Reddit Sunsets Digital Collectibles, Users Must Export Keys
Reddit is officially dismantling its NFT infrastructure. After years of attempting to mainstream “Digital Collectibles,” the platform will shut down its Reddit Vault, the in-app digital wallet, on January 1, 2026. The move cements the company’s pivot away from Web3 speculation, a shift that accelerated after its public listing in March 2024.
Reddit Exits NFT Market Via Sunsetting Its Vault
This exit has been a slow roll. Reddit first signaled plans to sunset the Vault four months ago, followed by the closure of its Avatar Shop on November 11, 2025.
The final blow lands on New Year’s Day 2026, when the Vault will cease all transfer capabilities.
The User Mandate
With the wallet feature disappearing in just two weeks, the clock is ticking. Users holding assets in-app must export their private keys or recovery phrases to third-party wallets immediately to retain custody. While the infrastructure is vanishing, Reddit will still allow users to display their collectibles as profile avatars.
“We will continue to honor off-platform transfers and sales through a simplified import flow. You’ll be able to claim avatars on Reddit by tapping the visit Reddit to make it your avatar link shown on the product page where you acquired them,” Reddit stated in the announcement.
Reddit noted that the r/CollectibleAvatars will remain in archive mode as the admin will not make more content forward.
The Data: Are Digital Collectibles Dead?
The digital collectible market has suffered a major setback in the past few years due to low demand. The mainstream institutional use for digital collectibles did not gain traction in tandem with blockchain and crypto assets.
The ‘Death Rate’
According to a 2024 NFT report, after examining 5,000 NFT collections and analysed 5 million transactions from NFTscan, the conclusion was that 96% of NFTs are dead.
The report also noted that the average lifespan of NFTs is about 1.14 years, with their death rate having surged after the 2021 crypto bull cycle.
The Valuation Crash
Aggregate data from CoinGecko confirms the rout. The total NFT market cap has declined from a peak of $15.5 billion in 2022 to around $2.6 billion at press time.
A project such as Bored Ape Yacht Club has seen its floor price drop from a peak of 153 ETH in 2022 to around $4.99 at press time, thus representing a 96% drop.
The closure of the Reddit NFT vault worsened the situation as it marked the largest exit of a major utility for digital collectibles. Furthermore, the investors’ confidence in NFTs will be shaken immensely after the exit of Reddit.
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