Hidden Gems: 5 Unpopular NFT Marketplaces Worth Checking Out
Hidden Gems: 5 Unpopular NFT Marketplaces Worth Checking Out
Choosing the right NFT marketplace could make a difference in whether your NFT art sells or not. It's not just about choosing where to sell your art based on the fees you'll pay; you need to consider which of the many NFT marketplaces best suits the type of NFT you're creating, and which blockchain it uses. Most NFT marketplaces use Ethereum but some are opting for the cheaper gas fees (which you have to pay to make your NFT) and better carbon footprint offered by newer blockchains.
We've rounded up some of the best NFT marketplaces you can create and sell NFTs (or buy and collect them if you're a collector rather than a creator). Whether you're buying, selling, or just NFT-curious, one of these marketplaces should suit your needs. Even if you're not planning to use an NFT marketplace, anyone in the creative industry right now should probably know what they are and how they work.
1. MakersPlace
MakersPlace is an interesting NFT marketplace for more serious art. Here you can find established artists, galleries, and institutions offering NFTs of their work, including the likes of Damien Hirst, Christie’s auction house, and comic legend Robert Liefeld.
Artists on MakersPlace digitally sign their art, which is recorded on the blockchain. Only a limited number of authentic editions are minted creating scarcity, and buyers get full ownership of the artwork – even if the art is downloaded and copied, it won't be authentic or carry the artist's digital signature.
REASONS TO BUY
Buy NFTs from established artists
Good mixture of impressive art
Scarce and rare NFTs
REASONS TO AVOID
Can be expensive
2. KnownOrigin
KnownOrigin is one of the oldest NFT marketplaces. It focuses on offering rare and collectible artworks in timed-released events, known as drops, which enable artists to control the number of copies released. This can create scarcity and ramp up prices. Artists need to apply to join and must be vetted, which only adds the exclusivity.
This marketplace uses Ethereum to mint, so you may want to consider the fees and carbon footprint when bidding. KnownOrigin does also support collaborations on NFTs and makes a significant effort to support community messaging and offer advice around drops and sales, including making secondary sales clear in a separate marketplace. Example drop on KnownOrigin include Seth Tillett's Jean Michel Basquiat photo collection.
REASONS TO BUY
Limited NFT drops
Curated NFT editions
Easy to use platform
REASONS TO AVOID
Can be expensive
3. Foundation
Foundation is run like an artist's club few get an invite to; it's a community-curated platform run by a select number of artists. It's only been running for a year, but its creators have already earned a combined $163,263.94. To join Foundation you need an invite from a current artist, and each artist only has one invite to use.
Selling an NFT on Foundation earns the artist 85% of the value, and secondary sales earn 10%. This is lower than some other NFT marketplaces, but you'll find NFTs on Foundation are priced higher on average and hold their value. Creators tend to be more authentic and genuinely artistic than you may find on some other marketplaces.
REASONS TO BUY
Curated and limited NFTs
Artist-run NFT marketplace
High-quality art and projects
REASONS TO AVOID
Limited and exclusive creator list
Fees could be lower
4. Zora
Zora began life as an artist invite-only platform similar to Foundation but has since pivoted to an open marketplace that anyone can use. It's devoted to giving artists and creators more ownership and power over their art. It's also easy to use and enables perpetual bids, so anyone can bid in any currency.
This marketplace has evolved into a good space for music NFTs and a platform that bridges the real and digital worlds. Zora auctioned off digital and physical copies of RAC's Boy album on cassette. In this vein, Zora is becoming the marketplace to find physical items sold to super-fans, such as Nike designer Jeff Staple who sells limited edition trainers on the platform.
REASONS TO BUY
Supports artists and creators
Run your own auction house
Buy NFTs of real-world collections
REASONS TO AVOID
Can feel complex
5. Mintable
This newcomer to the NFT marketplace is backed by billionaire Mark Cuban and aims to offer broad content and be easy to use.
In practice this means you can create an NFT from nearly any digital file – image, gif, video, an audio file, a text document, and more – and add it to your store on the platform. It's very easy and requires little knowledge of NFTs, crypto wallets, or blockchains. While Mintable supports Ethereum as standard, you can also mint using Immutable X for free gas fees. Making life even easier, Mintable University is a free resource on the marketplace featuring handy video courses to get better at NFTs.
REASONS TO BUY
Very easy to use
Broad and varies NFT selection
Free Mintable University courses
REASONS TO AVOID
The quality varies wildly