Why traders are abandoning NFTs for high-turnover memecoins

ambcryptoPublicado em 2025-12-29Última atualização em 2025-12-29

Resumo

NFT trading activity has significantly declined, with volume becoming dominated by just two major marketplaces, OpenSea and Blur, while smaller platforms fade. Traders have shifted their attention and capital to high-turnover memecoins, particularly on the Solana network. Memecoins like Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, and newer Solana-based tokens offer fast, low-cost trading, allowing for quick entries and exits—aligning with the current preference for speed and flexibility. This shift is driven by the desire for more engaging, accessible assets that don’t require large upfront investment or long holding periods, making memecoins the new focus for speculative activity.

NFTs don’t feel like they used to. Trading is slower, and a lot of people just... seem to have moved on. That doesn’t mean traders are done taking risks. The attention has gone back to memecoins, especially those built on Solana [SOL].

NFTs are so yesterday!

Over the past year, overall NFT activity has gradually decreased, with few spikes and a flat trading pattern across marketplaces. What’s interesting is where the remaining volume is going. NFT market share has become increasingly concentrated, with OpenSea and Blur accounting for the bulk of total trading volume, while smaller platforms lose relevance.

A handful of marketplaces dominate NFT trading, while most others contribute only a sliver of activity. Interest is shrinking, with traders sticking to the most liquid venues and avoiding risk.

NFTs are definitely losing pace, and they are no longer where the spotlight is right now.

Attention is flocking into memecoins instead

CoinMarketCap data shows consistent volume across the largest memecoins; big names like Dogecoin [DOGE], Shiba Inu [SHIB], Pepe [PEPE] are proof – even on tame days, their numbers are astounding. Newer entrants are seeing strong daily trading activity too. Many of the most actively traded tokens over the past week are either native to Solana or heavily traded on it.

This is where the network stands out. Several Solana-based memecoins post high volume despite smaller market caps; they’re frequently traded rather than held long-term. Low transaction fees and fast settlement make it easier for traders to enter and exit positions quickly. This keeps activity elevated.

This was perhaps what lead to the quick rotation from NFTs.

What traders are responding to

It’s not just about NFTs versus memecoins; it’s about how traders want to participate. Capital is moving toward fast, flexible and constantly engaging assets. Memecoins fit that need better right now than NFTs, which often require patience, higher upfront costs, and longer holding periods.

Another change is scale. Memecoins allow smaller traders to stay active without committing large amounts of money. That’s harder in both NFTs and large-cap crypto. There’s more participation, even if it is mindless fun. Traders are choosing markets that let them move quickly, and step away just as fast.


Final Thoughts

  • NFT trading volume is lesser and concentrated on just two marketplaces.
  • Memecoins, especially on Solana, are where it’s at now, with low fees and fast trades.

Perguntas relacionadas

QAccording to the article, why are traders moving from NFTs to memecoins?

ATraders are moving to memecoins because they offer fast, flexible, and constantly engaging trading with low fees and quick settlement, which better fits the current desire for quick entry and exit positions compared to NFTs that require more patience, higher upfront costs, and longer holding periods.

QWhich two NFT marketplaces currently account for the bulk of the total trading volume?

AOpenSea and Blur are the two marketplaces that account for the bulk of the total NFT trading volume.

QOn which blockchain are many of the new high-turnover memecoins being built?

AMany of the new high-turnover memecoins are being built on the Solana blockchain.

QWhat are two key technical features of the Solana network that support high memecoin trading activity?

AThe two key features of the Solana network that support high memecoin trading are its low transaction fees and fast settlement times.

QHow does the article describe the overall trend in NFT activity over the past year?

AThe overall NFT activity has gradually decreased over the past year, with few spikes and a flat trading pattern, indicating it is losing pace and is no longer in the spotlight.

Leituras Relacionadas

Must-Watch Events Next Week|CLARITY Act Could Face Senate Vote; SpaceX, Circle to Report Earnings (8.3-8.9)

**Summary: Key Events and Developments to Watch (August 3-9)** The upcoming week is marked by significant financial disclosures, key legislative deadlines, and notable product updates. **Major Financial Events:** Several companies are scheduled to release their Q2 2026 earnings. American Bitcoin (ABTC) will report on August 3, followed by SpaceX and Hut 8 Mining Corp. on August 4, and Circle on August 5. Notably, a significant portion of SpaceX shares (up to 12% of total shares) will be unlocked on August 6 following their earnings release. **Key Legislative Deadline:** The U.S. Senate faces an August 7 deadline to secure 60 votes for the CLARITY Act, a bipartisan bill aiming to establish a federal regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies. The Senate may hold a full vote on the bill during the week. **Economic Data:** The U.S. July Non-Farm Payrolls report will be released on August 7, providing crucial labor market data. **Technology & Product Updates:** * **Shutdowns:** DeFi portfolio tracker Zapper and wallet app Ctrl Wallet will cease operations on August 3. * **Upgrades:** LayerZero will deprecate its v1 relayers on August 3. XRP Ledger's new version 3.3.0, featuring five new functions, is expected next week. * **AI:** Elon Musk announced that the advanced Grok 4.6 AI model is set for release around August 7. * **Bitcoin:** The BIP-110 forced signaling for a potential Bitcoin network change is scheduled to begin around August 8. **Other Notable Events:** Chinese robotics firm Unitree Tech has set its preliminary price inquiry for its IPO for August 5. South Korean exchange Upbit will delist AQT and AERGO tokens on August 3.

marsbitHá 11m

Must-Watch Events Next Week|CLARITY Act Could Face Senate Vote; SpaceX, Circle to Report Earnings (8.3-8.9)

marsbitHá 11m

Stocks Are Plummeting More Sharply Than Cryptocurrencies. Where Has the Money Gone?

Stock Markets Plunge Deeper Than Cryptocurrencies: Where Did the Money Go? In late July, Seoul's Kospi index triggered circuit breakers for two consecutive days, plummeting over 40% from its June high. The collapse was led by heavyweight stocks like SK Hynix, whose record profits still disappointed investors, and devastating leveraged ETFs, with one major product losing over 83% of its value. This signaled a global, forced deleveraging targeting the most crowded trades. Interestingly, while stocks exhibited extreme volatility akin to crypto markets, Bitcoin rose nearly 15% in July after a prior steep drop. Analysis shows the money fleeing equities did not flow into Bitcoin. Instead, Bitcoin had already absorbed its sell-off in May-June, when U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs saw historic outflows. The true safe-haven beneficiary was gold, whose price rose over 20% year-on-year, highlighting a decoupling between Bitcoin and gold as "digital gold." The sell-off was a targeted unwinding of leveraged positions in tech and semiconductors, accelerated by broker-dealer risk management and shifts in the AI narrative, including new competition from Chinese memory chipmakers. The retreat path was clear: from high-valuation tech stocks to cash and U.S. Treasuries, then to gold. For Bitcoin to attract sustained institutional inflows, conditions like eased global liquidity pressure, a "soft-landing" Fed rate cut, and U.S. regulatory clarity via legislation like the stalled CLARITY Act are needed. Currently, Bitcoin is not a safe haven but an already-cleared asset. Its low correlation with tech stocks, however, makes it a potential diversification play for institutional portfolios once the storm passes. The money isn't here yet, but the positioning is underway.

marsbitHá 11m

Stocks Are Plummeting More Sharply Than Cryptocurrencies. Where Has the Money Gone?

marsbitHá 11m

In Conversation with Ray Dalio: We Are Currently in an AI Bubble, with 1% of My Portfolio in Bitcoin

Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, warns in an interview that the current AI boom shows classic bubble characteristics, which could lead to significant economic downturns as seen in past cycles like 1929 or 2000. He explains that speculative enthusiasm, fueled by debt and overvaluation, often precedes a crash when rising rates or taxation force asset sales, causing widespread losses and recession. Dalio also outlines his "Big Cycle" theory, describing an approximate 80-year pattern where widening wealth gaps, massive government deficits, and shifting geopolitical power (like China's rise) create internal conflict and global instability. He emphasizes that we are in a late-cycle, transitional phase where traditional powers like the US and UK face decline. For personal wealth protection, Dalio advises diversification beyond cash into assets like stocks, bonds, real estate, and particularly gold, which he prefers over Bitcoin. While he holds about 1% of his portfolio in Bitcoin as a non-printable hard asset, he views gold as more secure from technological or governmental threats. Regarding AI's impact, Dalio believes it will disproportionately benefit capital owners, worsening inequality by replacing both physical and cognitive labor. He suggests that human intuition and emotional intelligence, combined with AI, will be key for future workers. On taxation, Dalio argues that wealth taxes are impractical and risk triggering asset sell-offs, reducing productive investment. He points to the UK as a cautionary example of debt, low productivity, and political strife. Geopolitically, Dalio foresees a more regionalized world, with the US showing weakness in prolonged conflicts like with Iran, akin to past imperial declines. The ideal outcome, he suggests, is coexisting powerful blocs (e.g., Americas, China-Asia Pacific) without major war.

marsbitHá 4h

In Conversation with Ray Dalio: We Are Currently in an AI Bubble, with 1% of My Portfolio in Bitcoin

marsbitHá 4h

Daily 7.2 Trillion KRW: Foreign Capital's Record Net Buying on Friday! Wall Street Says Headwinds for Korean Stock Fund Flows Have Subsided

South Korean stock market sees a dramatic shift in fund flows. On July 31, foreign investors made a record net purchase of approximately KRW 7.2 trillion in KOSPI stocks, marking a fundamental reversal from the persistent large-scale net outflows seen in previous months. This contributed to a significant narrowing of foreign net selling in July to KRW 9.8 trillion, down sharply from KRW 48.4 trillion in June and KRW 44.5 trillion in May. Simultaneously, domestic institutional pressure eased. South Korean pension funds and asset managers turned to a net buying position in July, purchasing KRW 1.0 trillion worth of KOSPI shares, contrasting with net sales in May and June. Market volatility is expected to be dampened by new financial regulations. Effective July 31, the Financial Services Commission tightened access for retail investors to single-stock leveraged ETFs by raising the minimum cash deposit requirement. Trading volumes for these products subsequently dropped to about 50% of their monthly average. Citigroup Research maintains its year-end KOSPI target of 10,000 points. The firm cites several supportive factors: the substantial easing of headwinds from capital outflows, a robust fundamental outlook for the semiconductor sector, historically low market valuations, strong economic fundamentals, and the potential for policy support from financial authorities if needed.

marsbitHá 4h

Daily 7.2 Trillion KRW: Foreign Capital's Record Net Buying on Friday! Wall Street Says Headwinds for Korean Stock Fund Flows Have Subsided

marsbitHá 4h

Trading

Spot
活动图片