Nikolas Sargeant
OpenSea has unveiled its redesigned OS2 platform, introducing a new user interface and an innovative experience points (XP) system. The platform, currently in private beta, offers priority access to holders of Gemesis NFTs, which were distributed through an airdrop following OpenSea’s acquisition of Gem, the NFT marketplace it rebranded as OpenSea Pro. In a bid to drive user engagement, the XP system incentivizes activities like listing items, placing offers, and providing feedback through OpenSea’s Discord. While details about potential rewards remain unclear, the system is designed to boost platform activity and could point toward the launch of a future token.
This update comes as OpenSea seeks to regain ground after Blur surpassed it in trading volumes, capturing the top spot in 2023. As part of the broader overhaul, OpenSea’s CEO emphasized a strategic pivot toward OS2 following significant developments in December 2024.
A Platform Redesign to Compete with Blur
OpenSea’s OS2 update is part of a larger effort to revamp its platform and reclaim market share lost to competitors like Blur, which outpaced OpenSea in trading volume by mid-2023. Despite OpenSea’s dominance in 2022, the platform saw its share of the NFT marketplace fall to just 33% by the end of the following year. In response, OpenSea has made significant changes, including the introduction of OS2 and a strategic shift toward enhancing user experience to lure back creators and collectors.
Gemesis NFTs and Early Access to OS2
Gemesis NFTs, distributed through an airdrop to users of OpenSea Pro, now serve as a key to early access for the OS2 platform. OpenSea took a blockchain snapshot of wallets holding these NFTs, granting priority entry to nearly 50,000 users. By providing exclusive access to Gemesis holders, OpenSea seeks to cultivate a loyal user base as it rolls out the new features and refines its platform with direct feedback from the early testers.
XP System – Aiming to Drive Engagement
The XP system, a notable feature of the OS2 update, encourages users to interact more deeply with the platform. Participants can earn XP by engaging in key actions like listing NFTs, submitting feedback, and offering on collections. Although OpenSea has yet to confirm if these points will lead to tangible rewards, speculation points to the possibility of a token-based incentive in the future. This move follows a similar approach taken by Blur, which has used XP-style systems to incentivize activity and reward users.
