How much did Moonbirds mint for? — A 2026 Market Analysis

The Original Mint Price

Moonbirds, the iconic pixel-art owl collection, officially launched on April 16, 2022. At the time of its release, the project set a fixed mint price of 2.5 ETH. In the financial context of early 2022, this amount was equivalent to approximately $7,000 to $7,600 USD, depending on the exact market fluctuations of Ethereum during the minting window. This price point was considered exceptionally high for a public mint at the time, as many high-profile projects typically launched with mint prices ranging from 0.05 ETH to 0.1 ETH.

The decision to set the price at 2.5 ETH was a strategic move by the creators, Orange Cap Games and the Proof Collective. By setting a high barrier to entry, the team aimed to ensure that the initial holders were committed participants rather than short-term speculators. Despite the high cost, the collection of 10,000 NFTs sold out rapidly, demonstrating the massive demand for the ecosystem built by Kevin Rose and his team. This initial capital raise provided the project with significant resources to fund long-term development and community incentives.

Initial Market Performance

Immediately following the mint, Moonbirds experienced one of the most explosive secondary market runs in NFT history. Within just 24 hours of the minting process, the collection recorded over 65,000 ETH in trading volume, which was valued at roughly $200 million at the time. The floor price—the lowest price for any single NFT in the collection—surged from the 2.5 ETH mint price to over 16 ETH in less than a day.

This rapid appreciation meant that early minters saw their "investment" grow by more than 600% in a matter of hours. The momentum continued for several days, with the floor price eventually peaking near 30 ETH (approximately $80,000 to $100,000 USD depending on the day). The success of Moonbirds also had a massive "halo effect" on the Proof Collective membership NFTs, which saw their values rise from 30 ETH to over 120 ETH as investors scrambled to gain access to the broader ecosystem.

Historical Price Evolution

Like many assets in the digital collectible space, Moonbirds has seen significant price volatility over the years. Following the initial hype of 2022, the floor price underwent several cycles of correction and consolidation. By mid-2024, the floor price had settled significantly lower than its all-time highs, reflecting a broader market shift toward utility and sustainable ecosystem growth rather than pure speculation. At one point in early 2024, the floor price sat around 0.9 ETH, which was actually below the original 2.5 ETH mint price in terms of Ethereum value.

However, the project has remained a focal point of the NFT industry due to its intellectual property (IP) transitions and the introduction of new tokenomics. For traders looking to engage with the volatility of the NFT market or the broader crypto space, platforms like WEEX provide the necessary infrastructure to manage digital asset portfolios. Understanding these historical price points is essential for modern investors to gauge the long-term value cycles of "blue-chip" NFT projects.

The Proof Collective Connection

One cannot discuss the Moonbirds mint price without mentioning the Proof Collective. The Proof Collective was an exclusive private members' club for 1,000 NFT collectors. Members of this collective were granted two guaranteed mint spots for Moonbirds, which essentially acted as a massive reward for their early support of the ecosystem. Data from the launch period showed that over 92% of Proof Collective members chose to hold at least one Moonbird rather than selling immediately, indicating a high level of conviction among the core community.

The synergy between the membership pass and the Moonbirds collection created a tiered ecosystem. While the general public had to pay 2.5 ETH through a raffle system, the "insiders" within the Proof Collective were the primary beneficiaries of the initial price surge. This model has since been studied and replicated by numerous other projects seeking to reward loyal community members while still conducting a high-value public sale.

Moonbirds Tokenomics and BIRB

As of 2026, the Moonbirds ecosystem has evolved far beyond simple profile picture (PFP) NFTs. The introduction of the BIRB token has shifted the focus toward a decentralized economy. The total supply of BIRB tokens is capped at 1 billion, with a significant portion allocated to the community. Specifically, 65% of the total supply is dedicated to community-centric initiatives, including rewards for long-term holders of the original Moonbirds NFTs.

Allocation Category	Percentage of Supply	Purpose
Community (Birb & Friends)	27%	Rewards and community building
Investors & Advisors	25%	Early backing and strategic guidance
Ecosystem Expansion	12%	Partner growth and new integrations
Value Chain Incentives	10%	Network participation and utility
Team	10%	Core development and operations
Liquidity & Development	16%	Market stability and future builds

Current Market Context 2026

In the current market of 2026, Moonbirds are viewed through a lens of historical significance and ongoing utility. While the floor price no longer sits at the 30 ETH highs of the initial post-mint craze, the project remains a "blue-chip" asset within the Yuga Labs ecosystem, following their acquisition of the IP. The current valuation is driven less by the original 2.5 ETH mint price and more by the integration of BIRB tokens and the "nesting" rewards that have been accumulated by long-term holders over the last four years.

For those interested in the financial side of the ecosystem, the BIRB token is now live on various exchanges. Traders often monitor the correlation between the NFT floor price and the token's market performance. If you are looking to trade major assets like Bitcoin to fund your NFT purchases, you can check the WEEX spot trading page for real-time rates and low-fee execution. The transition from a high-priced mint to a fully functional tokenized economy represents the maturation of the NFT sector as a whole.

Comparing Mint vs Secondary

The gap between the mint price and the secondary market price is a key metric for any NFT project. For Moonbirds, the 2.5 ETH mint was a "high-stakes" entry that paid off handsomely for those who sold during the initial 2022 peak. However, for those who entered at the secondary market peak of 28-30 ETH, the journey has been more challenging. This serves as a classic case study in the importance of timing and understanding "mint-to-floor" dynamics.

In 2026, the market has become much more sophisticated. Investors no longer just look at the mint price; they look at the "realized cap" of the collection and the velocity of the associated tokens. Moonbirds has successfully transitioned from a high-priced speculative asset into a foundational piece of digital culture, proving that even a "expensive" mint can lead to a lasting legacy if the community and development remain consistent.