What Is Minting?
Minting is the process of creating a new cryptocurrency token or NFT and writing it onto the blockchain for the first time. The term borrows from minting physical coins — but here, a smart contract brings the digital asset into existence and records its ownership on-chain.
For NFTs, minting is how a creator publishes a digital item (art, collectible, etc.) so it can be owned and traded. For tokens, minting refers to creating new units of supply.
How Does Minting Work?
A smart contract defines the rules for the token or NFT.
A user or creator triggers the mint function (often by paying a fee).
The network validates the transaction.
The new token or NFT is created and assigned to the minter's wallet address.
Ownership is permanently recorded on the blockchain.
Minting NFTs vs Minting Tokens
| Aspect | NFT Minting | Token Minting |
|---|---|---|
| What's created | A unique, one-of-a-kind item | Fungible, interchangeable units |
| Standard | ERC-721 / ERC-1155 | ERC-20 / BEP-20 / etc. |
| Common use | Art, collectibles, access | Currency, governance, supply |
| Cost | Mint price + gas | Gas (and protocol rules) |
What Are Gas Fees When Minting?
Minting requires a blockchain transaction, so you pay a gas fee in the network's native coin (e.g. ETH on Ethereum). For popular NFT mints, gas can spike due to high demand. Some platforms also use "lazy minting," where the item is only fully minted on-chain at the moment of first sale to reduce upfront costs.
Things to Consider Before Minting
Confirm the project and contract are legitimate before minting.
Check the total cost (mint price plus gas).
Understand what rights minting grants you.
Be cautious of fake mint sites — a common phishing vector.
Minting and Trust Wallet
Trust Wallet lets you connect to NFT marketplaces and dApps through its in-app dApp browser and WalletConnect, so you can mint NFTs and interact with projects across supported chains. As a non-custodial wallet on 100+ blockchains, any minted asset goes straight to your wallet under your own keys — just be sure to verify the mint site and contract first, and keep enough of the native coin for gas.
