Bitwise NFT Blue Chip Fund Reports 137% Gain Amid Broader Market Downturn

San Francisco, CA – The Bitwise Blue-Chip NFT Index Fund has recorded a substantial 137.4% return over the past 12 months, as of August 22, 2025. This impressive performance was highlighted by social media user AspenShredder.eth, who noted the fund's significant growth. The fund, managed by Bitwise Invest, a prominent crypto index fund manager, offers accredited investors diversified exposure to leading non-fungible token (NFT) collections.

This strong individual fund performance occurs against a backdrop of a challenging broader NFT market. According to recent reports, NFT trading volumes have experienced a decline for five consecutive quarters, with the second quarter of 2025 seeing volumes fall to $823 million from $4 billion in the same period last year. The Bitwise Blue-Chip NFT Collections Index, which the fund aims to track, has itself seen a 52% decrease since January 2025, reflecting the ongoing volatility in the digital collectibles space.

The Bitwise Blue-Chip NFT Index Fund was launched in December 2021 under the leadership of Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley. It focuses on "Arts and Collectibles" NFTs, with its holdings weighted by adjusted floor price market capitalization. Current major holdings include CryptoPunks, Pudgy Penguins, and Bored Ape Yacht Club, selected based on criteria such as market cap, category, collection size, and liquidity.

AspenShredder.eth's tweet posed a question regarding the fund's portfolio, stating, "One thing it's still missing is @moonbirds which is the 7th largest collection by market cap. You think they should have some exposure to this ecosystem and allocate funds to birbs?" While the tweet cited Moonbirds as the "7th largest," recent market data from mid-August 2025 indicates Moonbirds has climbed to the top 10, specifically ranking around 8th to 10th in Ethereum NFT market capitalization.

Despite its recent resurgence in ranking, Moonbirds is not currently listed among the fund's direct holdings. The Bitwise fund's strict eligibility criteria, which include factors like liquidity and collection size, dictate its investment choices. The fund requires a minimum investment of $25,000 and is exclusively available to accredited investors, providing a structured avenue for institutional participation in the blue-chip NFT sector.