Education18 min readJanuary 2026

NFT Complete Guide 2026: Everything You Need to Know

Learn what NFTs are, discover the most popular collections, and master how to buy and sell NFTs on major marketplaces like OpenSea and Blur.

$48.7B
NFT Market Cap (2025)
$247B
Projected 2029
112+
Active Marketplaces
2.4M
OpenSea Monthly Users

What is an NFT?

NFT stands for Non-Fungible Token. It's a unique digital asset stored on a blockchain that represents ownership of items like art, music, videos, in-game items, and more. Unlike cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin where each coin is identical, every NFT is unique and cannot be replicated.

Unique Ownership

Each NFT has a unique identifier on the blockchain proving ownership

Non-Fungible

Unlike Bitcoin, NFTs are not interchangeable - each one is unique

Transferable

Can be bought, sold, or gifted to anyone worldwide instantly

Verifiable

Blockchain records prove authenticity and ownership history

NFT Use Cases

🎨 Digital Art🎵 Music🎮 Gaming Items🏠 Virtual Real Estate🎫 Event Tickets👤 Profile Pictures📜 Domain Names🏆 Collectibles

Top NFT Collections (2026)

Blue Chip
👾

CryptoPunks

Larva Labs → Yuga Labs

The OG NFT collection. 24×24 pixel art characters that started the NFT revolution.

Floor Price
45 ETH
Total Volume
$2.8B+
Items
10,000
Since
2017
Ethereum
Blue Chip
🦧

Bored Ape Yacht Club

Yuga Labs

Celebrity favorite. Membership grants exclusive benefits and commercial rights.

Floor Price
12 ETH
Total Volume
$4B+
Items
10,000
Since
April 2021
Ethereum
🐧

Pudgy Penguins

Pudgy Penguins LLC

Launched $PENGU token and Abstract blockchain. Physical toys at Walmart.

Floor Price
9.5 ETH
Total Volume
$500M+
Items
8,888
Since
July 2021
Ethereum
🎭

Azuki

Chiru Labs

Anime-inspired art. Launched Studio Azuki for anime production in 2025.

Floor Price
4.5 ETH
Total Volume
$1.2B+
Items
10,000
Since
January 2022
Ethereum

Best NFT Marketplaces (2026)

🌊
71.5%
Market Share
Monthly Users2.4M+
Fees2.5% (now 1%)
Chains:
EthereumPolygonSolanaBaseArbitrum

Largest selection, OS2 platform, $SEA token

🟠
24%
Market Share
Monthly Users500K+
Fees0%
Chains:
EthereumBlast

Pro traders, bulk listing, advanced analytics

🪄

Magic Eden

magiceden.io
15%
Market Share
Monthly Users1M+
Fees2%
Chains:
SolanaEthereumPolygonBitcoin

Multi-chain, Bitcoin Ordinals, gaming NFTs

🎨
3%
Market Share
Monthly Users200K+
Fees1%
Chains:
EthereumPolygonTezosFlow

Creator-friendly, RARI governance token

How to Buy an NFT (Step-by-Step)

Step 1
Set Up a Wallet
Step 2
Buy Cryptocurrency
Step 3
Connect to Marketplace
Step 4
Browse & Research
Step 5
Make a Purchase
Step 6
NFT in Your Wallet

Set Up a Wallet

Download MetaMask, Coinbase Wallet, or Phantom (for Solana). Write down your seed phrase and store it safely - never share it with anyone.

Pro tip: MetaMask is the most popular choice for Ethereum NFTs

How to Sell an NFT (Step-by-Step)

Step 1
Connect Your Wallet
Step 2
Select Your NFT
Step 3
List for Sale
Step 4
Set Your Price
Step 5
Confirm Listing
Step 6
Complete the Sale

Connect Your Wallet

Go to OpenSea, Blur, or your preferred marketplace. Connect the wallet containing your NFT.

Pro tip: Make sure you have some ETH for gas fees

NFT Security Tips

Verify URLs

Always double-check marketplace URLs. Bookmark official sites to avoid phishing.

Protect Seed Phrase

Never share your seed phrase. No legitimate service will ever ask for it.

Use Hardware Wallets

For valuable NFTs, use Ledger or Trezor hardware wallets for extra security.

Research Before Buying

Check verified collections, team doxxing, and community before investing.

⚠️ Warning: Never click links from unknown Discord/Twitter accounts. OpenSea employees will never DM you asking for wallet access. If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Ready to Start Your NFT Journey?

First, you need cryptocurrency to buy NFTs. Get started on trusted exchanges with our exclusive referral codes for lifetime fee discounts.

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