Introduction
Buying an NFT is a great hands-on exercise to truly understand wallets, network fees and self-custody — far more telling than a long theory lesson. This module walks you through it step by step: create an external wallet, secure it properly, buy an NFT on Blur (the most used NFT marketplace on Ethereum), and understand a collection's levelling system via the platform. Important: we treat the NFT as a collectible and a learning object, never as a financial bet. Only spend what you're willing to use for learning.
Before you start: the mindset
An NFT (non-fungible token) is a unique digital object recorded on the blockchain: an image, a collectible card, access to a community. Its value is above all cultural and community-driven, not a guaranteed return. The NFT market is extremely volatile and illiquid: many NFTs lose most of their value. Here, you buy to learn and collect, not to speculate.
The golden rule: only spend a small amount you're prepared to see disappear. The goal of this module is educational — you'll handle a real wallet, sign a real transaction, and understand self-custody from the inside.
Buying an NFT is a good way to make money quickly.
Actually : No. The vast majority of NFTs lose value, and the market is very illiquid (hard to resell). You buy an NFT for what it represents — collection, community, learning — not as a return-bearing investment. No gain promises here.
Step 1 — Create an external wallet
To buy an NFT on a decentralized marketplace, you need an external non-custodial wallet: one whose keys only you hold. The most common on Ethereum are MetaMask and Rabby. Install the browser extension (or mobile app) from the OFFICIAL website only — never via an ad or a link you received.
On creation, the wallet generates a seed phrase of 12 or 24 words. It's the master key to your wallet: whoever holds it holds your funds. Write it on paper, offline, and store it safely. Never take a photo of it, never type it on a website, never share it with anyone — no legitimate support will ever ask for it.
- Install MetaMask or Rabby from the official website only.
- Write your seed phrase (12/24 words) on paper, offline.
- Never a photo, never on a website, never shared.
- Check the URL (https) on every connection.
The riskiest moment
90% of NFT losses come from phishing at the wallet creation/connection step: fake site, fake extension, fake support. Take your time on this step — it's the most important of the whole module.
Step 2 — Fund the wallet with ETH
On Blur (a marketplace on Ethereum), you pay in ETH, and every transaction costs network fees ("gas"). So you need some ETH in your external wallet, both for the NFT price and for gas.
This is where the platform comes in handy: you can buy ETH inside the platform, then send it to your external wallet's address. ALWAYS copy-paste the address (never type it by hand), and first do a small test send of a few euros to confirm everything arrives before sending the full amount.
- Buy ETH on the platform (NFT price + margin for gas).
- Send the ETH to your external wallet's address (copy-paste).
- Do a small test send of a few euros first.
- Gas varies with network activity — check before confirming.
Step 3 — Buy the NFT on Blur
Go to Blur (double-check the official URL), then connect your external wallet by clicking "Connect Wallet" and approving the connection in MetaMask/Rabby. Connecting a wallet gives no access to your funds: you only authorize the display and signing of transactions that YOU approve.
Search for the collection you want and open the collection page. Pick an available NFT, click "Buy", check the total price (price + gas) shown in your wallet, then confirm the transaction. A few seconds later, the NFT appears in your wallet. Congrats: you've just done a real on-chain, self-custody operation.
- Connect your wallet ("Connect Wallet") — check the URL first.
- Open the collection and pick an NFT.
- Check the total (price + gas) BEFORE confirming.
- Confirm in your wallet: the NFT arrives in seconds.
View the Blur marketplace
Blur is one of the leading NFT marketplaces on Ethereum. Connect your external wallet and explore collections. Reminder: buy to collect and learn, never as a financial bet.
Open BlurWhat about the Moving Block NFT?
The Moving Block NFT is different. It does not give access to a collection's levelling (XP) system. Holding a Moving Block grants only the "Native" status — a mark of belonging to the first the platform community, with no leveling mechanic or progressive perks.
In other words: if you're after the leveling system, it's the un NFT you need to lock in the platform. The Moving Block is a "Native" status badge, with symbolic and community value.
- Moving Block = "Native" status only.
- No leveling (XP) system or progressive perks.
- un NFT = the NFT to lock to gain levels.
What you should remember
- 01An NFT is bought to collect and learn, never as a financial bet.
- 02External wallet (MetaMask/Rabby): the seed phrase is the key — paper, offline, never shared.
- 03On Blur you pay in ETH + gas: fund your wallet via the platform, with a test send first.
- 04un NFT locked in the platform = levels (XP), perks communicated later; Moving Block = "Native" status only.
Ready to practice?
« Investir pour les Paresseux » takes these foundations and places them inside a complete method, from the first order to taxation. Out now in paperback and on Kindle — in French.