---
title: Deploy an ERC-721 Using Hardhat
description: Learn how to deploy an ERC-721 NFT contract to Polkadot Hub using Hardhat, a comprehensive development environment with built-in deployment capabilities.
categories: Basics, Smart Contracts
url: https://docs.polkadot.com/smart-contracts/cookbook/smart-contracts/deploy-nft/nft-hardhat/
word_count: 976
token_estimate: 1826
version_hash: sha256:5666c0d2d4f4345b53916c1a15640093a1b98531348ad783f524bec1bcfc290d
last_updated: 2026-06-29T16:08:22+00:00
---

# Deploy an ERC-721 Using Hardhat

## Introduction

Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) represent unique digital assets commonly used for digital art, collectibles, gaming, and identity verification.

This guide demonstrates how to deploy an [ERC-721](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-721) NFT contract to [Polkadot Hub](/smart-contracts/overview/#smart-contract-development) TestNet. You'll use OpenZeppelin's battle-tested [NFT implementation](https://github.com/OpenZeppelin/openzeppelin-contracts) and [Hardhat](https://hardhat.org/docs/getting-started), a comprehensive development environment with built-in testing, debugging, and deployment capabilities. You can generate a custom NFT contract with the [OpenZeppelin Contracts Wizard for Polkadot](https://wizard.openzeppelin.com/polkadot), then use it in this Hardhat workflow. Hardhat uses standard Solidity compilation to generate EVM bytecode, making it fully compatible with Polkadot Hub's EVM environment.

## Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following:

- A basic understanding of [Solidity](https://www.soliditylang.org/) programming and [ERC-721](https://ethereum.org/developers/docs/standards/tokens/erc-721/) non-fungible tokens.
- [Node.js](https://nodejs.org/en/download) v22.13.1 or later installed.
- Test tokens for gas fees, available from the [Polkadot faucet](https://faucet.polkadot.io/). See [Get Test Tokens](/smart-contracts/faucet/#get-test-tokens) for a guide to using the faucet.
- A wallet with a private key for signing transactions.

## Set Up Your Project

1. Use the following terminal commands to create a directory and initialize your Hardhat project inside of it:

    ```bash
    mkdir hardhat-nft-deployment
    cd hardhat-nft-deployment
    npx hardhat@^2.27.0 init
    ```

2. Install the OpenZeppelin contract dependencies using the command:

    ```bash
    npm install @openzeppelin/contracts
    ```

## Configure Hardhat

Open `hardhat.config.ts` and update to add `polkadotTestnet` to the `networks` configuration as highlighted in the following example code:

```typescript title="hardhat.config.ts" hl_lines='18-23'
import type { HardhatUserConfig } from 'hardhat/config';

import hardhatToolboxViemPlugin from '@nomicfoundation/hardhat-toolbox-viem';
import { vars } from 'hardhat/config';

const config: HardhatUserConfig = {
  plugins: [hardhatToolboxViemPlugin],
  solidity: {
    version: '0.8.28',
    settings: {
      optimizer: {
        enabled: true,
        runs: 200,
      },
    },
  },
  networks: {
    polkadotTestnet: {
      url: 'https://services.polkadothub-rpc.com/testnet',
      chainId: 420420417,
      accounts: [vars.get('PRIVATE_KEY')],
    },
  },
};

export default config;
```

!!! tip
    Visit the Hardhat [Configuration variables](https://v2.hardhat.org/hardhat-runner/docs/guides/configuration-variables) documentation to learn how to use Hardhat to handle your private keys securely.

## Create the Contract

Follow these steps to create your smart contract:

1. Delete the default contract file(s) in the `contracts` directory.

2. Create a new file named `MyNFT.sol` inside the `contracts` directory.

3. Add the following code to create the `MyNFT.sol` smart contract:
    ```solidity title="contracts/MyNFT.sol"
    // SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
    pragma solidity ^0.8.20;
    
    import "@openzeppelin/contracts/token/ERC721/ERC721.sol";
    import "@openzeppelin/contracts/access/Ownable.sol";
    
    contract MyNFT is ERC721, Ownable {
        uint256 private _nextTokenId;
    
        constructor(
            address initialOwner
        ) ERC721("MyToken", "MTK") Ownable(initialOwner) {}
    
        function safeMint(address to) public onlyOwner {
            uint256 tokenId = _nextTokenId++;
            _safeMint(to, tokenId);
        }
    }
    
    ```

## Compile the Contract

Compile your `MyNFT.sol` contract using the following command:

```bash
npx hardhat compile
```

You will see a message in the terminal confirming the contract was successfully compiled, similar to the following:

<div id="termynal" data-termynal>
  <span data-ty="input"><span class="file-path"></span>npx hardhat compile</span>
  <span data-ty>Downloading solc 0.8.28</span>
  <span data-ty>Downloading solc 0.8.28 (WASM build)</span>
  <span data-ty>Compiled 1 Solidity file with solc 0.8.28 (evm target: cancun)</span>
  <span data-ty="input"><span class="file-path"></span></span>
</div>

## Deploy the Contract

You are now ready to deploy the contract to your chosen network. This example demonstrates deployment to the Polkadot TestNet. Deploy the contract as follows:

1. Delete the default file(s) inside the `ignition/modules` directory.

2. Create a new file named `MyNFT.ts` inside the `ignition/modules` directory.

3. Open `ignition/modules/MyNFT.ts` and add the following code to create your deployment module:
    ```typescript title="ignition/modules/MyNFT.ts"
    import { buildModule } from '@nomicfoundation/hardhat-ignition/modules';
    
    export default buildModule('MyNFTModule', (m) => {
      const initialOwner = m.getParameter('initialOwner', 'INSERT_OWNER_ADDRESS');
      const myNFT = m.contract('MyNFT', [initialOwner]);
      return { myNFT };
    });
    
    ```

    Replace `INSERT_OWNER_ADDRESS` with your desired owner address.

4. Deploy your contract to Polkadot Hub TestNet using the following command:

    ```bash
    npx hardhat ignition deploy ignition/modules/MyNFT.ts --network polkadotTestnet
    ```

5. Confirm the target deployment network name and chain ID when prompted:

    <div id="termynal" data-termynal markdown>
      <span data-ty="input">npx hardhat ignition deploy ignition/modules/MyNFT.ts --network polkadotHubTestnet</span>
      <span data-ty>✔ Confirm deploy to network polkadotTestnet (420420417)? … yes</span>
      <span data-ty>&nbsp;</span>
      <span data-ty>Hardhat Ignition 🚀</span>
      <span data-ty>&nbsp;</span>
      <span data-ty>Deploying [ MyNFTModule ]</span>
      <span data-ty>&nbsp;</span>
      <span data-ty>Batch #1</span>
      <span data-ty> Executed MyNFTModule#MyNFT</span>
      <span data-ty>&nbsp;</span>
      <span data-ty>Batch #2</span>
      <span data-ty> Executed MyNFTModule#MyNFT.safeMint</span>
      <span data-ty>&nbsp;</span>
      <span data-ty>[ TokenModule ] successfully deployed 🚀</span>
      <span data-ty>&nbsp;</span>
      <span data-ty>Deployed Addresses</span>
      <span data-ty>&nbsp;</span>
      <span data-ty>MyNFTModule#MyNFT - 0x1234.......</span>
      <span data-ty="input"><span class="file-path"></span></span>
    </div>

Congratulations! You've successfully deployed an ERC-721 NFT contract to Polkadot Hub TestNet using Hardhat. Consider the following resources to build upon your progress. 

## Where to Go Next

<div class="grid cards" markdown>

-   <span class="badge guide">Guide</span> __Deploy an ERC-20__

    ---

    Walk through deploying a fully-functional ERC-20 to Polkadot Hub using Hardhat.

    [:octicons-arrow-right-24: Get Started](/smart-contracts/cookbook/smart-contracts/deploy-erc20/erc20-hardhat/)

-   <span class="badge guide">Guide</span> __Create a DApp__

    ---

    Learn step-by-step how to build a fully functional dApp that interacts with a smart contract deployed via Hardhat.

    [:octicons-arrow-right-24: Get Started](/smart-contracts/cookbook/dapps/zero-to-hero/)

</div>