Yuga Labs, the company behind the popular Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) NFT series, has officially revived its partnership with OpenSea, appointing the platform as the official marketplace for its flagship collections. This collaboration marks a key strategic realignment for both companies following their separation in 2023, which was primarily triggered by disagreements over royalty policies.
The announcement, made on October 14, 2025, via Yuga Labs’ BAYC X account, emphasized a shared commitment to digital ownership. The companies previously had a significant role in defining what digital ownership means for collectors and communities alike. The renewed alliance comes at a pivotal moment, with OpenSea having transformed into OS2, a platform that accommodates various blockchains and tokens, thereby enhancing its attractiveness as a partner for Yuga Labs. OS2 offers improved liquidity, cross-chain interoperability, and access to a broader audience.
This resurgence in their partnership follows a challenging period for both entities. In 2023, OpenSea faced criticism for eliminating its Operator Filter, a feature enabling creators to enforce royalty fees on secondary sales. This decision led Yuga Labs to contemplate removing its NFTs from OpenSea and shift its focus toward competing platforms, notably Magic Eden. However, OpenSea’s relaunch as OS2 in 2025 addressed many of these concerns, including lowering its marketplace fee from 2.5% to 0.5%, enabling transactions across numerous blockchains, and enhancing user experience.
Market sentiment has been notably positive regarding the partnership renewal. Many in the BAYC community view this as a reaffirmation of OpenSea’s commitment to supporting creators. Several NFT leaders, including Dotta, co-founder of the Forgotten Runes NFT project, have echoed these sentiments, indicating that Yuga Labs’ decision could encourage other creators to prioritize royalty-enforcing marketplaces.
OpenSea’s market position has also improved, reclaiming 33% of the NFT market share after facing heavy competition from zero-fee platforms like Blur. The beta launch of OS2 provided early access to NFT holders and introduced new features designed to bolster user confidence.
For Yuga Labs, this renewed collaboration is crucial for solidifying its presence in the Web3 ecosystem. After a three-year investigation by the SEC, which concluded without any charges, the company has asserted that “NFTs are not securities.” Despite BAYC’s floor price experiencing a 90% drop since 2022, Yuga Labs continues to hold significant influence, with its ApeCoin (APE) token and Otherside metaverse project driving ongoing engagement.
The rekindled partnership between Yuga Labs and OpenSea illustrates the evolving dynamics within the NFT sector, where innovation and creator compensation are increasingly interlinked. As OpenSea continues to expand its cross-chain capabilities and prepare for the launch of its $SEA token, this alliance may signify a broader trend of NFT projects gravitating towards platforms that effectively marry liquidity with fair rewards for creators.
