Introduction

So you want to get started with Solana NFTs, huh? While Ethereum NFTs were all the rage in years’ past, Solana NFTs have gained quite a bit of traction. In fact, they are now rivaling them in daily transaction volume.

It might be time to get that ETH off of Metamask and onto Phantom wallet, so you can start buying and selling Solana NFTs instead of Ethereum ones!

In this quick guide, I will teach you how to do exactly that. I’ll walk you through the process of transferring assets from a MetaMask wallet to a Phantom wallet.

Understanding MetaMask and Phantom Wallet

First off, it’s important to understand that MetaMask and Phantom Wallet operate on different blockchains – MetaMask on Ethereum and Phantom on Solana respectively. For that reason, don’t try to transfer your Ethereum straight into your Solana wallet, you’ll lose it forever! I repeat DO NOT transfer from Metamask and try to send to your Phantom wallet.

This guide will show you how to transition between these two wallets to make sure you convert the crypto over, without losing any other assets.

Step 1: Setting Up Your MetaMask Wallet

If you’re like me and are already into NFTs, then odds are you are setup with an Ethereum wallet, probably Metamask. If you don't already have a MetaMask wallet, follow this tutorial to create one. Once set up, ensure you have Ethereum assets ready for transfer.

Step 2: Sending Ethereum from MetaMask to Coinbase

In order to start with Solana NFTs, you must take your Ethereum and convert it into Solana. Makes sense, right?

To do this, you have to use an exchange. I use Coinbase, so I will teach how you would do it through that.

Simply navigate to your MetaMask wallet and initiate a transaction to send Ethereum to your Coinbase wallet. Copy your Coinbase Ethereum wallet address and paste it into the MetaMask send field. Double-check the address before confirming the transaction. Make especially sure you are copying the Ethereum address ONLY. You don’t want to accidentally be sending to any other wallet in Coinbase. As mentioned before, this will result in you losing all your Ethereum which we definitely don’t want!

Step 3: Converting Ethereum to Solana on Coinbase

It can take a few minutes for your Ethereum to show up on Coinbase. I can confirm that these are the longest few minutes of your life. Trust me, if you copied the address probably, it’ll show up there eventually.

Once the Ethereum transfer is complete, log in to Coinbase and convert your Ethereum to Solana in their exchange. To do this , navigate to the Ethereum wallet, select "convert," and flip it to Solana. Specify the amount you wish to convert and proceed with the transaction. Again, it will take a few minutes for it to properly update and be ready for the next transaction.

Step 4: Creating Your Solana Phantom Wallet

You are in the home stretch. Now you’ll want to create a Solana wallet. I prefer to use Phantom wallet, which is why I’ve used them as the example here. You can download one and create it here.

For more details, here is the tutorial on Phantom wallet.

Step 5: Transferring Solana from Coinbase to Phantom Wallet

You now have your Solana ready in an exchange, and your Solana wallet setup. It’s now for the final step!

Copy your Phantom wallet address and paste it into the recipient field on Coinbase. Initiate the transfer of Solana assets from Coinbase to your Phantom wallet. Again, just like you did with Ethereum, verify the address you’ve copied is the Solana address ONLY. When you’ve verified you’re sending your Solana tokens to your Solana wallet, click to complete the transaction.

Boom. You’re now ready to start trading Solana NFTs! Congratulations!

FAQs

Are Metamask and Phantom safe to use for transferring NFTs?

Metamask and Phantom are both good wallets that focus on keeping your digital assets safe. But remember, it's very important to use strong passwords and write down your seed phrase to protect your NFTs. For more tips on wallet security, see my guide here.

How long does it take to transfer NFTs with Metamask and Phantom?

It shouldn't take more than a few minutes for each transaction (depending on the network). In general, transactions on the Ethereum blockchain with Metamask can take several minutes to be confirmed, while transactions on the Solana blockchain with Phantom wallet are typically faster and can be confirmed in seconds.

That is, if Solana is up when you try to do all this! 😜