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Top NFT Marketplaces 2025: Where to Buy & Sell NFTs (Complete List)
Introduction
NFT marketplaces - platforms where users buy, sell, and trade non-fungible tokens - have evolved from niche crypto corners to billion-dollar ecosystems, though 2025 volumes are 80-90% below 2021-2022 peaks. This complete NFT marketplace guide 2025 covers what NFT marketplaces are (how they work, centralized vs decentralized), top 15+ platforms (OpenSea, Blur, Magic Eden, LooksRare, X2Y2, Rarible, Foundation, SuperRare, Nifty Gateway comparison), marketplace features (fees, supported blockchains, royalties, aggregation), how to buy NFTs (step-by-step MetaMask to purchase), how to sell NFTs (listing strategies, pricing, promotion), fees breakdown (platform fees 0-2.5%, gas fees $5-50, royalties 0-10%), marketplace risks (scams, fake NFTs, wash trading), and 2025 market reality (honest assessment: NFT bubble popped but market stabilizing). Whether you're buying your first JPEG for $50 or trading blue-chip collections worth $50,000+, this guide shows which marketplaces are trustworthy, affordable, and actually have liquidity.
What are NFT Marketplaces?
Understanding the platforms:
NFT Marketplace Basics
Definition:
- Digital platforms where users buy, sell, trade NFTs (non-fungible tokens)
- Think: eBay for digital art, collectibles, gaming items, domain names
- Blockchain-based: Ownership recorded on Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, etc.
How They Work:
- Sellers list NFTs: Upload artwork, set price (fixed or auction)
- Buyers browse: Search by collection, artist, price, traits
- Purchase executed: Smart contract transfers NFT, sends payment to seller
- Marketplace takes fee: 0-2.5% commission (depending on platform)
Example Transaction:
- Seller: Lists Bored Ape #1234 for 50 ETH ($150,000)
- Buyer: Clicks "Buy Now," pays 50 ETH + gas fee (~$20)
- Smart contract: Transfers Bored Ape to buyer's wallet, sends 50 ETH to seller
- Marketplace: Takes 0% fee (Blur) or 1.25 ETH fee (2.5% on OpenSea old model)
- Creator royalty: 5% (2.5 ETH) to Bored Ape Yacht Club creators (if enforced)
Types of NFT Marketplaces
General Marketplaces (Open to All):
- Examples: OpenSea, Blur, Magic Eden, LooksRare
- What: Anyone can list any NFT (thousands of collections)
- Pros: Largest selection, highest liquidity, most buyers
- Cons: Low-quality projects, scams, fake NFTs mixed with real
- Best for: Trading popular collections (Bored Apes, CryptoPunks, Pudgy Penguins)
Curated Marketplaces (Selective):
- Examples: Foundation, SuperRare, KnownOrigin
- What: Artists must apply, get approved (quality control)
- Pros: Higher quality art, less scams, prestige
- Cons: Lower volume, fewer buyers, hard to get listed as artist
- Best for: Serious art collectors, professional digital artists
Specialized Marketplaces (Niche):
- Gaming: Immutable X (Gods Unchained, Illuvium), Fractal (Solana games)
- Music: Sound.xyz, Audius
- Domain names: ENS Vision (Ethereum Name Service), Unstoppable Domains
- Virtual land: Decentraland, The Sandbox
- Pros: Targeted audience, utility-focused (not just speculation)
- Cons: Smaller markets, less liquidity
Centralized vs Decentralized Marketplaces
Decentralized (OpenSea, Blur, Rarible):
- How: Smart contracts on blockchain (no company controls)
- Custody: You own wallet keys (not your keys, not your NFTs)
- Pros: Censorship-resistant, permissionless, transparent
- Cons: No customer support (if scammed, tough luck), complex for beginners
Centralized (Nifty Gateway, Coinbase NFT):
- How: Company-run platform (like Amazon)
- Custody: Platform holds NFTs (custodial)
- Pros: Easier onboarding (credit card purchases), customer support
- Cons: Platform can freeze account, take down listings, centralization risk
Hybrid (Most Common 2025):
- Examples: OpenSea (decentralized listings, centralized UI)
- How: Smart contracts for trades, company provides interface
- Balance: Easy UX + blockchain benefits
Key Marketplace Features
1. Supported Blockchains:
- Ethereum: Most NFTs, highest value (Bored Apes, CryptoPunks)
- Solana: Cheaper fees ($0.01 vs Ethereum $10-50), gaming focus
- Polygon: Ethereum sidechain (low fees, Ethereum compatibility)
- Base, Arbitrum, Optimism: Layer 2s (lower fees than Ethereum mainnet)
2. Fee Structures:
- Platform fee: 0-2.5% of sale price
- Royalty: 0-10% to original creator (if enforced)
- Gas fee: $5-50 on Ethereum (paid by buyer or seller depending on action)
3. Trading Features:
- Fixed price: List for 1 ETH, first buyer gets it
- Auctions: English auction (highest bidder wins), Dutch auction (price decreases over time)
- Offers: Buyers make offers below listing price (seller can accept)
- Bundles: Sell multiple NFTs together (collection bulk sale)
4. Discovery Tools:
- Filters: Price range, traits (blue background, laser eyes), rarity
- Trending: Most traded collections (24h volume)
- Analytics: Floor price, volume, holder count
- Aggregators: Blur, Gem - search across multiple marketplaces at once
Top NFT Marketplaces 2025
1. OpenSea (opensea.io) 



LARGEST MARKETPLACE
Overview:
- Founded: 2017 (oldest major NFT marketplace)
- Blockchains: Ethereum, Polygon, Solana, Arbitrum, Optimism, Avalanche, Base, Klaytn
- Volume (2024): $3-5 billion annually (down from $20B in 2022 peak)
- Collections: 2+ million (largest selection)
Features:
- Open marketplace: Anyone can mint/list NFTs (no approval needed)
- Multi-chain: Support for 8+ blockchains (most versatile)
- Lazy minting: Mint NFTs without paying gas (only pay when sold)
- Offers: Make offers on any NFT (not just listed ones)
- Bundles: Buy multiple NFTs in one transaction
- OpenSea Pro: Advanced trader interface (real-time data, portfolio tracking)
Fees:
- Platform fee: 0.5% (reduced from 2.5% in 2023 to compete with Blur)
- Creator royalty: Optional (buyers can choose 0-10%, creators get less now)
- Gas fees: Buyer pays Ethereum gas (~$10-50 depending on network congestion)
Pros:
Cons:
Best for:
- Beginners (easiest to use, most resources)
- Multi-chain traders (one platform for all blockchains)
- Buying blue-chip NFTs (Bored Apes, CryptoPunks, Azuki)
Example Use:
- Search "Bored Ape Yacht Club"
- Filter: Price <50 ETH, Traits: Gold fur, Laser eyes
- Find BAYC #5432 listed for 45 ETH ($135,000)
- Click "Buy now" → Approve transaction in MetaMask
- Pay 45 ETH + 0.225 ETH (0.5% fee) + $30 gas = total $135,900
2. Blur (blur.io) 



PRO TRADER PLATFORM
Overview:
- Founded: 2022 (new but aggressive growth)
- Blockchains: Ethereum only (focus on quality)
- Volume (2024): $4-6 billion annually (rivals OpenSea)
- Focus: Professional traders, high-volume users
Features:
- Aggregator: Shows listings from OpenSea, LooksRare, X2Y2 (best price across platforms)
- 0% fees: No platform fees (makes money from $BLUR token, future plans)
- Advanced tools: Real-time charts, portfolio tracker, sweep floor (buy multiple NFTs instantly)
- Royalty flexibility: Users choose 0-10% creator royalty (full control)
- Airdrop rewards: Trade volume earns $BLUR tokens (incentivizes activity)
- Instant reveal: See NFT traits before minting (reduces gambling)
Fees:
- Platform fee: 0%

- Creator royalty: 0-10% (user's choice - but Blur defaults to 0.5%)
- Gas fees: Buyer pays (~$10-50 Ethereum mainnet)
Pros:
Cons:
Best for:
- Professional traders (high volume, need speed)
- Flippers (buy floor, sell higher - 0% fees maximize profit)
- Portfolio management (track multiple NFTs across wallets)
Example Use:
- Search "Azuki"
- Blur shows: OpenSea listing 10 ETH, LooksRare 9.8 ETH
(saves 0.2 ETH) - "Sweep floor" → Buy 5 cheapest Azukis in one transaction
- Pay 49 ETH (5 × 9.8) + 0.245 ETH royalty (0.5% × 49) + $50 gas = total $147,750
- Save vs OpenSea: 0.5% platform fee = $750 saved
3. Magic Eden (magiceden.io) 



SOLANA LEADER
Overview:
- Founded: 2021
- Blockchains: Solana (primary), Ethereum, Polygon, Bitcoin (Ordinals)
- Volume (2024): $1-2 billion annually
- Focus: Solana NFTs, gaming, low-fee trading
Features:
- Solana-first: 80% of activity on Solana (cheap $0.01 fees)
- Launchpad: New NFT projects mint on Magic Eden (early access)
- Bitcoin Ordinals: Trade Bitcoin NFTs (inscriptions on BTC blockchain)
- MagicDAO: Community governance ($ME token holders vote)
- Mobile app: iOS/Android (rare for NFT marketplaces)
- Games integration: Buy in-game items (Star Atlas, Genopets)
Fees:
- Platform fee: 0% (as of 2024 - reduced to compete)
- Creator royalty: 0-10% (seller chooses)
- Gas fees: ~$0.01 on Solana (nearly free), $10-50 on Ethereum
Pros:
Cons:
Best for:
- Solana NFT traders (low fees, fast transactions)
- Gamers (in-game asset trading)
- Budget buyers (Solana NFTs often $10-100 vs Ethereum $1,000-10,000)
Example Use:
- Search "Okay Bears" (popular Solana NFT)
- Floor price: 15 SOL ($1,500 at $100/SOL)
- Click "Buy now" → Approve in Phantom wallet
- Pay 15 SOL + 0.075 SOL royalty (0.5%) + $0.01 gas = total $1,507.51
- Saved: If same NFT on Ethereum, would pay $30-50 gas (saved $29-49)
4. LooksRare (looksrare.org) 


Overview:
- Founded: 2022 (OpenSea competitor)
- Blockchains: Ethereum only
- Volume (2024): $300-500 million annually
- Focus: Reward traders with $LOOKS tokens
Features:
- Staking rewards: Stake $LOOKS tokens, earn 25% of platform fees
- Trade-to-earn: Every trade earns $LOOKS tokens (incentivizes volume)
- Instant royalty payments: Creators paid immediately (not delayed)
- Private listings: List NFT visible only to specific address
- Collection offers: Bid on any NFT in collection (not just listed ones)
Fees:
- Platform fee: 0.5% (split: creators can claim 25%, rest to $LOOKS stakers)
- Creator royalty: 0-10% (enforced if creator opts in)
- Gas fees: Buyer pays (~$10-50)
Pros:
Cons:
Best for:
- $LOOKS token holders (staking rewards)
- Traders maximizing all revenue streams (trade + earn tokens)
- Creators wanting enforced royalties
Example Use:
- List Pudgy Penguin #1234 for 5 ETH
- Buyer purchases → You receive 4.975 ETH (5 - 0.025 fee)
- Earn 50 $LOOKS tokens as reward (~$2.50 at $0.05/LOOKS)
- $LOOKS stakers: Earn portion of 0.025 ETH fee (0.00625 ETH = $18.75 if 25% of 0.025)
5. X2Y2 (x2y2.io) 


Overview:
- Founded: 2022
- Blockchains: Ethereum
- Volume (2024): $200-400 million annually
- Focus: Low fees, staking rewards
Features:
- 0.5% fee: Lower than OpenSea (but not 0% like Blur)
- Staking: Stake $X2Y2 tokens, earn 100% of platform fees (vs LooksRare 25%)
- Bulk listing: List 100+ NFTs in one transaction (gas efficient)
- Real-time notifications: Telegram/Discord alerts for sales, offers
- Loan integration: Borrow against NFTs (BendDAO, NFTfi integration)
Fees:
- Platform fee: 0.5%
- Creator royalty: Optional (0-10%)
- Gas fees: Buyer pays
Pros:
Cons:
Best for:
- Niche users (very few - most migrated to Blur)
- $X2Y2 bag holders trying to salvage value
Verdict:
6. Rarible (rarible.com) 


Overview:
- Founded: 2020
- Blockchains: Ethereum, Polygon, Solana, Tezos, Immutable X
- Volume (2024): $100-200 million annually
- Focus: Multi-chain aggregator, creator tools
Features:
- Aggregator: Shows listings from OpenSea, LooksRare, X2Y2, etc.
- Multi-chain: 5+ blockchains (most chains after OpenSea)
- Creator tools: Royalty enforcement, IP licensing, collection management
- $RARI governance: Token holders vote on platform changes
- Lazy minting: Free NFT creation (pay gas only when sells)
Fees:
- Platform fee: 0% (revenue from $RARI token ecosystem)
- Creator royalty: 0-10% (enforced by default but optional)
- Gas fees: Varies by blockchain
Pros:
Cons:
Best for:
- Multi-chain traders (want one interface for all chains)
- Creators (good royalty tools)
Verdict:
7. Foundation (foundation.app) 



CURATED ART
Overview:
- Founded: 2021
- Blockchains: Ethereum, Base
- Volume (2024): $50-100 million annually
- Focus: High-quality digital art (invite-only initially, now open)
Features:
- Curated: Artists must apply + get approved (quality control)
- Auctions: 24-hour auctions (reserve price, highest bidder wins)
- Profiles: Artist pages (portfolio, biography, social links)
- Collect to unlock: Buy NFT to access exclusive content (Discord, unreleased art)
- Splits: Automatically split sale revenue between collaborators
Fees:
- Platform fee: 5% (higher than general marketplaces)
- Creator royalty: 10% enforced (can't disable)
- Gas fees: Buyer pays
Pros:
Cons:
Best for:
- Art collectors (serious 1/1s, not PFP flipping)
- Professional artists (building reputation)
- Long-term holds (buying art to keep, not flip)
Example Use:
- Browse artists → Find photographer selling limited edition
- Reserve price: 0.5 ETH ($1,500)
- Place bid: 0.6 ETH
- Win auction → Pay 0.6 + 0.03 (5% fee) + 0.06 (10% royalty) = 0.69 ETH total ($2,070)
8. SuperRare (superrare.com) 



PREMIUM ART
Overview:
- Founded: 2018
- Blockchains: Ethereum
- Volume (2024): $30-60 million annually
- Focus: Museum-quality digital art (single-edition 1/1s)
Features:
- Curated: Strictest curation (acceptance rate <1%)
- 1/1 NFTs only: No collections, only unique single pieces
- Provenance: Full ownership history (tracks every sale)
- Exhibitions: Virtual galleries, curated shows
- $RARE token: Governance + curation voting
Fees:
- Primary sale: 15% platform fee (first sale from artist)
- Secondary sale: 3% platform fee
- Creator royalty: 10% on secondary sales
- Gas fees: Buyer pays
Pros:
Cons:
Best for:
- Serious art collectors ($10K+ budgets)
- Established artists (already have gallery representation)
- Long-term investment (buying blue-chip digital art)
Example Use:
- Artist mints 1/1 photography piece
- List for 5 ETH ($15,000)
- Buyer purchases → Artist receives 4.25 ETH (5 - 0.75 fee = 15%)
- Resale: Buyer resells for 10 ETH → Original artist gets 1 ETH royalty (10%)
9. Nifty Gateway (niftygateway.com) 


CREDIT CARD FRIENDLY
Overview:
- Founded: 2018 (acquired by Gemini exchange 2019)
- Blockchains: Ethereum (custodial), Polygon, Palm
- Volume (2024): $100-200 million annually
- Focus: Mainstream adoption (credit card purchases, Gemini custody)
Features:
- Credit card: Buy NFTs with USD (no crypto needed)
- Custodial: Nifty holds NFTs (like buying on Amazon - easy but centralized)
- Drops: Timed releases (Beeple, Grimes, Eminem sold here)
- Gemini integration: Withdraw to Gemini wallet (regulated exchange backing)
- Fiat withdrawals: Sell NFT, cash out to bank account (no crypto hassle)
Fees:
- Platform fee: 5% + 30¢ (credit card processing)
- Creator royalty: 10% secondary sales
- Withdrawal fee: 15% if withdraw to external wallet (incentivizes staying on platform)
- Gas fees: Covered by platform (included in price)
Pros:
Cons:
Best for:
- Crypto beginners (first NFT purchase)
- Mainstream collectors (don't want to learn MetaMask)
- US buyers wanting regulated platform
Example Use:
- Beeple drop: 5,000 editions at $1 each
- Buy with credit card: $1 + $0.05 (5% fee) + $0.30 (processing) = $1.35
- NFT held in Nifty account (custodial)
- Resell: List for $10 → Buyer pays $10.50 (5% fee) → You get $9 (10% royalty to Beeple)
- Withdraw: Pay 15% to send to MetaMask ($1.50 fee on $10 NFT)
10. Coinbase NFT (nft.coinbase.com) 

Overview:
- Founded: 2022
- Blockchains: Ethereum, Polygon, Solana, Base
- Volume (2024): $20-50 million annually (underwhelming launch)
- Focus: Coinbase integration (easy for 100M+ Coinbase users)
Features:
- Coinbase integration: Buy with Coinbase account (no separate wallet needed initially)
- Social features: Follow artists, comment on NFTs (Instagram-like)
- Multi-chain: Ethereum + L2s + Solana
- Credit card: Buy with USD (no crypto required)
- Base focus: Coinbase's own L2 (low fees, Ethereum-compatible)
Fees:
- Platform fee: 0% (loss leader to attract users)
- Creator royalty: Optional (0-10%)
- Gas fees: User pays (varies by chain)
Pros:
Cons:
Best for:
- Coinbase loyalists (already using Coinbase, want NFTs in same app)
- Nobody else (seriously, use OpenSea or Blur instead)
Verdict:
Marketplace Comparison Table
| Marketplace | Chains | Fees | Volume (2024) | Best For | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenSea | 8+ chains | 0.5% | $3-5B | Beginners, all NFTs | |
| Blur | Ethereum | 0% | $4-6B | Pro traders, flipping | |
| Magic Eden | Solana, ETH, BTC | 0% | $1-2B | Solana, low fees | |
| LooksRare | Ethereum | 0.5% | $300-500M | $LOOKS holders | |
| X2Y2 | Ethereum | 0.5% | $200-400M | Niche | |
| Rarible | 5+ chains | 0% | $100-200M | Multi-chain | |
| Foundation | Ethereum, Base | 5% | $50-100M | Art collectors | |
| SuperRare | Ethereum | 3-15% | $30-60M | Premium art | |
| Nifty Gateway | Ethereum, Polygon | 5% + 30¢ | $100-200M | Beginners (credit card) | |
| Coinbase NFT | 4 chains | 0% | $20-50M | Coinbase users |
How to Choose an NFT Marketplace
Decision Tree
Question 1: What blockchain?
- Ethereum → OpenSea, Blur, Foundation
- Solana → Magic Eden
- Multiple chains → OpenSea (8+ chains), Rarible (5+ chains)
- Base (Coinbase L2) → Coinbase NFT, OpenSea
Question 2: Your experience level?
- Complete beginner → OpenSea (easiest UI), Nifty Gateway (credit card)
- Intermediate → OpenSea, Magic Eden
- Pro trader → Blur (best tools)
Question 3: What are you trading?
- PFPs (Bored Apes, Azuki) → OpenSea, Blur
- Art (1/1s) → Foundation, SuperRare
- Gaming NFTs → Magic Eden, Immutable X
- Cheap flips (<$100) → Magic Eden (Solana - low fees)
Question 4: Trading frequency?
- Rare (1-2x/year) → OpenSea (easy, no learning curve)
- Moderate (monthly) → OpenSea, Magic Eden
- High volume (daily) → Blur (0% fees, pro tools)
Question 5: Priorities?
- Lowest fees → Blur (0%), Magic Eden (0%)
- Largest selection → OpenSea (2M+ collections)
- Best for artists → Foundation, SuperRare (enforced royalties)
- Easiest → OpenSea, Nifty Gateway
Red Flags (Avoid These Marketplaces)
Historical scams:
- Cent (2021): Music NFT platform, rug pulled, $millions lost
- Various small platforms: Took listing fees, shut down, kept money
Safety checklist:
How to Buy NFTs (Step-by-Step)
Prerequisites:
1. Get a Wallet:
- MetaMask (most popular - Ethereum, Polygon, BSC)
- Phantom (best for Solana)
- Coinbase Wallet (beginner-friendly, supports many chains)
2. Fund Wallet:
- Buy crypto on Coinbase/Kraken
- Send to wallet: ETH for Ethereum NFTs, SOL for Solana NFTs
3. Understand costs:
- NFT price: 1 ETH ($3,000 example)
- Gas fee: $10-50 (Ethereum), $0.01 (Solana)
- Platform fee: 0-2.5% (OpenSea 0.5% = $15 on $3,000)
- Total: $3,065 for 1 ETH NFT
Tutorial 1: Buy NFT on OpenSea (Ethereum)
Step 1: Setup (One-time)
- Install MetaMask: metamask.io → Download Chrome extension
- Create wallet: Click "Create wallet" → Save 12-word seed phrase (CRITICAL - write on paper, store safely)
- Add funds: Buy ETH on Coinbase → Send to MetaMask address
Step 2: Connect to OpenSea
- Visit: opensea.io
- Click: "Connect wallet" (top right)
- Select: MetaMask → Approve connection
Step 3: Find NFT
- Search: Collection name (example: "Pudgy Penguins")
- Filter:
- Price: 2-3 ETH
- Traits: Blue background, Red scarf (example)
- Status: "Buy now" (vs "Auction")
- Select NFT: Click on one you like (Pudgy Penguin #5432)
Step 4: Verify Authenticity
- Check verified badge: Blue checkmark next to collection name
- Check contract: 0x... address matches official (Google "Pudgy Penguins contract")
- View on Etherscan: Click contract link → Verify 7,777 tokens (legit supply)
Step 5: Purchase
- Click: "Buy now"
- Review:
- NFT: Pudgy Penguin #5432
- Price: 2.5 ETH ($7,500)
- Fee: 0.0125 ETH (0.5% OpenSea fee)
- Gas: ~$30
- Total: 2.5125 ETH + $30 gas = $7,567
- Confirm: Click "Confirm checkout"
- MetaMask popup: Review → Click "Confirm"
- Wait: 1-5 minutes (Ethereum block confirmation)
- Success: NFT appears in your wallet (OpenSea → Profile → Collected)
Step 6: View NFT
- In MetaMask: Assets tab → NFTs (may take hours to show)
- In OpenSea: Profile → Shows immediately
- Prove ownership: Your wallet address now owns Pudgy Penguin #5432 (view on Etherscan)
Time: 10-20 minutes first time, 2 minutes after setup Cost: NFT price + 0.5% fee + gas $10-50
Tutorial 2: Buy NFT on Magic Eden (Solana)
Step 1: Setup
- Install Phantom: phantom.app → Chrome extension
- Create wallet: Save 12-word seed phrase
- Add SOL: Buy on Coinbase → Send to Phantom
Step 2: Connect to Magic Eden
- Visit: magiceden.io
- Click: "Connect wallet" → Select Phantom
- Approve: Phantom popup → Connect
Step 3: Find NFT
- Search: "Okay Bears"
- Filter: Price 10-15 SOL
- Select: Okay Bear #1234 (15 SOL = $1,500 at $100/SOL)
Step 4: Purchase
- Click: "Buy now"
- Review:
- Price: 15 SOL
- Royalty: 0.075 SOL (0.5%)
- Gas: $0.01 (negligible)
- Total: 15.075 SOL = $1,507.50
- Phantom popup: Approve → Click "Approve"
- Instant: Transaction confirms in <1 second (Solana fast!)
- NFT in wallet: Phantom → Collectibles tab
Time: 5 minutes first time, 30 seconds after setup Cost: NFT price + 0.5% royalty + $0.01 gas
Tutorial 3: Buy Using Blur (Aggregator)
Step 1: Connect
- Visit: blur.io
- Connect MetaMask
Step 2: Search
- Search: "Bored Ape Yacht Club"
- Blur shows: Listings from OpenSea, LooksRare, X2Y2 simultaneously
Step 3: Find Best Price
- OpenSea: BAYC #1234 - 50 ETH
- LooksRare: BAYC #1234 - 49.8 ETH
(best price) - Blur highlights: Cheapest option (saves 0.2 ETH = $600)
Step 4: Buy
- Click: "Buy" on LooksRare listing (via Blur)
- Transaction routes: Through LooksRare contract (Blur aggregates, doesn't intermediate)
- Pay: 49.8 ETH + 0 fee (Blur) + 0.249 ETH royalty (0.5% LooksRare default) + $40 gas
- Total: 50.049 ETH = $150,147
Savings: Vs buying on OpenSea directly: 50 ETH + 0.25 fee (0.5%) = 50.25 ETH = $150,750 Saved: 0.201 ETH = $603
Time: 2 minutes Best for: Comparing prices across all platforms instantly
How to Sell NFTs
Listing Strategies
Fixed Price vs Auction:
Fixed Price (Most Common):
- Set price: List for 10 ETH, first buyer gets it
- Pros: Simple, predictable, instant sale
- Cons: May underprice (if market hot, could've sold higher)
- Best for: Established collections (Bored Apes, CryptoPunks - known floor price)
Auction:
- Reserve price: Minimum 5 ETH
- Duration: 24 hours, 7 days, etc.
- Highest bidder wins: Competition drives price up
- Pros: Can exceed expectations (bidding war)
- Cons: May not reach reserve (auction fails, NFT unsold)
- Best for: Rare/unique NFTs (1/1 art, rare traits)
Collection Offer (Buy Now or Accept Offers):
- List: 10 ETH fixed
- Also accept offers: Someone offers 9 ETH, you can accept
- Best of both: Get 10 ETH if someone clicks "Buy now," or accept 9 ETH if that's highest offer
- Most flexible: Recommended strategy
Pricing Your NFT
Research:
- Floor price:Lowest listed price in collection
- Example: Pudgy Penguins floor = 2.5 ETH
- Trait rarity:Use rarity.tools or OpenSea "Ranking" tab
- Your NFT: Top 10% rarity → price 20-50% above floor
- Average rarity → price at floor
- Common traits → price below floor (won't sell)
- Recent sales:Last 7 days average
- If avg = 2.8 ETH, floor = 2.5 ETH → market heating up (price aggressive)
- If avg = 2.3 ETH, floor = 2.5 ETH → market cooling (many listings, no buyers - price competitive)
Pricing formula:
Your Price = Floor × (1 + Rarity Premium) × Market Condition
Example:
- Floor: 2.5 ETH
- Your NFT: Top 15% rarity (rarity score 120 vs floor 80)
- Rarity premium: +30% (120/80 = 1.5 → 50% better, conservative 30%)
- Market: Cooling (avg sales below floor)
- Your price: 2.5 × 1.30 × 0.95 = 3.09 ETH
Competitive pricing:
- Hot market (FOMO): Price 10-20% above recent sales (you'll get it)
- Normal market: Price at recent avg
- Cold market: Price 5-10% below floor (stand out, sell faster)
Tutorial: List NFT for Sale on OpenSea
Step 1: Navigate to NFT
- OpenSea: Profile → Collected
- Select: NFT you want to sell (Pudgy Penguin #5432)
- Click: "Sell"
Step 2: Choose Listing Type
- Fixed price: Most common (select this)
- Timed auction: For rare/unique NFTs
- Click: "Set price"
Step 3: Set Price
- Price: 3 ETH
- Duration: 1 month (can cancel/edit anytime, but costs gas)
- Advanced options:
- Reserve for specific buyer: Optional (private sale)
- Bundle: Add other NFTs (sell as package)
Step 4: Set Royalties (If Creator)
- Percentage: 0-10% (OpenSea lets buyers choose, but you set "suggested")
- Example: 5% (if NFT sells for 10 ETH, you earn 0.5 ETH on secondary sales)
- Note: Royalties dead 2025 (buyers almost always choose 0%)
Step 5: Review Fees
- OpenSea fee: 0.5% (0.015 ETH on 3 ETH sale)
- Creator royalty: 5% (0.15 ETH)
- You receive: 3 - 0.015 - 0.15 = 2.835 ETH (94.5% of list price)
Step 6: Approve & List
- First time: Approve OpenSea to access your NFTs (one-time gas fee $10-30)
- Subsequent listings: Free (no gas to list - only pay gas when NFT sells)
- Sign: MetaMask signature (free)
- Listed: NFT now visible on OpenSea (searchable, appears in collection)
Step 7: Promote
- Tweet: Share OpenSea link + image
- Discord: Post in collection Discord (if allowed)
- Price updates: Lower price if no interest after 1 week
Time: 5 minutes Cost: $0 to list (first time $10-30 approval), seller pays gas when sells ($10-50)
Tips to Sell Faster
1. Competitive Pricing:
- Undercut floor by 5%: If floor 3 ETH, list 2.85 ETH (first in search results)
- Reality: Most NFTs never sell (90% of listings sit forever)
- Aggressive pricing = only way to sell in cold market
2. High-Quality Images:
- For art NFTs: High-res preview (not pixelated)
- For PFPs: Make sure thumbnail loads (OpenSea cache issues common)
3. Rarity Transparency:
- Add traits to title: "Pudgy Penguin #5432 - Gold Fur, Laser Eyes (Top 10%)"
- Link to rarity: Tweet rarity.tools link showing ranking
4. Bundle Deals:
- Offer discount: Selling 3 Pudgy Penguins - individually 3 ETH each = 9 ETH, bundle price 8.5 ETH
- Attracts whales: Easier to sell to one buyer than three
5. Accept Offers:
- Enable offers: Let buyers bid below list price
- Auto-accept threshold: OpenSea can auto-accept offers >90% of list price (speeds up sale)
6. Promote on Social:
- Twitter: Tag collection, use hashtags (#NFTs #PudgyPenguins)
- Discord: Collection Discord (don't spam, be tasteful)
- Telegram: NFT trading groups
Reality: In 2025 bear market, most NFTs DON'T sell
- Blue-chips (BAYC, CryptoPunks, Azuki): Sell within days-weeks (liquid)
- Mid-tier: Weeks to months
- Trash collections: Never sell (100+ listings, 0 sales/month)
NFT Marketplace Fees Breakdown
Fee Types
1. Platform Fee (0-5%):
- What: Commission marketplace takes on each sale
- Varies by platform:
- Blur: 0%

- OpenSea: 0.5%
- Foundation: 5%
- SuperRare: 15% (first sale), 3% (secondary)
- Blur: 0%
- Paid by: Seller (deducted from proceeds)
2. Creator Royalty (0-10%):
- What: % of sale goes to original creator
- Example: Bored Ape sells for 50 ETH → Yuga Labs gets 5 ETH (10% royalty)
- 2025 reality: Mostly dead (Blur, Magic Eden made optional - buyers choose 0%)
- Enforced on: Foundation (10%), SuperRare (10%), some collections on OpenSea
3. Gas Fee ($0.01-$50):
- What: Blockchain transaction cost
- Varies by chain:
- Ethereum: $10-50 (high!)
- Polygon: $0.10-1
- Solana: $0.01 (cheapest)
- Base, Arbitrum: $0.50-2
- Paid by: Buyer (usually) for purchase, seller for listing approval (first time)
4. Payment Processing (Credit Cards):
- Nifty Gateway: 5% + $0.30 (Stripe fees)
- Only on: Centralized platforms accepting credit cards
- Avoidable: Use crypto payments (MetaMask = no processing fee)
Total Cost Examples
Example 1: Buy Pudgy Penguin on OpenSea (Ethereum)
- NFT price: 3 ETH ($9,000)
- Platform fee: 0.5% = 0.015 ETH ($45)
- Creator royalty: 5% = 0.15 ETH ($450) - but buyer chose 0% = $0

- Gas fee: $30
- Total: 3.015 ETH + $30 gas = $9,075
- Breakdown: NFT 99%, OpenSea 0.5%, Gas 0.3%, Royalty 0% (skipped)
Example 2: Buy Okay Bear on Magic Eden (Solana)
- NFT price: 15 SOL ($1,500)
- Platform fee: 0% (Magic Eden)
- Creator royalty: 0.5% = 0.075 SOL ($7.50)
- Gas fee: $0.01
- Total: 15.075 SOL = $1,507.51
- Breakdown: NFT 99.5%, Royalty 0.5%, Gas 0%
Example 3: Buy Art on SuperRare (First Sale)
- NFT price: 10 ETH ($30,000)
- Platform fee: 15% = 1.5 ETH ($4,500) - ouch!
- Creator royalty: N/A (first sale)
- Gas fee: $40
- Total: 11.5 ETH + $40 = $34,540
- Breakdown: NFT 87%, SuperRare 13%, Gas 0.1%
Example 4: Sell Bored Ape on Blur
- Sale price: 50 ETH ($150,000)
- Platform fee: 0% (Blur)
- Creator royalty: 0.5% = 0.25 ETH ($750) - buyer chose 0.5% instead of 10%
- Gas fee: $0 (buyer pays)
- You receive: 49.75 ETH = $149,250
- Fees: $750 (0.5% royalty only)
Fee Comparison by Marketplace
| Marketplace | Platform Fee | Royalty | Total Fees (on $10K sale) | Who Pays Gas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blur | 0% | 0-10% (opt) | $50-$1,000 | Buyer |
| OpenSea | 0.5% | 0-10% (opt) | $50-$1,050 | Buyer |
| Magic Eden | 0% | 0-10% (opt) | $0-$1,000 | Buyer |
| LooksRare | 0.5% | 0-10% (opt) | $50-$1,050 | Buyer |
| Foundation | 5% | 10% (enforced) | $1,500 | Buyer |
| SuperRare | 3-15% | 10% (enforced) | $1,300-$2,500 | Buyer |
| Nifty Gateway | 5% + $0.30 | 10% | $1,500 | Platform |
Cheapest: Blur, Magic Eden (0% platform fee) Most expensive: SuperRare (15% first sale), Foundation (5% + 10% = 15% total)
NFT Marketplace Risks & Scams
Risk 1: Fake NFTs / Copymints
MOST COMMON
The Scam:
- Scammer copies popular NFT art (Bored Ape image)
- Creates fake collection "Bored Apes Yacht Club" (slightly different name)
- Lists for cheap (5 ETH vs real 50 ETH floor)
- Victims buy thinking it's deal → Own worthless fake
How to Avoid:
Red flags:
No blue checkmark
Misspelled name ("Bord Apes" vs "Bored Apes")
Price 90% below floor (if seems too good to be true, it is)
Recent creation date (collection "created 2 days ago" - real BAYC from 2021)
Risk 2: Phishing / Wallet Drains
The Scam:
- Scammer sends DM: "Claim free NFT! Click link"
- Fake OpenSea site (opensea-nfts.com vs opensea.io)
- Victim connects wallet → Signs malicious transaction
- Result: All NFTs + crypto drained from wallet
How to Avoid:
Red flags:
"Claim free NFT" (no free lunch)
"Urgent: verify wallet or lose NFTs" (pressure tactics)
DM from "OpenSea Support" (real support doesn't DM)
Risk 3: Wash Trading / Fake Volume
The Scam:
- Scammer creates NFT collection
- Trades between own wallets (sell for 10 ETH, buy back for 10 ETH, repeat)
- Fake volume: Looks like $1M traded (but same person both sides)
- Victims see "hot collection" → Buy in → Scammer dumps on them
How to Detect:
Why it matters:
- Makes collection look popular (isn't)
- Pumps ranking on OpenSea (top trending = fake)
- After pump, scammer dumps real volume on retail
Risk 4: Rug Pulls
The Scam:
- Team launches NFT collection
- Promises game, metaverse, token airdrops
- Raises $5M (10,000 NFTs × $500 each)
- Team disappears → No game, no token, worthless JPEGs
Examples:
- Evolved Apes (2021): $2.7M raised, dev vanished
- Frosties (2022): $1.3M raised, team deleted socials
- Dozens more: 2021-2022 had rug pull weekly
How to Avoid:
Red flags:
Anonymous team (no faces, no names)
Unrealistic promises ("10x guaranteed," "Bored Apes killer")
Pressure to mint ("mint out or miss forever")
No utility (just "cool art" - 99% fail without utility)
Risk 5: Smart Contract Exploits
The Risk:
- NFT smart contract has bug
- Hacker exploits → Mints unlimited NFTs for free OR steals NFTs from holders
- Collection crashes (if unlimited supply) or holders lose NFTs
Historical examples:
- Premint exploits: Several 2022 hacks drained NFTs during mint
- Approval exploits: Fake marketplaces drain wallets via bad approval
How to Avoid:
Risk 6: No Liquidity (Can't Sell)
The Reality:
- 95% of NFT collections have ZERO buyers (2025 bear market)
- List for months, no offers, no sales
- Stuck holding worthless JPEG
How to Avoid:
Illiquidity calculation:
- Volume: 2 ETH/day
- Your NFT: Worth 10 ETH
- To sell: Need 5 days of entire volume = illiquid
- Red flag: If your sale = 5x daily volume, won't sell easily
NFT Market Reality Check 2025
The Crash (2021-2025)
Peak (2021-2022):
- OpenSea volume: $5B/month (Jan 2022 peak)
- BAYC floor: 150 ETH ($450,000)
- CryptoPunks floor: 100 ETH ($300,000)
- Total market cap: $40+ billion
- Media hype: Mainstream (Jimmy Fallon, Paris Hilton buying NFTs)
Crash (2023-2025):
- OpenSea volume: $300-500M/month (90% down from peak)
- BAYC floor: 15-25 ETH ($45,000-75,000) - down 80-85%
- CryptoPunks floor: 30-40 ETH ($90,000-120,000) - down 60-70%
- Total market cap: $5-8 billion (80-90% decline)
- Media: Silent (NFTs = punchline, "worthless JPEGs")
Casualties:
- 90%+ of projects: Worthless (floor price $0, no buyers)
- Celebrities: Lost millions (Justin Bieber BAYC $1.3M → worth $70K)
- Platforms: Coinbase NFT failed, LooksRare/X2Y2 dying
What Survives (Blue-Chip Collections 2025)
Still Valuable:
- CryptoPunks (30-40 ETH floor) - OG status, Larva Labs pedigree
- Bored Ape Yacht Club (15-25 ETH) - Yuga Labs ecosystem, utility (ApeCoin, Otherside)
- Azuki (5-8 ETH) - Strong community, anime aesthetic
- Pudgy Penguins (3-5 ETH) - Toy deal (Walmart), IP expansion
- Milady (3-4 ETH) - Cult following, meme energy
- DeGods (Solana - 300-500 SOL = $30-50K) - Migration to ETH, strong brand
Why they survive:
- Brand recognition: Known globally (like luxury brands)
- Utility: Membership, token airdrops, IP rights
- Community: Strong holder base (not just flippers)
- Team execution: Continued building during bear market
What Failed (Dead Projects)
90%+ of 2021-2022 launches = worthless:
- Generic PFP #4872: "Bored Tigers" (floor $0)
- Failed metaverse: "Cyber City NFTs" (metaverse never built)
- Celebrity cash grabs: Logan Paul's CryptoZoo (class action lawsuit)
- Copycat collections: "Lazy Lions," "Party Penguins" etc (no innovation)
Common failures:
- No utility: Just art (buyers wanted more - games, tokens, membership)
- Team quit: Roadmap abandoned, Discord deleted
- Oversupply: 100 new PFP projects daily (diluted market)
- Zero innovation: Copied BAYC formula (market saturated)
Current Use Cases (What Works 2025)
Art (Surviving):
- Serious collectors: Foundation, SuperRare still active ($50M/year)
- 1/1s from established artists: XCOPY, Beeple, Pak = holding value
- Museum acquisitions: LA County Museum bought CryptoPunk (legitimacy)
Gaming (Growing):
- In-game assets: Axie Infinity, Gods Unchained, Illuvium (utility-driven)
- Play-to-earn: Axie peaked 2021, declined 90%, but stabilizing
- Immutable X: Scaling gaming NFTs (low fees, Ethereum security)
Music (Niche):
- Sound.xyz: Artists selling limited editions ($1,000-10,000 total)
- Catalog: Music NFTs (own master recordings)
- Reality: Tiny market (<$10M/year), but passionate community
Membership (Viable):
- Flyfish Club: NFT = restaurant membership ($300K+ secondary)
- VeeFriends: Gary Vee's NFTs = VeeCon ticket + networking
- Reality: Works if backed by real-world utility (not vaporware)
Domain Names (Utility):
- ENS: vitalik.eth instead of 0xd8dA... (actual utility)
- Trading volume: Steady $5-20M/month (people actually use ENS)
- Blue-chip ENS: 3-letter, 3-digit, common words = $10K-$1M
Should You Buy NFTs in 2025?
YES if:
NO if:
Honest assessment:
- NFT bubble popped: 90% crash from peak (won't return to 2021 levels)
- Market stabilizing: Blue-chips holding value ($50K-$150K range)
- Niche use cases work: Gaming, domains, membership (not generic PFPs)
- Speculation remains: Can still make money (buy floor, sell rares), but much harder 2025 vs 2021
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best NFT marketplace in 2025?
OpenSea = best for beginners/most collections, Blur = best for pro traders, Magic Eden = best for Solana/low fees. OpenSea (opensea.io) best overall: Reasons: (1) Largest selection - 2M+ collections (find any NFT - Ethereum, Polygon, Solana, Base, 8+ chains), (2) Easiest UI - most beginner-friendly (tutorials everywhere, intuitive design), (3) Most liquidity - $4-5B annual volume (blue-chips sell within days), (4) Multi-chain - one platform for all blockchains (don't need separate marketplaces), (5) Established - 7+ years operating (not going anywhere, safe choice), Best for: Beginners (first NFT purchase), casual collectors (buy 1-2 NFTs/year), multi-chain traders. Blur (blur.io) best for traders: Reasons: (1) 0% fees - no platform commission (save 0.5-2.5% vs others), (2) Aggregator - shows OpenSea, LooksRare, X2Y2 listings (best prices across platforms), (3) Pro tools - real-time analytics, portfolio tracking, sweep floor feature, (4) Fast - optimized execution (important for high-frequency trading), (5) Rewards - earn $BLUR tokens for volume (loyalty program), Best for: Professional traders (flipping NFTs daily), high-volume users, profit-maximizers, Magic Eden (magiceden.io) best for Solana: Reasons: (1) Solana-first - 80% of platform on Solana (cheap $0.01 fees vs Ethereum $30), (2) 0% platform fees - competitive (same as Blur), (3) Launchpad - new projects mint here (early access alpha), (4) Mobile app - iOS/Android (trade on phone), (5) Gaming focus - best for gaming NFTs (utility-driven), Best for: Solana traders, budget buyers (Solana NFTs $10-500 vs Ethereum $1,000-100,000), gamers, Specialized recommendations: Art collectors (1/1s): Foundation, SuperRare (curated, high quality), Credit card buyers: Nifty Gateway (no crypto needed), Multiple chains: OpenSea (8+ chains) or Rarible (5+ chains), Pro flippers: Blur (0% fees maximize profit margins), By use case: First NFT ever: OpenSea (easiest + largest selection), Buying blue-chip (BAYC, CryptoPunks): OpenSea or Blur (both have liquidity), Buying Solana NFT (Okay Bears, DeGods): Magic Eden (only choice), Buying art (XCOPY, Beeple): Foundation or SuperRare (serious art focus), Flipping for profit: Blur (0% fees + aggregation + pro tools), Truth: No single "best" marketplace (depends on needs), OpenSea dominates overall (50%+ market share), but Blur challenges (especially for traders), Magic Eden owns Solana (90%+ of Solana NFT volume), Foundation/SuperRare for art (niche but prestigious), Avoid: Coinbase NFT (failed - use OpenSea instead), X2Y2, LooksRare (dying - low volume, use Blur for aggregation), Random new marketplaces (90% fail within 1 year), Recommendation: Start OpenSea (learn basics, buy first NFT), graduate to Blur (if trading frequently, want 0% fees), add Magic Eden (if exploring Solana NFTs for cheaper entry).
How do I buy my first NFT?
Get MetaMask wallet → Buy ETH on Coinbase → Send to MetaMask → Connect to OpenSea → Find verified collection → Buy NFT (pay NFT price + gas $10-30). Takes 30 minutes first time. Step-by-step (complete beginner guide): Phase 1: Setup Wallet (10 minutes): Go to metamask.io → Click "Download" (Chrome extension), install MetaMask → Click browser extension icon, click "Create wallet" → Create password (strong - 12+ characters), CRITICAL: Write down 12-word seed phrase on paper (NOT screenshot - if lost, funds gone forever), example seed phrase: "apple banana orange dragon castle..." (12 random words), store paper in safe place (treat like cash - anyone with seed phrase owns your wallet), confirm seed phrase: MetaMask tests you (select words in correct order), Wallet created: You now have Ethereum address (0xABC123... - like bank account number), Phase 2: Buy Ethereum (15 minutes): Can't use credit card directly on OpenSea (MetaMask doesn't process payments easily for beginners), easier: buy ETH on Coinbase exchange → send to MetaMask, visit coinbase.com → Create account (email, phone verification), complete KYC: upload driver's license (required by law in US - takes 5-10 minutes), add payment: Link bank account or debit card, buy ETH: Click "Buy" → Select "Ethereum", enter amount: $200 (example - enough for cheap NFT + fees), confirm purchase → ETH appears in Coinbase account (~instant), Phase 3: Transfer to MetaMask (5 minutes): Coinbase → "Send & Receive" → Select ETH, enter amount: All ETH (or leave $10 in Coinbase for future), critical: Copy MetaMask address (0xABC123...), click MetaMask extension → copy address at top, paste into Coinbase "To" field, VERIFY ADDRESS: Triple-check (wrong address = permanent loss), send → ETH arrives in MetaMask 1-5 minutes (check MetaMask - balance updates), Phase 4: Connect to OpenSea (2 minutes): Visit opensea.io (bookmark - avoid phishing fake sites), click "Connect wallet" (top right), select "MetaMask" → MetaMask popup appears → click "Connect", sign message (free - just proves you own wallet), connected: Your profile appears (top right shows wallet balance), Phase 5: Find NFT (10 minutes): Search bar: Type collection name (example: "Pudgy Penguins"), CRITICAL: Check blue checkmark next to collection name (verified = real, no checkmark = fake/scam), browse collection: Filter → Price range (example: 2-3 ETH), traits (example: Blue background), status: "Buy now" (vs auction), select NFT: Click one you like (example: Pudgy Penguin #5432), verify: Check contract address matches official (Google "Pudgy Penguins contract"), view on Etherscan: Verify 8,888 total supply (legit), Phase 6: Purchase (5 minutes): Click "Buy now", review costs: NFT price: 2.5 ETH ($7,500 example), platform fee: 0.5% = 0.0125 ETH ($37.50), gas fee: ~$20-40 (Ethereum network cost), total: ~2.515 ETH + $30 gas = $7,575, important: Make sure you have enough ETH (if only have 2.5 ETH, transaction fails), click "Confirm checkout", MetaMask popup: Shows transaction details (review carefully!), gas fee: May be high ($50+ during congestion) - can adjust (lower gas = slower transaction), click "Confirm" in MetaMask, wait: 1-5 minutes (Ethereum block confirmation), success! NFT appears in OpenSea profile → "Collected" tab, also in MetaMask: Assets → NFTs (may take hours to display), verify ownership: Click NFT → "Details" → "Owned by 0xABC..." (your address), Phase 7: Secure NFT (ongoing): NEVER share seed phrase: MetaMask/OpenSea NEVER asks for seed phrase (if someone asks = scam), beware phishing: Only visit opensea.io (bookmark it), don't click links in DMs ("claim free NFT" = scam), revoke permissions: After buying, visit revoke.cash → connect MetaMask → revoke OpenSea approval (security measure - prevents future exploits), backup seed phrase: Keep in 2 places (home safe + bank safe deposit box), Total time: ~30-60 minutes first time (mostly KYC + learning), Total cost: NFT price + 0.5% OpenSea fee + $20-50 gas, After first purchase: Future buys take 2-5 minutes (wallet already setup), Solana alternative (cheaper): Get Phantom wallet → Buy SOL → Magic Eden → Buy Okay Bear for $1,500 (vs Ethereum $7,500), gas only $0.01 (vs Ethereum $30), Recommendation: Start with cheap NFT (<$100) on Polygon or Solana (learn process without big risk), then graduate to Ethereum blue-chips (once comfortable), Common beginner mistakes: Not checking verified badge (bought fake BAYC), not having enough ETH (transaction fails after paying gas), clicking phishing link (wallet drained), not backing up seed phrase (lost access), overpaying gas (during network congestion - be patient, wait for lower fees).
How much does it cost to sell an NFT?
Listing = FREE (no upfront cost to list NFT on OpenSea). When sold: pay 0.5-15% platform fee + 0-10% creator royalty + gas $10-50 (if Ethereum). Seller keeps 85-99.5% of sale price depending on marketplace. Cost breakdown (selling on OpenSea Ethereum): Listing phase (first time only): Approve OpenSea: One-time gas fee $10-30 (gives OpenSea permission to transfer your NFTs), subsequent listings: FREE (no gas - OpenSea uses signature-based listings), actual listing: $0 cost to list (can list 1,000 NFTs for $0 after initial approval), Sale phase (when NFT sells): Scenario: NFT sells for 10 ETH ($30,000): Platform fee: OpenSea 0.5% = 0.05 ETH ($150), creator royalty: 5% (if buyer chooses to pay) = 0.5 ETH ($1,500), note: 2025 royalties optional (buyers often pay 0% = you keep more), you receive: 10 - 0.05 - 0.5 = 9.45 ETH ($28,350), total fees: $1,650 (5.5% of sale price), if buyer skips royalty (common 2025): You receive 9.95 ETH ($29,850), total fees: $150 (0.5% only), Gas fees (various actions): Approve collection (first time): $10-30 one-time, listing: $0 (free signature), accepting offer: $10-50 (you pay gas to accept buyer's bid), canceling listing: $10-30 (costs gas to cancel), transferring NFT: $10-50 (if gifting to another wallet), Costs by marketplace: Blur (0% platform fee): List: FREE, sell 10 ETH: Receive 9.95 ETH (0.5% royalty if buyer generous), you keep: 99.5%, fees: 0% platform (best), Magic Eden Solana (0%): List: FREE, sell 100 SOL ($10,000): Receive 99.5 SOL ($9,950), gas: $0.01 (negligible), you keep: 99.5%, Foundation (5% platform + 10% royalty): List: FREE (Base L2 - low gas), sell 10 ETH: Platform 5% = 0.5 ETH ($1,500), royalty 10% = 1 ETH ($3,000), you receive: 8.5 ETH ($25,500), fees: 15% (most expensive), SuperRare (15% primary, 3% secondary): First sale (you're creator): List: FREE, sell 10 ETH: Platform 15% = 1.5 ETH ($4,500), you receive: 8.5 ETH ($25,500), fees: 15% (ouch!), Secondary sale (reselling): List: FREE, sell 10 ETH: Platform 3% = 0.3 ETH ($900), creator royalty 10% = 1 ETH ($3,000), you receive: 8.7 ETH ($26,100), fees: 13%, Nifty Gateway (5% + withdrawal fee): List: FREE, sell $10,000 (USD): Platform 5% = $500, royalty 10% = $1,000, you receive: $8,500 in Nifty account, withdraw to bank: Additional 15% fee = $1,275 (if withdraw to external wallet), total fees: Up to 30% if withdrawing (brutal), Real-world example (selling Pudgy Penguin): You own Pudgy Penguin #5432, floor: 3 ETH, you list: 3.2 ETH (slightly above floor - hoping for rare trait premium), costs: Listing: $0 (already approved OpenSea months ago), sale happens: Buyer pays 3.2 ETH, OpenSea fee: 0.5% = 0.016 ETH ($48), Pudgy Penguins royalty: 5% (buyer chose 5%, not 0%) = 0.16 ETH ($480), you receive: 3.024 ETH ($9,072), vs if listed on Blur: Buyer pays 3.2 ETH, Blur fee: 0%, royalty: 0.016 ETH (buyer chose 0.5% on Blur - default lower), you receive: 3.184 ETH ($9,552), saved: $480 vs OpenSea (0.5% platform fee + 4.5% lower royalty), Hidden costs (often forgotten): Time cost: Photographing NFT, writing description, promoting on Twitter (2-5 hours), no monetary cost but opportunity cost, failed sales: Listed NFT for 3 months, no buyer, wasted time + mental energy, price drops: Forced to lower price 20% to sell (effective 20% "fee" vs initial hope), Cheapest way to sell: Blur or Magic Eden: 0% platform fees (seller keeps 99.5-100%), Solana: $0.01 gas (vs Ethereum $30), skip royalties: Buyers can choose 0% (you keep more, but hurts creators), Most expensive: SuperRare first sale: 15% platform fee (brutal for creators), Nifty Gateway withdrawal: 15% to withdraw (avoid unless selling to normies on credit cards), Foundation: 5% + 10% = 15% total (acceptable for prestige art platform), Tax implications: NFT sells for profit (bought 1 ETH, sold 3 ETH = 2 ETH gain), capital gains tax: 15-20% long-term (held >1 year) or 10-37% short-term (<1 year), effective cost: $600-1,200 on 2 ETH gain (depending on holding period), must factor into "cost" (IRS wants their cut), Recommendation: List on Blur for maximum proceeds (0% fee), promote listing on Twitter (increase visibility), set realistic price (slightly below floor = faster sale), accept lower offers (better to sell at 10% discount than sit unsold for months), use OpenSea as backup (if Blur no sales after 2 weeks, Blur has lower traffic than OpenSea).
Are NFTs still worth buying in 2025?
Depends entirely on WHY you're buying: (1) Art/collectible you like = YES (buy what you want to own). (2) Speculation/profit = MAYBE (only blue-chips with liquidity). (3) Get-rich-quick = NO (2021 gold rush over, 95% of buyers lost money). Honest assessment by buyer type: Type 1: Art collector (buy because you like it):
Conclusion: NFT Marketplaces in 2025
Final guidance:
"NFT marketplaces survived the 2021-2025 crash, but market is 85-90% smaller - OpenSea, Blur, Magic Eden dominate with actual volume while 95% of NFT collections have ZERO liquidity. Use marketplaces for: buying blue-chip collectibles you believe in long-term, purchasing art you genuinely like, or trading gaming/utility NFTs with actual use cases. Don't expect 2021 riches - those days are gone. Focus on marketplaces with proven liquidity (OpenSea $5B/year), not hype (Coinbase NFT flopped despite massive launch)."
1. Three Marketplaces Matter (Ignore Rest)
- OpenSea: Largest, easiest, most chains (beginners start here)
- Blur: Pro traders, 0% fees, aggregation (maximize profits)
- Magic Eden: Solana leader, low fees, gaming (budget entry)
- All others combined: <20% market share (niche at best)
2. Blue-Chips Only (If Speculating)
- Liquid collections: BAYC, CryptoPunks, Azuki, Pudgy Penguins
- Can actually sell: Within days-weeks (not months-never)
- Avoid 95% of NFTs: Zero buyers, floor $0, pure speculation
3. Fees Dropped (Royalty Era Over)
- Platform fees: 0-0.5% (down from 2.5% in 2021)
- Royalties: Optional (buyers choose 0%, creators earn nothing)
- Gas still expensive: Ethereum $10-50 (use Solana/Polygon for cheaper)
4. Scams Everywhere (Stay Alert)
- Fake NFTs: 90% of listings are copies/scams (check blue checkmark)
- Phishing common: Fake OpenSea sites drain wallets daily
- Rug pulls frequent: New projects = 99% fail/scam
5. Market Reality (Not 2021)
- Volume down 90%: Peak $5B/month → now $500M/month
- Most NFTs worthless: Can't give away (zero bids)
- Blue-chips holding: $50K-$150K range (not mooning but liquid)
If Complete Beginner:
- Easiest interface (beginner-friendly)
- Most tutorials (YouTube, guides everywhere)
- Largest selection (find any NFT)
- Multi-chain (Ethereum, Polygon, Solana, Base)
- Learn process (MetaMask, gas fees, approvals)
- Low risk (can afford 100% loss)
- Polygon or Solana (low gas fees)
- Blue checkmark = real collection
- No checkmark = fake/scam (100% avoid)
If Active Trader:
- 0% fees (save 0.5-2.5% per trade)
- Aggregator (best prices across all marketplaces)
- Pro tools (analytics, portfolio tracking, sweep floor)
- Faster execution (optimized for high volume)
- BAYC, CryptoPunks, Azuki (liquidity exists)
- Can actually flip (buy today, sell tomorrow)
- Avoid illiquid collections (sit for months)
- Trade during low congestion (weekends, late night EST)
- Save $20-30 per transaction (vs peak hours)
If Art Collector:
- Curated (higher quality, less trash)
- Serious artists (XCOPY, Beeple, Hackatao)
- Enforced royalties (support creators)
- Prestige (being on SuperRare = credential)
- Don't speculate (may never resell)
- Treat as art purchase (not investment)
- Support artists (royalties help creators)
If Solana User:
- 90% of Solana NFT volume (only liquid marketplace)
- $0.01 gas fees (vs Ethereum $30)
- Gaming NFTs (utility-focused)
- Mobile app (trade on phone)
NFT Marketplaces in 2025: Survived but Consolidated
What Works:
- OpenSea, Blur, Magic Eden = 80%+ market share (use these, ignore rest)
- Blue-chip collections = holding value (BAYC $50K-$150K range)
- Utility NFTs = growing (gaming, domains, membership)
- Curated art = stable niche (Foundation, SuperRare $50M/year)
What Failed:
- 90% of marketplaces = dead (LooksRare, X2Y2, Coinbase NFT dying)
- 95% of NFT collections = worthless (floor $0, zero buyers)
- Royalties = collapsed (buyers choose 0%, creators get nothing)
- Hype projects = all failed (metaverse, celebrity cash grabs, PFP #4872)
Market Reality:
- $5-8B total market cap (down from $40B peak = -80-85%)
- $300-500M monthly volume (down from $5B = -90%)
- Blue-chips stable (not mooning, but not collapsing)
- New projects DOA (99% fail immediately, zero chance)
Who Should Use Marketplaces:
Who Should Avoid:
NFT marketplaces = infrastructure survived (OpenSea $5B/year volume = real business), but NFT mania died (90% of collections worthless, market 10% of peak size).
Use marketplaces for:
- Collecting art you genuinely like (support artists, own pieces you enjoy)
- Trading blue-chips IF experienced trader + can afford loss (speculation, not investment)
- Buying utility NFTs with actual use (gaming items, ENS domains, membership)
Don't use marketplaces for:
- Getting rich (2021 ship sailed, early adopters won, latecomers lost)
- Buying new projects (99% fail within 6 months, statistical certainty)
- Investing rent money (NFTs = speculation, many go to $0)
Start with OpenSea (easiest, largest), graduate to Blur (if trading), add Magic Eden (if exploring Solana). Check verified badges, avoid scams, only buy blue-chips or art you love. Expect 85% of purchases to lose value, 10% to hold steady, 5% to appreciate. NFTs = entertainment budget (like Vegas), not investment portfolio (like stocks).
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