OpenSea Suspends XP Rewards for Listings and Bidding

OpenSea has announced a suspension of XP rewards for bidding and listing NFTs, following criticism that the system was being exploited for high-frequency trading.

The XP system, introduced as part of the OS2 update, was designed to incentivise marketplace activity ahead of the upcoming $SEA token airdrop. However, traders quickly found ways to accumulate XP through rapid, low-cost transactions.

The pause comes after community members argued that OpenSea’s approach encouraged speculation over long-term participation. In response, OpenSea has announced a pause on XP rewards for bidding and listing whilst it reassesses its approach.

What has been OpenSea’s response?

In a statement from OpenSea CEO Devin Finzer, XP rewards for bidding and listing will be paused whilst reassessing its incentive structure. The company acknowledged the concerns but maintained that liquidity incentives remain an essential part of a competitive marketplace.

“We’ve heard the feedback on the current XP system, and we’re putting a pause on XP given directly for listing and bidding,” said Finzer. The platform will now focus its rewards programme on XP shipments, which were designed to recognise broader participation, such as buying and holding NFTs.

The second round of shipments has already been distributed, prioritising users who purchased NFTs on OS2, with additional XP multipliers given to those who have held high-volume NFT projects for over three months. OpenSea noted that future shipments would continue to reward buyers and holders, though it did not specify how frequently these rewards would be distributed.

OpenSea also pushed back against some of the criticism it received, stating that certain attacks appeared to be driven by external efforts to damage its reputation. “We’re listening closely as we build, but we won’t be bullied,” the Finzer stated.

How has the community reacted to the changes?

The decision has sparked mixed reactions, with some industry figures welcoming OpenSea’s willingness to adjust, whilst others remain sceptical about the direction of its rewards programme.

Betty, CEO and Co-Founder of DeadFellaz, supported the move but stressed that the community’s frustration stemmed from wanting OpenSea to listen and improve noting that OpenSea “still hold a lot of weight in the industry.”

Others questioned whether long-time OpenSea users and early marketplace contributors would receive adequate recognition. ARTXCODE Co-founder Toni Marinara suggested that the platform should prioritise rewarding users with activity prior to $SEA announcement if they want to “dissuade farming and reward actual loyal Opensea users.” Some users also expressed frustration over the distribution of XP shipments, arguing that newer users were being prioritised. One member questioned why “those who paid thousands in platform fees” over the years seemed to be overlooked in favour of beta testers who had only recently joined the platform.

Whilst XP rewards for bidding and listing are temporarily on hold, OpenSea has not ruled out future liquidity incentives. With the $SEA token launch approaching, OpenSea will need to refine its rewards system whilst maintaining user engagement.

As these adjustments continue, whether OpenSea strikes a balance between incentivising marketplace activity and ensuring long-term stability in the NFT space remains to be seen.