Azuki Dominates NFT Market With 10,000 ETH Volume Day as Trump Executive Order Reshapes Digital Asset Policy

The NFT market kicked into high gear on January 24, 2025, with Azuki leading the charge after recording nearly 10,000 ETH in 24-hour trading volume across 1,646 transactions. The surge comes at a pivotal moment for the broader digital asset ecosystem, as the freshly inaugurated Trump administration signs a sweeping executive order on digital assets that reclassifies how regulators treat NFTs and memecoins.

TL;DR

• Azuki tops NFT collections with 9,973 ETH in daily volume, followed by Azuki Elementals at 1,682 ETH
• Pudgy Penguins secures third place with 1,167 ETH in volume
• CryptoPunks sees 403 ETH in volume across just 9 transactions — high-value trades
• Trump’s executive order on digital assets signed January 23 reshapes regulatory framework
• Crypto Czar David Sacks classifies NFTs and memecoins as collectibles, not securities

Azuki’s Dominance: A Blue-Chip Revival

The Azuki ecosystem commanded the NFT market on January 24, with three collections — Azuki, Azuki Elementals, and BEANZ Official — collectively generating over 12,500 ETH in trading volume. The flagship Azuki collection alone accounted for 9,973.04 ETH across 1,646 transactions, dwarfing every other project in the space. Azuki Elementals followed with 1,682.18 ETH across 2,847 transactions, while BEANZ Official recorded 876.71 ETH from 2,746 trades.

The concentration of volume in the Azuki ecosystem suggests renewed conviction among collectors and traders. The brand’s expansion into anime, gaming, and physical merchandise continues to differentiate it from purely speculative collections. The high transaction counts on Elementals and BEANZ indicate active accumulation by traders positioning ahead of anticipated ecosystem announcements.

Pudgy Penguins and the Established Guard

Pudgy Penguins maintained its position as a top-tier collection with 1,167.17 ETH in volume across 61 transactions — significantly fewer trades than Azuki but at much higher per-NFT values. The project’s continued mainstream partnerships, including physical toy distribution through major retailers, provide fundamental support that keeps it in the top tier even during broader market rotations.

Milady Maker recorded 549.55 ETH across 104 transactions, while Doodles saw 447.59 ETH from 95 trades. Both collections benefited from the general risk-on sentiment in crypto markets, with Bitcoin holding above $104,000 and Ethereum at $3,309. CryptoPunks, the original NFT giant, generated 403.03 ETH across just 9 transactions, reflecting the ultra-high-value nature of individual trades in that collection.

Bored Ape Yacht Club: A Quieter Day

Bored Ape Yacht Club, once the undisputed king of NFT trading, recorded 247.06 ETH across 17 transactions on this particular day. While still a top-10 collection by volume, the relatively modest numbers highlight the ongoing rotation of market attention toward newer narratives and brands. The Yuga Labs ecosystem continues to hold cultural significance, but the daily trading activity suggests that capital is flowing more aggressively into projects with active near-term catalysts.

Lil Pudgys, the companion collection to Pudgy Penguins, also made the top 10 with 376.23 ETH from 196 transactions, further evidence that the Pudgy Penguins brand is capturing disproportionate market share in the current cycle.

Trump’s Executive Order: A Game-Changer for Digital Collectibles

The NFT market surge coincides with a landmark regulatory development. On January 23, President Trump signed a sweeping executive order on digital assets that repeals SAB 121 — the SEC guidance that had effectively prevented banks from custodying crypto assets. The order also establishes a new framework for classifying digital assets, with Crypto Czar David Sacks publicly stating that NFTs and memecoins should be classified as collectibles rather than securities.

This classification is significant for the NFT market. If NFTs are formally treated as collectibles, they fall outside the purview of securities regulation, which could dramatically reduce compliance burdens for creators and marketplaces. The regulatory clarity could also attract institutional participants who have been sitting on the sidelines due to legal uncertainty. The executive order signals a broader pro-crypto posture from the new administration that market participants believe will fuel the next wave of adoption.

The Solana NFT Ecosystem

While Ethereum dominated NFT trading volume on January 24, the Solana ecosystem also showed activity. Mad Lads, the premier Solana NFT collection, recorded 33 transactions, though Ethereum-based collections still commanded the vast majority of value. The disparity highlights that while alternative chains are building NFT ecosystems, Ethereum remains the clear settlement layer for high-value digital collectibles.

Why This Matters

The convergence of surging NFT trading volumes and regulatory clarity from the Trump administration creates a uniquely favorable environment for digital collectibles. Azuki’s 10,000 ETH day demonstrates that the NFT market is far from dead — it is consolidating around strong brands with genuine cultural and commercial traction. The reclassification of NFTs as collectibles rather than securities removes a major overhang that has suppressed institutional participation since 2022. With Bitcoin above $104,000 and crypto sentiment at multi-year highs, the NFT market appears positioned for a significant resurgence in both volume and mainstream attention.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. NFT investments carry significant risk and volatility. Always conduct your own research before making any investment decisions.