Blur has emerged as the most liquid NFT marketplace, with over $7.4 billion in NFT trading volume. Designed for professional traders, it offers zero fees, flexible royalties, and deep liquidity across Ethereum and Blast networks. Its integrated peer-to-peer lending protocol, Blend, enables users to borrow against NFTs without fixed loan terms or oracles—making Blur a powerful platform for high-value transactions and collateralized borrowing, especially for premium collections like CryptoPunks and Azukis.
Whether you're a seasoned trader or exploring advanced NFT strategies, Blur combines speed, efficiency, and financial flexibility in one ecosystem.
👉 Discover how top traders leverage zero-fee markets and NFT-backed loans on Blur.
What Is the Blur NFT Marketplace?
Launched in October 2022 by Pacman—the visionary behind the Layer-2 protocol Blast—Blur is a high-performance NFT marketplace built for serious traders. Unlike general-purpose platforms, Blur focuses on speed, automation, and capital efficiency, catering specifically to users who engage in large-scale or frequent NFT trading.
Operating on both Ethereum Mainnet and Blast, Blur supports advanced features such as bulk listings, instant floor sweeps ("sweeping"), and real-time order book aggregation across multiple marketplaces. This cross-market integration reduces collection fragmentation and enhances liquidity, giving traders faster execution and better price discovery.
One of Blur’s most compelling advantages is its zero transaction fee model for buyers and sellers. Additionally, creators can set royalties as low as 0.5%, offering far greater flexibility than platforms that enforce fixed royalty rates. These incentives have attracted a highly active trading community, especially during volatile market cycles.
While Blur once hit daily trading volumes exceeding $100 million and accumulated over $7.4 billion in total volume, current average daily volume sits around $3 million** due to broader NFT market cooling. Nevertheless, with ongoing user incentives and the utility of its native **$BLUR token, the platform remains a dominant force in professional NFT trading.
What Is Blend on Blur?
Integrated directly into the Blur marketplace, Blend is a peer-to-peer NFT lending protocol developed with Paradigm. It allows users to borrow funds using their NFTs as collateral—without relying on price oracles or fixed repayment schedules.
Here’s how it works:
A borrower deposits an NFT into a loan pool and receives ETH based on a market-determined Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratio. The loan remains open until either:
- The borrower repays the debt, or
- The lender initiates a refinancing auction that results in the borrower’s collateral being sold if no new loan is accepted.
There are no mandatory repayment dates. Interest rates and LTVs are set dynamically by lenders competing to fund loans—offering both parties greater control and flexibility.
For example, consider an Azuki #1508 currently backed by a 5.35 ETH loan at a 100.46% LTV with an effective annual interest rate of 167.9%. There are currently 494 active loans across the Azuki collection alone, with LTVs ranging from 82% to over 100%.
If a lender wants to exit, they can trigger a Dutch auction where other lenders bid to take over the loan. If no one steps in, the original borrower risks losing their NFT through partial or full liquidation.
This oracle-free, non-custodial design makes Blend one of the most innovative solutions for NFT-backed financing, ideal for leveraging high-value digital assets without selling them.
👉 Learn how to unlock liquidity from your NFTs without selling—using decentralized lending tools.
Blur and Blend Fees: A Cost-Efficient Ecosystem
Blur maintains a clean, low-cost structure:
- Zero platform fees on all trades.
- Flexible royalties: Sellers choose royalty percentages, with a recommended minimum of 0.5%. This contrasts sharply with platforms like OpenSea, which charge a flat 2.5% service fee plus creator royalties.
- No fees for borrowing or lending via Blend.
However, while there are no direct protocol fees, users should still account for Ethereum gas costs, which vary depending on network congestion. These apply when listing NFTs, executing trades, or interacting with Blend loans.
In cases of loan default or auction-based refinancing, lenders may acquire ownership of the collateralized NFT. Borrowers may also face penalties depending on auction outcomes—though these are not "fees" in the traditional sense but rather risk parameters built into the system.
Overall, Blur’s cost model prioritizes capital efficiency, making it especially attractive for high-frequency traders and large-volume collectors.
BLUR Tokenomics: Distribution and Utility
The $BLUR token plays a central role in governance, incentives, and ecosystem growth. Modeled after UNI’s distribution framework, 3 billion BLUR tokens were minted at genesis and will be fully distributed over 4–5 years.
Key Token Metrics:
- Total Supply: 3 billion BLUR
Primary Allocations:
- 51% (1.53 billion) to the community (traders, creators, early users)
- 29% (867.6 million) to core contributors (4-year vesting)
- 19% (565.6 million) to investors (4-year vesting)
- 1% (36.7 million) to advisors (4–5 year vesting)
Community Treasury Breakdown:
- 12% (360 million BLUR) was immediately claimable by eligible NFT traders and creators.
- An additional 39% of total supply is reserved for future grants, initiatives, and incentive programs.
- 10% (300 million BLUR) is allocated for upcoming reward campaigns.
Vesting schedules follow a progressive release:
- Year 1: 40%
- Year 2: 30%
- Year 3: 20%
- Year 4: 10%
This gradual release ensures long-term alignment between stakeholders and discourages short-term speculation.
Is Blur Better Than OpenSea?
The answer depends on your goals.
Choose Blur if you:
- Are an experienced trader focused on performance.
- Want zero fees and flexible royalties.
- Trade high-value collections like Pudgy Penguins, Azukis, or Miladys.
- Need advanced tools like floor sweeps and bulk listings.
- Seek access to NFT-backed lending via Blend.
Choose OpenSea if you:
- Are new to NFTs and prefer simplicity.
- Value ease of use over cost savings.
- Don’t mind paying higher fees (2.5% platform fee + creator royalties).
Think of OpenSea as the “Coinbase” of NFTs—user-friendly but expensive. Blur is more like a decentralized exchange built for pros: faster, leaner, and optimized for serious capital deployment.
As trading costs eat into profits during sideways markets, many professionals have migrated to Blur—driving its dominance in high-volume segments despite lower overall market activity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Does Blur charge any transaction fees?
A: No. Blur does not charge buyers or sellers any platform fees. However, standard Ethereum gas fees still apply for on-chain transactions.
Q: Can I lend my NFTs on Blur?
A: Yes. Through the integrated Blend protocol, you can lend your NFTs as collateral to receive ETH loans. Loans are peer-to-peer and do not require fixed repayment dates.
Q: How do I earn BLUR tokens?
A: BLUR rewards were initially distributed based on trading activity, collection ownership, and marketplace participation. Future incentives may be launched through community grants and ecosystem initiatives.
Q: Is Blend safe? What happens if I can’t repay?
A: Blend is non-custodial and oracle-free. If you fail to repay or refinance your loan when challenged by a lender, your NFT may be partially or fully liquidated via Dutch auction.
Q: Can I use Blur on mobile?
A: While there’s no official app yet, Blur is fully accessible via desktop browsers connected to Web3 wallets like MetaMask. Mobile access is possible through wallet browsers.
Q: Which blockchains does Blur support?
A: Blur operates natively on Ethereum and Blast, with plans potentially expanding to other EVM-compatible chains in the future.
Final Thoughts: Why Traders Choose Blur
Blur isn’t designed for casual collectors—it’s engineered for traders who demand speed, low costs, and advanced functionality. With zero fees, customizable royalties, robust liquidity, and the innovative Blend lending protocol, it empowers users to execute large-scale trades and unlock value from high-tier NFTs like CryptoPunks and Bored Apes without selling.
In a market where every basis point counts, Blur gives professionals the edge they need to stay competitive. Whether you're arbitraging floor prices or leveraging blue-chip NFTs for liquidity, Blur offers a streamlined, powerful toolkit unmatched by mainstream alternatives.
For those serious about maximizing returns in the evolving NFT economy, Blur stands out as the go-to platform—combining performance, innovation, and financial flexibility in one ecosystem.