What is minting?

You clicked “mint” on an NFT collection, but what exactly gets created at that moment?

Think of an artist who issues numbered certificates for their works. The image may already exist on their computer, but the certificate is issued separately. In a similar way, minting creates a token with an identifier on the blockchain and records which wallet address it belongs to. Creating the NFT is not the same as creating the image.

On many networks, the process is handled by a smart contract, i.e. code that executes predefined rules. You connect your wallet to the app, approve the transaction and, once it is confirmed, the new token is recorded on the network. Depending on the app, there may be a minting cost and a network fee, known as gas.

The term isn’t limited to NFTs. Minting also happens when new units of a token, such as a stablecoin, are issued according to the system’s rules. It is not the same as mining, which refers to a different process for running and securing certain blockchains.

Why it matters

When you mint an NFT, you take part in its initial issuance instead of buying an existing one from another holder. That affects the process, the fees and what you need to check before you sign.

For other tokens, we pay particular attention to who has the right to create new units and whether there is a cap. If the contract allows additional issuance, the total supply can grow. We find this information more useful than a flashy countdown timer to the next mint.

What to watch out for

Owning an NFT doesn’t automatically transfer the copyright of the work to you. Also, the file is often stored off-chain and the token points to it. So you need to tell apart what is recorded on the network from what is hosted elsewhere.

A “free mint” can still carry network fees. A fake mint page can also request dangerous approvals from your wallet. Check the page’s address and exactly what you are signing; connecting a wallet and approving a transaction are not the same thing.