$13.7 Billion Vanishes: NFTs Crumble Alongside the Crypto Market

Once the rising stars of Web3, NFTs have lost their luster. Since 2021, their trajectory has resembled more that of a slide than a rocket: in three years, their capitalization has collapsed by over 90%. At the beginning of 2025, the hope for a comeback was still allowed, but the trend abruptly reversed. In February, trading volume dropped by 50% to fall to 498 million dollars. So, is this a mere hiccup in the crypto market or a warning sign of an irreversible decline?

The fall of NFTs: a measured descent

The public’s disinterest in non-fungible tokens is far from anecdotal. In January, sales fell by 26%, the worst collapse in 4 years, before plunging again in February. This decline follows the retreat of the crypto market, linked to economic uncertainty and the recent tariffs imposed by Donald Trump.

However, a few niches are holding strong: profile NFTs have generated 243 million dollars in transactions, while gaming and sports NFTs continue to attract a loyal audience, clarifies DappRadar in a recent report.

Among the projects making headlines, Doodles has managed to create excitement by announcing the launch of its DOOD token on Solana. Others, like Kaito Genesis, bet on the integration of artificial intelligence to restore value to digital assets. Courtyard.io, for its part, is trying to reconcile the nostalgia for the tangible with the digital by tokenizing physical collectibles.

But will these efforts be enough to reverse the trend? For the figures are grim:

• NFT market down 50% in February;
• Capitalization has fallen by over 90% since 2021;
• Value of Justin Bieber’s NFTs dropped from 2 million to 100,000 dollars;
• 76,385 profile NFT sales in February, but at lower prices.

A crypto market in crisis: alarming signs

The decline of the NFT market is merely a reflection of a broader context: the entire crypto market is under pressure. In December, the total capitalization of cryptocurrencies reached 3.71 trillion dollars, before suffering a setback in February.

The price of bitcoin has gone on a rollercoaster ride, flirting with 109,000 dollars in January before losing momentum again.

The activity on decentralized applications (dApps) has also taken a hit, with a 8% decrease in the number of active wallets. At the same time, DeFi is facing a severe setback. If NFTs are collapsing, it is not just a fleeting crisis, but rather a wake-up call regarding the strength of the Web3 ecosystem.

So, are we witnessing the end of the golden age of digital assets, or are these upheavals preparing for an unexpected renewal?

However, the future of NFTs may hold some surprises. The Trump Organization is preparing a major project combining NFTs and the metaverse. If this gamble succeeds, it could very well breathe new life into a market in search of renewal.