NFTs (non-fungible tokens) are a relatively new phenomenon in today’s digital world that allows the use of blockchain to sell and purchase digital assets. However, for most individuals, the whole process of minting NFT or creating NFTs is still obscure. This guide will help if you’re an artist eager to tokenize your art piece or a business considering hiring NFT development services.

What is an NFT?

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An NFT, or non-fungible token, is a digital asset based on a blockchain, often associated with digital arts, music, videos, and virtual real estate. Unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum, or any other type of cryptocurrency where individuals can swap one for the other, NFTs are one of a kind and cannot be exchanged. This makes them suitable for preparing statements of ownership of special assets.
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NFTs are based on blockchain, which means every token is unique and safe from forgery. Ownership and transfers, as well as the history of ownership, can be traced, which makes NFTs especially popular in the context of digital assets, including art. Today, NFTs have gone beyond art and are currently in games, virtual worlds, real estate, and virtually everything and are advancing fast.

What does it mean to “mint” an NFT?

NFT creation is when an individual turns any digital asset, such as images, music, and videos into a token on the blockchain. When you mint NFT, you are creating an entry on a blockchain network, and it cannot be altered, which acts as proof of ownership.
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An NFT represents a digital asset that is secured through metadata, including its creator, creation date, and a serial number. After it is created, this NFT can be sold, bought, exchanged, or remain as part of a digital asset gallery.

Steps to Mint an NFT

Here is a step-by-step guide to consider if you are willing to get into minting NFTs. Every single step is important to make the process as seamless as possible, from creating your asset to selecting the platform and the blockchain.
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Step 1: Create a Digital Asset
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The first process in the NFT minting process is to manufacture a digital asset. This could be anything from a piece of digital art to a song, a video, a game item, etc. The asset you develop will later be turned into an NFT token via tokenization. It should be remembered that once an asset has been minted, it cannot be copied or changed.
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Step 2: Select a Blockchain
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Next, you will have to decide on the blockchain where your NFT will be stored or, in other words, on which platform it will be minted. The most popular blockchain for NFTs is Ethereum, and other available options include Binance Smart Chain, Solana, and Tezos. The blockchain of your choice will define the cost of minting and the market type for your NFT.
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There are some criteria to consider when choosing a blockchain: the gas fees (transaction costs), the speed of the transactions, and the extent to which the blockchain is used. Some of the NFT minting services assist their clients in choosing the best blockchain depending on the client’s requirements.
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Step 3: Set Up a Digital Wallet
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To mint an NFT, you first need a digital wallet. This wallet will be used for the cryptocurrency you will use to pay for the minting process as well as to store your created NFTs. Some of the popular wallets are MetaMask, Trust Wallet, and Coinbase Wallet.
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Ensure to choose a strong password for your wallet and that you save your recovery phrase. Without this phrase, one can lock himself out of the wallet and all the NFTs that he owns or has bought.
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Step 4: Acquire Cryptocurrency
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To pay for the minting, one requires cryptocurrency, especially Ether (ETH), if using the Ethereum network. Cryptocurrency can be purchased from exchanges such as Coinbase, Binance, or Kraken.
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After you have bought the right cryptocurrency, transfer it to your digital wallet. When exchanging, buying, and selling NFTs, this factor therefore calls for special consideration since the gas fees that are associated with these practices are dependent on network traffic.
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Step 5: Choose an NFT Marketplace
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After you have created your digital asset, blockchain, and cryptocurrency, you are ready to decide which NFT marketplace you will use to mint NFT. The platforms that hold the most popular NFTs include OpenSea, Rarible, and Foundation. These are the marketplaces where users can list, mint, and sell the NFTs.
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There are some differences in the minting fees and capabilities of the marketplace, so choose the one that will suit you. Some platforms, in fact, enable you to create your NFTs for free, and the buyer pays the gas fees.
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Step 6: Creation of NFT
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When you determine which marketplace to use, from here you can go ahead and mint your NFT. Input your digital asset into the platform, set its metadata, including name, description, and royalty, and decide whether to issue the asset as a single or multiple copy.
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Once your NFT has been minted, it will show up in your wallet and is ready for listing and selling.

What is the difference between minting and selling an NFT?

NFT creation and their sale are two distinct processes. A process of creating and registering an asset on the blockchain forms the process of minting an NFT. Such a process makes the asset genuine and assigns it a serial number; hence it is easily trackable and secure.
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On the other hand, selling an NFT takes place after the process of minting. When an NFT is created or ‘minted,’ the same can be advertised for sale on the various NFT platforms. Sale, according to the current literature, is best described as the act of passing on ownership of the NFT to possession by a third party in consideration of cryptocurrency. At times, an NFT item is put up for sale through an auction, which means that people can bid for the asset.
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Overall, minting can be described as the starting process of creating the NFT, while selling can be explained as the process of offering an NFT for sale.

How much does NFT minting cost?

The price of minting an NFT depends on the blockchain you will be using and the platform of your choice. Minting on Ethereum costs from $30 to more than $100 because of the gas fees that depend on the network load. Some other blockchains, such as Binance Smart Chain or Solana are comparatively cheaper.
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Most NFT marketplaces also provide 'lazy minting,' whereby a creator can create an NFT without paying a fee and have the ability to pay later. However, the cost of the gas is borne by the buyer at the time of purchase of the products. This can be useful in cutting costs on services from other developers, but it reduces the creator's control over the final price.
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The most significant expenses you should consider when creating an NFT are listing fees and marketplace commissions.

Takeaway

Digitization of assets has undergone a big change in the creation, management, and selling of NFTs. By following the above-mentioned steps, you will be able to mint an NFT and start your journey by owning a digital asset. Even as simple as selecting the right blockchain that will define the future of your NFT or the marketplace to list the NFTs on affects its destiny. Often, people interested in this rapidly growing market can significantly simplify the entire process by using professional NFT minting services.
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At Webmob Software, we are a leading NFT development company that offers end-to-end NFT development services. Whether you are an artist dreaming of earning money from your art or a company that wants to enter the NFT market, we are here to help turn your vision into reality.
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Contact us today and let our professionals help you get started with creating your own custom digital assets!