Cryptocurrencies and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) have skyrocketed in popularity over the last few years, but there is one problem: the gas costs and transaction fees associated with creating and trading them have grown, too. That’s why more users are exploring Layer 2 solutions to address the ever-growing problem of upfront costs.
Polygon is one such solution that harnesses blockchain technology while also administering transactions off-chain, which makes them faster and a little bit cheaper. As a result, more users have been bringing their static and dynamic NFTs to Polygon. But how do you do that?
Read on to find out more about creating dynamic NFTs on Polygon.
What Is Polygon?
Polygon (or Matic Network to veterans of the crypto scene) can be simply described as a popular blockchain for NFTs and crypto trading. However, in reality it’s a “scaling framework” that creates an ecosystem by connecting other Layer-2 solutions like ZK-Rollups and Plasma. As a result, the Matic / Polygon application framework helps newer crypto projects quickly implement their own scaling solutions.
But what sets Polygon apart from other popular marketplaces is its compatibility with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), which greatly improves user experience by fortifying security during blockchain transactions. This keeps your crypto wallet private and secure throughout the process. EVM compatibility also means that you can work with your MetaMask wallet.
Additionally, Matic / Polygon is extraordinarily flexible and can be used to build up even the most advanced sample project quickly.
These two standout features come together and provide quick, secure transactions with Ethereum-based currencies, making it a popular blockchain for NFTs. Users are also fully aware of the actual costs of minting and trading their digital items and currencies, which are usually cheaper when compared to other marketplaces.
Building With Polygon
Compiling a project directory of completed programs using Polygon would result in a wide variety of applications. That’s because of the flexibility we mentioned earlier.
Many NFT-based online games have used Polygon’s source code and Chainlink Verifiable Random Function (VRF) to create a more random and interactive experience. However, Polygon’s building capabilities don’t end with randomness.
Instead, developers can build dynamic dApps that use secure oracles to fetch certain kinds of data. This newly fetched data is then fed into their programs or NFTs, which triggers a change based on predetermined conditions in the configuration files.
Here’s a concrete example: let’s say you build an NFT that features a gif of a landscape, but you want the sky to change with the weather and time. Building this NFT on Polygon can help you do that by feeding off-chain data in from the Chainlink. The product of this kind of secure changeability results in something called a dynamic NFT.
Why Are Dynamic NFTs Important?
As we know, Non-Fungible Token (NFTs) exist as a sort of unique verifiable representation of ownership. This can be over everything from digital art to shares in an organization. That said, it’s important to note that one of the main tenets of NFTs is that they are immutable, which means you can’t manipulate it after the blockchain transaction has been processed – but dynamic NFTs operate a little differently.
Using secure oracles that are designed to be decentralized and verifiable, dynamic NFTs can pull off-chain information that reflects in real-time. This can be an interesting way to build trading cards that automatically update with player stats, or even send smart contracts for business purposes. It can also provide a new layer of interactivity and novelty for NFT games, which can pull more players in over time.
That said, what is so important about dynamic NFTs? To keep things short, they bring the decentralized yet totally transparent and verifiable nature of NFTs and make them more interactive. This opens them up to more use cases outside of collection and trading, which may possibly impact large industries as the technology continues to develop.
Dynamic NFTs are directly in contrast with static NFTs, which is usually what people think of. However, this just goes to show that the technology behind crypto and NFTs is still in its infancy, and there’s still much more space for innovation and growth.
If you want to learn to make your own NFT, check out our guide on creating NFTs or check out our service pages to see how we can help you turn your advanced sample project into a fully-fledged platform.
How To Create NFTs And Upload To Polygon
Creating and listing an NFT is usually fairly simple, but working with a Layer-2 solution like Polygon means you’ll need some programming knowledge to pull it off. That said, we won’t be going into the nitty gritty details of the coding side of things since there are plenty of online resources that outline the process.
1. Setting Up Polygon
Before you can make your dNFT, you’ll need to make a few preparations to ensure everything goes smoothly. First, you’ll need to use a crypto wallet that supports Polygon, like MetaMask. Then, you’ll need to select a tool to handle your project’s configuration and deployment. Hardhat and Truffle are two of the most popular options for this NFT Marketplace.
Once you’ve configured your program, acquire some MATIC tokens from the Mumbai test net by inputting your wallet address.
2. The Contract
NFT smart contracts are bits of code that allow an ecosystem or network to store information in an easily-accessible and immutable way. In order to create an NFT on Polygon, you’ll have to write one yourself. Luckily, there are plenty of programs available online to simplify the process.
That said, we recommend using Open Zeppelin to write your smart contract. The process of integrating Open Zeppelin into your existing project is fairly easy. All you’ll need to do is direct your in-progress app to Open Zeppelin in the project directory.
We recommend referring to Open Zeppelin’s documentation for more information on how to achieve your intended outcome. The program still receives constant updates, so input commands and syntax may change over time.
3. Testing The Contract
Once your contract is written and ready to go, you’ll want to test it against a simulation of the blockchain for NFTs plus the deployment process. Hardhat has a built-in memory network that provides the testing parameters, which simplifies this step.
4. Creating The NFT
Once you’ve gotten your basic project up and running, you’ll need to create your NFT’s asset. This can be a static image, a gif, a video, or even a 3D model. Whichever you choose, you’ll need to upload your visual asset and its corresponding metadata onto the IPFS network.
Doing this will give you an IPFS CID, which you’ll need during the minting process. Uploading your asset to the IPFS network means that the address will always come back to the original image regardless of which blockchain it lives on.
5. Uploading To Polygon
After you’ve created your assets and ironed out the code behind your NFT, you’re ready to “upload” your creation onto Polygon. However, the process is less akin to the regular “uploading” we’re used to, and closer to “bridging” your code between Polygon’s servers and the blockchain.
Doing this is fairly straightforward, and the Polygon website contains thorough documentation about the process.
6. Minting
When building an NFT without a user interface like a web app, you’ll need to mint it from within the code. In order to do this, you’ll have to inject specific minting scripts into your existing code. If everything goes well, the newly minted NFT will be sent straight to your wallet address. This minting method is near instantaneous and has barely any upfront costs.
Crypto Wallets Accepted On Polygon
Polygon supports a wide range of crypto wallets on its platform. However, some wallets are more secure than others. Here are some of the best options available for people looking to get into working on Polygon:
- Coinbase wallet
- AlphaWallet
- Trezor
- Atomic wallet
- Trust wallet
- MyEther wallet
Key Takeaways
Creating a dynamic NFT on Polygon can feel like a complicated process if you have no programming knowledge, but luckily there’s a wealth of online resources that break down and explain code.
However, not everyone has the time or the technical know-how to get their NFT collection up and running. So if you need an all-in-one service that can help you launch your collection, Tokenfy has everything you need.
Create NFTs with Tokenfy
No Coding Required.
Creating An NFT On Polygon | FAQs
How do I create and sell NFTs on Polygon?
Creating an NFT requires a digital asset, which can be created with almost any art or design-related software. You’ll need to upload each of your NFTs to a collection and mint them before they’re ready to sell.
What is NFT minting?
The term “minting” refers to the process of publishing your token onto the blockchain. This turns your digital file into an NFT, which can then be sold and traded with other collectors.
How much does it cost to create an NFT?
The costs of creating an NFT can vary depending on the project, its complexity, and whether or not you get other people involved. Some NFT creators make the assets and write the code themselves, which keeps costs down. But even then, creating your NFT means you’ll have to pay “gas fees” for minting. However, some people choose the lazy minting option to save on upfront costs.
