Tesla and X owner Elon Musk has triggered a once-in-a-while parabolic rally for frog-themed memecoin, Kekius Maximus (KEKIUS). This token was created by the billionaire’s followers, who generally track his profile changes on social media platforms. The token was created last year when the Tesla founder first changed his X profile name to Kekius Maximus. This action generally fuels a rapid price breakout for associated tokens. The Elon Musk and Kekius Maximus Link After months, he changed the profile name, the billionaire once again reinstated it, a move many considered a shoutout for the memecoin. Notably, different token variants were created the first time Elon Musk updated his profile photo with the name. One of the variants with the biggest liquidity is KEKIUS. According to data from CoinMarketCap, this token has jumped by 119% in 24 hours to $0.0502. This surge is unusual, as the token maintained an average price… Read More at Coingape.com
The non-fungible token (NFT) sector experienced explosive growth in 2021. Artists, investors, and collectors were all swept up in the frenzy. Yet, its meteoric rise was followed by a downturn, prompting questions about the sector’s sustainability.
Alexander Salnikov, co-founder of Rarible, believes the market is not facing a collapse but rather a shift. In an exclusive interview with BeInCrypto, Salnikov offered his perspective on the state of NFTs in 2025 and their role moving forward.
Are NFTs Still Relevant in 2025, or Have They Run Their Course?
The rise of NFTs, fueled by excitement and speculation, was inevitable for a market experiencing such rapid innovation. Nonetheless, like many emerging technologies, this early surge was followed by a correction. The hype gave way to the realities of market maturation and sustainability.
According to the latest report by DappRadar, the art NFT market saw an impressive surge in 2021, with trading volumes reaching $2.9 billion. However, by the first quarter of 2025, the trading volume was recorded at just $23.8 million, marking a 93% decline.
NFTs Trading Volume Over the Years. Source: DappRadar
Similarly, the number of active traders peaked at a record high of 529,101 in 2022. Yet, this figure sharply declined by 96%, with just 19,575 active traders remaining by Q1 2025.
A previous industry report from DappRadar revealed that the underwhelming performance wasn’t just a trend in 2025. In fact, 2024 was one of the worst-performing years for the NFT market since 2020. In addition, BeInCrypto also reported on a study that revealed 98% of NFT projects launched in 2024 were essentially “dead.”
Despite the decline, Rarible’s Salnikov has maintained a positive outlook for the sector. He emphasized the importance of a clear purpose when it comes to NFTs.
“Once upon a time, after the .com burst, the headlines rang that the internet was only a fad. But as more companies integrated the technology into everyday use cases, it became ingrained as a part of life,” he told BeInCrypto.
“The speculative phase had its moment, but now we’re watching NFTs evolve into actual infrastructure—tools creators use to build communities, products, and new digital economies,” he said.
NFTs Beyond the Hype: Unlocking Real-World Utility
Salnikov stressed that utility in the NFT space is no longer a distant concept—it is happening right now. Creators are using NFTs for membership, brands for loyalty programs, and games for player identity.
He pointed to a growing convergence between the digital and physical worlds, with NFTs being tied to merchandise, events, and even real-world assets. Binance Research’s April 2025 report further corroborates this trend.
The report spotlighted several real-world partnerships, indicating interest in NFTs. Examples include Azuki’s physical-backed NFT with Michael Lau, The Sandbox’s Jurassic World collaboration, EGGRYPTO’s anime characters with Eparida, and Sony’s Soneium platform partnering with LINE to create Web3 mini-apps.
“The next wave of growth isn’t about chasing a trend—it’s about unlocking new types of ownership and access that feel native to the internet generation,” noted Salnikov.
While this perspective offers optimism, the reality for many companies is quite different. Due to low trading volumes, major platforms like Bybit, X2Y2, and Kraken have resorted to discontinuing their NFT services.
Those that didn’t shut down explored alternative avenues. For instance, Magic Eden expanded beyond NFTs with the acquisition of Slingshot. Nevertheless, Salnikov dismissed this strategy, commenting,
“We’re not trying to bolt on non-NFT features just to stay busy—we’re building NFT commerce that actually fits the communities using it.”
He explained that this approach uses modular, customizable on-chain marketplaces. Creators can tailor them to fit their specific audiences, whether it’s a gaming project, an L3, or a legacy brand.
“NFTs are the feature—they just need the right framing,” the Rarible co-founder stated.
When Fame Fades: The Diminishing Returns of Celebrity-Backed NFTs
In January 2022, Bieber spent 500 ETH (approximately $1.3 million at the time) on Bored Ape #3001. This NFT is from Yuga Labs’ Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) collection.
However, according to the latest data, the NFT is worth only 13.51 WETH (around $24,174), a decline of 98.1%. Although the singer hasn’t sold his NFT, it has received little attention lately, with no promotional efforts or notable discussions around it.
Thus, while celebrities can bring attention to NFTs, this highlights the need for substance beyond the name itself. As Salnikov pointed out, celebrity involvement in the sector is fleeting.
According to him, a celebrity name alone can’t replace genuine creative direction or a strong community.
“Celebrity drops will come and go—it’s the culture behind them that determines if they stick,” he remarked.
He argued that celebrities treating NFTs as mere merchandise deters audiences. Nevertheless, when an NFT drop is intentional and truly taps into something meaningful like music, fashion, or fandom, that’s where the lasting value is found.
“We’re way more interested in working with creators who are building for the long haul than just chasing headlines,” Salnikov disclosed to BeInCrypto.
The executive also outlined the need for a more accessible and user-friendly approach for attracting interested users. He detailed that onboarding users should not feel “like a tech demo.” Salnikov pointed to Rarible as an example.
According to him, Rarible focuses on ensuring that each marketplace built on its platform is a product people genuinely want to use. This involves features such as fiat onramps, low-cost mints, a clean user interface, and, most importantly, content that resonates with users.
“We’re not selling NFTs—we’re powering experiences that just happen to be onchain,” Salnikov concluded.
While the NFT market faces ongoing challenges, it remains to be seen whether the industry is entering a new phase of growth or if further obstacles lie ahead in its evolution.
Meanwhile, Musk’s support for crypto isn’t new. The CEO has been a vocal supporter of Dogecoin (DOGE), with his posts often causing price rallies for the meme coin.
While investors are bracing themselves for a Pi Network Price pump, one expert has predicted a start date for the rally. Cryptocurrency analyst Dr Altcoin says Pi Coin price will spike during the upcoming Consensus Summit, with Pi Network founder billed to deliver a keynote address.
Pi Network Price Eyes Massive Rally In May
According to an X post, cryptocurrency analyst Dr Altcoin is forecasting the start of a Pi Coin rally in mid-May. Dr Altcoin notes that investors can expect the start date of the Pi Network price during the Consensus Summit scheduled for May.
Dr Altcoin’s predictions differ from previous projections that tip the start of a Pi Coin rally toward late August. Investors previously hinged their hope for a price rally after the end of the Pi unlocking event, set to release 212 million Pi Coins.
However, Dr Altcoin is predicting the rally to begin much earlier in May, triggered by the momentum around the Consensus event. Dr Altcoin has previously revealed why Consensus 2025 will be pivotal for the Pi Network, given the sheer volume and calibre of attendees.
“I am fairly confident that the price pumping of Pi might start during the Consensus Summit (May 14-16, 2025) rather than at the end of August when Pi unlocking significantly reduces,” said Dr Altcoin.
Several Factors May Delay The Start Date Of The Price Rally
Dr Altcoin’s prediction for the launch of the Pi Network price rally in May faces a raft of challenges. Right out of the bat, the Pi Core Team (PCT) is racing against the clock to approve KYB applications before the start of Consensus 2025.
Furthermore, Dr Altcoin says the launch of decentralized applications (DApps) on the network before Consensus 2025 will support a price rally. While the PCT achieves the milestones before Consensus 2025, other external factors are angling to adversely affect Pi Network prices.
Dr Altcoin has raised alarm over shady activity on Banxa that may trigger artificial volatility for Pi Coin Price. Keen on playing its part to stabilize prices, the PCT has begun purchasing Pi Coins on centralized exchanges, mopping up over 48 million coins.
Currently, Pi Network trades at the $0.6 mark, holding the price level for over a week as investors scan the charts for signals of a seismic rally.
Furthermore, Dr Altcoin is hinging his resolve for a rally on seven Pi Network pros, including accessibility and sustainability perks. The cryptocurrency expert name-checks its security features, low gas fees, and regulatory compliance.
