End of Year nft Market Overview
nfts concluded 2024 on a relatively high note, reaching a sales volume of $8.83 billion for the year according to CryptoSlam. Although that figure exceeds the $8.7 billion recorded in 2023, it is still behind the market peaks seen in 2021 and 2022, when total nft volumes ranged between $15.7 billion and $23.7 billion. Despite lower activity compared to those boom periods, the modest year-over-year growth indicates continued demand for digital collectibles even in a colder macro environment.
<img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="alignnone" src="https://technicalterrence.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Weekly-Crypto-NFT-Market-Overview-December-30-–-January.png" alt="End of Year nft Market Overview” width=”1348″ height=”456″/>
ethereum and bitcoin competed head-to-head for the leading blockchain position in the 2024 nft space, with both recording $3.1 billion in annual sales. Meanwhile, Solana followed with $1.4 billion and ethereum maintained its top spot in all-time nft volumes with a <a target="_blank" href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/nft-total-sales-volume-2024-data-december” data-wpel-link=”external” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow external noopener noreferrer”>impressive 44.9 billion dollars. This shows that while new chains are emerging, ethereum's established ecosystem and brand still has a considerable advantage.
One noteworthy aspect of the late 2024 market was the activity seen in December. While September had marked a seven-month low, volumes increased in the fourth quarter, with December's $877 million representing the fifth-highest monthly sales figure of the year. Collections like Pudgy Penguins maintained their top spot thanks to continued community engagement and brand expansion, recording approximately $115 million in sales. Other big names, including Azuki, LilPudgys, CryptoPunks, Doodles, and Bored Ape Yacht Club, raised a combined $141 million during the month.
While uncertainty remains over how global crypto markets will shape nft growth in 2025, <a target="_blank" href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/animoca-brands-yat-siu-interview-bitcoin-mena-2024″ data-wpel-link=”external” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow external noopener noreferrer”>Executives like Yat Siu predict even larger volumes in the future. Siu believes that as the broader crypto industry expands, nfts will follow, generating volumes that could once again reach billions monthly. So, although the market is less feverish than at its peak, nft enthusiasts appear to have reason for cautious optimism heading into the new year.
Traditional Brokerage, crypto Regulation, and Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley, one of the world's largest asset managers, plans to expand its offering by bringing cryptocurrency trading to e-commerce. According to a recent report, a <a target="_blank" href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/morgan-stanley-e-trade-adding-crypto-report” data-wpel-link=”external” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow external noopener noreferrer”>deciding factor Driving the move is the incoming Trump administration's pro-cryptocurrency policies, which many hope will simplify regulatory pathways for digital assets in the United States. If the plan goes ahead, E-Trade could join the ranks of brokerages such as Robinhood, Fidelity and Interactive Brokers in offering an easy avenue for retail clients to trade popular cryptocurrencies.
<img decoding="async" class="alignnone" src="https://technicalterrence.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1736168676_239_Weekly-Crypto-NFT-Market-Overview-December-30-–-January.png" alt="Traditional Brokerage, crypto Regulation, and Morgan Stanley” width=”1354″ height=”574″/>
This interest from major financial institutions highlights the growing realization that cryptocurrencies are here to stay, especially as early adopters see positive returns and high trading volumes. Over the past year, platforms like Robinhood have demonstrated how cryptocurrency integration can significantly increase revenue; In the third quarter of 2024, the <a target="_blank" href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/robinhood-crypto-volumes-double-as-hood-stock-tanks” data-wpel-link=”external” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow external noopener noreferrer”>The company reported a 165% year-over-year increase. in cryptocurrency-related earnings. While the overall market remains volatile, the ability to engage a large consumer base with digital assets is proving attractive to traditional brokers.
Morgan Stanley already has clout in the crypto sphere through its advisory network and past moves, such as allowing certain wealth management clients to invest in bitcoin exchange-traded funds. This latest development, if confirmed, would further expand access by closing the gap between the millions of retail E-Trade account holders and the broader crypto market. The potential for greater investor adoption could also create more direct competition for existing crypto exchanges.
With this in mind, some challenges still remain. A change in U.S. leadership does not fully guarantee a smoother regulatory environment, as agencies still deliberate over stablecoins, security designations, and centralized oversight of exchanges. However, the conversation in Washington appears increasingly open to crypto products, and Morgan Stanley's willingness to explore cryptocurrency electronic trading indicates that traditional Wall Street giants sense lasting demand for digital assets. If the company is successful, it could accelerate a trend in which major brokerages integrate crypto services as a standard part of their portfolios.
bitcoin ETF Milestones and Price Projections
bitcoin's notable rise above the $100,000 level has put even more attention on the growing influence of US spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds. Many of these ETFs are led by asset management giant BlackRock and are close to surpassing $110 billion in combined holdings, representing approximately 5.7% of the entire circulating supply of bitcoin. BlackRock's iShares bitcoin Trust alone holds more than 540,000 btc, worth approximately $51.5 billion, representing nearly 48% of the US bitcoin ETF market.
When bitcoin spot ETFs were first launched, critics questioned whether they could significantly affect the price of btc in the long term. However, 2024 has shown that consistent buying activity by institutional vehicles can offer substantial support, pushing bitcoin past crucial psychological barriers. the consistent <a target="_blank" href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-etfs-about-75-new-investment” data-wpel-link=”external” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow external noopener noreferrer”>adding new btc to ETF reserves It also reduces the supply available on exchanges, which can lead to steeper price movements under the right conditions.
Looking forward, <a target="_blank" href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-etfs-near-110-b-milestone-as-analyst-calls-200k-btc-in-2025″ data-wpel-link=”external” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow external noopener noreferrer”>some experts predict bitcoin could reach $200,000 by 2025. They cite a confluence of factors including increased investor interest, a friendlier regulatory outlook, and the halving event scheduled for that same period. Still, short-term obstacles remain. bitcoin price must overcome firm resistance near $99,000 before retesting its all-time high territory. A break above that zone could trigger a brief squeeze, liquidating large swaths of bearish positions, which in turn could accelerate the rally.
Of course, regulatory decisions and macroeconomic changes can still alter even the most bullish outlook. An unexpected change in Federal Reserve policy or a major cybersecurity event could dampen optimism. However, the significant presence of bitcoin ETFs reflects a notable shift by risk-averse institutions.
Final thoughts
This week's developments underscore the growing maturity of digital assets. nfts closed out 2024 stronger than expected, traditional brokerages explored new crypto features, and bitcoin ETFs inched closer to an all-time milestone of $110 billion. Although market cycles remain unpredictable, consistency of institutional commitment and consumer-driven products indicate that adoption could continue to expand. Now that 2025 already feels like home, keep an eye out for continued innovation in nfts, brokerage integrations, and crypto ETFs shaping the digital asset landscape.
