Reservoir's NFT Exit: A Blow to Decentralization or Necessary Pivot?

Is Web3 selling out its soul? That’s the question that’s been bouncing around my mind since hearing about Reservoir closing down its NFT marketplace services. October 15, 2025 – mark that date. In short, it seems to us a further nail in the coffin for the independent creator, not least those in emerging markets.

Forgotten Artists, Forgotten Promises?

Reservoir, a name that’s become nearly synonymous with NFT infrastructure for artists and creators, is shutting down. Two months after raising a $14 million Series A, mind you. The plot thickens. The official line? A pivot to “Relay,” a much bigger token infrastructure project. And what is being done for the artists including those living in Southeast Asia. Now, they relied on Reservoir’s API to mint and trade their work.

I’m not just talking about powering my friends’ homes back in places like Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam. For many, NFTs provided salvation – a means to escape the restrictive practices of gatekeepers and reach a worldwide audience. Reservoir, with its (relatively) accessible tools, helped make that possible. Now? They face a new hurdle.

Now, picture yourself as a musician in Manila, scraping by on 16$/month. You’ve worked tirelessly to craft your digital art. NFTs offered a glimmer of hope. Now, you have an active community, you’re beginning to generate some crypto-based revenue. Then, bam! The platform you relied on shuts down. Where do you go? What do you do? It’s more than lines of code—it’s jobs and lives.

This isn’t merely a technical issue, it’s a human one. An issue of equity, equality of opportunity, and who will ultimately be allowed to join the Web3 revolution. Are we really forging this decentralized future? Are we really driving toward a more decentralized, democratized future, or just recreating the same old power structures with new blockchain tech glitter on top?

VC Money Dictating Web3's Future?

Let's talk about that $14 million. Union Square Ventures, Coinbase Ventures, Delphi Digital … Big names, big money, big influence. Is it just happenstance that Reservoir’s pivot has occurred in the wake of this remarkable influx of capital? I’m not even suggesting that there’s any kind of conspiracy here, but c’mon. Venture capital comes with strings attached. Investors' investment return expectations often translate to prioritizing projects with mass appeal, institutional adoption, etc.

Relay, with its focus on broader token swapping and bridging, probably fits that bill better than supporting a niche market of independent NFT artists. It’s a step in the direction of a bigger-is-better approach that threatens to leave the little guy in the creative space behind.

Is this the inevitable path of Web3? An intentional, corporate, or capitalist agenda to shove everything into a big tech centralization pie? If that’s the case, it definitely feels like the promise of that long-awaited, bottom-up decentralized, democratized internet is passing us by.

Here's the thing: the original vision of Web3 was about empowering individuals, not corporations. It was about democratizing, permissionless access, and building an open-source ecosystem that anyone could plug into. Once VC money starts making the decisions, that vision goes out the window.

Time to Build, Time to Fight Back

Okay, enough doom and gloom. What can we do? We cannot do nothing and allow Web3 to become Web2.5.

• Build Open-Source Alternatives: Reservoir's codebase is now public. That's a start. Let's take that code and build truly decentralized, community-owned NFT infrastructure.
• Support Existing Projects: There are already amazing open-source projects out there working to democratize NFT access. Find them, contribute to them, and help them grow.
• Educate and Mentor Emerging Artists: Share your knowledge and skills with artists in developing regions. Help them navigate the Web3 landscape and build their own sustainable businesses.
• Demand Accountability: Let's not let companies like Reservoir off the hook. Ask tough questions. Demand transparency. Hold them accountable for their decisions.

This isn't just about NFTs. It's about the future of the internet. It’s really about whether we allow the technological world that is developing around us to make all of us with powerful technology, or only a few. It's time to choose. Together, let’s build the Web3 we deserve. It's time to remember the forgotten voices.

This isn't just about NFTs. It's about the future of the internet. It's about whether we create a world where technology empowers everyone or just a select few. It's time to choose. It's time to build the Web3 we were promised. It's time to remember the forgotten voices.