How to Create an ERC20 Token on ZKsync Era

Introduction

In the rapidly evolving world of blockchain and decentralized finance (DeFi), creating your own digital asset has become more accessible than ever. Whether you're planning a new dApp, a community token, or simply want to explore the fascinating world of cryptocurrencies, the ERC20 standard on ZKsync Era provides a robust and widely adopted framework for token creation.

This tutorial will walk you through the entire process of generating and deploying your very own ERC20 token on ZKsync Era, utilizing Token Generator, the user-friendly tool powered by SmartContracts Tools. We'll cover everything from understanding the fundamentals of ERC20 to the practical steps of bringing your token to life. By the end of this tutorial, you'll have a fully functional ERC20 token ready for use on ZKsync Era!

Understanding the ERC20 Standard and ZKsync Era

Before we dive into the creation process, it's essential to grasp what an ERC20 token is and why it's so significant, especially in the context of ZKsync Era.

What is a ERC20 Token?

ERC20 (Ethereum Request for Comment 20) is a technical standard used for all smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain for fungible tokens. Fungible means that each unit of the token is interchangeable with another identical unit. Think of it like a dollar bill – one dollar bill is worth the same as any other dollar bill.

The ERC20 standard defines a common set of rules that all tokens must adhere to, ensuring interoperability within the Ethereum ecosystem.
These rules include:

• totalSupply(): The total number of tokens in existence.
• balanceOf(): The balance of tokens for a specific address.
• transfer(): To transfer tokens from one address to another.
• transferFrom(): To allow a third party to transfer tokens on behalf of the token holder.
• approve(): To allow a spender to withdraw a pre-defined amount of tokens from an account.
• allowance(): To check the amount of tokens that an owner allowed to a spender.

This standardization is crucial because it allows different dApps, wallets, and exchanges to interact seamlessly with any ERC20 token.

Why ZKsync Era for Your ERC20 Token?

ZKsync Era is a Layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum that uses zero-knowledge rollups to offer fast, low-cost transactions while preserving Ethereum’s security. It supports smart contracts and is EVM-compatible, enabling seamless dApp deployment and interoperability.
Deploying your ERC20 token on ZKsync Era means you can leverage these advantages, making your token more accessible and cost-effective for users.

ZKsync Era is fully compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), which means that tools and smart contracts designed for Ethereum can be easily deployed and used on ZKsync Era. This compatibility simplifies the development process and allows for a smooth transition for developers familiar with Ethereum.

Creating and Deploying Your ERC20 Token on ZKsync Era

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Access the Token Generator

Navigate to the ZKSync Token Generator page.

You'll see an interface designed to guide you through the token creation process.

Step 2: Connect Your Wallet

Before you can create and deploy your token, you'll need to connect a Web3 wallet (like MetaMask) to the platform. This wallet will be used to sign transactions and pay for the gas fees associated with deploying your smart contract on the ZKsync Era blockchain.

1. Click on the "Connect Wallet" button, usually located in the top right corner of the page.
2. Select your preferred wallet (e.g., MetaMask).
3. Approve the connection request in your wallet.
4. Ensure your wallet is set to the ZKsync Era network. If not, the platform will likely prompt you to switch, or you'll need to manually change it in your wallet settings. You'll need some native ETH in your wallet to cover gas fees.

Step 3: Define Your Token's Properties

This is where you'll personalize your ERC20 token. The Token Generator will provide fields for the following:

• Token Name: This is the full, human-readable name of your token (e.g., "My Awesome Coin"). Choose something descriptive and unique.
• Token Symbol: This is the ticker symbol for your token, typically 3-5 characters long (e.g., "MAC"). This is what exchanges and wallets will display.
• Total Supply: The total number of tokens that will ever exist. This value maybe fixed once the contract is deployed. Be mindful of this number – it impacts the perceived value and scarcity of your token.
• Decimals: This defines the divisibility of your token. The most common value for ERC20 tokens is 18, meaning your token can be divided into 10¹⁸ smaller units. For example, if you have 1 token with 18 decimals, it can be represented as 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 units. Unless you have a specific reason otherwise, it's generally recommended to stick with 18 decimals for broad compatibility.

Step 4: Configure Advanced Options (Optional)

Token Generator also provides advanced options to add more functionality to your token.
These might include:

• Burnable: The Token can be burned. It means that you can choose to reduce the circulating supply by destroying some of your tokens.
• Mintable: Owner or accounts with minting permission will be able to generate new tokens, up to token max supply. You can also disable minting if you don’t want to generate tokens anymore.
• Anti Whale Protection: Users cannot hold more than a specific percentage of total supply. Owner can change that percentage or disable it. Owner can exclude some accounts from the anti whale mechanism.
• Liquidity Pool Setup: A Liquidity Pool pair will automatically be created on DEX. Token owner can set an initial supply amount to add to the liquidity pool and can choose to lock LP tokens forever in the token contract or receive them in their wallet.
• Deflationary: Token supply will reduce over time. For each transaction, a fee will be automatically burned. Owner can exclude some accounts from the deflation mechanism.
• Taxable: A tax fee will be added to transfers. For each transaction, a fee will be automatically sent to a predefined address. Owner can exclude some accounts from the taxation mechanism.
• Reflection: For each transaction, a fee will automatically be divided among token holders to reward them. Owner can exclude some accounts from the fee or from the reflection mechanism.
• Pausable: Token transfer can be paused. Useful to prevent trades until a period or freezing all token transfers.
• Capped: You won't be able to generate more tokens than the defined token cap. This ensure people that you will not generate more tokens than declared.
• Unlimited: You can generate more tokens with no limited supply. Owner can always stop minting to fix the current supply and stop generating new tokens.
• Whitelist: Owner or authorized users can define which addresses are permitted to send and receive tokens. This is crucial for RWA Tokenization, ensuring that only compliant users (e.g., KYC-verified addresses) can participate in transactions.
• Controlled: Users with special permissions can freeze accounts and execute controlled operations, such as forcing token transfers between accounts. This is essential for RWA Tokenization, where compliance with legal and financial regulations may require interventions.
• Ownable Access: Token will have an Owner. Token owner will be able to mint new tokens or to call the finish minting function.
• Role Based Access: Token will have Roles. You can add or remove ADMIN or MINTER role to addresses. Token will be Ownable too.
• ERC1363 Callback: ERC1363 is an extension interface for ERC20 tokens that supports executing custom logic on a recipient contract after transfers, or on a spender contract after approvals, all within a single transaction.
• Token Recover: There are lots of tokens lost forever into Smart Contracts. It allows the contract owner to recover any ERC20 or NFT token sent into the contract for error and send them to a receiver

Carefully consider which of these features are relevant to your token's purpose.

Step 5: Generate and Review Your Contract Parameters

Once you've filled in all the details and selected your desired features, click on the "Create" button. The generator will compile the Solidity code for your ERC20 token based on your inputs.

Before proceeding to deployment, it's crucial to review the contract parameters. While the generator automates the process, understanding the code, even at a high level, is beneficial. You'll typically see a summary of your token's properties.

Step 6: Deploy Your Token to ZKsync Era

This is the final and most exciting step!

1. After reviewing, click on the "Create Token" button.
2. Your connected Web3 wallet (e.g., MetaMask) will pop up, asking you to confirm the transaction. This transaction will deploy your smart contract to the ZKsync Era blockchain.
3. Review the gas fees carefully. Gas fees are paid in ETH and compensate the network validators for processing your transaction. The fee can fluctuate depending on network congestion.
4. Confirm the transaction in your wallet.

Once you confirm, the transaction will be submitted to the ZKsync Era network. This may take a few seconds to a few minutes, depending on network conditions.

Step 7: Verify Your Deployment

After the transaction is confirmed, you'll receive a transaction hash (TxID) and the contract address of your newly deployed ERC20 token.

1. Copy your Contract Address: This is the unique identifier for your token on the ZKsync Era blockchain.
2. View on Block Explorer: Click on the provided link to the ZKsync Era block explorer (e.g., ZKsync Era Etherscan).

On the block explorer, you can verify your token's details, including its total supply, the deploying address, and all the functions defined by the ERC20 standard. You can also view the source code of your deployed contract.

Adding Your Token to Your Wallet

Now that your token is live on ZKsync Era, you'll likely want to see it in your wallet.
Here's how to add a custom token to MetaMask:

Option 1.

Click on the "Add to Wallet" button. MetaMask will prompt you to accept token addition. Confirm.

Option 2.

1. Open your MetaMask wallet.
2. Ensure you are connected to the ZKsync Era network.
3. Scroll down and click on "Import tokens."
4. Select "Custom Token."
5. Paste your token's contract address into the "Token Contract Address" field.
6. The "Token Symbol" and "Token Decimal" fields should auto-populate. If not, enter them manually.
7. Click "Add Custom Token" and then "Import Tokens."

Your new ERC20 token should now appear in your MetaMask wallet!

Next Steps for Your ERC20 Token on ZKsync Era

Congratulations! You've successfully created and deployed your own ERC20 token on the ZKsync Era blockchain. What's next?

• Share Your Token:
  Let others know about your new token! Share the contract address and block explorer link.
• Integrate with dApps:
  If you're building a decentralized application, you can now integrate your token into its functionality.
• List on Exchanges:
  For broader adoption, you might consider listing your token on decentralized exchanges (DEXs) on ZKsync Era, such as Uniswap. This typically involves providing liquidity.
• Build a Community:
  Foster a community around your token.