In September, the Base network (Coinbase’s Ethereum solution) made an unexpected breakthrough in the NFT universe. Fueled by the game DX Terminal, the ecosystem surpassed its rivals in number of sales. A sign that a mix of creativity, AI and fun can awaken a market generally losing momentum.
In brief
- •DX Terminal propelled the Base network to the top of NFT sales in September with more than 1.27 million transactions, an increase of over 1000% in one month.
- •While the overall NFT market falls sharply, only projects related to gaming like DX Terminal and Guild of Guardians show growth, unlike major traditional collections such as BAYC or CryptoPunks.
Base takes the lead with DX Terminal
With 1.27 million sales, DX Terminal climbed to first place in the ranking. That’s over 1,000% growth in one month. Alongside it, other projects like BasePaint allowed Base to place five collections in the Top 10. Clearly, this is no longer just a one‑off success.
However, in terms of financial volumes, Polygon and Ethereum maintain the NFT advantage. Courtyard (Polygon) leads with $43.9 million, followed by Moonbirds and CryptoPunks (Ethereum). DX Terminal, despite its success, ranks fourth with $25.5 million but marks a record 1,700% increase. Base is making noise in sales, even if the big money still flows elsewhere.
DX Terminal’s success mainly comes from its concept. Each NFT is an autonomous character controlled by an AI, immersed in a sort of retro‑futuristic simulation. These characters interact, battle, and evolve based on players’ choices. It’s lively, unpredictable, and above all, entertaining.
Unlike classic NFT games, there’s no promise of financial gains. No “play‑to‑earn” where you earn tokens to resell. Here, the game currency, called WEBCOIN, is off‑chain and has no real value. The team insists: any external token claiming to be official is a scam.
This choice changes everything. Players stay for fun and curiosity, not for speculation. The AI creates unique stories, making the experience more engaging than the repetitive mechanics of many P2E projects.
A declining NFT market, except for games
September was tough for major NFT collections. CryptoPunks, BAYC, and Pudgy Penguins saw their trading volume plunge by 50 to 60%. Even Courtyard and Moonbirds, though leading in volume, fell about 25% and 13% respectively.
In this context, only two projects stand out positively: DX Terminal and Guild of Guardians Heroes (an RPG on Immutable). Both are linked to video gaming, proof that the gaming sector resists general fatigue better.
Interest is shifting. There’s less attraction for mere prestige images but more desire to participate in interactive experiences. And that’s exactly where DX Terminal hits the mark.
Base emerges as a new creative scene for NFTs. Thus, DX Terminal proves it is possible to attract audiences without promising financial gain, simply with a fun experience driven by AI.
The overall market remains dominated by Ethereum and Polygon in terms of volumes, but the trend is clear. Interactive and playful projects attract attention while “blue chips” stagnate.