NFT Wallets
What is Wallet
When we say “wallet”, we don’t always mean the same thing. The term can refer to very different components — from the low-level tools that hold private keys, to full-featured interfaces for interacting with NFTs and staking. This distinction matters, especially given the current fragmentation of tooling and standards. Here's how we break it down:
Core Wallets: Software or hardware tools that store private keys and enable sending, receiving, and managing assets.
Browser Extension Signers: Lightweight, browser-based tools used to connect and sign transactions on dApps.
Wallet Interfaces: Applications that integrate core wallets to provide a full user interface for managing tokens, staking, and DeFi.
dApp Asset Pages: Pages within dApps that display user holdings, transactions, and staking positions without storing assets. Unlike more mature ecosystems, Polkadot lacks a standardized set of indexing and API tools for easily fetching and displaying asset data. Developers must rely on custom solutions or scattered third-party services, leading to inconsistencies and increased maintenance overhead.
In our article we focus on Wallet Interfaces for Pallet NFTs & Pallet Uniques on Polkadot AssetHub, preliminary.
List
| Nova Wallet | SubWallet | Talisman | Fearless Wallet | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Website | Link | Link | Link | Link |
| GitHub | Link | Link | Link | Link |
| Type | Mobile | Mobile, Web | Web | Mobile |
| Show NFT image | Pallet NFTs | Pallet NFTs, Pallet Uniques | Pallet NFTs | No |
| Show full NFT metadata and attributes | No | Pallet NFTs, Pallet Uniques | No | No |
| Show NFT transactions history | No | No | No | No |
| Transfer NFT | No | Pallet NFTs, Pallet Uniques | No | No |
| Burn NFT | No | No | No | No |
| Other NFT-related features | Applications can be opened in the mobile browser. | Applications can be opened in the mobile browser. | Supports Unique Network pallet also. Link to KodaDot Marketplace from NFT details. | No |
Wallet Interfaces Challenges
Poor NFT Coverage
Currently only SubWallet supports NFTs functionality at a decent level. Talisman shows them to the users and directs to Kodadot for any further functionality. Other wallets do not support NFTs at all.
Fragmented NFT Visibility
Current wallets support NFTs from select networks and pallets, but there’s no way for users to view all their NFTs in one place. Finding a specific NFT often requires navigating to a particular network, meaning users must remember where it was minted—far from a seamless experience. Unlike coins, there’s no unified interface that displays all NFTs across Polkadot networks on a single screen.
Limited NFT Management Options
Tools for transferring or burning NFTs are largely chain-specific and inconsistent. Users face a patchwork of dApps, often lacking in functionality or ease of use, making basic NFT management unnecessarily complex.
NFT XCM Foundational Barrier
Without addressing visibility and management challenges, cross-chain transfers risk adding complexity rather than unlocking interoperability and utility for users.