Minting

Minting

Sovereign Assets • Layer 1s • Payment Networks

on-chain asset creation process

Minting refers to the process of creating a new digital asset on a blockchain, such as a cryptocurrency token or NFT (Non-Fungible Token). When an asset is minted, it becomes part of the blockchain’s permanent ledger and is assigned a unique identifier. In the NFT space, minting marks the moment when digital art or content is turned into a verifiable, tradable asset.

Use Case: An artist uploads their digital artwork to an NFT marketplace on XRPL and clicks “mint.” The platform creates a new XLS-20 token with metadata pointing to the artwork, permanently recording the artist as the original creator and enabling future sales with built-in royalties.

Key Concepts:

• Custom Minting — Programmable minting logic defined by smart contracts
• Smart Contract Token — Assets created through minting on programmable blockchains
• NFT — Non-fungible tokens minted as unique digital assets
• Token Standards Index — Protocols defining how tokens are minted (ERC-20, ERC-721, XLS-20)
• Metadata — Descriptive information attached during the minting process
• Gas Price — Transaction fees paid to mint assets on networks like Ethereum
• Blockchain Ledger — The permanent record where minted assets are stored
• Tokenomics — Economic design including minting schedules and supply caps

Summary: Minting is the foundational process that brings digital assets into existence on a blockchain. Whether creating fungible tokens for DeFi, NFTs for art and collectibles, or stablecoins backed by reserves, minting transforms data into verifiable, ownable, and tradable assets. The rules governing minting—who can mint, how much, and under what conditions—are critical to a token’s economics and trustworthiness.