Nifty Gateway, one of many earliest and most recognizable NFT marketplaces, is about to shut down operations subsequent month, marking one other high-profile exit amid the sector’s extended downturn.
“In the present day, we’re asserting that the Nifty Gateway platform shall be closing on February 23, 2026,” the Gemini-owned platform wrote in a Saturday put up on X, including that it has already entered withdrawal-only mode, giving customers roughly one month to transfer any remaining NFTs or funds off the location.
A shutdown discover is now displayed on Nifty Gateway’s homepage, and customers can withdraw property both by a linked Gemini Trade account or immediately to their financial institution through Stripe.
Nifty Gateway mentioned prospects with NFTs, ETH or US greenback balances would obtain e-mail directions on withdrawing their property. The corporate urged customers to full the method forward of the February deadline.
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Nifty Gateway topped $300 million in gross sales at its peak
Launched in 2020, Nifty Gateway played a central role in bringing NFTs to a mainstream viewers. In contrast to many crypto-native platforms on the time, it allowed customers to buy digital collectibles utilizing bank cards, decreasing the barrier to entry. {The marketplace} grew to become identified for curated “drops” from high-profile artists and creators, together with Beeple and Grimes.
On the peak of the NFT frenzy in mid-2021, Nifty Gateway facilitated greater than $300 million in gross sales. That momentum light as the broader NFT market cooled. In April 2024, the corporate stepped away from working a conventional market and rebranded as Nifty Gateway Studio, shifting its focus towards onchain artistic tasks and model partnerships.
Gemini, which acquired Nifty Gateway in 2019, said the closure would enable the crypto trade to focus on its broader product technique. “This resolution will enable Gemini to sharpen its focus and execute on the imaginative and prescient of constructing a one-stop tremendous app for purchasers,” the corporate mentioned, including that it’ll proceed to help NFTs by the Gemini Pockets.
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Animoca acquires Somo as NFT market exhibits indicators of life
Earlier this month, Animoca Manufacturers acquired gaming and digital collectibles firm Somo, bringing its playable and tradable collectibles into Animoca’s wider blockchain ecosystem. The corporate plans to combine Somo utilizing shared infrastructure and partnerships, positioning the deal as a strategic extension of its current gaming and NFT portfolio.
The acquisition got here as the NFT market confirmed a short-term rebound firstly of 2026. Complete NFT market capitalization rose about 20% in the primary two weeks of the yr, climbing from roughly $2.5 billion to over $3 billion, with a pointy $300 million leap occurring in a single 24-hour interval alongside larger buying and selling volumes.
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Cointelegraph by Amin Haqshanas Nifty Gateway to Shut Down in February 2026 as NFT Market Slump Deepens cointelegraph.com 2026-01-25 07:09:23
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