When people search for the “best NFT projects,” they usually want to know which collections are established, well-known, and still relevant — not which ones will make money, because nobody can promise that. This guide describes several notable, long-standing NFT collections and ecosystems across Ethereum and Solana, what makes each one recognizable, and how to research them yourself. None of this is a buy recommendation. Most NFTs are illiquid, speculative, and can lose all their value. Treat the list below as a starting point for learning about the space, not a shopping list.
Key takeaways
- “Best” here means established, recognizable, and historically liquid — not “likely to go up.” Prices are not predicted.
- Blue-chip Ethereum collections include CryptoPunks, Bored Ape Yacht Club (Yuga Labs), Pudgy Penguins, Azuki, and Milady.
- Solana has its own established collections, such as Mad Lads, with lower transaction costs.
- An NFT being “blue-chip” reduces neither its volatility nor the risk of total loss.
- Always verify the official contract address, use a secure wallet, and assume any NFT purchase could go to zero.
How to read this list
The collections below are widely recognized within the NFT community and have, at various points, maintained meaningful trading liquidity. That recognition does not make them safe or good investments. NFT prices are highly volatile, and even the most famous collections trade far below their 2021 peaks. The purpose of describing them is educational: to show what an “established” project tends to look like — a strong brand, an active community, a clear identity, and a verifiable on-chain history.
If you are new to the mechanics, start with our explainer on what NFTs are before evaluating any specific collection. And before you buy anything, read about the broader market context in whether NFTs are dead, which explains how much the market has changed.
Established Ethereum NFT collections
Ethereum remains the most active chain for high-value NFTs. The collections below are among the most recognized.
CryptoPunks
CryptoPunks are one of the earliest profile-picture (PFP) collections, launched in 2017 by Larva Labs. The set consists of 10,000 algorithmically generated pixel-art characters. As one of the original NFT projects, CryptoPunks carry significant historical importance and are often treated as digital collectibles akin to early, culturally significant art. Yuga Labs later acquired the intellectual property. Their status comes largely from being first, which is something newer projects cannot replicate.
Bored Ape Yacht Club (Yuga Labs)
Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) launched in 2021 and became the defining PFP brand of that cycle. Its creator, Yuga Labs, built an ecosystem around it — including the Mutant Ape Yacht Club, the ApeCoin token, and the Otherside metaverse project. BAYC is notable for granting holders commercial rights to their individual ape, which spawned a wave of holder-built brands. The Yuga ecosystem is one of the most ambitious attempts to turn a PFP collection into a broader media and IP business.
Pudgy Penguins
Pudgy Penguins started as a 2021 collection and is frequently cited as a turnaround story: under new leadership it leaned into mainstream brand-building, including physical toys sold in major retail stores and a large social-media presence. The project illustrates a strategy of using an NFT collection as the basis for a consumer brand and intellectual property rather than relying solely on on-chain speculation.
Azuki
Azuki is an anime-inspired collection launched in 2022 by the team behind Chiru Labs. It is known for its distinctive art style and an effort to build a broader brand around anime culture, physical products, and community events. Azuki has also experienced controversy in its history, a reminder that even prominent projects carry execution and reputation risk.
Milady Maker
Milady Maker is a 2021 collection with a deliberately rough, internet-native art style and a strong, meme-driven community. It became culturally influential online and is often discussed as an example of how community and aesthetic identity — rather than polished roadmaps — can sustain a collection’s relevance. Like all such projects, its prominence does not translate into any guarantee of value.
Established Solana NFT collections
Solana became a major NFT chain thanks to very low transaction fees, which make minting and trading cheaper than on Ethereum. The trade-off historically has been different liquidity dynamics and a separate marketplace ecosystem.
Mad Lads
Mad Lads, from the team behind the Backpack wallet and exchange (Coral / xNFT ecosystem), is one of the best-known Solana collections. It launched in 2023 and is associated with the “executable NFT” (xNFT) concept and a tightly integrated wallet experience. It is frequently referenced as a flagship example of Solana’s NFT scene.
Other Solana ecosystem collections
Solana has hosted a range of recognizable collections over the years tied to its gaming and community scenes. Because the Solana NFT landscape shifts quickly and projects come and go, verify any collection’s current status, official marketplace listing, and contract before engaging. If you plan to explore Solana NFTs, you will first need SOL and a compatible wallet; our crypto wallet guide covers the basics of choosing one.
What “established” actually buys you
It is worth being precise about what a blue-chip label does and does not provide.
- It usually means better liquidity. Well-known collections are easier to buy and sell than obscure ones — but “easier” is relative, and spreads can still be wide.
- It often means a real community and brand. That can support relevance over time, but it does not set a price floor.
- It does not reduce volatility. Even the most famous collections have fallen dramatically from their peaks.
- It does not eliminate risk. Reputation risk, team execution, legal issues, and broad market downturns all still apply.
How to research an NFT project before buying
If you decide to explore the space, a disciplined process matters far more than picking a “winner.”
- Verify the official contract. Scammers create fake collections with near-identical names. Always confirm the contract address from the project’s official channels and the verified marketplace listing.
- Check liquidity and history. Look at recent sales volume and the number of holders, and understand the floor price and its limitations as a metric.
- Read the team and roadmap critically. Anonymous teams and vague promises are common warning signs; learn the patterns in our guide to crypto scams.
- Secure your wallet. NFT holders are prime phishing targets. Keep valuable assets on a hardware wallet and never sign transactions you do not understand.
- Size positions for total loss. Assume any NFT could become worthless and budget accordingly.
Gaming and utility-focused projects
Beyond PFP art, much of the NFT activity in 2026 sits in gaming and utility — items, characters, and access passes whose value (in theory) ties to a product rather than pure speculation. These are a different category from the collectibles above: the relevant question is whether the underlying game or service has real users, not whether the art is desirable. The same diligence applies, and arguably more, because utility projects depend on sustained product execution.
A note on prices and timing
This guide deliberately avoids quoting current prices or predicting future ones. NFT prices move quickly, vary by marketplace, and can be misleading because of wash trading and thin liquidity. Any price you see should be checked live on a reputable marketplace at the moment you transact, and you should never assume past prominence implies future value. A collection that was a household name in 2021 may trade at a fraction of its old level today, and even strong brands offer no protection against a broad market downturn.
FAQ
What makes an NFT project “blue-chip”?
“Blue-chip” generally refers to collections with strong brand recognition, an active community, a long and verifiable on-chain history, and relatively better liquidity than obscure projects. CryptoPunks and Bored Ape Yacht Club are common examples. Importantly, the label describes reputation and liquidity — not safety. Blue-chip NFTs are still highly volatile and can lose most or all of their value.
Are these the NFTs I should buy?
No — this is not a buy recommendation. The collections here are described because they are established and well-known, which is useful for understanding the market. Whether any of them suits you depends on your own research, risk tolerance, and reasons for buying. Most NFTs are illiquid and speculative, and total loss is a realistic outcome for any of them.
Ethereum or Solana NFTs — which is better?
Neither is universally “better.” Ethereum hosts most high-value, established collections but has higher gas fees. Solana offers much cheaper transactions and a distinct ecosystem with collections like Mad Lads, but different liquidity dynamics. The right chain depends on which specific collection you are interested in and your tolerance for transaction costs; understand the gas trade-offs before choosing.
How do I avoid buying a fake collection?
Always verify the official contract address from the project’s verified channels and marketplace listing before buying — scammers routinely clone popular collections with identical names and art. Be wary of unsolicited links, “free mint” pop-ups, and requests to connect your wallet to unfamiliar sites. Keep valuable NFTs on a hardware wallet and never approve transactions you do not fully understand.
Crypto is volatile and risky; this is education, not financial advice. Do your own research.
