NFT Marketplaces Sales, Users Drop to Lows Not Seen Since 2021, Dune Data Shows

The number of daily users and sales has dipped across non-fungible token ($NFT) marketplaces over the last week, according to data pulled from analytics platform Dune, reaching new lows not seen since July 2021.

According to a Dune dashboard compiled by $NFT researcher SeaLaunch, the number of unique users across top $NFT marketplaces like Blur, OpenSea and LooksRare has been steadily declining over the past seven days and dropped to 7,805 on April 19. The number of unique users across $NFT marketplaces hasn't been that low since July 31, 2021, when the number of unique users on OpenSea and other marketplaces was recorded at 7,455.

Sales across $NFT marketplaces have also dipped over the last seven days, with 16,149 sales recorded on April 19, according to the same data from Dune. The last time the number of sales was that low was on November 9, 2021, when there were 12,910 sales.

It appears that both top marketplaces OpenSea and Blur are seeing notable declines in unique users and sales. According to another dashboard compiled by SeaLaunch, Blur, the pro-focused $NFT marketplace has seen a shrinking number of sales on its platform this week, counting 5,688 sales on Thursday – its lowest daily sales count in 90 days. Blur has also seen its number of daily unique users shrink, with 1,777 unique users reported on April 19, its lowest in 90 days.

As for OpenSea, a Dune dashboard compiled by researcher Hildobby shows that the number of daily traders has fallen sharply over the last week, hitting 10,640 on April 18. According to the data, OpenSea's daily trader count hasn't dipped below 10,000 since July 2021.

"Unique daily users are effectively at a low amount historically on both marketplaces," SeaLaunch told CoinDesk.

It's unclear why the number of daily users and sales have taken a nosedive across $NFT marketplaces. SeaLaunch told CoinDesk that since there has been an observable decrease in activity across marketplaces and users – from "pro" traders to more casual users – it is most likely that a "macro scenario" has impacted trading patterns. SeaLaunch cites "high gas prices" and "tax season liquidity issues" as possible causes.

"Other scenarios may also have contributed to this, such as high-volume Blur airdrop farmers reducing the trading volumes and reducing liquidity, and the meme coin trading frenzy in the last days with coins such as PEPE," SeaLaunch added.

Hildobby shared similar sentiments with CoinDesk. "I think it's a combination of factors, but the biggest factors [in my opinion] are that not much interesting has been happening in NFTs lately and rapidly rising gas prices aren't helping."

Representatives from OpenSea and Blur did not immediately respond to CoinDesk for comment.

Not all metrics appear pessimistic. Trading volume in ether across $NFT marketplaces has remained relatively stable over the last 30 days, according to data from Dune. SeaLaunch also points out that compared to the number of daily active users across OpenSea and Blur, Uniswap has managed to gain daily active users over the past two weeks.