As compared to the past, NFTs have definitely lost a whole lot of luster, but it still continues to retain a huge community of investors and creators. In fact, some of these NFTs can actually cost millions. Typically, everyone likes mining NFTs, but everyone cannot really afford these due to their really high gas fees.
But what if we told you that we could tell you how to mint an NFT LITERALLY for free? While marketplaces will charge you very high expensive gas fees for minting your digital artwork, newer marketplaces are starting to come up accompanied by better and cheaper methods of minting NFTs.
Today, we will check out multiple ways of minting NFTs, and that too for free – stay tuned to find out more.
What Are NFTs?
Before we start talking about how to mint an NFT, let’s discuss what NFTs are – it’s possible you are aware, but it’s always better to recap!
NFTs are non-fungible tokens that are digital assets which are unique and can’t be replicated. This feature makes these NFTs ideal for representing digital creations and artworks. This makes them perfect for representing digital artwork and other creations.
When you are minting NFTs, you are basically generating an entirely unique cryptographic primary pair that can be used for identifying your works. The private key is stored safely with you, and the public key will get stored simply on the Blockchain. This obviously will help you to not just control but manage your work conveniently.
How Long Does It Take To Mint An Nft?
So, how long does it take to mint an NFT? The amount of time needed for minting an NFT can vary depending on the file size that is being uploaded and the platform that is being used. Typically, it might take a few minutes or even several hours for minting a single NFT.
The process usually requires users to simply upload their works of art, set up the complete metadata, and then just wait for their chosen platform to first process and then mint that particular token.
Of course, this process can be made faster since there are platforms that provide priority minting for users, but you might have to pay a small fee for the same.
In addition, the file’s size and the artwork’s complexity can have an impact on the amount of time needed for minting an NFT – for instance, the platform might take a longer time to process a large file.
How To Mint An NFT For Free?
So, how to mint an NFT, and that too, for free?
Blockchains are basically decentralized networks that are not really owned by central authorities. In reality, miners basically maintain the whole Blockchain and mint NFTs for creators, with the help of their own resources and computing powers, earning solid gas fees as incentives in return.
Now you might be wondering – if minting tokens involve certain frees, then possibly how can anyone sell NFT artworks for free?
In fact, to overcome expensive gas fees, you can simply try out lazy minting where an NFT exists right outside the blockchain – these are only minted once the sale goes through. This technically means you will not have to pay the gas fee since those are taken care of by the buyer instead.
Multiple creators of NFTs preferred certain NFT marketplaces to mint non-fungible tokens for free. These platforms are as follows:
- OpenSea, and
- Rarible.
While there’s also a relatively lesser-known platform where you can mint NFTs without paying the gas fees – yes, we are talking about Mintable.
OpenSea:
While you might be excited to find out how to mint an NFT on Solana, trust us, start with minting an NFT for free. It is truly an adventure for all crypto enthusiasts.
The largest marketplace for non-fungible tokens has to be OpenSea – and it’s not just the largest but also the first one, where people can buy as well as sell digital goods simply ‘in the form of asset stored on the blockchain.’ Plus, OpenSea also supports several blockchains, such as Solana, Polygon, and Ethereum, with its prime focus on growing the entire marketplace for buyers, sellers, and creators.
Creating NFTs on the OpenSea platform is free. But selling the same is definitely not free. The marketplace actually charges the sellers two different prices before they can even start selling NFTs on that particular platform.
The 1st fee that is charged while initializing any account is priced between 70 USD and 300 USD. The 2nd fee that is charged is priced between 10 USD and 30 USD – this fee is needed to enable the OpenSea marketplace to access the non-fungible token.
The OpenSea marketplace is perhaps one of the platforms that are most popular amongst NFT traders.
Rarible:
Just like you can mint NFTs on the OpenSea marketplace, you can do the same on another platform called Rarible as well.
Rarible is a platform that happens to be Ethereum-based and facilitates both creating and selling of multiple digital assets on a blockchain. Technically, Rarible is not just a marketplace but also a network that has been built on Ethereum – the platform enables trade between the marketplace and the network.
Rarible comes with its very own token called RARI. RARI is ‘an ERC-20 governance token’ that is known for allowing its owners to propose different improvements for the marketplace.
How do you Mint NFTs for Free on OpenSea?
OpenSea is one of the biggest digital marketplaces for buying and selling NFTs and other crypto collectibles. Most importantly, this platform boasts of having completed more than $20 billion in trading volumes. If you are thinking of creating NFTs for free, then OpenSea is a good place to start. Need help getting started? Try these steps –
1. Create Your MetaMusk Account
If you are going to mint NFTs, you’ll need a wallet. Go to the Metamask.io platform and create your wallet on this platform. It is an Ethereum-based wallet, and it’s pretty easy to set up. All you have to do is head over to the platform and follow the small steps to build your account. The website is pretty easy to use. The fun part is that you can get an extension for your browser.
2. Create an OpenSea Account & Connect to your MetaMask Wallet.
Now, you have to sign up to the platform where you want to sell the NFTs you create. In this case, you want to connect the OpenSea account to the MetaMask wallet.
3. Build your Unique NFT collection
Now that you have some NFTs that you want to sell, it’s important to showcase your collection the right way. How to do that? The necessary and helpful steps are mentioned on the platform . OpenSea outlines the steps for adding information about the collection on the platform. All you have to do is to add details regarding why your NFT collections are unique. These are the details your prospective buyers see when considering buying from you.
4. Choose the Right Blockchain Host
Here’s the trick where you save money while minting or selling your NFTs. Once you are done submitting all the details regarding the NFT collection, it boils down to choosing the right blockchain platform that’ll host your collection. We recommend using the Polygon Network instead of using the Ethereum blockchain. This way, you will avoid paying lots of gas fees while minting your NFTs. In fact, the use of Polygon Network makes the minting process completely gas-free.
5. Start Minting!
Now that you have set up your collection on the right blockchain host, it’s time to start minting your NFTs. How? Just click on the collection option to start minting your digital artworks into NFTs. Next, click on the add items option. This action will generate the initial form, and you can now upload digital art that you want to convert into NFT art. Next, click on the “create” option to sell the NFT arts to your prospective buyer.
You have now completed the minting process. You have minted your NFT on the Polygon Network, thus avoiding paying gas fees. Whenever you want to sell this, all you need to do is click on ‘sell’ and proceed!
How to Mint NFTs for Free on Rarible?
In order to mint NFTs for free on Rarible, follow the steps mentioned below.
- Visit the official website of Rarible and then tap on the ‘Sign In’ button. Then simply connect your crypto wallet account.
- Then you will have to tap on the ‘Create’ button. Now, you will have to select the kind of NFT you will be creating.
- After that, select ‘Single’ or ‘Multiple.’ – Now, if you do opt for creating a whole collection, opt for ‘Multiple.’
- Then you will need to upload the selected image(s) and fill up other details like price, description, and title.
- Your next step will be to select the minting type. In order to enable the Lazy Minting feature, you will need to switch on ‘Free Minting’ on the platform.
- Then tap on ‘Create item’ and complete signing the authorizations to connect with your crypto wallet.
Bonus Tip: create an NFT without paying gas fees!
Blockchain transactions would always require gas fees. It’s essential on most blockchains but not on all of them. That’s why, even if minting NFTs may feel hectic or challenging, it’s possible to create them for free.
That’s why you can use layer 2 solutions such as Polygon to get a lower-cost option for free or cheap NFT minting. But you’ll need a Polygon-compatible wallet. We suggest creating your NFT on Polygon-powered marketplaces such as OpenSea. This way, you’ll enjoy reduced fees compared to what you have to pay on Ethereum-based platforms. But remember that there’s a small initial fee associated with the setup process. But it’s nothing major.
And It’s A Wrap!
So, now you have a fair idea about how to mint an NFt, and that too for free; what are your thoughts? If you are a creator of digital arts, then you must explore the world of non-fungible tokens and at least mint one NFT for free – just to see if NFTs interest you!
In case you find the NFT marketplaces exciting spaces for your artwork, then you should check out some other marketplaces that will charge you gas fees but will definitely give you a solid return. So, feel free to share your thoughts, ideas, and opinions related to minting NFTs for free in the comments below.
