What Is Rarible? How to Buy, Mint and Sell NFTs (2026 Guide)

Rarible is a decentralised, multi-chain marketplace where people create, buy, sell and trade non-fungible tokens (NFTs). It launched in 2020 as an art-focused marketplace on Ethereum and has since grown into a broader platform for artists, collectors and communities. Ethereum.org lists it among its Ethereum apps, describing it as a platform to buy, sell and create NFTs across several chains.

The site is aimed at three groups:

• Collectors who want to browse, bid on and buy NFTs.
• Creators who want to mint artwork, music, photography or other digital items without writing code.
• Brands and developers who use Rarible's tools and API to power their own storefronts or apps.

A few features set Rarible apart from a simple minting site. It has been known for its aggregated approach, meaning listings from other marketplaces can appear alongside native ones, so you can compare in one place. It also offers a no-code creator flow, collection pages, and an infrastructure layer (the Rarible API) that gives developers unified NFT data and market features across networks such as Ethereum, Base and Polygon.

Rarible is non-custodial. It does not hold your NFTs or your funds. Your wallet holds the assets, and every purchase, listing or cancellation is a transaction or signature that you approve yourself.

That design gives you control, but it also means mistakes are hard to reverse. A wrong address, a fake collection or a malicious approval cannot be undone by support staff. The rest of this guide explains how each step works and where the risks sit.

Rarible combines a front-end marketplace with an underlying protocol. When you list an NFT, the order data is stored in Rarible's order system, and the sale settles through smart contracts on the relevant blockchain. The buyer pays, the NFT moves to their wallet, and the seller and any royalty recipient receive their share, all in one transaction.

Multi-chain structure. NFTs exist on specific blockchains. Rarible has supported Ethereum, Polygon and Base, among other networks, and the list has changed over time, so check the network selector on the site. An NFT on one chain cannot be bought with funds from another, and each chain has its own gas token and fee level.

Aggregation. Rarible has positioned itself as an aggregated marketplace. Instead of showing only items listed on Rarible, it can surface listings from other venues, which helps with price comparison. Availability of this feature can change, so look at each item page to see where the listing lives.

Lazy minting. Rarible has offered lazy minting, in which the NFT's data is signed and stored off-chain until someone buys it. The token is created on-chain at the first sale, so the creator avoids paying gas up front. This lowers the barrier for new creators, though the buyer's transaction then covers the creation step.

Order types. You can generally sell at a fixed price, run a timed auction, or accept offers. Buyers can also place bids on items that are not listed.

Understanding that settlement happens on-chain explains why you always see a wallet prompt before anything is final.

Before you open Rarible, set up three things: a wallet, funds on the right chain, and a clear idea of what you want to do.

1. A self-custody wallet. MetaMask is the most common choice for Ethereum, Polygon and Base, and Rarible's own connect screen supports several wallet options. Install the wallet only from its official source, write down the recovery phrase offline, and never type it into any website. No marketplace, including Rarible, will ever ask for it.

2. Funds on the correct network. Each chain uses its own native token for fees:

• Ethereum uses ETH.
• Base also uses ETH, but on its own network.
• Polygon uses its native token for gas.

Buy the token through a regulated exchange and withdraw it to your wallet on the exact network you plan to use. Sending funds on the wrong network is one of the most common beginner errors. Send a small test amount first.

3. A decision on what you are doing. Buying, minting and selling each need slightly different preparation:

• Buyers need enough to cover the price plus gas.
• Creators need the file ready, usually an image, video, audio or similar, plus a title, description and royalty percentage.
• Sellers need the NFT in the connected wallet and a price in mind.

If you are new, consider starting on a lower-fee chain with a small amount. Check your local rules too. NFTs may be treated as taxable assets, and some regions restrict certain digital asset activity. You should be at least the legal age of majority where you live to trade.

Connecting your wallet is the first step for any action beyond browsing.

1. Go to Rarible by typing the address yourself or using a bookmark you trust. Avoid links from ads, direct messages or social replies, since fake lookalike sites are common.
2. Select the connect wallet option and choose your wallet from the list.
3. Approve the connection in your wallet pop-up. This shares your public address only, and it should not move any funds.
4. Some wallets ask for a signature to prove ownership. Read the message. A plain login message is normal. A request to approve spending of tokens or NFTs at this stage is not.
5. Confirm the network shown in your wallet matches the chain you want to use.

Now you can browse. Use search, categories and collection pages to find items. Before you buy anything, check:

• The collection page. Look for the official collection, its contract address, supply and activity history. Copycat collections reuse artwork.
• Item history. Review past sales, owners and price movement.
• Royalty and creator details. The page shows who created the item and the royalty setting.
• Listing details. See whether the price is fixed or an auction, and which chain it is on.

If a price looks far below the collection's usual range, treat it as a warning sign. Counterfeits, stolen items and mistaken listings often appear that way. Take time to compare with other listings before committing.

Once you have found a legitimate item and have funds on the right chain, buying is a short flow.

Buying at a fixed price

1. Open the item page and check the collection, chain and price.
2. Select the buy option.
3. Review the summary in Rarible and again in your wallet. It shows the price, marketplace fee if any, and estimated gas.
4. Confirm the transaction and wait for it to be included in a block.
5. Check your wallet's NFT view or the item page to see you are the new owner.

Bidding in an auction

1. Open an auction listing and read the end time and any reserve.
2. Enter a bid at or above the minimum. Some bids need a wrapped version of the chain's token, and the site will prompt you to wrap it.
3. Sign the bid. Your funds typically stay in your wallet until the auction settles, though policies can differ, so read the prompt.
4. If you win, complete any settlement step the site asks for.

Making an offer

On items that are not for sale at your price, you can submit an offer. The owner can accept or ignore it. Offers usually expire, and you can cancel them, which may cost gas.

Always read the wallet window before you confirm. If it shows a request to approve all of your tokens or NFTs to an unfamiliar address, reject it. A normal purchase asks to spend a specific amount for a specific item.

Creating an NFT on Rarible is designed to be possible without code.

1. Connect your wallet and select the create option.
2. Choose between a single item and a multiple-edition item. Editions let several copies of the same artwork exist under one token ID.
3. Choose the collection. You can use a default Rarible collection or create your own with a name and symbol. A custom collection gives you a distinct identity and contract.
4. Choose the network. This decides where the NFT lives and which fees apply.
5. Upload the file. Check which formats and size limits the site currently accepts.
6. Add a title, description and any properties, such as traits or editions.
7. Set the royalty percentage you want on resales.
8. Decide whether to use lazy minting, if offered, so that the on-chain creation happens at the first sale rather than now.
9. Confirm and sign in your wallet.

Points to think through first

• Rights. Only mint work you own or have permission to use. Minting someone else's art is a common cause of takedowns and account flags.
• File storage. NFTs usually point to a file stored on a decentralised storage network or a server. Check where yours is stored, because the token is only as durable as the file it references.
• Royalties. The percentage you set is a request recorded with the token. Whether it is honoured on resale depends on the venue.
• Permanence. Metadata choices can be hard to change after minting, so check spelling and traits.

After minting or buying, you can list the NFT for sale from your profile or the item page.

1. Open the NFT and select the sell option.
2. Choose the sale type: fixed price, timed auction, or accept offers only.
3. Set the price and the currency, such as the chain's native token or a supported token.
4. Set the duration. Long listings can go stale if the market moves, so some sellers use shorter windows.
5. Review the fee breakdown, which shows any marketplace fee and royalty deducted from your proceeds.
6. Approve the collection for trading if asked. This first-time approval lets the marketplace contract move that specific collection when it sells. Read the prompt and make sure the address matches the one you expect.
7. Sign the listing. Many listings are signed messages rather than on-chain transactions, so they may cost nothing to create.

Pricing tips that avoid mistakes

• Compare with recent sold prices, not only current asking prices. Floor listings can be far from actual sales.
• Check whether the price is shown in the right token. A price typed in the wrong unit is a frequent cause of costly mistakes.
• If you change your mind, cancel the listing. Cancelling an off-chain listing may be free, while an on-chain cancellation costs gas.

After the sale

The proceeds arrive in your wallet in the same transaction as the sale. Keep records of the date, price and token amounts for tax purposes, since many jurisdictions treat NFT sales as taxable events.

NFT trading has several layers of cost, and they vary by chain and over time.

Typical cost layers

Cost	What it is	Who pays
Gas	Network fee for on-chain transactions	The person sending the transaction
Marketplace fee	Fee charged by the platform on a sale	Set by Rarible, can change
Creator royalty	Share of resale value to the creator	Deducted from the seller's proceeds when honoured
Wrapping or approval costs	Gas for token wrapping or collection approvals	Buyer or seller

Rarible's fee levels and the options for royalties have been revised over time, so do not rely on a number from an old review. Check the fee line in the checkout or listing summary, and check Rarible's help pages for current terms.

Ways to keep costs down

• Use a lower-fee chain when the collection you want exists there.
• Transact when the network is quieter. Gas trackers for each chain show current levels.
• Use signed listings and lazy minting where available, which shift the gas to the moment of sale.
• Batch your actions where possible, rather than repeatedly approving and cancelling.

Royalties in practice

Royalties are set at creation, but across the NFT market their enforcement has become inconsistent. Some marketplaces enforce them, some make them optional, and some collections use contract-level restrictions. If you are a creator, do not assume your royalty percentage will be paid on every resale. If you are a buyer, the royalty is part of what the creator expects, so the item page is the place to see it.

Rarible sits among several NFT marketplaces. The right choice depends on what you want to do.

Factor	Rarible	A large general marketplace	A niche or chain-specific venue
Creator tools	No-code minting, own collections	Often similar	Varies
Chains	Multi-chain	Often multi-chain	Usually one
Listings	Native plus aggregated	Mostly native	Native
Developer tools	API and protocol	Varies	Rarely

The table is a general frame rather than a ranking. Features on each platform change, so check what is live before you commit.

When Rarible makes sense

• You want a single place to look at listings across more than one chain.
• You want to mint your own work without coding and keep control of your collection.
• You are a developer looking for NFT data or marketplace features through an API.

When to look elsewhere

• The collection you want is traded mainly on another venue, with deeper liquidity.
• You need a type of asset that Rarible does not support, such as tokenised domains or vault shares.

On that last point, NFTs now cover more than art. Doma tokenises web3 domains and lets them be traded in fractions on its own network, and TokenWorks runs NFT strategy tokens that use trading fees to buy, relist and burn NFTs. Rip.xyz offers vault shares through NFTs on Hyperliquid. These are different products with their own risks, and some are aimed at experienced users, so read their documentation before using them.

Most NFT losses come from scams and careless approvals, not from the marketplace itself. Use this checklist.

Wallet hygiene

• Never share your recovery phrase or private key. No support agent needs it.
• Consider a separate wallet for NFT activity, holding only the funds you plan to spend, and keep valuable assets in a hardware wallet.
• Confirm the website address yourself before connecting. Bookmark the real one.

Before buying

• Verify the collection contract address using the project's official channels.
• Be suspicious of unsolicited direct messages, free mint offers and surprise NFTs sent to your wallet. Do not interact with unknown tokens.
• Treat prices far below the floor as a warning sign.

Reading wallet prompts

• Check the network, the contract address and the amount.
• Reject requests to approve all assets to an unknown address.
• Use your wallet's simulation or warning features if it has them.

After using the marketplace

• Review token and NFT approvals periodically, and revoke any you no longer need using a reputable approval checker.
• Keep records of transactions for tax.

Market risk

NFT prices can drop sharply, liquidity can disappear, and a token can be impossible to sell at any price. Only use money you can afford to lose. Also check local laws on digital assets and taxes, and make sure you meet the minimum age to trade.

RARI is Rarible's governance token. It was introduced in 2020, when coverage at the time described a distribution aimed at rewarding active buyers and sellers on the marketplace. It was part of a wider wave of governance-token launches, in which platforms tried to give users a share in decisions about the product.

For day-to-day use you do not need RARI. Buying, minting and selling NFTs depend on your wallet and the chain's native token, not on holding the governance token.

What to check now

Token programmes change. Reward schedules, voting systems and the role of the token may have been altered since the early announcements. Before you act on anything about RARI, look at:

• Rarible's official announcements and help pages for the current status of the token.
• A reputable market data site for the token's contract, supply and trading venues.
• Any claim or reward page, which you should reach only through the official site. Fake claim pages are a common scam around token programmes.

What to avoid

• Do not buy a token because an old article described a reward programme. Old reward terms may no longer apply.
• Do not connect your wallet to a site that promises free RARI and asks for broad approvals.
• Do not treat any token as a guaranteed return. Prices can fall, and governance tokens carry the same market risk as other crypto assets.

If you only want to use Rarible as a marketplace, you can ignore the token entirely.