How to Transfer an NFT: Wallet to Wallet and From Marketplaces

Key Takeaways

You can send an NFT to another person through a wallet or an NFT marketplace, and you will need to enter the recipient’s wallet address and complete the transaction first.
Confirm that the blockchain network of the NFT you are sending is compatible with the receiver’s wallet.
Usually, NFT transfers are irreversible in nature; hence, the user must ensure the accuracy of the address and funds transfer only using verified wallets/exchanges.

Transferring an NFT involves the transfer of ownership of a digital collectible, digital artwork, or other blockchain assets without any sale. The NFT can be transferred to a friend, from one of your wallets to another, or from the OpenSea marketplace to your wallet.

The procedure will differ depending on which blockchain the NFT is on. Ethereum and its layer 2 networks employ ETH or other cryptocurrencies for transaction fees. Solana network usage requires SOL. Bitcoin Ordinals are moved using Bitcoin transactions. Always check the amount, as well as the receiver’s address, the supported blockchain network, and the fees indicated by your wallet before making the transaction.

4 Quick Steps: Send an NFT in 4 Steps

NFTs may be sent through 4 main phases:

Acquire Recipient’s Address – Ask for the public wallet address compatible with the wallet and the blockchain of the NFT asset.
Access NFT from Wallet or Marketplace – Choose the NFT item you want to transmit by selecting the transfer option.
Enter Address and Review Transaction – Enter the required address and confirm all important details of the transaction.
Confirm the Transaction – Approve the transaction in the wallet and track it using a block explorer.

In most cases, once confirmed on the blockchain, transactions are not reversible. Thus, in case an incorrect address is entered, the asset may be lost.

Transferring NFTs on Ethereum and Layer 2s

NFTs on Ethereum use one of the ERC-721 or ERC-1155 protocols. Layer 2s, which include Base and Arbitrum, also support NFTs, but each of them has its own record of assets. You have to conduct your transaction on the network that holds your NFT. In other words, if your NFT can be found on Base, the transfer must also be made on Base, using a Base transaction rather than an Ethereum mainnet transaction.

From MetaMask

MetaMask gives the capability to send NFTs through accounts and supported networks. Despite this, the functional interface is slightly different in MetaMask mobile application and browser extension.

Using MetaMask for sending NFTs is as easy as following these step.

Start by opening MetaMask. Find your account that holds the NFT.
Make sure the network you are using is the same as the one where the NFT is located.
Now you can open the NFT category and select the items that you want to send.
After selecting the NFT, click Send.
Enter the recipient’s wallet address.
Check all transaction details and network fee amounts.
At last, your last step must be to confirm the transaction in your MetaMask wallet and wait until it gets processed.

MetaMask specifies a necessary condition of having enough tokens on the network to be able to send an NFT, which normally means having sufficient Ethereum tokens on the Ethereum network. It should be noted that layer-2 supports the only token required for transactions on the platform.

In case you do not see the NFT in MetaMask, first check the network and gain confirmation about its existence via the block explorer, as there are instances when the asset is already held in your account, and the wallet shows nothing. Check the MetaMask guide on sending NFTs for more information.

From a Marketplace Such as OpenSea

If you do not need to sell an NFT, you can also transfer it through OpenSea in case you want to send it to a different person or if you want to move it to a different wallet.

The steps for transferring NFTs via OpenSea Marketplace can be followed as below:

To start the transfer process, you should connect the wallet that contains the NFT and open your profile.
You need to browse your profile and locate the NFT you want to transfer.
After selecting the NFT, you will have to click the transfer icon or the Send option.
Make sure to enter the wallet address of the recipient, you may also consider entering the recipient’s ENS name, if applicable.
In the last step, it is necessary to verify the details before confirming it in your wallet account.

In addition to the above-mentioned steps of transferring an NFT through OpenSea, it should be noted that this service is available for all wallet addresses. However, it is essential to keep in mind that the transfer process must be completed in accordance with the name of the transaction mentioned above.

Transferring NFT on Solana

Solana NFTs have a separate blockchain as well as a different wallet compared to Ethereum NFTs. Therefore, transferring a Solana NFT directly to an Ethereum account won’t result in delivery of the same NFT.

To transfer a Solana NFT:

Start a Solana compatible wallet like Phantom.
Find out the relevant wallet account that contains NFTs.
Go to your NFTs or collectibles section and choose the item.
Select the Send option.
Enter the destination address of the wallet.
Go through the details and charges for the transaction.
Complete the transaction, then track its status using Solana Block Explorer.

Solana transaction fees are paid using SOL coins. The fee structure published by the network mentions SOL as the base charge of 5000 lamports for each transaction, and additional optional fees can be paid to boost the process. The fee remains flexible as per the purpose and conditions of the network.

Cost of NFT Transfers (Fee Table by Chains)

Fees for NFT transfers are not fixed. The charges for a transfer depend on certain elements such as the blockchain utilized, type of trade, and amount of users utilizing the network at that time.

Blockchain	Fee currency	Cost factors
Ethereum	ETH	The price of gas, complexity of transactions, and congestion of the network
Layer 2 solutions for Ethereum, like Base and Arbitrum	Usually ETH	Network-specific gas costs and transaction complexity
Solana	SOL	Basic transaction fees and any additional fees for priority are incurred.

If you want to know the live gas price before making any transactions on Ethereum, you can use a gas tracker such as Etherscan Gas Tracker.

Meanwhile, for Solana users, you can see the transaction fee in your wallet or in the official documentation of Solana. Bitcoin Ordinals transaction fees are available in your wallet and in the Bitcoin network.

Moved to the Wrong Address or Network? Here Is What to Expect

The recovery of an NFT sent to an incorrect address is dependent on the one who manages that address and whether the platform receiving the NFT lends a hand. It must be noted that blockchain transactions are irreversible and cannot be undone by the sender.

In case the NFT was sent to another wallet of yours, you should log into that wallet and confirm whether it is there. However, in the case of sending it to an exchange, you need to contact its customer support service and provide it with the transaction hash, token ID, and network information. There is no guarantee that you will be able to recover the NFT.

Be aware that the problem may also be worse if you sent the NFT to an address on another blockchain. For instance, if you sent an NFT that belongs to the Ethereum blockchain, it does not mean that the NFT will turn into a Solana NFT just because both addresses appear the same.

Additionally, the NFT will never be recovered if the provided service is either not NFT-compatible or does not support the blockchain.

Finally, if the transaction is still pending, it is easier to follow up on its status than to do anything else. Don’t trust strangers promising to reverse transactions or recover the NFT for a fee or a recovery phrase.

Use a Block Explorer for Verification

A block explorer allows you to confirm that your NFT transfer is properly registered on the blockchain. This can be useful if you believe a transaction is pending and the NFT has not been transferred to the other user’s wallet.

Choose the appropriate explorer based on which blockchain was used:

Ethereum: Etherscan
Base: BaseScan
Arbitrum: Arbiscan
Solana: Solscan or the Solana Explorer
Bitcoin: mempool.space

Copy the transaction hash from your wallet activity and paste it into the explorer of the relevant chain. Once this is done, find out if the transaction is completed, pending, or denied. Make sure to check the transaction status, the sender and the receiver’s address, and the token ID in case of an NFT transfer.

Note that even though the transaction was successful, it does not mean that the NFT will be immediately displayed on every wallet/marketplace once the block has been processed.

Preventing NFT Transfer Scams

There are phishing websites, fake technical support portals, and malicious wallet prompts that may target NFT transfers. Since transfers may sometimes be final, it’s important to ensure that each stage is done properly.

Make sure to analyze hyperlinks before using them. Rather than believing questionable communications, maintain some authentic cryptocurrency wallets and NFT marketplaces within reach. Confirm the address you are entering. Make sure that you review the entire address and not simply skim through some letters of it.
Remember to follow prompts within your wallet. Don’t approve the unknown requests just because it claims you need to do so to receive an NFT.
Don’t share your recovery phrase or private key with anyone. A legit wallet service would never require this information in order to conduct transactions.
Beware of fake recovery services. Any proposals that promise recovery of your lost NFTs for some money or access to your wallet are scams.
Check the network. Make sure that the blockchain network in question is acceptable for the NFT before proceeding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are the most commonly asked questions about transferring NFTs.

How long does NFT transfer take?

The time duration of NFT transfer depends on the blockchain, activities going on in the network, and the fees. Solana transfers may take little time to complete, while Ethereum, Layer 2, and Bitcoin transactions may take more time to complete based on the condition of the network and the fee paid.

Does transferring an NFT qualify as a sale for tax purposes?

It is not always the case. Transferring an NFT between your wallets or gifting it to someone would be treated differently from selling or swapping it for products or services. Tax laws associated with this may be different from one country to another and from one case to another. Therefore, take note of the transfer and relevant tax laws in your country. In the USA, for instance, the IRS stipulates that moving an asset between your wallets does not constitute a sale or a taxable transaction pursuant to the IRS digital asset guidance.

Can I move an NFT without using gas?

Normally, a transfer on the blockchain involves a transaction charge. Some platforms may compensate users for some fees, but it will depend on your wallet and network used. Even if you are not billed personally, it doesn’t mean that the transfer will be free. Before confirming the transaction, review the confirmation page to see whether you are being billed for gas or offered a free transaction.