Catenaa, Sunday, March 02, 2025- The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has officially closed its investigation into OpenSea, the largest non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace, marking a major victory for the digital collectibles industry, company founder Devin Finzer announced.
Finzer described the decision as a “win for everyone who is creating and building” in the space. The SEC initially launched its probe in August 2024, issuing a Wells notice alleging OpenSea functioned as an unregistered securities marketplace.
The closure of the case comes on the heels of the SEC dropping a lawsuit against crypto exchange Coinbase, further signaling a shift in regulatory pressure on the industry. Finzer and other industry leaders have argued that classifying NFTs as securities could stifle innovation.
The move was welcomed across the crypto community. Magic Eden executive Chris Akhavan, despite being a competitor, called it a “win for the space.” Prominent crypto analyst Beanie suggested it could trigger renewed interest in the NFT market.
OpenSea has been in the spotlight in recent weeks for its upcoming SEA token launch and ongoing controversy over its paused airdrop rewards system, which critics argue encouraged wash trading.
Meanwhile, the NFT market saw a slight recovery in 2024, with annual sales exceeding $8.83 billion, according to CryptoSlam. Ethereum and Bitcoin led the market, each generating $3.1 billion in sales, followed by Solana at $1.4 billion.
Despite the positive regulatory outcome, OpenSea and the broader NFT space continue to navigate a volatile and evolving landscape.
