Crypto glossary
Open edition NFT
An open edition NFT can be minted in unlimited quantity during a set time window, usually at a low price, so final supply depends on demand.
Instead of capping supply in advance, an open edition lets anyone mint as many copies as they want until a deadline, often 24 hours to a week. When the window closes, the total minted becomes the edition's fixed supply. Prices are typically low, sometimes just the gas cost plus a small fee, and the artwork is identical across copies.
The format became popular on low-fee chains and layer 2s, used for commemorative drops, artist releases, brand campaigns and community events. It lets creators reach large audiences, earn from volume and avoid gas wars, since there is no race for scarce supply. Collectors use open editions as cheap souvenirs or to support artists.
Because supply is set by demand, most open editions end up with thousands of copies and little secondary market value; buyers expecting a quick flip are usually disappointed. Large editions can also be farmed by bots seeking airdrop eligibility, inflating numbers. They work best as low-cost collectibles, not investments.
Example
An artist opens a 48-hour open edition at 0.0005 ETH on a layer 2; 12,000 copies are minted, and the edition closes with that number as its permanent supply.