My name is Elisabeth Mühlbacher, and I am on a mission. I studied art history and image science, and I worked in a traditional gallery. Yet I soon realized that digital art is the defining art form of the 21st century. We are living through a cultural and technological renaissance.
Over the past months, NFTs and digital art have experienced a powerful resurgence. CryptoPunks, considered one of the most important historical collections, now trade at a floor price above 60 ETH, showing renewed confidence among serious collectors. XCOPY’s works, long recognized as benchmarks of crypto art, have also been setting new highs, with his editions and 1/1s consistently commanding attention and liquidity. These are only two of many collections that are seeing an increase in price, proving that digital art is not only culturally significant but also demonstrating sustained financial value.
I have been closely monitoring and actively participating in this space, bringing with me a background in traditional art. From that perspective, the current moment feels particularly exciting. Prices are rising, but more importantly, the cultural conversation is shifting. Museums, critics, and universities are beginning to pay closer attention. A growing group of globally connected collectors is emerging, shaping taste and pushing forward new forms of patronage.
This is why I believe now is an ideal moment to take interest in the field, whether from an artistic or financial perspective. The market has already shown real staying power as NFTs and digital art have survived multiple cycles and continue to build long term value. At the same time, in the bigger picture, we are still in the early days of a completely new asset class. Institutions are only beginning to integrate digital works into permanent collections, technological innovation is expanding the formats of what art can be, and collectors are redefining the culture around ownership. It is not too early; in fact, history is being written right now, and those who engage today will help shape the foundation of tomorrow’s art world.
Credits:
Jesperish: “I think, therefore I am.” 1/1 2021, From the Medici Collection. https://www.cozomomedicicollection.com/artwork/i-think-therefore-i-am
Cozomo de’ Medici. Screenshot of a quotation from the platform X (formerly Twitter), 26 August 2025. https://x.com/CozomoMedici/status/1960442291208003709
XCopy: “Truth and Power” 1/1 2019. https://xcopy.art/works/truth-or-power
Elisabeth Mühlbacher is an Art Manager at Validvent, specializing in guiding collectors in building meaningful CryptoArt collections. With a deep passion for the CryptoArt space as a pioneering force within the traditional art world, she is dedicated to contextualizing digital art and its cultural significance.
Elisabeth curates innovative pop-up exhibitions that bridge the gap between digital and physical art experiences, fostering a deeper understanding of CryptoArt. She closely observes the evolving CryptoArt market, providing insights into its trends and developments. Additionally, she organizes informative workshops to educate collectors, artists, and institutions about the dynamics of the CryptoArt space.
Holding a master’s degree in art history and Image Science, Elisabeth has extensive experience in the art sector, having worked in both galleries and auction houses. She is also the initiator of Frame It, a physical pop-up gallery exhibiting upcoming Austrian CryptoArtists. She drives innovation at the intersection of art and technology.
Through her work, Elisabeth continues to push the boundaries of how we experience, collect, and engage with art in the digital age.
