The Ethereum-based NFT marketplace Blur announced the upcoming shutdown of its website, blur.io, scheduled for November 12, 2026. While the frontend will be deprecated, the underlying marketplace protocol will continue to function on-chain. Token holders will maintain control over the fee switch mechanism.
The platform's peer-to-peer lending service, Blend, will cease matching new loans on the same date. Borrowers are required to repay existing loans or face default before the deadline. The company plans to release a tool to assist users in withdrawing their assets from the lending protocol after the shutdown.
Blur launched in 2022 and previously surpassed OpenSea in trading volume. The decision to close the interface follows the recent announcement by the Blast layer-2 network, created by the same team, which is also shutting down due to high operational costs. Blast had previously attracted over $2.3 billion in deposits.
The broader NFT sector has experienced a significant decline in activity. According to CryptoSlam, monthly sales volume dropped to $167.2 million in September 2026, compared to $554.8 million a year prior and $1.78 billion in December 2023. Statista projects global NFT market revenue at $318.3 million for 2026.
