True colors in the cold winter: Bitcoin NFTs value return and trading strategies

NFT market is experiencing a significant correction. According to market data from mid-December, global NFT sales dropped approximately 16% in one week to $65 million, with the number of buyers plummeting 68%.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin NFT trading volume also declined by 21%, to $6.1 million. During this market adjustment period, NFTs based on the Bitcoin network demonstrate unique technical characteristics and long-term value logic that differ from other ecosystems.

01 Market Winter

The cryptocurrency market has recently shown a complex divergence trend. As of December 19, Bitcoin’s latest trading price was $87,154.88, up 1.06% on the day. However, this price is still nearly 26% lower than three months ago.

At the same time, the overall NFT market performance remains weak. The NFT sector index has fallen 1.68% amid a recent market rebound, making it one of the worst-performing sectors. Some NFT-related tokens, such as APENFT (NFT), have seen a 10.83% decline within 24 hours.

More detailed data reveal a deep market correction. In the most recent statistical week, global NFT sales decreased from $77 million to $65 million, a decline of about 16%. Market participation has sharply decreased, with the number of buyers dropping 68% to approximately 155,000, and the number of sellers decreasing by 71%.

02 On-Chain Performance

NFT trading performance varies significantly across different blockchains. Ethereum, while still maintaining a leading position, saw its NFT trading volume decrease by 11% to about $24 million, with the number of buyers down 70%.

Bitcoin network’s NFT trading volume is $6.1 million, down 21%. Notably, despite the volume decline, high-value transactions on the Bitcoin network remain active, such as a single Bitcoin BRC-20 NFT sale exceeding $809,000.

Other blockchains show different trends:

Solana performs strongly, with NFT sales reaching $5.54 million, a countertrend growth of 44.5%, mainly due to low costs and an active gaming NFT ecosystem. BNB Chain also recorded growth, with sales reaching $9.44 million, up 21%.

The table below compares the NFT trading performance of major blockchains:

03 Advantages of Bitcoin NFTs

NFTs on the Bitcoin network are implemented via the Ordinals protocol, which allows data to be inscribed directly onto the smallest unit of Bitcoin, the “satoshi.” Since its launch, this protocol has recorded over 15 million inscriptions.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin publicly affirmed the positive role of Bitcoin’s Ordinals protocol. He pointed out that this trend “is revitalizing development activity on the Bitcoin network” and attracting developers from Ethereum to the Bitcoin ecosystem.

Compared to NFTs based on other blockchains, Bitcoin NFTs have several unique advantages:

Security inheritance: directly relying on Bitcoin’s security and decentralization features; Permanent guarantee: data inscribed on the Bitcoin blockchain has the same permanence as Bitcoin transactions; Value correlation: closely tied to the narrative of Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency asset.

04 Market Adjustment and Value Reassessment

The current downturn in the NFT market reflects a structural adjustment rather than a simple price decline. The shift from art and speculative projects to gaming and utility NFTs is becoming increasingly evident.

Despite the overall decline in the NFT sector, Bitcoin’s price rose 1.06% on December 19, to $88,154.88. This divergence indicates that the market is re-evaluating the intrinsic value of different crypto asset classes.

Market analysts believe that the current NFT market downturn is a “market reset,” a process of transitioning from hype-driven trading to sustainable NFT use cases emphasizing practicality.

05 Investment Strategies and Gate Platform

When trading Bitcoin NFTs and related assets on the Gate platform, investors should consider the following strategies:

Focus on long-term value: during market adjustments, NFT projects based on Bitcoin’s security and unique features may be more resilient. Diversify holdings: avoid concentrating all funds in a single NFT category; consider pairing with mainstream cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Seize market timing: use market volatility to find entry opportunities, especially when Bitcoin NFT trading volume is abnormally low.

It is worth noting that the overall cryptocurrency market is facing liquidity challenges. On-chain data shows that long-term holders are selling Bitcoin at an unprecedented rate in recent years, with about $300 billion worth of Bitcoin, previously “dormant” for over a year, re-entering circulation in 2025.

This macro environment adds complexity to the market and underscores the importance of cautious investing. For NFT investors, focusing on projects with practical utility and strong community support, rather than purely speculative price plays, may be a more sustainable strategy.

Future Outlook

During the market correction, Solana-based NFT sales increased countertrend by 44.5%, reaching $5.54 million, while high-value NFT transactions on the Bitcoin network remain active, with single transactions exceeding $809,000.

This divergence indicates a shift from homogeneous hype to a value discovery process based on blockchain features and project utility.

The over 15 million inscriptions recorded via Bitcoin’s Ordinals, coupled with Vitalik Buterin’s praise of its “revival of Bitcoin development,” together sketch a new emerging ecosystem landscape.