Ethereum was the pioneering blockchain to introduce smart contracts and NFTs. As such, it has always been the leader in these markets, despite temporary limitations to its throughput. While the NFT boom has waned in recent years, it is still a prolific market, with millions of dollars traded weekly.
In the last 30 days, NFT sales on Ethereum amounted to $192 million. In December, though, a new collection called Pudgy Penguins boosted the weekly trading volume to $186 million. As of March 2025, Pudgy Penguins is the third most traded collection on Ethereum.
If you want to create and sell your digital art, Ethereum is the obvious choice.
What Are NFTs and Why Use Ethereum in 2025?
NFT stands for non-fungible token. At the most basic level, NFTs represent tokens that aren’t mutually interchangeable. While every ETH token is worth the same, non-fungible tokens have different values.
Since they have distinctive features and prices, they can be used to represent unique items, from digital art to video game objects. Recently, NFTs have also been used to tokenize real-world assets, creating digital property certificates.
Ethereum is the most used blockchain to mint NFTs for various reasons. Since Ethereum was the first to introduce this feature, most people associate NFTs with Ethereum. Beyond that, Ethereum is also a secure and decentralized network. While some competitors offer faster transaction times, it comes at the expense of centralization or security issues.
That’s why many artists and investors choose to buy Ethereum with PayPal or any other payment method and join NFT marketplaces in this network.
How to Create Your First NFT
Blockchain may seem like a complicated technology, but minting and selling an NFT is actually pretty easy because most platforms automate the process. However, it can be daunting to select the right platform, set up all the metadata, and put them for sale. To help you navigate through it, we’ll cover the steps needed to create your first non-fungible token.
The first thing you need to do is to buy Ethereum, because you’ll need it to pay for gas fees. The tokens should be stored in a wallet that connects to the Web3 ecosystem.
1. Choosing the Right NFT Marketplace
It’s important to choose the right marketplace to mint and sell your NFT. This depends on the type of art you’re going to sell, as different marketplaces support different formats.
The leading NFT marketplace is OpenSea. It was the first platform of this kind, launching in 2017, following the trend of CryptoKitties NFT. It has a higher trading volume than any other NFT marketplace, and it’s also more versatile.
In OpenSea, you can find different kinds of art, from photography to gaming, and even music. However, it charges a 10% minting fee on primary drops and a 0.5% fee on secondary sales.
The second most-used NFT marketplace is Blur, which doesn’t charge any trading fees. Users only have to pay the gas fee to process transactions. It focuses on digital art and caters to professional artists.
Another option is Magic Eden. An advantage point for this marketplace is its support for other blockchains, including Bitcoin. OpenSea and Blur, on the other hand, focus on Ethereum and EVM-compatible chains.
Magic Eden also features no listing and minting fees but has a 2% transaction fee. Besides digital art, you can also purchase Bitcoin domain names.
2. Minting Your NFT on Ethereum
Once you select the marketplace that suits you best, you must set up a Web3 wallet. MetaMask is a great option for Ethereum and EVM-compatible chains. It operates as a browser extension, making the connection process easier. But you can also use hardware wallets like Ledger that connect to Web3 apps with a higher focus on security.
Then, you’ll need to fund the wallet with ETH, which you need to cover the gas fee. In case you choose a marketplace that charges fees for minting, you’ll need ETH to pay for that as well (for ETH-based marketplaces). The platform website will ask you to connect your wallet, which works as a login. Then, you’ll have to click on the “Create” button.
This will open a new window where you’ll load your art and set up the name and other metadata.
3. Setting Up Royalties and Selling Options
Besides the data related to the piece of art itself, it’s important to set up the details regarding royalties and the type of sale. With royalties, for every time the piece is resold, you’ll get a percentage, and you can set how much you’ll charge for that. This allows you to keep making a passive income after the NFT is sold.
Regarding selling options, there are different alternatives. You can set a fixed price, that buyers must pay to get the item. Or you can put it up for auction, where you determine a starting price and buyers bid on it. Auctions can be timed or unlimited.
How to Secure Your Ethereum NFTs and Avoid Scams
As in any market, there are scammers and malicious actors in the NFT ecosystem. This is how to protect your assets:
- Use a secure wallet: There are many Web3 wallets you can use to connect to a marketplace. It’s important to choose a reputable one, like MetaMask or Ledger. You should also take good care of your private keys, as they can give access to your funds.
- Use renowned marketplaces. Similarly, verify the authenticity of the marketplace and only go for established options. Keep in mind that this platform will connect to your wallet, so a security breach can expose your funds and items to attackers.
- Avoid phishing scams. There are plenty of attackers trying to steal NFTs and tokens. Double-check the URL of the website before connecting your wallet, and distrust any suspicious email or social media communication.
Will Ethereum Still Dominate the NFT Market in 2025?
Ethereum is the leading blockchain for trading NFTs. In recent years, developers have been introducing upgrades to make the chain more scalable and efficient, lowering transaction fees and processing times. Ethereum investments are also on the rise, and the token is well established as the second most-valued coin by market capitalization.
With that in mind, it’s safe to say that the NFT ecosystem will continue to revolve around Ethereum in 2025 and in years to come.
