Aisha, an amazing digital artist from Karachi, methodically infused each stroke with passion and creativity. She developed a collection of colorful, culturally-celebratory NFTs that embody her spirit and fervor. She imagined them being a dignified and sustainable way for people to earn income. To her, they embodied both a means of introducing the world to her culture and a ticket to financial freedom. For months she had to live off the anticipated royalties from her secondary sales just to survive, and not very well at that. Then, the rug was subtly pulled. Platform policies shifted. Royalty enforcement became optional. Aisha’s income dwindled. She’s now back to freelancing, her visions of a bustling NFT marketplace life in the rearview mirror.

Market Dominance, Creator Dependence, Royalty Decline?

OpenSea’s resurgence back to the top of the NFT market is hard to miss. Boasting over 40% of the trading volume and engaging with over 2.1 million wallets in the last three months, they've seemingly weathered the crypto winter. At what cost? OpenSea is toasting a new wave of NFT buyers, including an eye-popping 52% spike last week! Are the creators who fuel this ecosystem being shortchanged? After all, the NFT market as a whole is facing tough times these days. In Q1 2025, sales were down 61% year-over-year. This squeeze puts immense pressure on artists.

This is such a great David vs. Goliath story. In this narrative arc, David stands in for a legion of artists who have weaponized Web3 against the likes of the deep-pocketed, centralized platforms like OpenSea. We all love decentralization, but we’re moving backward into centralized marketplaces that will determine how royalties—often the lifeblood of creators—flow. It would be akin to lauding the merits of organic farming while at the same time promoting giant agricultural cartels. The hypocrisy stings.

Financial Literacy: A Shield Against Exploitation?

The rise of platforms like OpenSea, while offering accessibility, highlights a critical need: financial literacy for NFT creators. Many artists, especially those new to the space, are unfamiliar with the intricacies of smart contracts, royalty structures, and their legal rights. This lack of understanding leaves them open to manipulation.

Picture this entrepreneurial designer in an isolated community outside of Dhaka, Bangladesh, producing complicated patterns that have been woven for centuries. Now, picture them trying to make sense of the often confusing and intimidating world of NFTs on their own. They’re forced to trust companies like OpenSea to do the right thing, to uphold the spirit of fair compensation. In return, are we, as a community, ensuring that we’re giving them the tools and resources they need to keep themselves protected?

What’s required are more accessible training materials, workshops and legal guidance focused on NFT creators, especially those engaged with web3 from marginalized communities. This is more than an economic opportunity. It’s about giving artists the tools to take charge of their creative future and develop long-lasting careers.

OpenSea's SEA Token: Savior or Further Centralization?

OpenSea’s indicated launch of an official token, SEA, is both a promising opportunity and looming death knell. Or put an even finer point, will it work for the creators? Maybe with a decentralized governance model, musicians will finally get to influence platform policies and royalty structures! Or will it just further OpenSea’s monopoly power? This would help to ensure that creators aren’t left beholden to an ever-changing ecosystem should the platform decide to cut them off.

Let's not repeat the mistakes of the traditional art world, where artists often receive a pittance while galleries and auction houses reap the lion's share of the profits. Web3 promised all the right things, a fairer system, a direct connection between creators and collectors. We must not let massive, centralized platforms strip away that promise.

Think of it like this: SEA token could be the key to unlocking a truly decentralized and creator-centric NFT ecosystem. Or, it might truly be the final nail in the coffin for genuinely independent artists.

The choice, ultimately, lies with OpenSea. Will they choose the path of greed, chasing rapid returns and seeking to monopolize the industry? Or will they show long-termism by respecting creators and working to develop a sustainable NFT ecosystem that benefits all?

It’s long overdue for OpenSea, and all major platforms, to follow suit and lead with a strong focus on creator compensation. It’s about much more than the bottom line. We should be more concerned with creating a system that is fair and equitable to the artists that are creating digital culture. Written in partnership with Becca Lewis through and because if we build our castles on the backs of exploited creators, those castles will eventually crumble.