DX Terminal leads explosive growth, marking Base’s rise in the NFT ecosystem
The NFT ecosystem on Base, Ethereum’s layer-2 network, has rapidly climbed the charts in September, overtaking rivals in sales counts. According to DappRadar data, Base NFTs secured five of the top ten positions, signaling the network’s growing role as a hub for experimental projects.
DX Terminal drives record-breaking sales
The standout performer was DX Terminal, which recorded 1.27 million sales in September — a more than 1,000% surge month-over-month. The project also attracted over 200,000 active traders, highlighting its appeal within the NFT gaming community.
DX Terminal ranked first by sales count and fourth by trading volume at $25.5 million, representing a 1,700% increase compared to the previous month. In contrast, trading volumes remained concentrated on Polygon and Ethereum collections, with Polygon’s Courtyard leading at $43.9 million, followed by Ethereum’s Moonbirds ($34 million) and CryptoPunks ($25.8 million).
AI-powered NFTs reshape gaming
DX Terminal introduces a novel format where NFTs function as AI-powered trader agents in a retro-futuristic market simulation. Each NFT acts as an autonomous character with unique traits, competing for in-game wealth and influence.
Unlike traditional play-to-earn (P2E) models, the game does not offer real-world payouts. Its in-game currency, WEBCOIN, is strictly off-chain with no monetary value, a distinction the team emphasized to counter speculation.
“The in-game currency holds no real-world value, and any external tokens claiming affiliation are unofficial,” the developers clarified in May.
Market trends and resilience
Despite the broader downturn in NFTs, gaming-focused collections defied the trend. DX Terminal and Immutable’s Guild of Guardians Heroes were among the few projects to post growth in September. Meanwhile, established blue-chip collections — including CryptoPunks, Pudgy Penguins, and Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) — saw their trading volumes fall between 50% and 60%.
Even high-ranking projects like Courtyard and Moonbirds experienced declines of 25% and 13.6%, respectively, underscoring the contrast between speculative blue-chip fatigue and the momentum of innovative gaming NFTs.
Base’s rapid rise in NFT sales reflects a shift in market dynamics, where interactive and AI-driven projects are drawing user engagement despite industry headwinds. With DX Terminal’s success, Base has positioned itself as a serious challenger to Ethereum and Polygon in the evolving NFT landscape.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves risk and may result in financial loss.