Unique Network, a pioneering NFT chain built for the Polkadot and Kusama ecosystems, has successfully raised $11.3 million in its latest funding round. This investment, led by prominent Web3-focused venture firms and a strong community of backers, will accelerate the development of advanced, flexible NFT infrastructure aimed at creators, gamers, and enterprises.
The recent funding round was spearheaded by Outlier Ventures, with participation from established NFT investment groups such as THE LAO, Flamingo, and Nalu Capital, along with over 200 individual investors. This brings the total funds raised to $16 million, reinforcing strong market confidence in Unique Network’s technical vision and ecosystem strategy.
What Is Unique Network?
Unique Network is the first specialized NFT blockchain operating within the Polkadot and Kusama networks. It offers developers and creators a more efficient, scalable, and cost-effective environment for launching NFT-based projects such as digital art galleries, gaming ecosystems, and interactive marketplaces.
By building on Substrate—a flexible blockchain framework—Unique Network enables features beyond what’s possible on Ethereum and other EVM-based chains. These include customizable NFT behaviors, on-chain royalties, and gas-free transactions for end-users.
Advancing NFT Technology Beyond Limitations
Many artists, gamers, and developers face significant barriers when engaging with NFTs on existing platforms. High gas fees, complex crypto acquisition processes, and limited creative expression have stifled broader adoption.
Alexander Mitrovich, CEO and Co-Founder of Unique Network, commented:
“Unique Network is designed to overcome the economic and technical constraints that have hampered NFT innovation. With our Kusama-dedicated canary network, Quartz, we are introducing a new level of interactivity, scalability, and cross-chain interoperability.”
Introducing Quartz: The Kusama Canary Network
Quartz is Unique Network’s dedicated NFT parachain on Kusama. It serves as an experimental environment where new NFT features can be tested under real-world conditions before being deployed on Polkadot.
Key features of Quartz include:
- Cross-chain NFT interoperability with Ethereum and other major blockchains
- Gasless transactions and improved user onboarding
- Advanced NFT types including dynamic, interactive, and multi-resource tokens
- Customizable NFT logic suitable for gaming and complex digital collections
Quartz participated in Kusama’s parachain auction process, leveraging crowdloan support to secure a slot and launch its network.
Strategic Partnerships and Use Cases
In the months following its initial funding, Unique Network established several high-impact collaborations, demonstrating its utility across various industries:
- DigitalArt4Climate Initiative: A United Nations-supported campaign using NFTs to promote environmental awareness and fundraising.
- RMRK Partnership: Collaboration with the pioneering NFT 2.0 project to explore advanced multi-chain NFT capabilities.
- Gaming and Storytelling: Partnerships with immersive experience creators like Forever Has Fallen to develop narrative-driven NFT ecosystems.
These partnerships highlight Unique Network’s focus on enabling real-world applications that extend beyond digital art into governance, gaming, and social impact.
The Future of NFT Infrastructure
With this new capital, Unique Network will focus on:
- Expanding developer tools and documentation
- Enhancing cross-chain capabilities
- Supporting projects building on Quartz and eventually on Polkadot
- Growing its ecosystem through grants and partnerships
The platform aims to make NFT creation more accessible, sustainable, and innovative, serving as the go-to infrastructure for the next wave of NFT adoption.
For those interested in building NFT marketplaces, gaming assets, or digital collections, Unique Network offers a powerful alternative to existing solutions. 👉 Explore advanced NFT development tools
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Unique Network different from other NFT blockchains?
Unique Network is built specifically for Polkadot and Kusama, offering lower fees, higher customization, and native cross-chain interoperability. It also supports gas-free transactions, making it more user-friendly for non-crypto audiences.
How can developers start building on Unique Network?
The network provides comprehensive SDKs, documentation, and testnet environments. Developers can begin experimenting on Quartz, the Kusama-based canary network, before deploying fully on Polkadot.
What kinds of NFTs can be created on Unique Network?
Beyond static images, Unique supports interactive, evolving, and multi-component NFTs. This is ideal for gaming assets, interactive art, and dynamic digital identities.
Is Unique Network environmentally sustainable?
Yes. As a Proof-of-Stake chain within the Polkadot ecosystem, it consumes significantly less energy than Proof-of-Work networks like Ethereum.
Can NFTs from Ethereum be moved to Unique Network?
Through bridges and cross-chain protocols, users will be able to transfer NFTs between Ethereum, Kusama, Polkadot, and other connected blockchains.
Who can participate in the Unique Network ecosystem?
Artists, game developers, enterprises, and creators across all fields can use Unique Network to launch NFT projects with greater flexibility and lower cost.