‘Rubber,’ a generative art collection that launched on Solana two days ago, has soared in value, surpassing 14,600 SOL (~$1.3 million) in trading volume at this time of writing. At one point, the floor price had risen to 23 SOL ($2,103). Now, after some serious volatility, it rests around 14.3 SOL.
Crypto Pop Punk, an artist and NFT security advocate, created the collection, the pieces in which resemble roads made of varying blocks of color The artwork, in some cases, evokes the movement of the infamous Fidenzas by Tyler Hobbs, albeit with a little more velocity and a more vibrant rainbow-ish pastel pattern.
It is the first major art collection on Solana, and some people on X thanked Pop Punk for bringing art to the chain. The artist said the collection explores the compelling moments in our (human) journey and our desire to see “what is beyond.” Pop Punk created the collection using Midjourney AI.
The trading volume and floor price of Rubber is even more impressive given that the initial mint — created through Magic Eden’s launchpad — was 0.25 SOL ($23) per NFT. Many have remarked that their Rubber NFT is the first Solana NFT that they have purchased, and one individual posted a photo of their Rubber NFTs printed out, framed, and hung in their house.
There are only 1,000 NFTs in the Rubber collection, and Pop Punk remarked on X that it is still possible to pick one up on the secondary market for a reasonable price. Time will tell if the floor rises significantly again, but for now this is certainly a win for art on Solana, which may start a new trend altogether.
Solana Ecosystem Picks Up Steam
After FTX imploded, many thought the Solana ecosystem would never recover. But here, over a year later, it has rebounded significantly, both in terms of the value of SOL ($93.28 at the time of writing) and the NFTs on the chain. From Mad Lads to Tensorians, the NFTs on Solana have seen serious price action.
Here are some of the headlines in the past two months involving Solana and its rebirth:
- Solana Web3 Game ‘Nyan Heroes’ Arrives to Epic Game Store
- Solana NFT Sales Eclipse Ethereum in December
- Tensor Takes Top Spot for Solana NFT Marketplaces
- Solana Phone Loaded with $BONK Token Sells Out
- Solana NFT Project Mad Lads Soars Amid Ecosystem Boom
So, what sparked the comeback? The reasons are multi-factored, but likely playing a key role is the ease of transacting on Solana, which has fees that are often just a fraction of a cent. Ethereum, its main competitor, has transaction charges ranging from $6 to much higher for any type of transaction, making it difficult for the average person to trade on.
That is why, in 2021, Solana was dubbed the “Ethereum killer.”
Its speeds and transaction costs make it the counterpoint to the chain where NFTs first hit the mainstream. But that’s not all as well. From Jupiter to the Phantom Wallet, the infrastructure on Solana has never been better.
Overall, it has experienced a revitalization that bodes very well for Web3. And that’s something we can all cheer for.