OpenSea меняет правила игры в криптоторговле и анонсирует запуск токена Translation: OpenSea changes the game in crypto trading and announces the launch of a token.

The OpenSea NFT marketplace has now rebranded itself as a multi-chain aggregator for trading a wide variety of cryptocurrencies, extending beyond the realm of digital art. This was reported by The Block.

The platform has enabled users to trade all types of tokens, including NFTs, meme coins, and other virtual assets across 22 different blockchains.

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

The platform employs a non-custodial model and does not carry out Know Your Customer (KYC) verifications. Instead of verifying users, it utilizes tools from analytics firm TRM Labs to tag addresses that are sanctioned or suspected of money laundering.

According to OpenSea founder and CEO Devin Finzer, the decision to pivot away from a sole focus on NFTs came amidst a prolonged downturn in the non-fungible token sector.

The company has laid off over half of its staff following a drop in monthly revenues from $125 million in January 2022 to just $3 million by the end of 2023. By that point, NFT trading volumes had plummeted by 90% from their peak levels in 2021. OpenSea also faced increased pressure from competitors like Blur and Magic Eden, which diminished its market dominance.

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 remarked while discussing the business’s pivot.

According to DappRadar, NFT trading volume on Blur reached just around $125 million over the last 30 days. Forbes noted that the corporate account of OpenSea’s former major competitor and its CEO, Tyshun Rocker, has been inactive since spring.

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

The founder of OpenSea stated that creating a trading aggregator platform logically leads to the launch of a token that will be deeply integrated into the platform.

He confirmed that the SEA token will be issued by the independent OpenSea Foundation, with a token generation event (TGE) scheduled for the first quarter of 2026.

Half of the token offering will be distributed to the community. Fifty percent of the revenue generated at launch will be allocated to buy back SEA tokens to maintain their value and foster ecosystem growth.

As a reminder, in September, OpenSea announced the establishment of a $1 million reserve consisting of «culturally significant» NFTs.