Mint Your First NFT on Cardano
Minting an NFT on Cardano is simpler than on most blockchains because tokens are native to the ledger, not smart contracts. You have two paths: a no-code approach using platforms like jpg.store's minting tool, or a code-based approach using Aiken and MeshJS. This guide focuses on the no-code path, which is suitable for most creators.
Two approaches to minting
The no-code approach uses platforms that handle the minting policy, transaction construction, and metadata formatting for you. You upload your artwork, fill in metadata fields, and pay a small service fee. This is the right choice for artists, creators, and anyone who wants to mint without writing code.
The code-based approach gives you full control: you write an Aiken minting policy, define the policy locking slot, construct the minting transaction with MeshJS or Lucid-Evolution, and submit it directly. This is necessary for complex projects with dynamic royalties, multi-asset collections, or CIP-68 features, and is the right choice for developers building NFT protocols.
Preparing your artwork and IPFS
NFT metadata points to an image stored on IPFS (InterPlanetary File System), a decentralized storage network. Unlike a centralized URL, an IPFS link (starting with 'ipfs://') identifies content by its cryptographic hash — if the file changes, the hash changes, ensuring the linked content is immutable.
To upload to IPFS, use a pinning service: NFT.Storage (free for NFTs), Pinata, or web3.storage. Upload your artwork file and copy the resulting IPFS CID (content identifier). Your metadata's image field will be formatted as 'ipfs://<your-CID>'. High-quality PNG or SVG files are the most common formats.
No-code minting with jpg.store
jpg.store provides a creator minting tool accessible from your creator dashboard. Connect your Cardano wallet, navigate to Create Collection, and fill in: collection name, description, and royalty percentage (0-10% is typical; 5% is common for established artists).
Upload your artwork, fill in the NFT name and attributes (traits, properties), confirm the metadata preview, and click Mint. jpg.store constructs the minting transaction, which you confirm in your connected wallet. The minting fee is a small amount of ADA plus the platform's service fee.
After minting, the NFT appears in your wallet immediately. It is now listed on jpg.store for sale or private transfer. The platform automatically enforces the royalty percentage on secondary sales through its smart contracts.
Policy locking for supply guarantees
One of the most important decisions for any NFT collection is whether to lock the minting policy. A locked policy prevents any new tokens from being minted after a specified slot, permanently guaranteeing the collection's supply.
On jpg.store, you can specify a policy lock during collection setup. Choose a lock date that gives you enough time to mint your full intended supply, but not so far in the future that buyers worry about infinite dilution. For a 100-piece collection, a lock date 2-4 weeks after launch is typical.
Key Takeaways
- The no-code path (jpg.store minting tool) is accessible to any creator without programming knowledge.
- Upload artwork to IPFS first (via NFT.Storage or Pinata) to get a permanent, content-addressed link.
- jpg.store enforces royalties on secondary sales automatically through smart contracts.
- Locking your minting policy after the full collection is minted permanently guarantees the supply cap on-chain.
- The code-based path (Aiken + MeshJS) offers full control for complex collections or protocol-level NFT mechanics.