OpenSea расширяет горизонты: новый токен и многопрофильная платформа для криптотрейдинга Translation: OpenSea Expands Horizons: New Token and Multifaceted Platform for Crypto Trading

The NFT marketplace OpenSea is now branding itself as a multi-chain aggregator, allowing trading of a diverse range of cryptocurrencies beyond just digital art. This was reported by The Block.

The platform has opened up trading capabilities for users, enabling transactions in any tokens, including NFTs, meme coins, and various other virtual assets across 22 blockchains.

OpenSea aggregates buy and sell orders from decentralized exchanges such as Uniswap and Meteora, charging a fee of 0.9%.

The platform operates on a non-custodial model and does not carry out KYC (Know Your Customer) checks. Instead of user verification, it employs tools from analytics firm TRM Labs to tag addresses that are sanctioned or suspicious regarding money laundering.

According to OpenSea’s founder and CEO, Devin Finzer, the decision to pivot the platform away from being solely NFT-focused came as a result of the prolonged downturn in the non-fungible token sector.

The company has cut over half of its workforce following a significant drop in monthly revenue, plummeting from $125 million in January 2022 to just $3 million by the end of 2023. By that point, NFT trading volumes had fallen by 90% from the peak levels of 2021. Additionally, OpenSea faced increased competitive pressure from rivals like Blur and Magic Eden, which entered the market.

In the first two weeks of October, the platform recorded $1.6 billion in crypto trading volume, with NFTs contributing $230 million to that figure.

«You can’t argue with macroeconomic trends,» Finzer stated, commenting on the company’s business turnaround.

According to DappRadar, NFT trading volume on Blur over the last 30 days was just around $125 million. Forbes noted that the corporate X account of OpenSea’s former main competitor, as well as its CEO TieShun Roker’s account, have been inactive since spring.

«There are people in the crypto industry who come and go,» Finzer remarked.

The OpenSea founder stated that establishing an aggregator platform for crypto trading logically leads to the launch of a token, which will be intricately integrated into the platform.

He confirmed that the issuer of the SEA token will be the independent OpenSea Foundation. The Token Generation Event (TGE) is scheduled for the first quarter of 2026.

Half of the token supply will be allocated to the community. Furthermore, 50% of the revenue at launch will be used for the buyback of SEA to maintain its value and support ecosystem growth.

It’s worth noting that in September, OpenSea announced the creation of a $1 million reserve composed of «culturally significant» NFTs.