OpenSea’s decision to sunset several features from its original marketplace platform, OS1, has sparked mixed reactions among its user base, with some traders voicing frustration over the impending loss of tools they’ve come to rely on. The NFT giant confirmed yesterday that OS1 will be fully phased out by June 16, making way for its sleeker but more segmented successor, OS2—a platform that categorizes users into “Collectors” and “Pros.” While the transition aims to streamline the trading experience, not all features will carry over, leaving some community members questioning the move.
Among the casualties are Deals, English auctions, testnet support, and the Shopping Cart function—features that, according to OpenSea, simply didn’t see enough adoption to justify their inclusion in the updated marketplace. The company noted in a blog post that while there are no immediate plans to reintroduce Deals, it remains open to revisiting the feature based on user feedback.
The removal of Deals, in particular, has struck a nerve. Launched less than a year ago, the feature allowed traders to craft custom swaps—say, trading multiple NFTs for a mix of crypto and other tokens—without the risks of off-platform negotiations. On Crypto Twitter, collectors and artists alike lamented its departure, arguing that it provided a secure, engaging way to facilitate complex trades.
“Without a ‘Deals’ feature, it poses major scam risks for collectors,” one user warned. Another echoed the sentiment, calling it “fun, engaging, and essential for interesting trades.” Even prominent NFT artist Justin Aversano chimed in, urging OpenSea to reconsider: “We need [the] deals feature to keep us safe, please.”
But the decision isn’t purely about usage metrics. OpenSea’s Chief Marketing Officer, Adam Hollander, clarified that technical limitations played a role. “The functionality simply doesn’t work with ERC 721-C contracts where royalties are enforced,” he explained. “As more of these contracts have been deployed, the product felt increasingly broken and inconsistently useful.”
Still, not everyone is mourning the change. Yuga Labs Director of Art Eli Scheinman argued that OpenSea’s pivot reflects a necessary shift toward specialization. “It’s a relatively niche product feature used mostly for high-end art,” he noted. “Marketplaces will have to get more verticalized and focus on specific user audiences.”
For now, OpenSea’s stance is clear: OS2 is the future, and adaptability is key. Whether the platform can strike a balance between innovation and user satisfaction remains to be seen—but with the clock ticking toward June 16, traders will soon find out if the trade-offs were worth it.
