Towards a backdrop of macroeconomic uncertainty, crypto markets are faltering. Nevertheless, fund efficiency knowledge from Bitwise suggests NFTs are holding up amid the uncertainty.
Crypto markets beneath strain
Crypto markets have been caught in a noticeable downturn for the reason that begin of April. Over this era, the entire crypto market cap has misplaced $448 billion from its native high of $2.1 trillion.
Analysts level to broader macroeconomic factors inflicting investor sentiment to flip risk-on. And with cryptocurrencies broadly thought to be excessive danger, some say the bear market is already right here.
The $1.6 trillion stage has confirmed robust assist, with a number of bounces at this stage since mid-February. The newest retest was on April 30, resulting in a 5% upswing.
Nevertheless, contemplating the entire crypto market cap is 43% down on November 2021’s all-time excessive, the outlook stays grim.

Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley tweeted YTD efficiency figures for a few of the funds managed by the crypto asset administration agency. Of these he listed, the Bitwise DeFi Index (the highest three constituents are Uniswap, Aave, and Maker) confirmed probably the most important loss at -53%.
However surprisingly, the Bitwise Blue-Chip NFT Index (the highest three constituents are Bored Ape Yacht Membership, CryptoPunks, and Mutant Ape Yacht Membership) was the one fund within the inexperienced.
YTD:
Bitwise DeFi Index: -53%
Bitwise 10 Giant Cap Index: -23%
Bitwise Crypto Trade Index (Equities): -17%
Bitwise Blue-Chip NFT Index: +16% (!!!)Crypto alleged to be extra unstable, however…$QQQ: -22%$ARKK: -50%
… $AGG: -10%— Hunter Horsley (@HHorsley) May 2, 2022
Commenting on the YTD efficiency of the funds, one Twitter user mentioned a state of affairs by which NFTs “save our portfolios” would have been laughable a 12 months in the past.
“A 12 months in the past if you happen to instructed somebody that every one shares & crypto would crash however NFTs would save our portfolios they’d’ve laughed so arduous.”
Are NFTs holding issues up?
The final word standing image or pointless jpegs? Whereas it’s true non-fungible tokens serve broader functions than simply digital artworks, the controversy surrounding them nonetheless continues to rage.
A latest Bloomberg article laid out the case for a cooling NFT market by stating the common promoting worth has fallen from $6,900 on January 2, 2022, to lower than $2,000 at the beginning of March. As well as, complete day by day common gross sales have declined, falling from $160.2 million on January 31, 2022, to $26.2 million on March 3, 2022.
Nevertheless, this sample isn’t mirrored within the top-tier NFT collections. The Bored Ape Yacht Membership (BAYC) Assortment has a present ground worth of 114.3 ETH ($325,000 at right now’s worth). Evaluation of its common promoting worth exhibits a pointy downturn for the reason that begin of Might. However all through 2022, the common promoting worth remains to be trending upwards.

As such, the information factors to a break up market. Whereas averages present a decline in NFT gross sales worth and quantity, top-tier collections like BAYC are bucking the development.
However will top-tier NFTs proceed to outperform because the 12 months continues?