The non-fungible token (NFT) market has experienced a notable resurgence this year, reaching transaction volumes not seen since 2022, as per a new report from DappRadar.

Despite overall trading volumes still being tempered by lower average prices, the count of transactions has spiked significantly throughout 2025.

From Slump to Surge

In Q1, there were 7 million NFT sales, which increased to 12.5 million in Q2. Sales momentum continued to pick up in Q3, boasting over 18.1 million NFTs sold, indicating a 45% quarter-over-quarter increase, alongside a trading volume of $1.6 billion.

While transaction rates have surged, DappRadar observes that user adoption has not seen a similar rise. By Q3, the number of unique wallets involved in NFT trading climbed from 1.66 million in Q1 to 2.14 million in Q3, suggesting that active traders are becoming increasingly involved rather than new wallets joining the fray. The average number of NFTs traded per wallet doubled, indicating heightened activity among existing participants.

Among different NFT categories, the gaming sector lagged, with DappRadar reporting a 17% decrease in trading volumes and a steep 32% drop in gaming-related NFT transactions over the last quarter.

Conversely, the sports NFT segment has made impressive gains, increasing its trading volume by 337% to $71 million, with sales rising by 143% to 4.1 million. This growth is primarily credited to Sorare, the fantasy sports platform known for its digital collectibles across various sports, especially due to the kickoff of new seasons.

Airdrops and OG NFTs

This recent rise is also connected to strategic initiatives and renewed interest in older projects. Key contributors include OpenSea’s promotional campaign before its forthcoming token launch, which engaged active traders and spurred frequent transactions. This strategy has incentivized users to trade lower-value NFTs to secure rewards, leading to a surge in platform activity.

Consequently, OpenSea’s sales count saw a 29% increase in Q3, totaling 9.27 million assets sold.

Simultaneously, profile picture collections like CryptoPunks and Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) regained their standing, with trading volumes for these categories increasing by 187% quarter-over-quarter to $544 million, amidst renewed collector enthusiasm.

In a similar vein, Yuga Labs concentrated its efforts on BAYC, Mutant Ape Yacht Club (MAYC), and Otherside, while Moonbirds, under Orange Cap Games, marked Q3’s significant comeback with 8,311 NFT sales worth $88 million, attributing its success to the buzz around its upcoming BIRB token launch on Solana.