OpenSea Announces SEA Token Launch in Q1 2026 with 50% Community Allocation

OpenSea CEO Devin Finzer has confirmed the launch of the SEA token in Q1 2026, marking a strategic shift for the platform. Half of the total supply will be allocated to the community, with early users and reward participants receiving separate distributions. The token will integrate into OpenSea's Core ecosystem, enabling staking behind collections and projects.

In a bid to bolster long-term value, OpenSea will deploy 50% of its revenue to buy back SEA tokens. This dual approach of staking and buybacks aims to reinforce utility within the marketplace. The MOVE coincides with OpenSea's pivot from an NFT-centric platform to a multi-chain trading aggregator, now supporting 22 blockchains.

Trading volume for the platform reached $2.6 billion this month, with over 90% derived from token trading rather than NFTs. The SEA token launch underscores OpenSea's evolution into a broader crypto trading venue while maintaining ties to its community roots.