A Year of Groundbreaking Art, Unique Experiences, and Memorable Moments

Fast Facts:

• QQL, an Ethereum generative art NFT collection, sold $17 million worth of NFT mint passes and allowed buyers to shape the final artwork.
• “Proof of Merge” NFTs celebrated the Ethereum merge and dynamically changed their appearance to reflect the state of the merge process.
• Nouns NFT project and DAO focused on community governance, accumulating 29,150 ETH in its treasury, and supporting various initiatives.
• Shibuya used NFTs as voting chips to fund its mission of revolutionizing Web3 content creation and developing community-driven storylines.
• Goblintown NFTs brought humor and levity to the struggling crypto community, garnering $96 million worth of secondary market trading.

As NFTs continued to capture the imagination of the digital world in 2022, a select few projects emerged as truly remarkable and influential. From groundbreaking art collections to community-driven initiatives, these NFT projects pushed the boundaries of innovation, engagement, and creativity. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most unforgettable NFT projects that defined 2022.

Unleashing Innovation

QQL, a generative art NFT collection created by Tyler Hobbs and Dandelion Wist, disrupted the scene with its interactive approach. Buyers of the mint pass had the unique opportunity to shape the final artwork and become artists themselves. This groundbreaking concept gamified the NFT minting process, engaging collectors and revolutionizing the creation and ownership of NFTs.

Celebrating the Ethereum Merge

“Proof of Merge,” dynamic Ethereum NFTs created by Mason Hall and Michael Blau, paid homage to the highly-anticipated Ethereum merge. These NFTs evolved in real time, mirroring the progress of the merge process and showcasing the transformative power of blockchain technology. Each NFT transformed from a static image to a Yin-Yang symbol, symbolizing the combination of different layers within the Ethereum ecosystem.

Empowering Communities

The Nouns NFT project embraced the principles of community governance and open-source IP creation. With an impressive treasury of 29,150 ETH, the Nouns DAO empowered NFT holders to vote on project proposals and supported initiatives ranging from education to fashion. By utilizing a Creative Commons CC0 license, Nouns enabled the creation and sale of derivative works, ensuring that value flowed back to the NFT holders.

“2022 was a year of NFTs that defied expectations and embraced the unconventional. From shaping art with QQL to merging with the Ethereum ecosystem through dynamic NFTs, these projects showed us that NFTs are not just about the dollar values but about the immersive experiences and untapped creativity they unlock.”

NFTs Shaping Content Creation

Shibuya, led by artist Emily “pplpleasr” Yang, utilized NFTs to transform the landscape of content creation. By selling NFTs as voting chips, Shibuya fostered a community-driven approach where users collectively shaped storylines and funded future projects. With a vision to elevate Web3 content, Yang aimed to bring taste and quality to a space that was often lacking in artistic curation.

Unconventional Delights and Wild Trends

In the midst of a struggling crypto community, Goblintown NFTs emerged as a breath of fresh air. These unconventional and intentionally humorous NFTs resonated with traders, offering a much-needed sense of levity and excitement. Despite their unique art style, Goblintown NFTs generated a staggering $96 million in secondary market trading, highlighting the power of unconventional trends in the NFT space.