- Different blockchains (Ecosystems) require different wallets.
- Ethereum is the biggest, but has higher fees.
- Solana is faster and cheaper for beginners.
- Always check which currency a marketplace uses before sending funds.
New NFTs are launching every day. Some are on their own websites, but most live on specific marketplaces within an ecosystem. To buy an NFT, you need to match three things:
- The Ecosystem (The Blockchain)
- The Currency (To pay)
- The Wallet (To store)
Here is a breakdown of the major players.
Ethereum (ETH) Ecosystem 💎
The King of NFTs. Most high-value art and collectibles live here.
- Native Currency: Ether (ETH)
- Gas Fees: High (can be $5 - $50+ per transaction).
MetaMask. Supported by virtually every marketplace. Available as a Chrome plugin or mobile app. Read our full Wallet Guide →
- OpenSea (The largest)
- SuperRare (Art focus)
- Rarible
- Foundation
Pro Tip
Security Tip: If you hold investments in MetaMask, create a separate wallet specifically for minting NFTs. This keeps your main savings safe from malicious contracts.
Solana (SOL) Ecosystem âš¡
Fast, cheap, and user-friendly. Solana has been "popping off" because it is much cheaper to use than Ethereum.
- Native Currency: Solana (SOL)
- Gas Fees: Extremely low (fractions of a cent).
Phantom. It has a beautiful interface and connects easily to hardware wallets like Ledger.
- Magic Eden (Most popular)
- Solanart
- Solsea
Binance (BNB) Ecosystem 🟡
The All-in-One Platform. Binance is unique because it is both an exchange AND an NFT ecosystem.
- Native Currency: BNB (though some use BUSD or ETH).
The Binance Difference
You don't strictly need a separate DeFi wallet here. You can buy, sell, and store NFTs directly on the Binance NFT Marketplace using your main exchange account.
Cardano (ADA) Ecosystem 🔵
The Academic Blockchain. Still in early stages compared to ETH, but building a loyal community.
- Native Currency: ADA
- Wallets: Nami, Yoroi, Daedalus.
- Marketplaces: JPG.store (formerly CNFT.io), SpaceBudz.
Other Notable Mentions
- Flow (Dapper Labs): Famous for NBA Top Shot. You often don't even need a crypto wallet; you can just use a credit card/email login.
- WAX (Worldwide Asset eXchange): Great for gaming items. Uses the WAX Cloud Wallet.
- Gaming NFTs: Projects like The Sandbox (SAND), Decentraland (MANA), and Axie Infinity often have their own internal marketplaces or use Ethereum/Sidechains.
The Golden Rule of Crypto
New ecosystems launch all the time. Before connecting your wallet to a new chain or marketplace, verify it is legitimate. Fake marketplaces ("phishing sites") are common.