Base NFTs dominate sales in September
Ethereum layer-2 network Base emerged as a major NFT hub in September, recording the highest sales count among all collections, according to DappRadar. Leading the charge was DX Terminal, which ranked first with 1.27 million transactions — a surge of more than 1,000% compared to the previous month.
NFTs on Base secured five of the top 10 spots by sales count, with DX Terminal and BasePaint claiming the first and second ranks. This marks a rapid rise for Base, which is positioning itself as a hub for experimental NFT projects, a space historically led by Ethereum and Polygon.
Trading volumes still led by Ethereum and Polygon
While Base dominated sales activity, trading volumes remained concentrated on Polygon and Ethereum. Polygon-based Courtyard topped September with $43.9 million in volume, followed by Ethereum’s Moonbirds with $34 million and CryptoPunks with $25.8 million.
Base’s DX Terminal, however, broke into the top tier, ranking fourth overall with $25.5 million in trading volume — a staggering 1,700% increase month-over-month.
DX Terminal: AI-powered NFTs fuel growth
The standout performance of DX Terminal explains Base’s strong momentum. In September, the project recorded 1.27 million sales and over 200,000 active traders.
DX Terminal introduces a unique AI NFT gaming experience where each NFT acts as an autonomous trading agent inside a retro-futuristic market simulation. These AI-powered characters possess distinct traits and behaviors, competing for in-game wealth and status while reacting to player prompts, rival firms, and NPCs.
Unlike traditional play-to-earn NFT games, DX Terminal does not offer real-world token rewards. Its in-game currency, WEBCOIN, is managed offchain and carries no monetary value. The project clarified that any external tokens claiming affiliation with DX Terminal are unofficial.
Gaming NFTs defy market downturn
Despite the broader NFT market slump, gaming NFTs showed resilience. Alongside DX Terminal, Immutable’s Guild of Guardians Heroes NFTs also posted gains in September.
By contrast, blue-chip NFT collections such as CryptoPunks, Pudgy Penguins, and the Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) experienced sharp declines, with volumes dropping between 50% and 60%. Even top-ranking projects like Courtyard and Moonbirds reported declines of 25% and 13.6%, respectively.
Base’s rise signals shifting NFT trends
Base’s breakout month highlights a growing appetite for NFT projects blending AI, gaming, and experimental mechanics. While Ethereum and Polygon still dominate NFT trading volume, Base’s surge in sales count underscores shifting momentum and the potential of AI-driven gaming NFTs to capture the market’s imagination.
