Nifty Gateway shutdown: platform set to close on February 23, 2026

Nifty Gateway shutdown was announced with a planned closure date of February 23, 2026, and the platform moved into withdrawal-only mode starting today. The announcement came with limited warning and few concrete details about next steps for users or for assets held on the service. The company stated that users must withdraw assets manually while the closure process proceeds.

The platform is currently holding 650,000 NFTs that account holders must manually withdraw from their custodial wallets. The report also notes that an estimated $7.8 million in NFTs face potential loss if not reclaimed before the closure. These figures were provided at the time of the shutdown announcement.

Nifty Gateway was acquired by Gemini in 2019 and launched in 2020. The platform supported credit card payments and custodial wallets, which were cited as factors that helped onboard a global, non-crypto-native audience. Nifty Gateway also facilitated major curated drops that drew mainstream attention.

Major drops from artists such as Beeple, Pak, and XCOPY helped fuel interest in the platform during its active years. The platform’s curated releases and user-friendly payment options were highlighted as key features in its market presence. The shutdown notice did not outline a plan for preserving platform-hosted releases beyond user withdrawals.

Artist and collector Bryan Brinkman commented on the shutdown, saying, “I saw the potential for an easy collecting platform that included credit card [payments], custodial wallets, and high-quality digital art.”

Other community reactions noted concern about the short notice and the logistics of reclaiming assets. The available sources do not provide this information.

Nifty Gateway, an influential platform in the NFT space, was launched in 2020 following its acquisition by the cryptocurrency exchange Gemini in 2019. This acquisition positioned Nifty Gateway to capitalize on the burgeoning interest in NFTs, which are unique digital art pieces verified through blockchain technology. At its inception, the platform sought to demystify NFT ownership and transactions for users not familiar with cryptocurrency.

The platform’s distinguishing features included accepting credit card payments and providing custodial wallets. These features were pivotal in making NFTs accessible to a broader, non-crypto-native audience. By allowing users to purchase NFTs using traditional payment methods, Nifty Gateway lowered the barrier to entry for collectors and enthusiasts not versed in cryptocurrency.

Nifty Gateway gained significant attention through its artist-curated drops, which featured prominent digital artists like Beeple, Pak, and XCOPY. These curated events helped to popularize the platform and contributed to mainstream interest in digital art and NFTs. The combination of user-friendly features and high-profile releases established Nifty Gateway as a leading player in the NFT market during its operational years.

Major drops from artists Beeple, Pak, and XCOPY appeared on Nifty Gateway during its operational years. Those major drops helped fuel interest in the platform and were part of its artist-curated release strategy. The platform hosted curated events that featured high-profile digital artists, and those curated drops were identified as notable elements of Nifty Gateway’s activity. The available sources do not provide additional details about the individual drops beyond their role in attracting attention to the platform.

Nifty Gateway offered credit card payments and custodial wallets as part of its user experience. Those payment and custody features helped onboard a global, non-crypto-native audience according to the provided information. The platform included a product identified as Nifty Gateway Studio in its related product list. The available sources do not provide further specifics about Nifty Gateway Studio’s functions or its role in the drops.

The presence of prominent digital artists and the platform’s payment and custody features were highlighted together in descriptions of Nifty Gateway’s market presence. These elements were presented as part of the platform’s approach to attracting mainstream collectors and facilitating purchases. The available sources do not provide additional information on how these elements operated beyond what is stated here.

Nifty Gateway is currently holding 650,000 NFTs that account holders must manually withdraw from their custodial wallets. The platform entered withdrawal-only mode starting today, requiring owners to initiate withdrawals rather than permitting new purchases or deposits. Users are responsible for initiating each withdrawal; the platform will not move assets on behalf of collectors. The shutdown notice emphasized manual withdrawal as the path for reclaiming assets.

An estimated $7.8 million in NFTs face potential loss if not reclaimed before the platform closes. The shutdown was announced with limited warning and few concrete details, which adds uncertainty for owners of assets held on the service. No timeline for processing withdrawals beyond the closure date and no automated migration were provided in the announcement. The available sources do not provide information about contingency plans, support channels, or safeguards for users unable to complete manual withdrawals.

Public and community reaction

Bryan Brinkman, an artist and collector who has been active in NFTs and digital art since its early days, commented on the Nifty Gateway shutdown. He told Decrypt, “Now we are left with more questions than answers,” and added, “Why the sudden shutdown, why the lack of communication, and what will happen to these artworks?” Brinkman also said, “I saw the potential for an easy collecting platform that included credit card payments, custodial wallets, and high-quality digital art.”

Other community reactions noted concern about the short notice and the logistics of reclaiming assets. No additional community comments or public statements are recorded in the provided material. The available sources do not provide this information.

Nifty Gateway will shut down on February 23, 2026, and the platform entered withdrawal-only mode starting today. The service is holding 650,000 NFTs that account holders must manually withdraw from custodial wallets, and an estimated $7.8 million in NFTs face potential loss if not reclaimed before the closure.

The platform offered credit card payments and custodial wallets, features that helped onboard a global, non-crypto-native audience. The shutdown was announced with limited warning and few concrete details, leaving users responsible for initiating withdrawals and uncertain about next steps.

Nifty Gateway was acquired by Gemini in 2019 and launched in 2020.