Polkadot’s NFT Future: A First Look at Cross-Chain NFT Transfers in a Live Demo

Polkadot’s NFT Future: A First Look at Cross-Chain NFT Transfers in a Live Demo

NFT XCM (Cross-Chain NFTs) on Polkadot have come a long way since their initial discussion in 2023. Now, we’re excited to unveil the first live demo of Cross-Chain NFTs in this proof-of-concept (PoC), showcasing how NFTs can be transferred seamlessly between parachains using XCM and the latest testing feedback from Polkadot community members! Try out the demo below:

Test the Demo

Experience NFT Transfers First-Hand

About the demo

After a year and a half in development, countless discussions, proof of concepts, and many lines of code later, we officially have a live demo and a first look at Cross-Chain NFT transfers in action!

This live demo successfully showcases how NFTs and digital assets can be seamlessly transferred between Polkadot parachains/roll-ups using XCM.

This includes:

  • Cross-Chain Transfers: Real-world examples of NFT transfers between Unique and Polkadot’s Asset Hub.
  • First-of-its-kind simple and user-friendly UI implementation of XCM for NFTs.
  • Easy to use process: All you need is the Polkadot.JS extension. No other special set-up, knowledge, or skills are needed.

Our Polkadot valued community members, Paul from Polkadotters, and Alex from PromoTeam, shared their feedback as they experienced Cross-Chain NFTs in the live demo. Check it out below:

Test the Demo

Whether you're a Polkadot developer exploring cross-chain solutions, a supporter of the NFT XCM proposal eager for updates, or a project team looking to tap into XCM capabilities, this is for you.

Key Developer Benefits

This demo is a valuable opportunity and resource for developers in the ecosystem who are interested in cross-chain NFT solutions and are looking to enhance their NFT development journey.

Here’s what this means for you:

  1. Simplified Cross-Chain Transfers: Demonstrates how to handle cross-chain NFT transfers between Polkadot parachains using XCM. Provides clear guidance on packaging and unpackaging assets for secure and trustless transfers.
  2. Automated Fee Calculation: Includes smart tools to calculate the exact fees required for XCM transactions, reducing guesswork. Helps developers optimize resource allocation by knowing transaction costs upfront.
  3. Modular and Extensible Code: Offers reusable components and logic for integrating XCM functionality into other projects. Serves as a baseline for building more advanced cross-chain applications.
  4. Enhanced User Experience: It provides an interface to simplify understanding and usage, making it easier for both developers and end-users.

Explore the NFT XCM Demo

The future of Cross-Chain NFTs starts here! Explore for the first time the NFT XCM demo in a live environment, and experience what’s been built for the community.

High-level overview guide:

  1. Make sure you have the Polkadot.js extension installed and enabled.
  2. Get ‘Demo tokens’ to pay fees in one click.
  3. Create some NFTs on Unique or on Asset Hub.
  4. Create an NFT collection representation on the other chain (“derivative collection”).
  5. Explore your fee options: You can pay in different currencies for different parachains.
  6. Last but not least, initiate your XCM-based NFT transfer!

For a full developer walkthrough, check out our ‘How It Works’ guide:

Demo Guide

Note: This is a demonstration application, and both the app and the networks it interacts with are running in a test environment. Some instabilities in performance or functionality may occur.

NFT XCM Demo application

NFT XCM Campaign: Show us Your Idea Hunt!

It’s time to put your skills to the test and test your NFT XCM transfers!

A campaign is coming very soon! Stay tuned to our social media for more information. We’ll share insights and special rewards for you, including minting and transferring NFTs!

Feedback, Questions & Improvements

We’re actively seeking your feedback and improvements! Share your thoughts with us, and we’ll get back to you!

The team behind NFT XCM is currently prioritizing external requests and needs that align with the broader ecosystem goals.

What is NFT XCM? A Quick Recap

XCM, Polkadot’s Cross-Consensus Messaging, enhances interoperability by connecting parachains and projects alike, giving them and users the best user experience when transferring assets and/or tokens.

However, this was only available for Fungible Tokens (FTs), e.g., transferring tokens, but not unique assets; thus, it was not possible to transfer NFTs between projects and parachains on Polkadot.

NFT XCM is an initiative developed and led by the Unique Network team, designed to simplify the transfer of NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) across Polkadot parachains and projects that will unleash the capabilities for the next generation of Web3.

The outline of this work and scope aims to fulfill Gavin Wood’s interoperability dream and develop what we know today as NFT XCM.

The NFT XCM Educational Series

Looking for something more technical and want to dive deeper into the world of NFT XCM? Learn more in our educational series, where we give exclusive development insights, learnings, progress updates, and milestone achievements – a hub for all things NFT XCM:

Join the NFTMozaic Ecosystem!

If you’re a team, project owner, or community member, join the NFTMozaic ecosystem! Get involved with respective teams (e.g, Marketing, Governance, Technical, or BD) and connect with other Polkadot ecosystem agents!

Get Involved!

We’re seeking your unique stories! Developed something outstanding? Have a use case to share? Share with us your latest innovations, creations, and your projects to get featured on the NFTMozaic case study page:

Submit Case Study

Stay Up To Date

Follow us to get all the latest information, and join us as we shape the future of NFTs on Polkadot: