Image source: Shutterstock
Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) have reshaped the digital landscape, providing artists, creators, and collectors with new ways to engage with art, collectibles, and virtual assets.
However, as the NFT space grows, its infrastructure is being tested. The challenges of transaction congestion, high fees, and scalability issues have become prominent.
These problems are forcing many NFT projects to look beyond their current blockchain environments, considering blockchain migration as a solution.
In this article, we’ll look at why migration is key for NFT projects seeking a more efficient and sustainable future.
Blockchain Comparison: Choosing the Right Platform for NFTs
Each blockchain offers different strengths—some provide higher transaction speeds, others are more cost-effective, and some offer access to larger, more active ecosystems.
Here’s a closer look at the key blockchains involved in NFTs:
| Blockchain | Transaction Speed | Transaction Fees | Ecosystem Size | Consensus Mechanism |
| Ethereum | 12-15 TPS | High (can exceed $100) | Largest NFT market, mature | Proof of Stake (ETH 2.0) |
| Solana | 50,000+ TPS | Low | Growing rapidly, fast adoption | Proof of History (PoH) |
| Polygon | 7,000+ TPS | Low | Strong Ethereum compatibility | Proof of Stake (PoS) |
| Tezos | 40 TPS | Low | Niche, eco-conscious | Liquid Proof of Stake (LPoS) |
| Binance Smart Chain | 100+ TPS | Low | Active but smaller compared to Ethereum | Proof of Staked Authority (PoSA) |
Transaction Speed
The speed at which a blockchain processes transactions plays a critical role in how NFTs are bought, sold, and minted. Ethereum, for example, processes only 12-15 transactions per second (TPS), which is often insufficient during peak demand times. If an NFT collection experiences significant traffic, the Ethereum network can become congested, causing delays that disrupt the user experience.
Solana, on the other hand, can process over 50,000 TPS. This high throughput ensures that transactions happen seamlessly, even during high-demand periods. For NFT projects with large communities or frequent releases, Solana’s speed offers a critical advantage, maintaining efficiency without slowing down due to congestion.
Transaction Fees
On Ethereum, gas fees can fluctuate drastically, and during peak times, they can exceed $100 per transaction. This fee can make smaller projects financially unfeasible, especially for creators who may want to mint or sell NFTs at lower prices.
In contrast, Polygon and Solana are designed to provide a more affordable transaction experience. Polygon, built as a Layer 2 solution for Ethereum, offers transactions for fractions of a cent, while Solana charges even less—sometimes under a penny. These lower fees open the NFT space to a larger and more diverse audience, allowing smaller creators to participate without worrying about transaction costs eroding their profits.
Ecosystem Size and Community Engagement
Ethereum has the largest and most established NFT market, which offers significant liquidity and exposure for projects. However, this size also brings with it congestion and high fees. In contrast, Solana and Polygon are quickly gaining traction, attracting new users thanks to their faster speeds and low-cost transactions.
Solana recorded an unprecedented surge in activity, reaching 11.12 million active addresses. The growth of Solana’s ecosystem makes it an attractive platform for NFT projects looking for fresh audiences and lower barriers to entry. By migrating to these ecosystems, NFT projects can tap into new communities and expand their reach beyond Ethereum’s established user base.
Whale NFT Collection: A Case Study in Blockchain Migration
The Whale NFT collection provides a great example of how migration can benefit an NFT project. Initially launched on the TON blockchain, the collection saw immediate success—20,000 free NFTs were minted within hours, highlighting strong demand from collectors.
The collection was traded on GetGems, the leading NFT marketplace for TON, where it gained significant traction. Within just one year, the collection’s floor price grew sevenfold.
Screenshot from GetGems.io
However, as Whale.io, the team behind the collection, looked ahead, it became clear that the TON blockchain didn’t have the capacity to support further growth. Despite its initial success, TON lacked the scalability and performance necessary to handle the project’s increasing demands.
To address these limitations, Whale NFTs migrated to Solana, a blockchain that provides high scalability and low transaction costs. Solana’s network can process 50,000+ TPS, ensuring that Whale NFTs can continue growing without facing network slowdowns or increasing fees. In addition to scalability, Solana’s fast transaction speeds enabled Whale NFTs to maintain a smooth user experience, even during periods of heavy traffic.
By migrating to Solana, Whale NFTs were able to take advantage of Solana’s growing NFT ecosystem and offer zero gas fees, which was a huge selling point for collectors. The migration opened up new opportunities for Whale NFTs, allowing them to expand their community and market reach while maintaining an optimal user experience.
The Whale NFT migration illustrates how blockchain migration can help NFT projects overcome technical limitations, optimize costs, and tap into new ecosystems, ensuring long-term growth and sustainability.
Other Examples of NFT Migration
The Whale NFT collection is far from the only project that has migrated to a different blockchain. Many NFT projects have made similar moves to enhance scalability, lower costs, or gain access to larger communities. Here are a few other notable examples of NFT migrations:
Aavegotchi: Ethereum to Polygon
Aavegotchi, a DeFi + NFT game, originally launched on Ethereum but faced challenges due to Ethereum’s high gas fees. To lower costs, Aavegotchi migrated to Polygon, which provides faster and cheaper transactions while still being compatible with Ethereum. The migration allowed the platform to remain part of Ethereum’s broader ecosystem while making it more affordable for players, driving greater engagement.
Screenshot from opensea.io
DeGods: Solana to Ethereum
In March 2023, DeGods, one of the most prominent NFT collections on Solana, officially migrated to Ethereum. The decision to make the move was driven by the desire to take advantage of Ethereum’s larger, more established ecosystem and its well-developed NFT marketplace. Ethereum offers greater liquidity, higher-profile collectors, and the ability to tap into a global audience.
By migrating to Ethereum, DeGods aimed to align with other top-tier NFT projects, such as Bored Ape Yacht Club and CryptoPunks, and position itself in one of the largest and most active NFT markets.
Screenshot from opensea.io
The Challenges of NFT Migration
Migrating NFTs from one blockchain to another offers a range of benefits, but it also presents several challenges that need to be addressed. These challenges can affect everything from the technical aspects of the migration to the user experience and security of assets.
1. Technical Complexity
NFT migration requires moving assets, including metadata, ownership history, and smart contract logic, from one blockchain to another. If these elements aren’t transferred correctly, the NFT could lose its value or authenticity. The blockchain the NFT is migrating to may have a different consensus mechanism, smart contract language, or underlying infrastructure. Ensuring compatibility and maintaining data integrity during this process requires careful planning and technical expertise.
2. Security Risks
Migrating NFTs between blockchains introduces security risks, particularly when using cross-chain bridges. These bridges, which enable assets to move between different networks, can be vulnerable to hacking. For instance, in 2021, the Poly Network was hacked, resulting in the theft of over $600 million in assets. The breach exploited vulnerabilities in the bridge’s design.
NFT projects that rely on cross-chain bridges must ensure that the tools they use are secure and have been thoroughly audited. If the migration protocol isn’t properly secured, NFTs could be stolen, lost, or duplicated, putting projects and users at risk.
3. User Experience Disruptions
Migrating NFTs can cause significant disruptions to the user experience. Users who are familiar with a specific blockchain might struggle to adapt to a new platform. Clear communication is essential for guiding users through the migration process. Projects must ensure that users know how to access their assets, use the new blockchain, and understand the benefits of the migration. Without clear instructions, users may feel lost or frustrated, which can hurt a project’s reputation.
4. Community Retention
Migration can also affect the community’s loyalty. Users who have been accustomed to one blockchain may be hesitant to switch, particularly if they don’t fully understand the reasons behind the migration. Projects need to maintain strong communication with their community, explaining the benefits of the migration and addressing any concerns. If the project doesn’t engage with its users effectively, it could risk losing their interest.
The Future of NFTs and Blockchain Interoperability
The future of NFTs lies in the seamless flow between blockchains, where interoperability is not just an option, but a necessity. As NFT projects move away from the constraints of a single blockchain, they will have the ability to expand across ecosystems, ensuring that they can reach a broader audience and tap into various marketplaces.
This shift will enable creators to access the best features of each blockchain—whether it’s speed, low fees, or community engagement—and interact with NFTs in a way that is both flexible and scalable.
Blockchain interoperability will open the doors to a more connected, unified world, where users can access digital assets without the limitations that once held them back.
With blockchain technology continually improving, NFTs will become dynamic, versatile, and able to thrive in a highly interconnected ecosystem, creating a new frontier for innovation and digital ownership.
