OpenSea Acquires Rally to Expand Mobile NFT Trading

OpenSea, a prominent non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace, has made a strategic acquisition of Rally, a mobile-focused Web3 platform. This move is aimed at bringing token and NFT trading to mobile devices, marking OpenSea’s push to develop a mobile-first platform for trading digital assets. The acquisition was announced on July 8, and users can expect a new OpenSea mobile experience later this year.

Rally co-founders Chris Maddern and Christine Hall will join OpenSea's leadership team, bringing their expertise in mobile ad token trading to the platform. Maddern will serve as OpenSea’s new chief technology officer. This acquisition signals OpenSea’s ambition to build an “onchain everything app,” hinting at further expansion beyond NFTs into more Web3-related services.

The acquisition is part of OpenSea’s broader strategy to enter the mobile sector and provide a unified experience for token and NFT trading. Maddern emphasized that the vision is to create a platform where tokens complement NFTs rather than compete with them. He also noted the importance of making decentralized finance (DeFi) and other crypto services simple and accessible.

OpenSea’s mobile expansion follows the public rollout of its revamped “OS2” platform in May. The OS2 platform supports full token trading and fungible tokens, aligning with OpenSea’s belief that everything onchain should be discoverable in one place. This move is part of OpenSea’s long-term vision to become the “home of all web3,” extending beyond NFTs to support fungible tokens, yield opportunities, and mobile-first use cases.

Rally, launched in 2021, is known for its mobile-first design and community-first philosophy, which has made it popular among users. The acquisition is expected to enhance OpenSea’s ability to cater to a broader user base, particularly as the demand for token-native platforms and integrated mobile experiences continues to grow.

As part of the integration process, OpenSea is recognizing Rally’s earliest supporters by converting their Floor Genesis NFTs into tiered Treasures. These special reward tokens within the OpenSea ecosystem are designed to acknowledge meaningful user contributions. A snapshot mechanism will be used to facilitate this conversion, and eligible holders can claim their Treasures through the OpenSea Rewards portal.

This mobile push comes shortly after OpenSea’s May launch of OS2, its upgraded platform that supports trading across 19 blockchains. OS2 includes cross-chain functionality, real-time liquidity aggregation, and support for both NFTs and tokens. Additionally, a SEA token airdrop is underway to reward longtime users, further solidifying OpenSea’s commitment to its user community.

The acquisition of Rally is a significant step for OpenSea as it aims to become the “onchain everything app,” providing a unified platform for all onchain activities. This move not only enhances OpenSea’s mobile capabilities but also positions it as a leader in the evolving landscape of digital assets and decentralized finance.