In this comparison
Overview
OpenSea and Blur represent two philosophies of NFT trading. OpenSea is the generalist marketplace for collectors: browse, discover, buy. It launched in 2017, built the NFT marketplace category, and still has the largest collection catalog and broadest chain support.
Blur arrived in October 2022 and immediately took Ethereum NFT market share by offering zero marketplace fees, pro-trading tools, and BLUR token incentives. It treated NFTs like financial instruments rather than collectibles. Sweep floors, bid on collections, snipe listings, all from a Bloomberg Terminal-style interface.
The competition forced OpenSea to drop its fees to zero on many collections and launch OpenSea Pro (which aggregates Blur and other marketplace listings). The two platforms now coexist with different target audiences: OpenSea for discovery and casual collecting, Blur for active trading and flipping.
OpenSea vs Blur: Side-by-Side
| Category | OpenSea | Blur |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Year | 2017 | 2022 |
| Marketplace Fee | 0% (reduced from 2.5%) | 0% |
| Creator Royalties | Optional (min 0.5%) | Optional (min 0.5%) |
| Ethereum Volume Share | ~30-40% | ~50-60% |
| Supported Chains | ETH, Polygon, Arbitrum, Avalanche, BNB, more | Ethereum only + Blast |
| Token | None | BLUR |
| Pro Trading Tools | Basic | Advanced (sweeps, bids, analytics) |
| Lending/Borrowing | No | Yes (Blend by Blur) |
| Target User | Collectors and casual buyers | Active traders and flippers |
| Mobile App | Yes | No (desktop focused) |
Fees and Economics
Both marketplaces now charge zero marketplace fees for most collections. OpenSea dropped its 2.5% fee in response to Blur's competitive pressure. Creator royalties are optional on both platforms, with a minimum of 0.5%.
The fee race to zero changed NFT economics fundamentally. Creators who relied on royalty income saw revenue collapse. Collectors benefited from lower costs. Traders benefited most of all: zero fees mean tighter spreads and more profitable flipping.
Blur's NFT lending protocol (Blend) adds another dimension. You can borrow ETH against your NFTs or use "buy now, pay later" for collections. This financialization is great for liquidity but further pushes NFTs toward asset-trading territory rather than art collecting.
Trading Tools and Interface
Blur's interface is built for traders. Collection floor sweeping, bid management across multiple collections, portfolio analytics, and real-time activity feeds all exist in a clean, data-dense dashboard. It feels like a trading terminal, not a shopping site.
OpenSea's interface is built for browsing and discovery. Collection pages show artwork prominently. Search and filtering help you find specific pieces. The buying flow is simple: click, buy, done. OpenSea Pro adds aggregation from other marketplaces including Blur.
If you are actively trading NFTs (buying floors, making collection-wide bids, flipping within hours), Blur's tools are vastly superior. If you are browsing art, discovering new collections, or buying a specific piece you want, OpenSea's discovery-oriented UX is better.
Volume and Market Share
Blur took the lead on Ethereum NFT volume shortly after launch, driven by BLUR token farming incentives. At peak, Blur handled 60-70% of Ethereum NFT volume. OpenSea dropped to 20-30%.
The key question: how much of Blur's volume is organic trading versus incentive-driven farming? BLUR token rewards encouraged wash trading and artificial volume. As incentives decrease, organic volume patterns emerge. Blur still leads on volume, but the gap narrows during low-incentive periods.
OpenSea's volume is more organic but lower. Users who come to OpenSea are typically buying something they actually want. Blur users are more likely to be farming rewards or executing rapid trades. Neither is "wrong" but the volume numbers tell different stories about actual market engagement.
Chain Support
OpenSea supports Ethereum, Polygon, Arbitrum, Avalanche, BNB Chain, Klaytn, and more. If NFTs exist on a chain, OpenSea probably lists them. This multi-chain breadth is a significant advantage for collectors who hold NFTs across ecosystems.
Blur is Ethereum-only (plus Blast, its affiliated L2). No Polygon, no Solana, no other chains. If your NFTs live anywhere besides Ethereum, Blur is not an option.
For Ethereum blue-chip NFT trading, both platforms compete directly. For everything else, OpenSea is the only choice among these two. Multi-chain NFT collectors default to OpenSea by necessity.
Creator and Community Impact
The OpenSea vs Blur competition fundamentally changed the relationship between NFT marketplaces and creators. When Blur launched with zero fees and optional royalties, it forced OpenSea to match. Creators lost a reliable revenue stream.
OpenSea initially tried to enforce creator royalties but eventually relented under competitive pressure. Both platforms now default to optional royalties with a 0.5% minimum. Some collections have implemented on-chain royalty enforcement to bypass marketplace policies.
For creators, neither marketplace is a great ally right now. Both prioritize trader volume over creator compensation. The market has spoken: buyers prefer lower fees and optional royalties. Creators need to find alternative revenue models.
Blend: NFT Lending
Blur's Blend protocol is the largest NFT lending platform by volume. It lets NFT holders borrow ETH against their NFTs through a peer-to-peer model. There are no set expiry dates or oracle dependencies, distinguishing it from other NFT lending protocols.
Blend also powers "buy now, pay later" for NFT purchases. This financialization makes expensive NFTs accessible to people who can not or do not want to pay full price upfront.
OpenSea does not have a native lending feature. NFT owners who want to borrow against their collections on OpenSea would need to use a separate protocol. This is an area where Blur has a meaningful product advantage for financially-minded NFT holders.
The Verdict
Blur is the better marketplace for active NFT traders on Ethereum who want zero fees, pro tools, and lending features. OpenSea is better for collectors who want the broadest chain support, the largest catalog, and a discovery-oriented browsing experience. If you trade NFTs like financial instruments, use Blur. If you collect NFTs because you value the art or want to browse across multiple chains, use OpenSea. Many serious NFT participants use both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does OpenSea still charge fees?
OpenSea reduced its marketplace fee to 0% for most collections in response to Blur's competitive pressure. Some collections may still have creator royalties. The 2.5% fee that defined OpenSea for years is largely gone.
Is Blur volume real or wash trading?
Some of Blur's volume is driven by BLUR token farming incentives, which encourage increased trading activity. True wash trading is harder to measure, but volume tends to decline during low-incentive periods. Organic volume is growing but the incentive component remains significant.
Which is better for buying art NFTs?
OpenSea is better for discovering and buying art. The interface prioritizes visual display, collection pages, and browsing. Blur's interface is designed for trading speed and data, not art appreciation. For art collectors, OpenSea or Foundation are better choices.