Log in

Guide

Guide: NFT Marketplaces

Updated: May 22, 2025
Published: Feb 23, 2022
0
Share:

NFT stands for non-fungible token. NFTs are unique digital tokens that represent ownership of a digital asset, which in some cases are linked to a physical item such as a watch, or a piece of art.

Post Feature Image

But where do you buy these NFTs?

There’s an expanding range of NFT marketplaces selling digital art and rare collectibles. Here’s a look at some of the leading virtual marketplaces:.

NFT marketplaces

The easiest way to acquire an NFT is through a marketplace. There’s a wide range of NFT marketplaces selling digital art and collectible items.

Note that all marketplaces charge a percentage fee on sales. For example, the service fee on the best-known marketplace, OpenSea, is around 2.5%. So, if you were to sell an NFT for 100 SOL, OpenSea would take 2.5% of that sale.

The fee is charged to the receiver of the funds. So, if you sold your NFT for 100 SOL, 2.5% of that sale would go straight to OpenSea, and you’d receive the remaining 97.5 SOL. 

Also, thanks to how NFTs are programmed, artists can place commissions on the resale of their artworks. When an artist is up-and-coming, their artwork may sell for a relatively cheap price. Later on, as the artist grows, the price of their art may increase.

Typically, in the traditional art world, once artwork is bought from an artist, the artist doesn't receive any commissions from after-sales.

This is where NFTs come in.

When publishing an NFT, the artist can decide on a commission. The artist may decide to place a 5% commission on their 100 SOL artwork. So when sold, 5 SOL would go directly to the artist’s wallet, (the 2.5% fee would go to the marketplace), and the remaining amount goes to the seller.

Solana vs Ethereum marketplaces

Note that Solana marketplaces are much quicker than Ethereum marketplaces. On an Ethereum marketplace, it may take around 10–15 minutes for your transaction to be finalised.

Also, when you buy or sell an NFT on an Ethereum marketplace, you’ll need to pay a gas fee. On Solana marketplaces, transactions are almost instant, and gas fees are near negligible. Hence, we typically recommend that someone start with Solana NFT marketplaces, at least until they're familiar with marketplaces

Leading NFT marketplaces

Let's look at some of the leading NFT marketplaces.

OpenSea

The one-stop shop for all Ethereum NFTs

aligncenter wp-image-201387 size-large OpenSea is the biggest NFT marketplace right now. It's hosted on the Ethereum blockchain and is decentralised, which means that users retain ownership of their assets, even when listing them. And, as everything is hosted on the blockchain, anyone can list their own collections.

While it is positive that every artist has access to the marketplace, it does mean that scammers can take advantage. So, to make sure artists and users are protected, when an artist’s collection surpasses 100ETH in volume, OpenSea will verify that collection to ensure every piece is authentic. 

However, before the verification process is completed, scammers may copy artwork from a project that has seen a lot of hype but is not yet verified and try to list it and make it look authentic. 

So, always make sure to exercise extreme caution when buying from OpenSea, or any NFT marketplace, from an unverified collection. Try to find the OpenSea link from the NFT project directly, via the project’s social media profiles; they should be publicly available. And before buying, make sure to check multiple times.

Also, make sure to remember the gas fees when transacting on OpenSea.

Our Top Picks:

DOGWIFHAT

DOGWIFHAT

120,650%

SPX6900

SPX6900

17,000%

POPCAT

POPCAT

66,567%

PENDLE

PENDLE

5,002%

SOLANA

SOLANA

2,500%

HYPE

HYPE

1,740%

Don’t miss our next 100X

Trusted by 230K+ investors

Magic Eden

The leading NFT marketplace on Solana. 

size-large wp-image-201388 aligncenter

Magic Eden is the leading NFT marketplace on Solana. It focuses on listing profile picture projects like Solana Monkey Business, and the Degenerate Ape Academy.

The marketplace has seen rapid growth and adoption, leveraging Solana’s near-instant confirmation time and sub-penny gas fees to offer a smooth and frictionless experience. 

Note that Magic Eden charges a 2% fee on all transactions. However, there is no listing fee. 

Royalty amounts are set by the artist and paid immediately after a transaction happens. You can view the royalty percentage set by the artist on the item detail page. 

size-large wp-image-201389 aligncenter

Solana Monkey Business

size-large wp-image-201390 aligncenter

Degenerate Ape Academy

Exchange.Art 

Fine art and photography curated marketplace on Solana

size-large wp-image-201391 aligncenter

Exchange.Art is another Solana marketplace that focuses on unique pieces from artists and photography collections. It offers a curated approach, selecting the best artists in the Solana ecosystem to promote via its curated panels. It's definitely worth a visit to see some great art.

There is no listing fee on Exchange.Art but the platform does charge a 2.5% transaction fee. 

Artworks include those created by John Le, a 1:1 NFT artist who we spoke to on The Cryptonary Podcast earlier in the year.

alignnone size-large wp-image-201392

Want to learn more? Click here to take our NFT course.

Disclaimer: NOT FINANCIAL NOR INVESTMENT ADVICE. Only you are responsible for any capital-related decisions you make, and only you are accountable for the results.

100% Success Money Back Guarantee

If our approach doesn’t outperform the overall crypto market during your subscription, we’ll give you a full refund of your membership. No questions asked. For quarterly and monthly subscribers this is applicable once your subscription runs for 6 consecutive months.

Terms & Conditions apply

Star

Trusted by 300,000+ traders

Take your next step towards crypto success

Save 50%

$799/year

Get everything you need to actively manage your portfolio and stay ahead. Ideal for investors seeking regular guidance and access to tools that help make informed decisions.

VisaCardImageMsCardImageCoinbaseCardImageSolanaCardImage

For your security, all orders are processed on a secured server.

What’s included in Pro:

  • Success Guarantee, if we don’t outperform the market, you get 100% back, no questions asked

  • 24/7 access to experts with 50+ years’ experience

  • All of our top token picks for 2025

  • Our latest memecoins pick with 50X potential

  • On hand technical analysis on any token of your choice

  • Weekly livestreams & ask us anything with the team

  • Daily insights on Macro, Mechanics, and On-chain

  • Curated list of top upcoming airdrops (free money)

Our track record speaks for itself

With over 2.4M tokens and widespread misinformation in crypto, we cut
through the noise and consistently find winning assets.

/images/advertorial/corpcomm3.webp
/images/advertorial/corpcomm4.webp
/images/advertorial/corpcomm5.webp

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. We've consistently identified winners across multiple cycles. Bitcoin under $1,000, Ethereum under $70, Solana under $10, WIF from $0.003 to $5, PopCat from $0.004 to $2, SPX blasting past $1.70, and our latest pick has already 200X'd since June 2025. Everything is timestamped and public record.

No. When we founded Cryptonary in 2017 the market was new to everyone. We intentionally created content that was easy to understand and actionable. That foundational principle is the crux of Cryptonary. Taking complex ideas and opportunities and presenting them in a way a 10 year old could understand.

Signal vs noise. We filter out 99.9% of garbage projects, provide data backed analysis, and have a proven track record of finding winners. Not to mention since Cryptonary's inception in 2017 we have never taken investment, sponsorship or partnership. Compare this to pretty much everyone else, no track record, and a long list of partnerships that cloud judgements.

We share highly sensitive, time-critical research. Once it's out, it can't be "returned." That's why membership is annual only. Crypto success takes time and commitment. If someone is not willing to invest 12 months into their future, there is no place for them at Cryptonary.

Yes. You will have 24/7 to the team that bought you BTC at $1,000, ETH at $70, and SOL at $10. Through our community chats, live Q&As, and member only channels, you can ask questions and interact directly with the team. Our team has over 50 years of combined experience which you can tap into every single day.

Daily. We provide real-time updates, weekly reports, emergency alerts, and live Q&As when the markets move fast. In crypto, the market moves fast, in Cryptonary, we move faster.

If our approach to the market doesn’t beat the overall crypto market during your subscription, we’ll give you a full refund of your membership fee. No questions asked. For quarterly and monthly subscribers this is applicable once your subscription runs for 6 consecutive months.

Recommended from Cryptonary
Passive income: 2 single-sided yields on SOL with up to 70% APY
PRO
Research Report
Passive income: 2 single-sided yiel...We came across two yield setups on Solana that just make sense: easy to run, strong returns, and ful...
7 min read
Oct 29, 2025
Altcoin Scanner: Daily Trading Ideas
PRO
Market Direction
Altcoin Scanner: Daily Trading Idea...The altcoin market is waking up. After weeks of quiet price action, momentum is shifting and several...
4 min read
Oct 28, 2025
BTC, ETH and More: Bullish Breakouts and Critical Resistance Tests
PRO
Market Direction
BTC, ETH and More: Bullish Breakout...The majors broke upside on positive macro news, now testing key resistances. Watch for bullish conti...
8 min read
Oct 27, 2025