Blur, a new NFT marketplace that surpassed OpenSea in trading volume, has been blamed by some investors and influencers for the falling prices of NFTs, including Bored Ape Yacht Club. Critics claim that Blur's incentivized trading model has encouraged traders to treat NFTs like fungible tokens, resulting in a surge in trading volume that some have called "wash trading."

However, as the overall market trading has decreased, some traders who initially gamed the rewards model are now losing money and withdrawing their funds from Blur's NFT bidding pool.

Critics argue that Blur's tactics have created a divide between "mercenary" and "genuine" market participants, destabilizing NFT prices and potentially harming the platform's long-term sustainability. Despite criticism, Blur has launched its v2 protocol with a focus on increasing trading rewards.