NFTs on NEAR: A Deep Dive into Paras

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The world of NFTs continues to expand beyond digital art and profile pictures, evolving into a dynamic cultural movement. Within the NEAR Protocol ecosystem, one platform stands out for its innovation, community focus, and creative ambition—Paras. Originally conceived as a decentralized social media tool, Paras has transformed into a thriving NFT marketplace and cultural hub, empowering artists, writers, and creators across multiple digital formats.

From digital art cards to blockchain-based comics and play-to-earn gaming, Paras is redefining how creators monetize their work and how fans engage with digital culture. With over 90,000 registered users, 12,000 artists, and $18 million in total sales, Paras has cemented its position as a leading NFT platform on NEAR.

The Origins of Paras

In 2017, Rahmat “Riqi” Albariqi was in his final year of university, captivated by the emerging world of blockchain. Like many early adopters, he began with trading but quickly shifted focus to development. His interest in building decentralized applications (dApps) laid the foundation for what would become Paras.

By 2020, after leaving his job and teaming up with co-founder Afiq Shofy, Riqi dove into Web3 development. Their first iteration of Paras was envisioned as a “persona website generator”—a single-page profile showcasing avatars, resumes, and personal branding. But the vision quickly expanded.

“Why don’t we just make a decentralized social media platform?” Riqi recalls. “We already had profiles and avatars. We just needed posts and comments.”

This early version launched on NEAR’s testnet in Q3 2020. However, user engagement was low—except among a small but passionate group: digital artists. These creators were using the platform to share their work, often minting simple digital art cards as NFTs.

This organic trend sparked a pivotal shift.

Pivoting to an NFT Marketplace

Recognizing the growing momentum of NFTs—especially the surge in sales on Ethereum from August to October 2020—Riqi and Shofy reimagined Paras entirely.

👉 Discover how NFT marketplaces are reshaping digital ownership and creator economies.

“We rewrote everything,” Riqi says. In December 2020, Paras relaunched as an NFT marketplace built on NEAR Protocol. The decision proved timely. By early 2021, the platform had onboarded over 70 artists and 80 active collectors. Today, those numbers have grown exponentially: 12,000 artists, 50,000 collectors, and $18 million in sales.

NEAR’s low transaction fees and fast processing times played a crucial role in this growth. Unlike high-gas blockchains, NEAR allows creators to mint and trade NFTs affordably—removing financial barriers that often exclude emerging artists.

Intuitive Curation in a Decentralized Space

One of the challenges of decentralized NFT platforms is information overload. Without curation, users can feel lost in a sea of digital assets. Paras addresses this with thoughtful UX design and active community engagement.

The homepage features:

Additionally, the Publication feature allows creators to tell stories around their art—transforming static NFTs into narrative experiences. The Paras team further supports discovery through weekly editorials that spotlight rising artists and new drops.

This curation extends to social media, where the Paras Twitter regularly amplifies independent creators.

“We just retweet the artists’ posts and add context,” Riqi explains. “Giving them exposure is how we support them.”

This grassroots approach fosters inclusivity—helping niche artists gain visibility and potentially grow into major names within the ecosystem.

Paras Comic: NFTs Meet Storytelling

In December 2021, Paras launched Paras Comic, the first dedicated digital comics platform on NEAR. Designed as a standalone experience, it enables writers and illustrators to publish serialized comics as collectible NFTs.

Readers can collect full issues or individual pages, support creators through tips, and engage with evolving storylines—all without centralized gatekeepers.

Notable titles include:

Edmund describes his experience on Paras as liberating: “I was institutionalized to print formats. On Paras, I could go fucking crazy—and I did.”

His comic defies genre expectations, blending wild art styles and unpredictable twists. For Edmund, this creative freedom is not just artistic—it’s a cultural counterpoint to oversaturated superhero narratives.

“Once word gets out beyond the Paras community,” he says, “it’s going to blow up.”

Paras Comic represents more than a new product—it’s a strategic move toward NFTs as pop culture.

Expanding the Ecosystem: Staking, Gaming & Beyond

Paras is not resting on its marketplace success. The platform is actively building new utility layers to deepen user engagement.

$PARAS Token & Staking

Launched in September 2021, the $PARAS token serves as a utility and governance token. Use cases include:

Staking was introduced earlier this year, allowing users to earn additional $PARAS by locking their tokens. Governance is expected to roll out soon, giving the community a direct voice in platform decisions.

ExVerse: Play-to-Earn Gaming on NEAR

Paras has also ventured into gaming with ExVerse, a free-to-play P2E battle royale game built on NEAR. Dubbed “the first ever battle metaverse,” ExVerse lets players collect and trade NFT skins, boxes, and in-game assets.

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Unlike many P2E projects that sell concepts before development, ExVerse launched with a fully playable game—a rarity in the NFT space.

“They already have the playable game,” Riqi notes. “That’s something really unique.”

This partnership underscores Paras’ broader vision: expanding the endgame of NFTs.

The Future: NFTs as Cultural Infrastructure

Riqi envisions Paras not just as a marketplace, but as a cultural hub for pop culture NFTs.

“We’re working with comic studios, game developers, and IP creators,” he says. “In the next 3–6 months, we’ll launch several smaller projects.”

Potential expansions include:

These initiatives align with Paras’ core mission: leveraging fandoms and cultural movements to drive mainstream Web3 adoption.

“Comic markets, fashion, gaming—they’re all pop culture,” Riqi says. “That’s where Paras is heading.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is Paras?
A: Paras is an NFT marketplace on NEAR Protocol focused on digital art cards, comics, and pop culture content. It supports creators through low-cost minting, curation tools, and community engagement.

Q: How does Paras differ from other NFT marketplaces?
A: Unlike generic platforms, Paras emphasizes storytelling, curation, and cultural relevance. It features editorial content, themed collections, and niche verticals like comics—creating a more engaging user experience.

Q: Can I create NFTs on Paras for free?
A: While minting isn’t entirely free, NEAR’s low transaction fees make it highly affordable—often costing just cents per mint. This accessibility helps onboard new artists.

Q: What is Paras Comic?
A: Paras Comic is a dedicated platform for publishing digital comics as NFTs. Creators retain ownership, while readers can collect issues and support artists through tips.

Q: How can I earn on Paras?
A: Users can earn through NFT trading, staking $PARAS tokens, participating in ExVerse gameplay, or creating popular content that gains collector traction.

Q: Is Paras only for artists?
A: No—Paras welcomes collectors, gamers, readers, and investors. Whether you’re buying art, reading comics, or staking tokens, there are multiple ways to engage.

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With its blend of artistic empowerment, technical innovation, and cultural foresight, Paras is more than an NFT marketplace—it’s a blueprint for the next era of digital expression on NEAR.