Hotcraft: The Cross-Chain NFT Marketplace on NEAR

Who this guide is for

This guide is for curious collectors, creators, and Learn NEAR Club readers who want a simple, practical intro to Hotcraft – a new NFT marketplace built on NEAR that works across multiple blockchains.

1) What is Hotcraft (in plain English)?

Hotcraft is an NFT marketplace that lets you explore, mint, buy, and sell collections across different blockchains from one interface. Instead of juggling separate wallets, gas tokens, and websites for each chain, Hotcraft hides the complexity and makes it feel like a single smooth experience.

Think of it as a “universal gallery” for NFTs:

• You browse and trade like normal.

• Behind the scenes, Hotcraft handles the cross-chain steps for you.

• You don’t need to worry about bridges or “wrapped” assets.

2) Why build it on NEAR?

Hotcraft runs on NEAR because NEAR is fast, inexpensive, and designed for great user experience:

• Low fees: actions like listing and buying usually cost a tiny fraction of a cent.

• Speed: confirmations are near-instant, so cross-chain actions don’t feel sluggish.

• Account abstraction: your single account can trigger actions on other chains without you manually switching networks or paying separate gas there.

In short: NEAR provides the speed and “intent” plumbing. Hotcraft uses that to coordinate actions across networks on your behalf.

3) What does “cross-chain” actually mean here?

Traditionally, each NFT chain is its own island. If a collection lives on Chain A, buyers on Chain B often miss it. That fragments communities and liquidity.

Hotcraft’s cross-chain approach helps to:

• Grow audiences: creators get exposure beyond a single chain.

• Improve liquidity: more potential buyers in one place can mean healthier markets.

• Simplify UX: collectors don’t need multiple wallets and tabs to participate.

In practice, Hotcraft supports connecting NEAR, Solana, and EVM wallets for minting and trading experiences, while the collection itself can still be native to one chain (for example, NEAR).

4) Key ideas that make Hotcraft work

• NEAR Intents: you approve the outcome you want (for example, “buy this NFT”), and the system figures out the steps, even if those steps touch other chains.

• Gas abstraction: the platform can cover or streamline gas on the target chain, so you’re not stopped by “wrong network” or “need different gas token.”

• Chain abstraction: one interface, multiple chains – without manual bridging or wrapping.

• One marketplace feel: you discover and trade across ecosystems in a single place.

5) Getting started (step-by-step)

1. Set up a wallet. If you already have NEAR, Solana, or an EVM wallet, you’re good.

2. Connect in the marketplace UI. Pick the wallet you prefer.

3. Explore collections. Use search, categories, and activity feeds to find what’s trending.

4. Buy or mint. When you confirm, Hotcraft coordinates any cross-chain details for you.

5. Review your profile. Track your purchases, offers, and listings in one place.

Tip: Keep a small balance on NEAR for snappy interactions and fees on the NEAR side.

6) Trending collections to know

PublicAI “DataBabies”

• A 10,000-piece, pixel-chibi collection that sold out during the July 14–15 public mint, with distribution across 4,000+ wallets.

• The drop showcased chain-abstracted UX: collectors could mint and trade using NEAR, Solana, or EVM wallets while the collection is issued on NEAR.

• After the mint, secondary trading saw the floor jump from roughly the mid-single-digit NEAR range to a peak in the mid-20s NEAR before cooling.

Why it matters: DataBabies proved that cross-chain minting and trading can feel simple for everyday users, and that a NEAR-native collection can reach a much wider audience.

Learn NEAR Club (LNC) collections

• LNCer and (L)Earner NFTs are community-driven collectibles that celebrate NEAR learners and creators.

• They’re designed to be approachable for newcomers, with straightforward minting and an emphasis on creativity and participation.

• Featuring LNC collections on a cross-chain marketplace helps bring educational NFTs in front of broader crypto audiences.

Why it matters: Community NFTs aren’t just “nice to have” – they’re a welcoming on-ramp for new users, consistently active, and easy to understand.

Harvest MOON Relics (NEAR gaming)

• Relics from the NEAR gaming ecosystem have been listed and traded on Hotcraft.

• For players, that means an easy path to buy, sell, and discover in-game items on the same marketplace used by major collections.

Why it matters: Gaming assets often kick-start activity. Listing them next to mainstream collections helps gamers and collectors find each other.

7) For creators: why launch here?

• Bigger reach: tap into collectors from multiple chains without rebuilding your audience on each one.

• Lower friction: fewer “how do I bridge?” questions; fewer lost mints due to wallet or gas issues.

• Faster iteration: NEAR’s low fees make testing pricing, editions, and drops inexpensive.

Tips:

• Keep art and metadata lightweight and polished (fast loads = better conversions).

• Offer clear utility or community hooks (holder roles, events, or content).

• Time your reveal and secondary-market plan – momentum matters.

8) Safety checklist (for everyone)

• Double-check collection names and contract details before buying.

• Be cautious with approvals and signing actions – read prompts carefully.

• Keep wallets and seed phrases secure; use hardware wallets for larger holdings.

• Start small on new drops until you’re comfortable with the flow.

9) Quick FAQ

Is Hotcraft only for NEAR?
It runs on NEAR, but it’s built to work across chains so you can interact using NEAR, Solana, and EVM wallets.

If an NFT is on NEAR, can non-NEAR users still participate?
Yes. That’s the point of chain abstraction – users from other ecosystems can mint or trade without manual bridging.

Do I need multiple gas tokens?
No. One of the benefits here is gas abstraction, which reduces the “I’m on the wrong network” headaches.

What if I’m brand new to NFTs?
Start with community collections like LNC’s and small purchases. The experience is designed to be beginner-friendly.

10) The big picture

Hotcraft brings the NFT world closer together. By using NEAR’s speed, low fees, and intent-based tech under the hood, it turns a mess of bridges, tokens, and tabs into one clean experience. For collectors, that means more choice with less friction. For creators, it means larger audiences and better liquidity. As more projects plug in, “which chain?” will matter less – and the art and utility will matter more.

Updated: August 15, 2025