Hic et nunc, one of the best-known NFT marketplaces built on the Tezos blockchain, has abruptly discontinued its service without giving users a clear explanation. Before going offline, the platform had established itself as one of the top NFT marketplaces by all-time sales, and according to DappRadar metrics cited in the report, it ranked as the 14th-largest NFT marketplace by cumulative sales at the time of its closure.
The shutdown drew immediate attention because Hic et nunc had become a major venue for low-cost NFT activity on Tezos. By the time service stopped, the marketplace had processed roughly $50.37 million in all-time sales, with an average NFT sale price of about $25.19. The platform had also attracted around 48,346 traders, underscoring its significance within the Tezos NFT ecosystem.
Front End Goes Dark, but Questions Remain
At the time referenced in the source material, the main Hic et nunc front end was no longer functioning and returned a server error indicating that the server could not be found. Even so, some affiliated links, including hen101.xyz, were still operating. The marketplace’s official X/Twitter account, @hicetnunc2000, also remained online, but instead of offering a detailed explanation, it only gave sparse signals that the service had ended.
One of the most discussed details was the social media account’s updated bio, which simply read “discontinued”. The account also posted the marketplace’s smart contract address, a move that many users interpreted as symbolic but cryptic. Adding to the frustration, replies to the tweet were disabled, leaving the broader community unable to directly question the team under the announcement itself.
Community Backlash Over Lack of Transparency
The absence of an official explanation quickly triggered criticism across social media. Users expressed disappointment not only because a major NFT platform had vanished, but because it had done so without a formal statement addressing users, creators, or collectors. Some accused the platform of pulling a “rug pull”, others described the situation as a reminder of crypto’s “Wild West” nature, and some speculated that the project may have been hacked.
At least one community comment cited in the report suggested that the project’s creator, known as Raf, may have reacted emotionally after receiving certain messages, allegedly deciding to discontinue Hic et nunc impulsively. However, that explanation was presented as community speculation rather than a confirmed statement from the founder or the project itself.
Because no formal cause was disclosed, the shutdown became a case study in how quickly trust can deteriorate when a major crypto platform stops operating without communication. In NFT markets especially, users often rely on a combination of smart contracts, web interfaces, and social channels. When one of those pillars disappears abruptly, uncertainty spreads fast.
Blockchain Data Still Exists
Despite the shutdown of the main website interface, some community members emphasized that users should not panic. Their core argument was that Hic et nunc was not defined solely by its website. Rather, its essential infrastructure lived in a smart contract on-chain, meaning the marketplace’s underlying data and NFT records were not simply erased because the front end went offline.
This distinction became central to the public conversation. One interpretation of the project’s final messaging was that “Hic et nunc was never the website: Hic et nunc is the contract. The contract lives forever.” That view resonated with some observers who saw the episode as a reminder of blockchain’s resilience: a web interface may disappear, but data written on-chain can remain accessible.
Still, this did not resolve the practical problems facing users. While blockchain permanence may preserve records and assets, most participants interact with NFT platforms through a web interface. Without an official front end, accessibility becomes more difficult for mainstream users, and uncertainty grows around unofficial tools or substitute interfaces.
Mirror Sites Offer Access, but Also Raise Concerns
The report noted that mirror sites emerged as alternative ways to access Hic et nunc after the shutdown. An editorial update added that people could use those mirrors to interact with the marketplace infrastructure, though confusion remained around the safety and intent of some of those sites.
That caveat is important. In decentralized ecosystems, community-built mirrors and alternative interfaces can help preserve access when an original front end goes down. At the same time, unofficial sites can create fresh risks, including phishing concerns, unclear operator intentions, or uncertainty about whether a given interface is trustworthy. For users already unsettled by an unexplained shutdown, the existence of mirror sites may solve one problem while creating another.
The Hic et nunc situation therefore highlights a recurring tension in Web3 infrastructure: blockchain-based applications can be decentralized at the contract level, but users often remain dependent on centralized or semi-centralized access points. When the official interface disappears, the resilience of on-chain data does not automatically translate into smooth continuity for the end user.
A Major Moment for the Tezos NFT Scene
Hic et nunc had become one of the most recognizable NFT marketplaces on Tezos, especially among artists and collectors drawn to the chain’s comparatively low transaction costs. Its scale—more than $50 million in cumulative sales and tens of thousands of traders—made it more than a niche experiment. It was a visible pillar of Tezos NFT activity.
That is why the platform’s abrupt disappearance resonated beyond its own user base. For the wider NFT sector, the event served as a reminder that even successful marketplaces can face abrupt operational breaks. For the Tezos community specifically, it raised difficult questions about governance, project stewardship, communications, and contingency planning.
The market reaction described in the source was less about confirmed loss of on-chain assets and more about the consequences of poor communication. In crypto, technical decentralization can coexist with very centralized decision-making at the product or founder level. If a key person decides to walk away, the smart contract may remain intact, but the user experience and community confidence can still fracture quickly.
Why the Shutdown Matters
The Hic et nunc shutdown illustrates a broader lesson for NFT marketplaces and blockchain platforms: transparency matters as much as technical architecture. A decentralized contract can preserve ownership records, but users still expect clear guidance when a service changes status, especially when large volumes of assets and creative work are involved.
Without that guidance, narratives rush in to fill the gap—whether those narratives involve hacking, founder disputes, emotional burnout, or more serious accusations. In the absence of verified explanations, speculation can become the dominant force shaping public perception.
For now, the most verifiable facts remain straightforward: Hic et nunc’s main service stopped operating, the platform did not publicly provide a detailed explanation, the project had previously recorded $50.37 million in sales, and its closure triggered confusion, criticism, and debate about how decentralized NFT platforms should function when their front ends disappear.
Ultimately, the episode stands as a reminder that Web3 applications are often only as robust as both their code and their communication strategy. Hic et nunc may have left behind an enduring smart contract footprint on Tezos, but its unexplained shutdown showed how fragile user trust can be when the interface vanishes before the community receives answers.