12 Best NFT Marketplaces for 2023

By  Beluga Research October 9, 2023

NFT marketplaces allow for the trading of NFTs and give artists a chance to showcase digital creations. Collectors, meanwhile, have the opportunity to own something truly one-of-a-kind. Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) have taken the digital world by storm, changing the game for artists, creators and collectors alike. It's like being part of a bustling market exploring different items, each offering its own special features and options for artists and collectors to discover and enjoy. This is a whole new way to appreciate and interact with digital art and collectibles, and the possibilities are endless. Read More

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OpenSea

OpenSea Logo

Top Pick

OpenSea

Features

Largest NFT marketplace, supports a wide variety of NFTs, easy to use

Fees

2.5% fee on the seller

Supported Chains

Ethereum, Polygon, Solana, Base

Blur

Blur Logo

Blur

Features

Largest marketplace by volume, featuring a suite of tools for advanced traders and general collectors alike

Fees

0.5% up to 10% depending on the sellers choice

Supported Chains

Ethereum

Magic Eden

Magic Eden Logo

Magic Eden

Features

Largest NFT marketplace on Solana

Fees

2% fee on the seller

Supported Chains

Solana, Ethereum, Polygon, Bitcoin

Rarible

Rarible Logo

Rarible

Features

Similar to OpenSea, but with a focus on high-quality or art NFTs

Fees

1% fee on both the buyer and seller

Supported Chains

Ethereum, Polygon, MATIC, Tezos, Immutable X

SuperRare

SuperRare Logo

SuperRare

Features

Focuses on high-end digital art, curated selection of NFTs with only verified artists able to mint on the platform

Fees

15% fee on the seller

Supported Chains

Ethereum

NBA Top Shot

NBA Top Shot Logo

NBA Top Shot

Features

Marketplace for NBA Top Shot digital trading cards

Fees

15% fee on the buyer and 2.5% fee on the seller

Supported Chains

Flow

Nifty Gateway

Nifty Gateway Logo

Nifty Gateway

Features

Popular NFT marketplace for digital art and collectibles

Fees

5% fee on the buyer and 2.5% fee on the seller

Supported Chains

Ethereum, Solana

Axie Marketplace

Axie Marketplace Logo

Axie Marketplace

Features

Marketplace for Axie Infinity NFTs, a popular blockchain game

Fees

5.25% fee on the seller

Supported Chains

Ronin

Foundation

Foundation Logo

Foundation

Features

Invite-only marketplace for high-end digital art

Fees

5% fee on the seller

Supported Chains

Ethereum

Binance NFT Marketplace

Binance NFT Marketplace Logo

Binance NFT Marketplace

Features

NFT marketplace from Binance, the largest cryptocurrency exchange

Fees

1% fee on the buyer and 1% fee on the seller

Supported Chains

BNB Smart Chain, Ethereum, Polygon, Bitcoin

KnownOrigin

KnownOrigin Logo

KnownOrigin

Features

NFT marketplace for high-quality digital art

Fees

15% fee on the seller

Supported Chains

Ethereum

Top Beluga Pick

Selecting the top NFT marketplace among the twelve mentioned is highly subjective - it really depends on a user's intentions. Each platform offers its strengths and caters to different preferences. Based on their overall impact, popularity, and unique features OpenSea emerges as the top Beluga Pick.

OpenSea has an extensive marketplace, offering a diverse range of NFT categories. It also has a user-friendly interface including the ability to purchase with fiat currency which makes it highly accessible to new entrants in the NFT space. The platform's continuous ability to source liquidity makes it a reliable option for collectors, creators and traders alike making OpenSea a leader in the NFT space.

It's important to note that all the other platforms are certainly not to be considered as runner-ups. They each offer their own advantages, yet in an illiquid market participants flock to wherever the liquidity is. For the time being, that remains on OpenSea and Blur.

Questions & Answers

Q. What are NFT marketplaces?

A. NFT marketplaces are online platforms where individuals can buy, sell and trade non-fungible tokens (NFTs). NFTs are unique digital assets stored on a blockchain, ensuring authenticity and ownership. These marketplaces serve as a hub for artists, collectors and investors interested in buying or selling NFTs.

Q. How do NFT marketplaces work?

A. NFT marketplaces operate by facilitating the buying and selling of unique digital assets. Artists and creators upload their works onto the marketplace platform. Each digital asset is tokenized into a unique NFT (non-fungible token). Buyers can browse through the marketplace to discover and purchase these NFTs. Transactions are recorded on a blockchain, ensuring transparency and ownership verification. Ownership of an NFT grants the buyer exclusive rights to that specific and unique digital asset.

Q. What kind of NFTs are available on these marketplaces?

A. NFT marketplaces offer various digital assets, created by individual artists, musician, and brands including:

  • Artwork (paintings, illustrations, animations and digital sculptures)
  • Music (music tracks, albums, audio clips)
  • Unique digital items, (virtual trading cards, in-game items, virtual pets or virtual fashion accessories)
  • Virtual real estate (virtual lands, properties or spaces within decentralized virtual worlds and metaverses)
  • Unique digital avatars that users can use in virtual worlds, gaming environments or social platforms
  • Digital collectibles (limited-edition artwork, historical artifacts, celebrity memorabilia)
  • Digital identities (profiles, reputational assets within virtual communities or social platforms)

Q. How do NFT marketplaces ensure the authenticity of digital assets?

A. NFT marketplaces use blockchain to authenticate and own digital assets. Each NFT is associated with a unique token ID recorded on a blockchain, providing a transparent and immutable record of its history. This decentralized system ensures that the ownership and provenance of NFTs can be easily verified.

Q. How do NFT marketplaces handle copyright and intellectual property rights?

A. NFT marketplaces put the burden of copyright and IP rights on sellers. Before listing an NFT for sale, sellers must have the rights and permissions for the content to sell. However, buyers need to do their due diligence and verify the legitimacy of the NFT before making a purchase.

Q. What fees are associated with using NFT marketplaces?

A. NFT marketplaces typically charge fees for various actions. These actions include listing an NFT and completing a sale. The fees vary between platforms and can be a percentage of the transaction value or a fixed amount. It's essential to be familiar with the fee structure of a marketplace before using it.

Q. Are there any risks associated with buying NFTs from marketplaces?

A. Yes, there are risks involved in buying NFTs from marketplaces. Some of the common risks include counterfeit or stolen NFTs and market volatility. It's crucial to conduct thorough research and verify the authenticity of an NFT.

Q. Are all NFT marketplaces the same?

A. No, all NFT marketplaces are not the same. Some focus on specific types of NFTs, like art or gaming. Others support a wide range of assets. Some marketplaces curate the NFTs that are listed, while others are open to all. The features, functions and user interfaces also vary between platforms. The volume of activity and popularity is not consistent across marketplaces either. Given all these differences, creators and collectors need to evaluate the options based on priorities. No single marketplace will suit everyone's needs.

Q. What happens if a marketplace shuts down?

A. If a marketplace shuts down, it could have implications for NFTs listed on that platform. However, since NFT ownership is recorded on the blockchain, ownership of an NFT should not be affected. It's always recommended to keep backups and records of your NFT transactions.

Q. Are there age restrictions for using NFT marketplaces?

A. Many NFT marketplaces have age restrictions to comply with legal regulations. These restrictions may vary depending on the marketplace's jurisdiction and terms and conditions. Reviewing and adhering to the age requirements of the market you intend to use is essential.