After a five-month slump, the NFT market witnessed a resurgence in May, with sales rising and buyer activity sharply increasing, according to the latest data from CryptoSlam. The revival marks the first monthly increase in NFT sales for 2025, suggesting renewed optimism in the digital collectibles space.

Sales Surge Signals Rebound

NFT sales totalled $430 million in May, up 15% from April’s $373 million. This is the first uptick since December 2024, when volumes peaked at over $900 million. May’s performance not only broke the downward trend but also registered the highest number of transactions this year, reaching 5.5 million.

Buyers Rise, Sellers Decline

The sales growth is closely tied to a spike in buyer activity. Unique NFT buyers soared by 50% in May, increasing from around 622,000 in April to over 936,000. This marks the highest buyer count since October 2024, indicating renewed interest and participation in the space.

In contrast, the number of unique sellers declined to just 284,600—the lowest recorded on CryptoSlam since April 2021. This imbalance between rising demand and falling supply could pave the way for more competitive bidding and potentially drive valuations higher.

Experts Predict Modest Recovery

CryptoSlam strategist Yehudah Petscher believes the market is primed for a comeback, albeit less dramatic than previous bull runs. “The NFT market will see a bounce back this year, probably just after BTC sees its top of the cycle,” said Petscher, highlighting the link between NFTs and broader cryptocurrency trends.

However, he warned against expecting the kind of frenzy seen during 2021 and 2022. “Don’t expect a repeat of the 21/22 euphoria that we saw in NFTs,” he added.

Real-World Asset NFTs Could Spur Growth

For a more sustained recovery, new catalysts may be required. According to a May 27 report from DappRadar analyst Sara Gherghelas, integrating real-world assets (RWAs) with NFTs could reinvigorate interest in the digital collectibles sector, particularly in the lending segment.

RWA-linked NFTs have already shown promise. In April, Courtyard, a marketplace for RWA collections, helped drive Polygon-based NFT sales to $22.3 million, briefly surpassing Ethereum in weekly sales.

Outlook

While May’s figures offer a welcome relief for the NFT market, analysts urge caution and highlight the need for innovation and broader crypto market support. Still, with rising buyer participation and growing interest in real-world applications, the sector appears set for a more stable and perhaps more mature phase of growth.