The anon-br fork is a free, open-source upload service for Windows that sends NFT files to nft.storage on behalf of ErgoUtils, a set of tools built around the Ergo blockchain. It suits developers and hobbyists who work on NFT tooling and want to see how an upload backend is structured, rather than people looking for a finished consumer app. It runs as a background component rather than a graphical editor, so its value lies in what it does behind the scenes.
Before you install anything, note that the project has had no code updates since September 15, 2021. That makes it unmaintained: it may still run, but fixes for bugs, changes in the nft.storage interface, and security patches are unlikely to arrive. Treat it as a reference or a starting point for your own work, not as a dependency for production NFT minting.
What an NFT Upload Service Actually Does
NFT files are usually too large or too costly to store directly on a blockchain. Instead, the token records a link, and the artwork and metadata sit on external storage. An upload service handles that middle step: it takes a file, places it in storage, and returns an identifier that the token can point to.
This matters for anyone minting a collection. Imagine an artist with 500 images and a metadata file for each one. Uploading them by hand through a web form is slow and error-prone. A scripted upload backend, like the one behind ErgoUtils, lets the same steps run in a repeatable way, and the identifiers it returns can be recorded in a spreadsheet or manifest for later checking.
Understanding this flow also helps when something breaks. If a token shows a missing image, the cause is often an upload that never finished or a link that was copied incorrectly, not the blockchain itself.
Who Should Look at This Project and Who Should Not
Developers learning how NFT tooling fits together are the clearest audience. The code is small in scope and shows a concrete boundary between a minting front end and an external storage provider. Students and hobbyists building their own experiments can use it as a starting point.
People maintaining forks of ErgoUtils may also find it useful, since it documents the upload step they depend on. Compare the code with the version they run and note any differences before changing anything.
The project is not a good match for collectors who want a one-click minting app, for artists who need guaranteed support, or for anyone whose business cannot tolerate broken dependencies. For those readers, an actively maintained tool will save time and reduce risk. Consider this project a reference to learn from rather than a service to rely on.
Key features
Direct NFT file uploads
Built for ErgoUtils
Written in C# on .NET
Free and open source
How to install anon-br fork on Windows
- 1
Get the official copy
Download the program only from the official website or GitHub: the repository linked from this page, or its Releases page if a prebuilt Windows build is posted there. Avoid mirrors and file-sharing sites, which often repackage older builds with changes nobody has reviewed.
- 2
Verify the file
Compute the SHA-256 checksum of the downloaded file, for example with Get-FileHash in PowerShell, and compare it with the value published by the project. If the release includes a signature, verify that instead or in addition. A mismatch means you should discard the file and download it again.
-
Install and run
Run the installer, or extract the Windows build to a folder you control and start it from there. Keep the folder separate from your personal documents and any files that hold keys or passwords. Start with a test run before using it on real NFT files.
How to use anon-br fork
Using the service is a matter of preparing files, sending them, and recording the results. The steps below assume ErgoUtils is already set up on your machine and that you have read the repository README for any configuration the build expects.
- Prepare your files in a clear folder structure, with each image paired with its metadata file.
- Read the configuration notes in the repository and confirm each setting before you start.
- Start the service and check that it is running and listening before sending anything.
- Send a single small test file first to confirm the round trip to nft.storage works.
- Record the content identifier returned for each file and store it alongside your metadata.
- Keep the logs from each batch so you can trace any failed upload later.
- Stop the service when you finish, and do not leave it running unattended on a shared machine.
Because the project is no longer maintained, test every batch on a small sample before running a large collection.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, so you can read the code before running it
- Narrow scope makes the upload flow easy to follow
- Written in C# on .NET, familiar to Windows developers
- Useful as a learning reference for NFT toolchains
- No code updates since September 2021
- Fixes for security issues or API changes are unlikely
- Works as a component of an NFT workflow, not as a standalone creator app
Is anon-br fork safe?
This is an unmaintained project, so treat it with extra caution. Download it only from the official website or GitHub, never from third-party download sites. Compute the SHA-256 checksum and compare it with the published value, and verify a signature if one is offered. Because the code has not changed since 2021, read the source where you can or run the program on a machine that holds no sensitive data. Never enter a seed phrase, private key or account password on a third-party website, and be wary of any page asking for them. Antivirus tools may flag unfamiliar utilities, so investigate the detection rather than turning protection off.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/anon-br/ErgoUtilsUploadService. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Most of the similar programs in our catalog focus on other layers of crypto work. Dumplings is about CoinJoin analysis, PSBT Commander builds Bitcoin partially signed transactions, and MEV Boost sits in Ethereum block production. The anon-br fork has a much narrower job: moving NFT files to nft.storage for ErgoUtils. If you need a transaction tool, PSBT Commander is the better fit. If you need a Windows component for NFT file uploads, this is the closer match, provided you accept that it no longer receives updates.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- —
- Last update
- 15 Sept 2021
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/anon-br/ErgoUtilsUploadService
Frequently asked questions
It can be used with reasonable care, but it is an unmaintained open-source project, so caution is required. Download it only from the official GitHub repository or its Releases page, verify the SHA-256 checksum, and run it on a machine that holds no sensitive keys. Reading the source code is the strongest check available for a project like this.
Yes, the program is free to download and use. Its source code is public on GitHub, so you can inspect it without paying anything. Keep in mind that nft.storage is a separate service, and any use of it follows that service's own terms rather than the terms of this program.
No. The last code update was on September 15, 2021, and the project has not changed since then. Bugs, compatibility problems with nft.storage, and security issues are unlikely to be fixed upstream. If you depend on it, plan to maintain your own fork or move to an actively maintained tool.
It is used as the upload service for ErgoUtils, sending NFT files to nft.storage. Developers use it to see how an NFT workflow moves artwork from a local machine to decentralized storage. It is not a general-purpose file manager and does not replace a wallet or a marketplace.
Download the Windows build or installer from the official GitHub repository, then check the SHA-256 checksum. Run the installer or extract the build to a dedicated folder and start it from there. Test with a small file before using it on a full collection.
nft.storage is a storage service built for NFT files and their metadata. It uses content addressing, so each stored file receives an identifier derived from its contents, and the same file always produces the same identifier. This program sends files to that service on behalf of ErgoUtils.
The catalog lists several programs, but none of them is a direct replacement for an NFT upload service. For Bitcoin transaction work, PSBT Commander is one option, and for Ethereum block-building infrastructure, MEV Boost fits. Choose based on the task you need to complete rather than the name.
Verdict
The anon-br fork is a narrow, free, open-source upload service for ErgoUtils, best suited to developers who want to study or adapt an NFT storage workflow on Windows. It is not a good choice for anyone who needs a supported, actively maintained tool, because the code has not been updated since September 2021. If you use it, verify the download, test with small files, and keep it away from sensitive keys. Check the project page for any newer release before you rely on it.