If you’re new to the Sui blockchain, you may have come across something called a “Kiosk” and wondered what it’s for. This guide breaks it down in the simplest way possible.
A Sui Kiosk is like a digital shelf. You place your NFTs or items on that shelf, and people can come by, check them out, and even buy them. But kiosks do more than just display items. They also protect your assets, enforce creator rules (like royalties), and let you set up your own store.
Let’s break it down further.
Why Sui Kiosks Matter
Kiosks are special because they let you:
- Keep ownership of your items even when they’re listed for sale.
- Set trading rules using Transfer Policies. These rules can say, for example, that a royalty must be paid with each trade.
- Build custom experiences like auctions, lotteries, or collection-wide offers.
Whether you’re a creator, collector, or just curious, Kiosks are Sui’s native way to safely trade and interact with digital assets.
What You Can Do With a Kiosk
As a kiosk owner, you can:
- Store NFTs in your kiosk.
- List items for sale with a price tag.
- Lock items with rules (like enforcing royalties).
- Withdraw profits from sales.
- Add apps or extensions for extra features.
- Borrow items, mutate them, or use them within a transaction.
As a buyer, you can:
- Browse offers across all kiosks.
- Buy listed items.
- Place bids on entire collections.
- Enjoy low or no gas fees in many cases.
As a creator, you can:
- Define what rules must be followed for your items.
- Enforce royalties.
- Disable trading entirely if needed.
- Be confident that your creations stay protected.
Kiosk Apps: Power Ups for Kiosks
Just like apps on your phone, Kiosk Apps add extra features to a kiosk without changing the core.
There are two types:
1. Basic Apps
These let you customize your kiosk. For example, you could:
- Add a custom name.
- Attach metadata fields.
- Use dynamic fields readable by others, but only editable by you.
They don’t require extra permissions or APIs.
2. Permissioned Apps
These use the Kiosk Apps API to offer more advanced features, like:
- Community bidding systems.
- Apps that can lock/place items without always needing your approval.
Owners can grant or remove permissions at any time.
Important Terms to Know
- KioskOwnerCap: A special object that proves you’re the kiosk owner. You need this to make changes.
- Transfer Policy: The rules set by creators. Without one, items can’t be sold.
- Placed: Item added to a kiosk but not listed.
- Locked: Item is locked under a rule. It stays in the kiosk.
- Listed: Item is for sale.
- Listed exclusively: Special listing where the item can only be bought through a custom method.
Creating Your First Kiosk
Want to try it out? You can open a kiosk easily using the Sui CLI or with a simple transaction. Once created, you can start placing, locking, or listing items. You can also add apps, install extensions, and customize the experience as you grow.
Final Thoughts
Sui Kiosks may sound technical, but they’re just digital containers with powerful rules. They protect creators, empower sellers, and simplify buying on-chain.
Whether you’re launching a new NFT collection, trading rare assets, or experimenting with Sui’s unique tools, kiosks give you a flexible and safe foundation. Start simple, explore, and don’t be afraid to play around on testnet first.
Want more beginner guides like this? Visit suiclopedia.com for friendly explanations of all things Sui.
