The File Requirements for NFTs
Why is it so difficult for Web3 creators to store and manage their NFT files? Simple, it’s because we still live in a Web2 world. In this post, we will discuss the 3 major problems with using Web2 file systems for NFTs. Then, we will show you how Pinata solves these problems for NFT files by being purpose-built, secure, and ad-free.
Don’t Use Dropbox for NFT Files
How do you manage your NFT files? You could use something like Dropbox or Google Drive to host and manage the file. There is a whole world of Discord communities sharing Dropbox links with each other. But, is a Dropbox link really the best tool for the job? Probably not.
The NFT space is showcasing a need for a place to store and manage files that isn’t so…Web2?
A Web3 collector doesn’t want their NFT to link them to a Dropbox folder to view their unique content. Nobody wants to be an anonymous armadillo in Google Drive viewing content that they now supposedly own. Of course, you could host your content on your own server like an AWS S3 bucket. But, that requires significantly more technical background than what you want to deal with. And, this is very important to understand, if you as the NFT creator ever stop hosting the file on Dropbox or your server, the link to the content for the NFT collector becomes worthless. The NFT “token” itself will still exist on the blockchain but the file it is supposed to represent won’t be there. This means the URL link embedded in the NFT ends up going nowhere and proves nothing about what was bought. This is antithesis of NFTs!
Your NFT File Isn’t Secure
What about security? How can you as an NFT creator secure your file links in a way that equals the security of the NFT itself?
Today’s Web2 URLs can’t secure anything about what your NFT files are supposed to be. This makes the NFT it is attached to worthless.
Using Web2 methods, your NFT files can easily be swapped out, counterfeited or corrupted without the collector being any wiser. Watch the video above or read conlan.eth’s blog below to learn more about the problem:
Social Media Platforms Don’t Work Either
Today’s content storage and management has been mostly captured by social media platforms. A typical Web2 creator today uploads their content to YouTube, Instagram, etc. This provides Web2 creators with a “free” place to manage their content. However, this comes with a cost. Their followers are forced to watch ads to see the unique content while only earning pennies for each view. Fortunately, Web3 creators like you can now earn income without ads through NFT platforms such as Rarible. Unfortunately, there really isn’t anywhere for you to manage your files in this ad-free world.
A YouTube link with an ad to view your video NFT is not what your collector wants for a Web3 experience.
What you need is a place to store and manage your NFT files without ads. You need a place to manage your videos, images, gifs, and any other file ad-free so your collectors have the best Web3 experience. But, with the domination of social media platforms, this has become much more difficult than it would seem at first glance.
Watch an ad-free video on Pinata:
https://gateway.pinata.cloud/ipfs/QmQPjXTunaCe2Mtv4XhLpk4C27CyNvVpnX7ccxeAR9ea2K
Pinata, the NFT File Manager
Pinata stores and manages content purpose-built, securely, and ad-free for NFT files. We do this by leveraging a complementary NFT technology called IPFS.
- Unlike most file hosting options today, Pinata is purpose-built to store and manage files publicly where Dropbox and Google Drive are not.
- Additionally, Pinata isn’t a social media platform. This means that when you store files with us, we aren’t running ads. This provides a better Web3 experience for all.
- Pinata can handle any file format. This means you can create NFTs of images, video, music and more. You can even create Unity NFTs!
- For creators, Pinata is as simple as moving files around on your computer but better. Files on Pinata can be managed at a global scale without the technical requirements of running your own server.
- Finally, Pinata has the advantage of content-addressability. This allows NFT creators and collectors the ability to prove what the file is unlike with Web2 URLs. You can watch our video “Why NFTs Shouldn’t Use URLs” to learn more about why this is. Another advantage of content-addressability is that it allows the transfer of files between owners which can be read about in our blog, “Who Is Responsible for NFT Data?”. If you want, you can create and check your file’s content-addressable CID below:
Upload Your NFT Files on Pinata Today
Storing and managing NFT files is as easy as signing-up for an account at pinata.cloud and going to the Pinata Upload page. If you need help, check out our blog or reach out to us on slack.
Happy Pinning!
