The NFT market delivered its first surprise of 2026. Data from CryptoSlam shows that buyer numbers more than doubled in the second week of January, jumping from around 61,000 to over 134,000 participants. That’s a 121% increase in seven days.
But strangely, total sales only hit $61.5 million for the week, barely moving with a 1.52% increase. So you’ve got way more people buying, but each person is spending less money.
Is this the start of a real comeback, or just another head-fake before things go quiet again? Hard to say right now. But all those people declaring NFTs completely finished might want to reconsider after this NFT buy surge.
Over 134,000 Buyers Flood Back Into NFTs
Let’s see at what happened in just seven days. Buyer numbers hit 134,743, which works out to a 120.90% jump from the week before. Sellers followed suit, increasing by 98.69% to hit 111,756.
The timing lines up perfectly with Bitcoin climbing back to $95,000 and Ethereum pushing past $3,200. The global crypto market cap went from $3.09 trillion to $3.22 trillion. When Bitcoin and Ethereum stop bouncing around like crazy, people seem more willing to buy NFTs again. That pattern has held true through multiple cycles now.
More people are buying, but they’re being cautious with how much they spend per transaction.
Also Read: How NFTs Will Reshape The Future Of Crypto In 2026
Ethereum Dominates With $29 Million in Sales
Ethereum maintained its position at the top with $29.05 million in NFT sales, posting a 13.51% gain over the seven-day period. The network saw 17,389 buyers, up by a staggering 420.94% from the prior week.
Bitcoin claimed second place among blockchains with $9.33 million in sales, though this represents a 12.69% decline from the previous week. Despite lower sales volume, the network drew 5,185 buyers, up 202.69% week-over-week.
BNB Chain ranked third with $7.73 million in sales, climbing 10.24% and drawing 14,728 buyers who increased by 422.27%. The NFT buy surge wasn’t limited to one blockchain. Multiple networks saw massive increases in participant numbers.
Immutable secured fourth position at $4.14 million in sales, up 5.15%, while Panini rounded out the top five with $2.26 million, down 9.05%. Base blockchain recorded $2.26 million in sales with a 35.45% gain. Solana posted $1.89 million in sales but suffered a steep 46.78% decline compared to the previous week.
YES BOND and Blue Chips Lead Collections
YES BOND on BNB Chain dominated the collection rankings with $3.26 million in sales, climbing 19.35% over the week. The collection processed 1,622 transactions from 1,299 buyers, showing strong community engagement.
CryptoPunks took second place with $2.73 million in sales despite a 23.81% drop. The blue-chip Ethereum collection completed 28 transactions from 20 buyers. When whales move CryptoPunks, they move big money in small transaction counts.
Ape.bond Bonds landed in third with $2.48 million in sales, surging 43.47%. Panini America generated $2.26 million in sales with a 9.05% decline, while Guild of Guardians Heroes posted $2.16 million in sales, up 0.74%.
Good Vibes Club on Ethereum recorded $2.09 million in sales with a massive 349.52% gain. Pudgy Penguins rounded out the top seven with $2 million in sales, down 9.62%. These mixed signals across different collections show the NFT buy surge isn’t lifting all projects equally.
What’s Fueling This Return of Buyers
Lower barriers to entry are making the market accessible again. Projects that traded for multiple ETH during the 2021 boom now sit at fractions of those values. For newcomers, current prices represent an opportunity rather than an obstacle.
The recovery in Bitcoin and Ethereum prices matters too. When major cryptocurrencies aren’t experiencing wild daily swings, NFT buyers feel less anxious about holding digital assets. Risk appetite returns gradually, and this NFT buy surge reflects that psychological shift.
Gaming NFTs and utility-focused projects are attracting serious attention. Guild of Guardians Heroes maintained steady sales with minimal volatility. Collections offering actual gameplay advantages or real-world benefits tend to perform better than pure art projects during uncertain market conditions.
The fear of missing another major run also drives buying behavior. Anyone who sat out the 2021 boom remembers watching from the sidelines while others profited. That memory influences decisions when early recovery signals appear.
Bitcoin NFTs Steal the Spotlight
The week’s highest-value sales were dominated by $X@AI BRC-20 NFTs on Bitcoin. The top sale reached $1.10 million (12.0247 BTC), followed by another $X@AI piece at $898,131 (9.8453 BTC). Both transactions occurred three days ago.
Three CryptoPunks made it into the top five sales for the week. Number 5705 went for $163,672 (53 ETH) six days back. Then #3043 sold for $123,926 (40 ETH), and #4773 brought in $111,223 (35.9 ETH), with both of those happening three days ago. Bitcoin NFTs pulling these kinds of numbers proves collectors aren’t just sticking to Ethereum anymore. They’re hunting for value across different chains.
Can This Momentum Actually Last
We’re not headed back to 2021. Those days of Bored Apes selling for hundreds of thousands are done. The market has matured beyond pure speculation, and that’s probably healthy for long-term sustainability.
Current buying patterns look more rational. People are researching projects, checking utility, and asking harder questions before purchasing. Blindly buying into hype has been replaced by actual due diligence.
Floor prices for major collections have held relatively steady despite the NFT buy surge, bringing in new participants. That suggests conviction from long-term holders who aren’t interested in selling at current levels. When sellers hold firm, and new buyers enter, you get price stability.
Wash trading on Ethereum totaled $3.88 million during this timeframe, which is worth noting. Not all transaction volume represents genuine market activity. Smart investors filter out wash trading when analyzing trends.
Tracking the Next Two Weeks
Retention matters more than initial surges. If these 134,000+ buyers stick around for the next month and continue purchasing, we’ve got something real. If they disappear next week, this was just a blip driven by a temporary Bitcoin price recovery.
Watch for buyer numbers holding above 100,000 weekly. That would confirm new participants are sticking around rather than making one purchase and leaving. Transaction frequency tells the real story, not just one-week snapshots.
Gaming projects and utility-focused collections will probably lead any sustained comeback. Pure collectibles need stronger narratives and communities to survive in this environment. The market has changed, and projects that haven’t adapted will struggle.
Total market capitalization still sits far below peak levels from 2021-2022. But market bottoms form when enough people decide the downside risk is limited and the upside potential justifies entry. Over 134,000 people just made that calculation and clicked buy.
Is the NFT market recovering in 2026?
Buyer numbers jumped 121% to reach 134,743 in mid-January, but sales volumes remain modest at $61.5 million weekly, with only a 1.52% increase. The recovery is happening slowly with more participants but lower individual spending.
Which blockchain has the most NFT sales right now?
Ethereum leads with $29.05 million in weekly sales and a 13.51% gain. Bitcoin follows with $9.33 million despite a 12.69% decline, and BNB Chain ranks third with $7.73 million.
Why are more people buying NFTs despite flat sales numbers?
New buyers are entering at lower price points and making smaller purchases. This creates higher buyer counts but similar total volume, suggesting cautious market re-entry rather than speculative frenzy.
What NFT collections are performing best?
YES BOND leads at $3.26 million with a 19.35% increase. CryptoPunks recorded $2.73 million in sales, while Ape.bond Bonds hit $2.48 million with a 43.47% surge.
Get the news in a Jist. Follow Cryptojist on X and Telegram for real-time updates!
Disclaimer:
Look, we’re just journalists reporting the news here, not your financial advisors. Everything you read above is for information purposes only. Crypto is wild, unpredictable, and can absolutely wreck your savings if you’re not careful. Never invest money you can’t afford to lose. Seriously, we mean it. Do your own research, talk to actual licensed financial professionals, and remember that past performance means absolutely nothing when it comes to future results. The crypto market can turn on a dime, and what’s hot today might be toast tomorrow. We’re not responsible for your investment decisions, good or bad. Trade smart, stay safe, and don’t bet the farm on anything you read on the internet, including this article.
Bitcoin 
Tether 
BNB 