Any Common Wealth user can invest in qualified projects for as little as $20.

There are two main types of investors on the platform: casual and community members. The former typically invest smaller amounts, and pay with fiat currency using credit or debit cards, greatly simplifying access to the selected projects for users without an affinity for cryptocurrency transactions. Casual investors are normally those who adopt a hands-off approach to crypto investing and tend to start with smaller investment amounts.

Members of the second group, community members, invest larger amounts, or actively participate in the decision-making process for project selection. They’re the core of the governance community on Common Wealth. These investors use cryptocurrency to invest, paying with the 

The Common Wealth project was launched in February 2024 on the Base Layer 2 chain. In May 2025, it debuted its native token, WLTH.

All investment opportunities offered on Common Wealth are in the form of funds that provide exposure to promising projects and assets. For instance, the platform’s Priceless Fund invests in 14 high-potential 

 startup projects, while the Alpha Fund is based on early-stage projects in the areas of artificial intelligence (AI), the 

 (RWAs), decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePINs) and gaming.

Unlike traditional investment funds, Common Wealth funds are completely permissionless and noncustodial, operating through blockchain smart contracts. As such, no central entity can influence fund management, thus ensuring transparency and discouraging vested interests.

Some funds are based on contributions from the wider user community, and are typically capped funds. There are also perpetual funds, which are funded by the investor community that participates in on-platform governance.

Bundles are Common Wealth funds based on a dynamic mix of assets satisfying certain criteria, e.g., a specific crypto niche. The platform has launched three such bundled products: 

Since the bundles are dynamic, the top five assets may switch according to market sentiment. All allocations within the bundles are equally split between their five assets. For instance, if you invest $100 in a bundle, each of the five assets in it will be allocated $20 of your investment.

The Common Wealth platform charges three types of fees:

When you invest in a Common Wealth fund, you’re issued a 

 (Slice NFT) that denotes your share of capital in the fund. Slice NFTs are freely tradable on the market, investors can quickly access liquidity by selling their Slices. Since these NFTs are fractionalized, you can sell a part of your Slice or the whole of it, per your preference.

Distributed Autonomous Operating System (DAOS)

The Common Wealth Distributed Autonomous Operating System (DAOS) is based on a set of 

 that automate the entire workflow of the platform’s governance processes. Project considerations, analytics related to candidate projects, vote management and other functions related to decentralized governance are handled by the DAOS.

 (DAO) consists of a set of rules and an on-chain community, the Common Wealth DAOS is an entire permissionless system of interoperable autonomous nodes that automates and powers all the platform’s governance elements and procedures.

What is the Common Wealth crypto token (WLTH)?

 asset issued on the Base Layer 2 chain. The token has a wide range of functions on the platform. While investments in Common Wealth are based on the USDC stablecoin, all other key functionalities are enabled via WLTH. These include:

WLTH is a capped asset with a maximum supply of 1 billion. As of mid-May 2025, its total supply stands at around 984 million. The chart below shows the token's supply allocation shares and vesting periods upon its launch in May 2024.

As of May 16, 2025, the WLTH token is trading at $0.003877, which is 98.2% lower than its ATH of $0.2148 on Jul 22, 2024 and 82.8% higher than its ATL of $0.002121 on Apr 18, 2025.

Long-term price forecasts for WLTH are mostly bullish.DigitalCoinPrice 

 of $0.0129 in 2027 and $0.0192 in 2030, whileCoinCodex 

 at around $0.0042 in 2027 but rise to $0.014 in 2030.

VC investment in financial markets remains an exclusive club that isn’t easily accessible to everyday retail investors. In most cases, this applies to the crypto market as well. Common Wealth's value to the broader crypto community lies in designing a system that makes investment in promising web3 initiatives accessible to everyone. The platform's novel model creates an opportunity to involve millions of individuals in the VC game. This could lead to significant growth in overall web3-based VC funding, and positively affect the entire crypto investment landscape over the coming years. Finding a future star in the crypto market with as little as $20 has never been easier — thanks to Common Wealth and the VC tools it provides!

Intermediate

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Common Wealth (WLTH): Invest like a VC — without being one

Investing

From All Seeing Seneca and clon to Beeple and Pak, these are the top NFT artists that have changed the way we view and value NFTs.

, or non-fungible tokens, are unique digital assets that exist on the blockchain. 

 assets, which can take virtually any form, are especially popular in the 

, art and sports worlds. First introduced in 2012, sales of NFTs have recently skyrocketed, with one popular NFT artist selling an NFT for 

 $69 million. Curious about the world that these top NFT artists thrive in? Read on as we cover the top NFT artists who are responsible for our world’s most interesting NFT art pieces that exist both on the blockchain and in our physical world.

While there are many factors for consideration, the best NFT artists tend to have these in common, namely:

When it comes to digital art NFTs, the options are virtually limitless. Humans have been making art for at least 50,000 years, but crypto art brings it to a new dimension. Digital art gives us new ways to express ourselves through a fresh, exciting medium. Many of the top NFT artists, both new and well-loved, are experimenting with this new art form, but only some of these artists are currently soaring in popularity.

What does it take to capture the public’s attention in the world of digital art NFTs? Some of the more successful NFT artists have a few things in common with up-and-coming top NFT creators, including:

Some digital art NFTs have a fine art feel, while others have a more collectible “Pokémon” quality; each type has its fans and followers. Regardless of one’s preferences, non-fungible tokens are taking the art and entrepreneurial worlds by storm. If you’re not yet familiar with some of the top NFT artists, it’s time to learn a little bit more. Check out our list of the 23 top NFT artists currently on the scene.

Beeple, or Mike Winkelmann, is one of the most famous NFT artists today. His work includes a now-famous NFT collage, 

, which sold for a mind-boggling $69 million. The piece took 13 years to create and includes 5,000 digital images which took a full year to create and post.

His digital art includes everything from whimsical giant flies swirling around a gladiatorial Mike Pence figure — a nod to the 2020 U.S. vice presidential debate — to a simple yet stunning pixelated Mona Lisa. In an increasingly connected world, top NFT artists like Winkelmann provoke, titillate, irritate and engage with his audience, producing works that are both relevant and timeless.

Pak is an anonymous artist formerly known as Murat Pak. As one of the best-known NFT artists, Pak has more than two decades in the fields of design, coding, programming, technology, design and digital art. Pak is perhaps best known for creating an Archillect to comb the web for images to share on various social media platforms, such as Instagram and Facebook. 

 is a portmanteau of the words “archive” and “intellect,” indicating the AI algorithm that curates the images to share on its feed. Posts are selected to share widely through artistic bots, acting as virtual mood boards.

Not only has Pak produced an Archillect to share others’ images, but he’s also created his own art. In early 2020, Pak released 

, an NFT that later sold for 3.5 ETH (or $788 at that time). He then released a collection that was minted as part of the 

 series and Project X, offering 13 NFTs which were available for just 24 hours, a now-common practice for crypto art.

One of the most promising top NFT artists, Pak has recently launched a digital art platform called 

, designed to sell and curate NFTs. He’s also launched the sale of the 

 platform. Merge was only available for a brief period in December 2021, during which collectors could purchase as many mass units as they wanted. Nearly $92 million in sales were generated.

As one of the few top NFT artists to have a strong music background, Justin Blau is a Vegas-based DJ and producer who’s better known as 

 (pronounced “blau”). Although his background is in finance, his work as a performer is what’s garnering attention today and propelling him into the world of famous NFT artists. 3LAU took his inspiration from Wu-Tang Clan’s 

, its seventh album, which was released and auctioned off to a single bidder. The album was reportedly purchased for $2 million, and could only be played privately — rather than commercially — until 2013.

3LAU put his spin on that concept with the song “Waveform,” auctioning it as an NFT through Christie’s in collaboration with OpenSea. The buyer will own the only available copy, but they’ll be free to use the song as they see fit. In other words, unlike the owner of 

, the owner of “Waveform” has no restrictions and can use it as desired. 3LAU’s influence at the juncture of NFTs and the music industry has perhaps been most noticeable at the launching of 

, the first-ever blockchain-powered music festival.

Once described as “the most expensive living Canadian artist” after selling his first NFT,

 for an eye-popping $4.1 million, Mad Dog Jones has skyrocketed into the top 10 best-selling NFT artists in the world. His style might best be described as cyberpunk-meets-Japanese animation, and it might just be the most distinctive in today’s NFT space. 

 has the ability to (as its name suggests) replicate or generate new and unique NFTs every 28 days.

 was on the auction block, bidding rose to $2.4 million.. Rather than a single work of art, 

 is a singular “NFT experience comprising seven unique generations of artworks.” If the owner sells an NFT from the first generation, each subsequent replicant will transfer to the next new buyer.

Based in New York City, All Seeing Seneca is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). She has a flair for brilliant colors, whimsical designs and vivid movement. All Seeing Seneca has received one of the most prestigious design accolades, the 

, from the Art Directors Club, and she is well-known for her work with big names such as Banana Republic, 

 and NPR. As a result, she’s recently become one of the most famous NFT artists thanks to her Bored Ape Yacht Club collection.

All Seeing Seneca has collaborated on a variety of projects, most recently including the

 NFTs. Her first five-piece NFT collection debuted at 

 in early December and netted $100,000 in sales, while the BAYC NFTs sold at Sotheby’s for $24 million. These works ultimately propelled her reputation to be one of the most well-known top NFT artists. All Seeing Seneca created the design and drawings of the apes, which are sold at Sotheby’s and Christie’s, and

Duo Matt and John are the popular NFT artists behind Larva Labs. Home to a wide range of experimental projects, including large-scale web infrastructure and genomics analysis software, Larva Labs began at an overnight hackathon. Their best-known project, 

, is also one of the most popular NFT projects, netting more than $550 million in lifetime sales. Not content to rest on their laurels, Matt and John have recently unveiled a new project that they call

, featuring 20,000 three-dimensional characters which you can trade via the Ethereum blockchain.

New crypto art projects are appearing regularly, but few have captured the imagination and momentum of buyers as the CryptoPunks project has. The Meebits is predicted to fetch prices in the tens of millions of dollars, especially given that Ethereum has had one of its best weeks in recent history, reaching all-time highs and trading at well over $3,000.

Founder and chairman of VaynerX, Gary Vaynerchuk may be better characterized as a visionary. “GaryVee,” as he’s known, often spots trends in business and culture quickly, and helps forward-thinking individuals better understand the broader implications and potential impacts of current trends on markets and consumer behavior. One of the most influential people in the NFT industry, Gary Vaynerchuk has taken NFTs to new and exciting places, and has certainly earned his place on our list of top NFT artists.

Although GaryVee is an angel investor who has substantially backed well-known tech companies such as Venmo, Snapchat and Uber, he might be better known for

, an NFT collection designed around creativity and a sense of community. VeeFriends NFT ownership grants access to the VeeFriends community and 

. Each VeeFriend carries messages and meaning and contains metadata with on-chain media storage. The smart contract that comes with each VeeFriend NFT is essentially the key that provides access to Gary’s world.

 is an Ethereum-based collection of NFTs considered a “blue-chip” project. The first generation is limited to 9,999 cats, randomly assembled from more than 300,000 combinations of variable features that include bodies, faces, hats and clothing. NFT holders have access to the community, random airdrops and future events, as well as carte blanche when it comes to using their own NFTs.

 is the pseudonymous originator of Cool Cats, as well as the illustrator. In addition to bringing later generations of Cool Cats to the community, clon works with a team of members including xtremetom, Lynqoid and ELU to develop new projects, including gaming options.

One recent announcement includes the $MILK token, which will be used within the Cool Cats ecosystem as a currency for the rumored Cool Cats metaverse, a place where Cool Cats may have the ability to interact with one another, purchase items and change their environments.

Ethereal landscapes, vivid colors and futuristic designs are the hallmarks of Blake Kathryn’s art. Based in Los Angeles, Kathryn works with vibrant palettes to create surrealist works. She has collaborated with some big names that include Fendi, Jimmy Choo and Lil Nas X. Some of her top NFT artist work revolves around the music and fashion industry, but she’s most in her element when working with dreamscapes and nature themes.

” might just be her best-known work, and she was featured in an NFT collection in 

Argentinian-born artist José Delbo began publishing his art when he was 16. Delbo moved to the U.S., where he found himself inspired by westerns and classic TV shows such as 

. In the 1970s, he began immersing himself not only in television but also in comic books, adding sci-fi, cartoons and superheroes to his growing list of passions.

Never one to sit on his laurels, Delbo continues to evolve today. In 2020, he released his first digital art NFT. Entitled 

, this original comic was the start of something new and exciting for Delbo. Since then, he has continued to create breathtaking digital art and NFTs, making him easily one of the best NFT artists capable of capturing his fans’ attention.

As with many other top NFT artists in the digital space, “Hackatao” is a portmanteau. “Hack” refers to the joy of discovering what lies beneath the skin. “Tao” refers to the yin and yang of the creative dynamic balance, for Hackatao is a creative duo rather than a single artist.

Hackatao has a unique style. A team playing off each other’s strengths and working with one another’s weaknesses, they easily rank among the best NFT artists today. The colorful whirls, detailed motifs and overall graffiti-like feel of their digital art NFTs are harmonious, fitting perfectly within the crypto space. Each piece offers commentary on a different aspect of various issues within our modern world, from 

Don’t let the bubblegum colors deceive you: XCOPY’s digital art NFT is gritty, dark and dystopian, and the flashing imagery can catch you off guard. Pieces cost an average of $7,200, but XCOPY’s highest recorded sale garnered around $4 million. Entitled “

,” the scribbled portrait features a character wearing a suit and tie against a garish red background.

 has an incredible 100,000 followers on social media, and has sold a mind-blowing 3,189 pieces. He has a bright, eye-catching, pop-surrealist style that brings to mind children’s collage art, but with a very definite adult edge.

Based in Seattle, FEWOCiOUS (born Victor Langlois) has been creating art since he was 13 and finally made his first breakthrough when he sold his first painting at 17. His digital NFT art is designed to mirror his heart, and if his NFT drops are anything to go by, the public adores him, making him one of the foremost NFT artists. His work is currently grossing just over $17 million each year, which isn’t too shabby when matched up against other top NFT artists.

You’ll find Trevor Jones at the place where art and tech collide. This Scotland-based visual artist has been fascinated with crypto technology since buying his first Bitcoin in 2017. His earliest art was on canvas, but he has since collaborated with some of the industry’s top NFT artists, including José Delbo, and has sold more than 5,200 pieces of art, averaging more than $4,000 per piece. Now he’s become one of the most popular NFT artists and is currently working on a larger project involving paintings and NFTs.

Robbie Barrat, who creates under the name VideoDrome, has sold 41 digital art NFT pieces, with the average price of each an incredible $331,264. In fact, Barrat sits at 10th place for all-time sales when it comes to NFTs. His 

 have collected $1,336,187.70. VideoDrome’s pieces are highly coveted — especially since he’s not currently producing NFTs, given the speculative nature of the market. Nevertheless, he remains one of the best NFT artists to grace the scene.

As one of New York’s top NFT artists, street artist WhIsBe has made a name for himself in gallery art and NFTs. His pseudonym stands for “What Is Beauty” and reveals just a glimpse of his approach. Armed with New York’s 

 degree, WhIsBe developed many of his own digital art NFT techniques, which have been heavily inspired by 

 and refined for modern audiences. His iconic 

 NFT series plays with color and texture, and has sold more than 1,650 NFTs, averaging more than $4,500 per sale. The highest-grossing piece featured a caged golden gummy bear skeleton, priced at $1,000,000. His creative approach has earned him a spot on our list of the top NFT artists.

Mike Parisella is a Boston-based digital collage artist who has sold 6,790 NFT artworks to date. While his work explores a variety of often uncomfortable and potentially boundary-pushing topics, he’s garnered more than half a million followers on social media. Slimesunday has also collaborated with other well-known NFT artists such as 3LAU, form the SSX3LAU duo. Together, they’ve created 

, for which Parisella created the visuals to 3LAU’s music. His highest-selling solo piece is 

, which, as its name suggests, is a work which reveals 

Turkish-American artist Refik Anadol’s work is fluid and alive with movement and rich colors. His digital art NFT installations can be found at both the Portland Building in Oregon and 

, and now he’s earning well-deserved success as one of the top NFT artists in the digital world. So far, he’s sold 536 NFTs at an average of just over $16,768 each. His highest-earning piece, a series of eight animations entitled 

 in Hong Kong for approximately $5 million.

Micah Johnson is a former Major League Baseball player, and today he’s one of the most famous NFT artists — as well as one of the top NFT artists on our list. His pivotal 

 features a series of digital images with a young boy in an astronaut hat and sneakers. Since the unveiling of his work, Johnson has sold 1,534 pieces, averaging $2,244 each.

Johnson’s NFT work is unique in that each piece comes with a physical counterpart in the form of a sculpture. 

,, which as his highest recorded sale went for more than $996,800, also features Aku. It’s currently maintained in a temperature-controlled gallery in the Art Angels Gallery, where the NFT owner has exclusive access rights which can be resold at any time. Not just one of the most famous NFT artists but also one of the most community-minded, Johnson works to give back with pieces that promote donations to educating children in African-American communities.

The pseudonymous Fvckrender specializes in colorful geometric architectural art. His highest-selling work — 

 — features a human face pushing through liquid metal as hands reach toward it. The artist describes the piece as an attempt to “rewire the brain.” The 1,970 digital art NFTs that he’s released have sold for an average of about $4,541 each, making him one of the top NFT artists.

Edward Snowden might be better known as a whistleblower, but he’s also created a significant digital art NFT. So far, he’s only sold a single piece, but at $8.8 million, that’s valuable enough for him to rank among the most successful NFT artists. Titled 

, the piece features a silhouette of Snowden’s face, along with his signature and the landmark decision of his court case. The proceeds from the auction went to the 

, making him not only a famous NFT artist — but also a charitable one.

Dogs playing poker is one thing. But have you ever imagined a cherubic cyclops dancing around framed portraits of chaos — complete with tentacles, pixelated houses, glue and feet? 

 digital collages are a little bit delightful, a little bit ethereal, and a whole lot of nonsense, making him a prime candidate for our list of top NFT artists. They’ve also netted him an average of $4,500 apiece, making him one of the most popular NFT artists. He’s sold 1,580 works since he’s been in the marketplace, and he’s not finished. A big fan of movies, gaming and science fiction, Money is eager to move in a new direction, engaging and collaborating with other artists and potentially adding metaverse avatars to his body of digital art NFTs.

Dmitri Cherniak is a well-known name in the world of crypto, but 

 to the art world. Melding his two passions seems to just make sense. Although he’s only sold 17 NFTs, their average sale price is $459,357, making his addition to the list of popular NFT artists a simple choice.

 has a simple yet magnetic feeling, with clean lines, primary colors and gentle movement. This ultimately distinguishes him from other more edgy and aggressive top NFT artists in the scene.

As these top NFT artists have demonstrated, NFTs give artists new ways to engage and connect with their fans, as well as gain a stake in the crypto space. While digital art is still an emerging art form, it offers new and exciting options for all kinds of artists. Keep an eye on digital art NFT spaces and popular NFT artists to see what developments come next in this important and rapidly expanding sphere.

23 Up-And-Coming Top NFT Artists to Watch

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23 Up-And-Coming Top NFT Artists to Watch

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Compete for 2,500 USDT USDT Every Week

Grab Up to 5,000 USDT in Rewards