Prices for Mad Lads NFTs, a flagship Solana ($SOL) collection, soared after news broke that Backpack, its parent company, had taken control of what remained of FTX Europe.
The deal comes with the coveted MiFID II exchange license, setting the stage for Backpack to flex in broader markets. Today, we will discuss why Mad Lads is looking like an NFT standout for 2025 and one new Solana presale that is turning heads.
A Closer Look at the Solana NFT Price Surge
Mad Lads’ floor price shot up nearly 19% this week, brushing $18,300 in SOL before sliding back to around $16,240.
Despite the pullback, the Solana-based NFTs stayed in the spotlight, raking over $1.8 million in secondary trading volume within 24 hours. That surge pushed Mad Lads to the number two spot for NFT trades across all blockchains, trailing only Ethereum’s Pudgy Penguins, according to CryptoSlam.
The rally was triggered by speculation tied to Backpack’s acquisition of FTX Europe’s assets. While no perks for Mad Lads holders have surfaced, market enthusiasm refuses to cool off.
Adding to the buzz around Solana NFTs, Armani Ferrante, CEO of Backpack, reminded the community about exclusive perks for Mad Lads holders. Just hours before the acquisition news broke, Ferrante shared on X (formerly Twitter):
“Reminder that if you hold a Mad Lad, you automatically get VIP 1 on Backpack Exchange.”
Mad Lads holders have previously benefited from airdrops tied to projects like Wormhole and Dymension, setting the stage for future rewards that could boost the collection’s desirability even further.
Mad Lads’ Strategic Implications of FTX Europe Acquisition
Backpack’s acquisition of FTX Europe, including its highly sought-after MiFID II exchange license, marks a major milestone for the company.
The license allows Backpack to offer perpetual trading to European users while prioritizing reimbursements for FTX Europe’s creditors. This strategic move enhances Backpack’s product offerings and strengthens its position within the global crypto exchange market.
NEW: Solana-based NFT collection @MadLads’ floor price surpasses $18,000 following its acquisition of FTX’s bankrupt EU arm for $32 million. pic.twitter.com/rfVxqApmwN
— SolanaFloor (@SolanaFloor) January 7, 2025
Mad Lads has climbed 73% in the last month, regaining ground not seen since April 2024. The floor price still lags over 100 SOL behind its March 2024 peak of 192 SOL, but steady trading has kept the collection firmly in the mix.
Since its debut in April 2023, Mad Lads has stood out for its bot-busting, minting approach. It forced bots to burn through $250,000 on fake mints, ensuring tokens went to actual buyers. The maneuver flipped the script on minting raids and earned the collection a legacy of ingenuity and strong community ties.
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The Future of Solana NFTs and Mad Lads
With its dual focus on a self-custody wallet and a centralized exchange that supports multiple blockchains, Backpack continues to expand its ecosystem. Acquiring FTX Europe and its assets positions the company for further growth, not just in Europe but globally.
For Mad Lads, the recent price surge and heightened interest underscore how NFT collections can evolve alongside broader crypto market developments.
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SOLX: The Next Big Solana Presale
Solaxy (SOLX), the first Layer-2 tailor-made for meme coins on Solana, has raised $9.2 million during its presale—a milestone it reached only one month after its launch on December 14, 2024.
The blistering pace of funding reveals its market traction and mirrors the growing appetite for blockchain projects that aim to tackle real-world headaches. By day three, it had raised $1 million, and by day seven, it had $4 million in the bank.
Now, it’s sitting pretty past $5 million, all while offering SOLX tokens at $0.001594 each. Prices tick up every few days, and the presale is set to wrap up in early 2025.
Solaxy takes Solana’s biggest pain point—crippling congestion—and hits it where it hurts.
Its Layer-2 architecture moves the transaction load onto its own back, letting Solana keep humming smoothly. Unlike half-baked fixes that sap the core network, Solaxy preserves compatibility while boosting performance.
Solana’s appeal—its speed, low fees, and developer-friendly tools—drew in users in droves, but the crush of traffic nearly buckled the system. Solaxy’s design ensures that doesn’t happen again.
GET IN ON THE SOLAXY HYPE HERE!
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