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The NFT (non-fungible token) marketplace for digital art has gained significant attention in recent years. NFTs represent unique digital assets that can be bought and owned by individuals or entities. These assets include art, images, videos, movies, and music. NFTs utilize blockchain technology to provide verifiable proof of ownership for easily reproduced goods.
While NFTs have been around for a while, it wasn’t until 2021 that they became widely known. Record-breaking purchases, such as Christie’s auction of a Beeple painting for $69 million, brought significant attention to the NFT market. As the digital art scene continues to grow, we can expect the NFT market to continue expanding.
The popularity of NFTs has led to a surge in purchases, with players spending hundreds of dollars on individual NFT artworks such as those in Bored Apes, CryptoPunks, and Loot. Unlike other cryptocurrencies where one can trade one type of cryptocurrency for another, NFT crypto art tokens are one-of-a-kind digital collectibles that cannot be exchanged. They can only be traded for another NFT or sold outright.
NFTs are revolutionizing the way digital art is bought and sold in the art world, and artists are reaping the benefits of this new market.
If you’re interested in exploring the NFT art market, here is a list of the most popular NFT art marketplace websites where you can buy and sell unique pieces of digital art and code:
1. OpenSea
OpenSea was established in 2017 by Alex Atallah and Devin Finzer. It is the first and largest marketplace for user-owned digital items, with a user base of 113,000, 15.5 million NFTs, and a transaction volume of $354 million. OpenSea allows users to buy and trade blockchain-backed artifacts, art, music, domain names, and trading cards.
The OpenSea website is easy to navigate with its clean and uncluttered design. It provides a simple process for anyone to mint and sell NFTs. Creators of NFTs on OpenSea receive royalties every time a customer purchases one of their products. Users can also add items from other NFT marketplaces like Rarible and Mintable.
Check out OpenSea’s trending art collections.
2. Foundation
Foundation is a digital art platform that allows art enthusiasts to invite other artists to participate in exhibitions and events. Invited artists can mint and sell their NFTs after being accepted into the crypto art marketplace. Primary sales on Foundation earn an 85 percent commission, and secondary market purchases generate an additional 10 percent profit.
The Foundation community is not limited to digital artists alone. It also invites creators of other art forms such as photography, music, and videos.
The website has a clean and professional design, but the homepage may load slowly due to the amount of information displayed. Since its inception in February 2021, creators on Foundation have received over $40 million. Notably, Foundation sold the famous Nyan Cat NFT for 300 ETH, equivalent to $842,325.
3. Rarible
Rarible is a marketplace that trades NFTs in various areas including art, photography, memes, and gaming. Rarible is a community-owned NFT marketplace with ERC-20 RARI token owners. Users can vote on platform updates and participate in platform decisions through the RARI governance token.
The website emphasizes art supplies, allowing designers to showcase their work to everyone who visits Rarible. However, only the buyer will have access to the entire project after payment.
4. SuperRare
SuperRare takes a simpler and more minimalist approach compared to Rarible. It is an art platform that promotes the creation and collection of NFTs for artistic works. SuperRare works directly with artists, requiring them to submit and approve their work before it can be posted on the site.
To use SuperRare, a compatible crypto wallet such as MetaMask or Formatic is required. Creating a login and connecting it to your digital wallet address takes only a few seconds, allowing you to browse the platform’s unique NFTs.
5. Mintable
Mintable is a platform that allows users to easily create, buy, and sell non-fungible tokens on the blockchain. It has been in operation since 2018 and supports Ethereum and Zilliqa NFTs.
Mintable offers NFTs in various categories such as art, collectibles, and music. The website has a simple web layout that is easy to navigate. The top NFTs are highlighted on the marketplace’s homepage.
Mintable offers three types of products: gasless, standard, and printable, with commission charges of 2.5 percent, 5 percent, and 10 percent, respectively. The marketplace also has an NFT DAO that allows for community-based governance. Each voter receives a voting non-fungible token that represents their chosen voting power.
Mintable Pro members have access to a customizable store and an advertising package.
6. Nifty Getaway
Nifty Getaway has created a platform for artists to sell their own digital work. On Nifty Getaway, you can purchase and sell NFTs using USD. The platform is owned by the US digital currency exchange Gemini, which means it is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Nifty Getaway regularly releases new collections from prominent artists through drops, which are only open for a short time. The timing for the next drop can be found on the front page of the website.
The royalty amount that artists accept on secondary sales is up to them. In addition to the five percent commission, Nifty Getaway also takes a significant 30 cents from every secondary sale.
7. MakersPlace
MakersPlace is a San Francisco-based company founded in 2018. It is a non-financial-transactions (NFT) platform for creative artists such as painters, authors, and photographers who want to share their work with others. MakersPlace provides creative artists with the opportunity to showcase their work in a professional setting.
The platform offers escrow services and the option to accept credit card payments for secondary sales transactions. Like Nifty Gateway, MakersPlace distributes new digital artwork through drops scheduled periodically.
MakersPlace charges a 15 percent fee on all Ethereum wallet purchases to encourage the creation of new products.
8. BakerySwap
BakerySwap is a smaller NFT marketplace compared to OpenSea, mainly because most NFT markets are built on Ethereum. However, BakerySwap was one of the first platforms to launch on the Binance Smart Chain.
The NFT marketplace on BakerySwap allows users to trade and swap liquidity assets. It is straightforward to use, requiring only a MetaMask wallet connection to register. Since BakerySwap operates on the Binance Smart Chain, you can only purchase NFT assets with BNB (Binance Coin).
9. KnownOrigin
KnownOrigin, similar to its sister company SuperRare, offers a curated, gallery-like experience for NFT enthusiasts. The site is known for displaying only genuine and unique artworks. It stores all of its NFT artwork on IPFS, which provides some level of protection for the underlying materials.
Creators must apply and receive approval on KnownOrigin before they can become artists on the site. The platform focuses on digital art and avoids the trend of using avatars or animals in the marketplace.
KnownOrigin’s system is easy to use. Simply connect your wallets, such as MetaMask or Formatic, to start bidding on your selected NFT assets.
10. Binance NFT Exchange
Binance NFT is a cryptocurrency exchange that specializes in trading non-fungible tokens (NFTs). It is an NFT platform provided by Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. The platform operates on the Ethereum blockchain, ensuring secure trading.
By being a Binance customer, your account is automatically compatible with Binance NFT once activated. Placing a bid on products that catch your attention is straightforward after registration. You can pay using ETH, BNB, or BUSD, depending on the specifications set by the owners.
11. Solonart
Solanart is the first non-financial-transactions marketplace on Solana. It allows users to explore, purchase, and sell NFTs from various collections. Solanart is a curated collection of NFTs, with only a limited number of NFTs available for purchase on the site.
The platform operates on Ethereum blockchain technology and has gained recognition for the artistic collections available.
