# NFTs in Q1 2021: A+

*Author: William M. Peaster*
*Published: Apr 2, 2021*
*Source: https://www.bankless.com/nfts-in-q1-2021-a*

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Dear Bankless Nation,

With Q1 2021 now over, it’s worth noting the NFT ecosystem **really shined** over the last three months.

Veteran projects performed well and started garnering mainstream interest, and we also saw a flurry of promising upstart projects arrive that are opening up new possibilities around NFTs.

Taken altogether, you just have to be excited about NFTs right now. The possibilities of this technology have never been more wide open, and many of us can see the fun is only just beginning.

If you know, you know!

-WMP

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### 🏆 Digital Collectibles
- There’s a new standing bid of [3,000 ETH](https://larvalabs.com/cryptopunks/details/3443) (~$6M) on rare alien **CryptoPunk #3443**!

> [](https://twitter.com/cryptopunksbot/status/1377798947528450050)

- The current **CryptoPunks price floor** is [~15 ETH](https://twitter.com/pixls_dot_eth/status/1377883241559027712).
- On-chain generative music project **EulerBeats** released its second collectibles collection, [Enigma](https://www.theblockcrypto.com/post/100099/eulerbeats-nft-arts-music-second-collection-sale) 💽

## 🎨 Cryptoart
- Popular cryptoart platform **SuperRare** raised [$9M in its Series A](https://medium.com/@SuperRare_co/superrare-raises-9m-to-build-the-future-of-art-collecting-e2b3ded227e8) funding round.
- The artist **Pak** is getting ready for their Sotheby’s NFT drops 🖌️

> [](https://twitter.com/muratpak/status/1377606741752438788)

- **Nifty Gateway** had an action-packed week of open edition drops from artists like [Kidmograph](https://twitter.com/niftygateway/status/1377394021845196802), [Ferry Corsten](https://twitter.com/niftygateway/status/1377750119596969984), and more.
- [Verdigris Ensemble + Bryan Brinkman](https://edition.async.art/blog/the-first-programmable-music-on-the-blockchain-bettys-notebook) are collaborating on the **first programmable music release on Async Art**.
- Artist **Kjetil Golid** released the *[Paper Armada](https://artblocks.io/project/37)* series, his first through the Art Blocks Playground.

> [](https://twitter.com/kGolid/status/1376997946512785416)

## 🕹️ Blockchain Games
- DeFi-centric NFT game **Aavegotchi **just launched its [4th raffle giveaway](https://twitter.com/aavegotchi/status/1376527979732365314) contest.
- **Illuvium**, a coming auto battler game, successfully completed its [Balancer Liquidity Pool Launchpad](https://twitter.com/illuviumio/status/1378001817636798465) (BLP) for its $ILV token.
- After a brief and baseless suspension, the **Axie Infinity Twitter account** has returned.

> [](https://twitter.com/AxieInfinity/status/1377562423930933250)

- Global fantasy ⚽ game **Sorare **is currently investigating some compromised accounts.

> [](https://twitter.com/SorareHQ/status/1377741957552766976)

## 🌐 Virtual Worlds
- **Cryptovoxels** is holding 3-day auctions for Milan, Helios, and Poneke parcels right now.

> [](https://twitter.com/cryptovoxels/status/1377373103198642177)

- **Decentraland** has [integrated with the Polygon](https://www.coindesk.com/decentraland-launches-dapp-portal-polygon-bypass-high-gas-fees) scaling solution to avert high gas fees.
- The **Artvatars** project has completed their HQ build in Somnium Space.

> [](https://twitter.com/artvatars/status/1377378106781048832)

- **The Sandbox** gaming world just launched its [NFT Marketplace beta](https://twitter.com/TheSandboxGame/status/1376882309119438850).

## 🛒 NFT Marketplaces
- [Favoriting](https://twitter.com/natechastain/status/1377577650663923715) is now live on **OpenSea**! Favorite your favored projects and easily keep track of them in your OpenSea profile!
- **OpenSea **and** Immutable X** have [partnered up](https://twitter.com/Immutable/status/1377350057763147780) to bring Immutable X’s L2 collectibles to OpenSea’s marketplace.
- Meet **Palm**, a [new NFT ecosystem + marketplace](https://twitter.com/PalmNft) that’s gunning to create a very UX-friendly platform for NFT users.
- NFT marketplace **Cargo **has integrated support for inexpensive NFT minting via the [xDai sidechain](https://twitter.com/BuildWithCargo/status/1376557880585809926).
- **Rarible **partnered with [FM Gallery](https://medium.com/fm-gallery/fm-gallery-partners-with-rarible-to-boost-secondary-market-trading-of-nft-artworks-db6c82408e2d) 🎨

## 💎 DeFi x NFTs
- You can now borrow against [NFTX’s $PUNK and $MASK tokens](https://twitter.com/NFTX_/status/1376783664021901314) on **Ruler Protocol**.
- **Very Nifty** has added [flash loan support](https://twitter.com/NiftyMuseum/status/1375152756101644290) for any of nft20’s NFT pools.
- VC firm **a16z** released the [a16z NFT Canon](https://a16z.com/2021/04/02/nfts-readings-resources/), a collection of important and helpful NFT resources.

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### **Action steps**
- 📰 Read “[zkEVM + NFT = The Future](https://bankless.ghost.io/zkevm-nfts-the-future)” by **Metaversal**
- 📰 Read “[How to Mint Art Blocks NFTs](https://bankless.ghost.io/how-to-mint-art-blocks-nfts)” by **Metaversal**