An Expansion of the Tezos Art Movement, Empowering Artists
Not All NFTs Are Created Equal
When it comes to NFTs, it’s critical to understand where the art actually lives. Most NFTs today use IPFS (Interplanetary File System) to store artwork and metadata. Others take a different approach with Fully On-Chain (FOC) storage, and the differences are significant. Let’s take a look at some of those differences and then discuss an exciting project called Zero Contract, which is improving the accessibility of FOC NFTs for artists minting on Tezos.
The “Standard” Solution For NFT Storage
IPFS is a decentralized file storage system that links external files to a token on-chain. It’s scalable, relatively easy to use, and has become the standard. However, the files containing the art must be “pinned” in order to persist. This means someone has to keep paying to host the data. If they stop, forget, or disappear without a custodian, the files can vanish. The token remains on-chain, but the ability to view and enjoy the art itself is lost forever.
The “Advanced” Method
Fully On-Chain NFTs, on the other hand, store the image, metadata, and even thumbnails directly on the blockchain. This removes outside dependencies and ensures the art stays accessible for as long as the blockchain exists. The trade-off is dealing with file size limits, higher up-front minting costs, and a more technical setup.
Where IPFS offers flexibility and ease for users, FOC focuses on permanence and independence. Both have their place, but for artists who want full control over their work and legacy, the fully on-chain route is gaining traction. Tools like ZeroContract are helping lead the way.
What Is ZeroContract and ZeroApp?
ZeroContract is a smart contract on Tezos, built from the ground up by artist-developer @JestemZero. It gives artists a way to mint without relying on IPFS or any external services. By minting through ZeroContract, your art lives inside the blockchain, not beside it.
Zero Contract follows TZIP-12 and TZIP-16 standards, which means any NFTs minted through it can show up correctly on platforms like Objkt. There’s a few edge cases with certain file types that will not display properly, but with every update comes even more compatibility. The contract is also connected to the ZeroArt App, a no-code interface that allows artists to deploy contracts, mint tokens, and manage their collections in one place.
Together, ZeroContract and the ZeroArt App give creators a toolkit for building permanent, self-sovereign NFT collections. Let’s walk through the different parts of this emerging on-chain ecosystem, the developers behind it, and how the artists are using it.
The Suite of Apps at ZeroArt.app 
Zero Contract WebAppDeveloped by Jams2Blues, this is the primary interface used for minting with ZeroContract. Artists can deploy their own fully on-chain smart contract, which serves as their own collection, and then mint FOC NFTs from it. These collections are automatically recognized by Objkt, but can also be managed entirely through the ZeroArt dashboard.
The dashboard includes a built-in contract manager. You can mint, burn, and transfer tokens, update operators, and add collaborators. You can also set the permissions of who can help manage the contract. It’s essentially your one-stop shop for minting FOC NFTs on Tezos, with huge updates soon, that I’ll cover later in this article.
ZeroViewThis lightweight viewer app, developed by JestemZero, shows fully on-chain tokens directly from the Tezos blockchain. It’s a handy tool for collectors and a clean way for FOC art to be shared and enjoyed.
Zero TerminalZero Terminal was created by ccubetez and SerP. On top of the ability to mint FOC NFTs, it adds direct sales features, allowing artists to list their works independently of other marketplaces. This means no platform fees and fewer concerns about outages or censorship. The project’s current focus is on FOC art, with a long-lerm goal of providing users with decentralized tools for interacting with Tezos blockchain data.
Artists Leading the Charge
Since launch, ZeroContract has attracted more and more artists wanting to push the boundaries of what on-chain art can be. Where some artists see file limitations as a deal breaker, others have been turning the minimizing and compression of files into its own art form. Once you take the time to browse the art already being minted through ZeroContract, it’s hard not to get inspired.
The ZeroContract x Trilitech ZeroContract Contest is a recent initiative that escalated the excitement even more. It invited artists to explore the theme of “Zero” using ZeroApps collaborative contract feature, with 2000 tez in prizes up for grabs. This brought more awareness to ZeroContract and highlighted its capabilities.
Fifty-four artists participated, contributing fifty-seven fully on-chain artworks across nine collaborative collections. All entries remain viewable through ZeroView, a living, permanent archive. Check out all the ZeroContest art here, and a big shoutout to the winners showcased below!
“1, 0, 100000”: Zero theme winner ft @neur0mancer1, @LoveFromGaia &@unrealb0x. See the official announcement here.
“b.l.o.c.k.s_o.n-c.h.a.i.n.”: Collaboration theme winner ft @_pixellare, @aethersovereign, @vjentter, @LoveFromGaia, @spike_0124, @luizandregama, @OriginalGoldCat, @mat__nova, @Isakost, @malsheep56
The Next Evolution: ZeroUnbound
The ZeroContract movement is far from static. A new version called ZeroUnbound is already being tested and will bring some serious upgrades. One of the biggest challenges in FOC minting has been the 20 KB file size limit. ZeroUnbound raises that ceiling by splitting the data into 32 KB chunks and bundling them in a single Beacon transaction. This means that ZeroUnbound allows for more detailed, animated, or even interactive artwork to be minted fully on-chain.
This upgrade is being developed by Jams2Blues with contract design by JestemZero. A new front-end app, styled like a retro arcade game, replaces the earlier interface. It’s fully open-source, runs locally, and needs no servers. Artists can even download and customize it for their own use.
ZeroUnbound will offer more freedom and a broader canvas for artists who want permanence without limits.
A Quote From Jams2Blues: “I am doing this for the sake of defeating entropy, the inevitable heat death of the universe is not actually the end if we work together in creation to overcome our limitations and to do it sustainably. Tezos is my choice because of their massively low carbon footprint compared to other blockchains, and I know I was put on this planet to Save The World With Art™”
How to Mint Your First FOC NFT on Tezos
If you’ve minted on Tezos before, the process will feel familiar to most marketplaces minting templates, with just a few changes. Follow these steps or reach out to the ZeroContract team on their Discord here for further help. It is recommended to learn and experiment on Ghostnet (testnet) first.
Go to the ZeroContract WebApp and connect your wallet.
Click “Deploy Contract”, fill out the form, upload your thumbnail, agree to the terms, and confirm the transaction. Deploying costs around 6.5 tez, there will be a fee estimation pop-up pre-transaction.
Once deployed, go to “Manage Contract”. Click “Load Contract”, scroll down, and select “Mint”.
Fill out the form (mint template). The current file size limit is about 32 KB total which includes all metadata, like the description. After uploading your artwork, check the size indicator at the bottom to ensure you are within limitations.
If you’re within the limit, click “Mint NFT” and approve the transaction (also about 6.5 tez).
That’s it. You’ve minted a fully on-chain NFT that lives directly on Tezos. For a visual walkthrough, there’s also a video tutorial by Jams2Blues available here.
Why It Matters
The crypto art world moves fast. Convenience often takes priority over long-term thinking. ZeroContract offers a different path, one that values permanence, transparency, and artistic sovereignty.
By removing reliance on third-party storage and giving artists the tools to manage their work directly on-chain, this movement is reshaping what digital ownership really means. ZeroUnbound builds on that foundation, expanding the possibilities without losing sight of the core values.
Whether you’re a collector, an established artist, or minting your first piece, the builders and users of the Tezos ecosystem are here to help. The tool-kit keeps expanding. What you build from here is entirely up to you.
ZeroContract: Fully On-Chain NFTs was originally published in Tezos Commons on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.