Solana NFT: Which projects to choose in 2024 and where to invest further

Why Solana Has Become a Magnet for NFT Collectors

In four years, Solana has transformed into one of the most dynamically evolving blockchain ecosystems, leaving its competitors far behind. In spring 2024, the platform for the first time surpassed Ethereum in decentralized exchange volumes — a milestone that symbolizes a paradigm shift in the crypto market.

The numbers are impressive: over 110 million NFTs created on Solana by March 2024, with more than 14 million wallets holding at least one such collection. This reach demonstrates not just popularity but a significant rethinking of how digital assets should function.

Technical advantages that work:

Solana processes up to 65,000 transactions per second compared to 15 on Ethereum — this is not just a figure, but a completely different level of convenience. Creating a single NFT costs $0.00011 thanks to a state compression mechanism. Such efficiency is achieved through a combination of Proof of Stake and Proof of History, making the network not only fast but also eco-friendly.

For creators and collectors, this means one thing: no more queues for minting, no astronomical fees, no network paralysis. Solana has provided a tool for mass adoption of NFTs.

How to properly enter the ecosystem: a practical guide

Before diving into specific projects, it’s important to understand the mechanics of participation. Start with a Solana wallet — Phantom is considered the industry standard due to its intuitive interface and reliability. After installation, top it up with SOL via major exchanges or directly in the app.

The main marketplace — Magic Eden — dominates trading volumes. This is where the main activity is concentrated, making it the most convenient starting point for exploring Solana NFTs. The platform is user-friendly for beginners, significantly lowering the entry barrier.

Projects that set the trend

Classic authorities that set the bar

Degenerate Ape Academy — this is not just a collection, but a cultural phenomenon on Solana. 10,000 3D monkeys with unique traits launched the network in August 2021. All 10,000 were sold out in eight minutes, with trading volume reaching 96,000 SOL ($5.9 million). The record sale — one NFT for 5980 SOL ($1.1 million) — showed that the market is ready to reevaluate the value of rare items upward.

The DAA universe, called Degeniverse, forms a lively community around these tokens, where owners don’t just collect but participate in project governance.

Okay Bears became the top trading volume among all Solana NFTs. The project received support from OpenSea, giving it a broad audience. The slogan “It is okay to be okay” resonated with the community and turned into a cultural phenomenon.

Solana Monkey Business (SMB) — third in trading activity. Evolving from simple profile pictures to a full-fledged developer community, the project is moving toward a DAO model. Each SMB Gen2 is a pixelated 24x24 NFT with 99 possible trait combinations. Metadata is stored on Arweave, ensuring decentralized storage.

Projects where innovation meets game mechanics

Genopets — the first move-to-earn game revolutionizing the understanding of GameFi. The concept is simple: a digital pet evolves based on the user’s real movements. This not only motivates physical activity but also creates a personal connection between the player and their virtual companion.

The project attracted $8.3 million from serious investors (Pantera Capital, Konvoy Ventures, Samsung Next), demonstrating market confidence in the fusion of physical and digital.

Famous Fox Federation — 7777 uniquely generated foxes with over a million trait combinations. The ecosystem operates on the $FOXY token, used in auctions, giveaways, and marketplaces. Owners gain access to gamified missions, raffles, and staking. An additional collection, TFF (pixel versions of the originals), adds an interactive layer — staking pixel foxes yields daily $FOXY rewards.

Claynosaurz — not just an NFT, but a full universe. The team includes veterans from Sony, Disney, DreamWorks, Ubisoft, Netflix, and Industrial Light & Magic. 10,000 animated 3D dinosaurs launched in November 2022, instantly generating 130,000 SOL in trading. The ATH floor price reached 96.69 SOL.

The project didn’t stop at digital assets — it created physical plush toys, includes gameplay with armor forging, and distributes exclusive items at offline events. This is a strategy to blur the lines between virtual and real worlds.

Fast-growing stars to watch

Frogana — a story of uprising. Launched with 5555 units at 0.069 SOL, faced difficulties due to an unscrupulous creator. The remaining team took over: compensated the affected and further developed the project. The minimum price soared to 14.47 SOL — a growth of over 14,000%. Humanoid frogs adapted to a mysterious island environment and gained a huge fanbase. The project focuses on community-driven governance, where each NFT has a unique set of traits.

Tensorians — a collection of 10,000 NFTs created to reward the most active traders on the Tensor platform. The minimum price reached 124 SOL, with a 24-hour volume of about 844.61 SOL. The project is closely integrated with Tensor’s innovations, including support for compressed NFTs (cNFTs), reducing creation costs and opening new possibilities for blockchain use beyond collecting.

Projects with gaming mechanics

DeGods — attracts owners with the ability to stake NFTs and earn $DUST. The transformation system from DeGods to DeadGods increases exclusivity and rewards.

y00ts and its spin-off y00ts: t00bs quickly rose in the list of most traded collections thanks to an engaged community and a staking system for rewards. Their connection with the DeGods ecosystem strengthened their position.

Aurory — one of the first blockchain gaming projects on Solana, demonstrating the potential for integrating NFTs into full-fledged gaming ecosystems with play-to-earn mechanics.

Taiyo Robotics — implemented innovative milestone staking systems, creating extensive ecosystems with token marketplaces and gamification to boost engagement.

What’s next for NFTs on Solana: trends on the horizon

The ecosystem is at a point of transformation. Recent implementation of new token extensions allows developers to embed metadata directly into NFTs, increasing flexibility and giving creators freedom to experiment. This brings Solana closer to other blockchains while maintaining its edge through speed and low cost.

The NFT compression mechanism (cNFT) opens doors for scaling beyond traditional collectibles. Now, unique digital assets of any scale — from tickets to documents, from game items to contracts — can be issued on-chain.

The outlook is simple: as Solana grows and its infrastructure develops, not only traders and speculators but also serious organizations seeking a reliable platform for managing digital assets will be attracted.

The future of adaptation: which projects to watch

Successful NFT projects on Solana share several factors: artistic innovation, an active community, practical utility, and adaptability to market changes. Projects that understand NFTs are not just pictures but tools for building ecosystems will have an advantage.

Upcoming NFT collections on Solana will differ by greater focus on utility and integration. Games, DeFi applications, virtual worlds — all will start to intertwine more closely with the NFT market. Projects laying the groundwork for such integration today will become leaders tomorrow.

The key to success is not chasing spikes on the chart but entering projects with a clear vision and a strong community. Solana has provided the platform; now every collector and trader must learn to choose projects that think beyond the current cycle.

Summary

Solana has changed the trajectory of NFT development, proving that speed, low cost, and accessibility are not just conveniences but essential conditions for mass adoption. The ecosystem offers a wide range of opportunities — from collecting to active participation in gaming ecosystems.

For beginners — start with Phantom and Magic Eden, explore projects with strong communities. For experienced users — look for innovative mechanics and long-term visions. The trend is clear: the future of NFTs on Solana is not just individual collections but interconnected ecosystems where each token holds real value and functionality.