Minting refers to the process of creating or generating new units of a cryptocurrency or digital asset. It involves the production or issuance of fresh coins or tokens within a blockchain network. This process might occur through various methods like mining, staking, or following predefined rules established by the cryptocurrency's protocol.

In the context of NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), minting refers to the act of creating or generating a unique and distinguishable digital asset on a blockchain. When an NFT is minted, a smart contract is typically used to create a token with distinct metadata and ownership properties, making it one-of-a-kind and indivisible. This process records the NFT's existence on the blockchain, establishing its authenticity, ownership, and specific attributes, whether it's digital art, collectibles, virtual real estate, or any other unique digital item.