How to Deploy a Simple Token Contract on Vector Smart Chain (VSC) Testnet: A Step-by-Step Guide

Deploying a token contract on the Vector Smart Chain (VSC) Testnet is an excellent way to learn smart contract development and experiment with your custom tokens before deploying on the mainnet. In this article, I’ll guide you through the step-by-step process of deploying a simple ERC-20 token contract on the VSC testnet using Remix, a popular smart contract development platform.

Step 1: Set Up MetaMask for Vector Smart Chain Testnet

Before you begin deploying contracts, make sure your MetaMask wallet is connected to the VSC Testnet.

1. Install MetaMask: If you don’t have MetaMask installed yet, download it from here.
2. Add the VSC Testnet:

• Open MetaMask, click on the network dropdown, and select Add Network.
• Enter the following network details:
  • Network Name: Vector Smart Chain Testnet
  • New RPC URL: https://testnet-rpc.vsgofficial.com
  • Chain ID: 420044
  • Currency Symbol: VSG
  • Block Explorer URL: https://testnet-scan.vsgofficial.com
• Click Save to add the network, and ensure your wallet is connected to the VSC Testnet.

Step 2: Obtain Test VSG Tokens

To deploy a contract on the testnet, you’ll need some VSG tokens to cover gas fees.

1. Access the VSC Faucet:

• Visit @vsc_faucet_bot on Telegram.
• Type /drip (your wallet address) to receive free testnet tokens.

Step 3: Open Remix IDE

Remix is a powerful online Solidity development environment. Follow the steps below to access Remix and write your smart contract:

1. Go to Remix IDE.
2. In the left sidebar, click the Create New File icon under the File Explorer tab.
3. Name the file something like SimpleToken.sol.

Step 4: Write Your Simple Token Contract

Paste the following Solidity code into the new file. This code is a basic ERC-20 token contract:

// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
pragma solidity ^0.8.0;

import "@openzeppelin/contracts/token/ERC20/ERC20.sol";

contract SimpleToken is ERC20 {
    constructor(uint256 initialSupply) ERC20("SimpleToken", "STKN") {
        _mint(msg.sender, initialSupply * (10 ** decimals()));
    }
}

• This contract inherits from OpenZeppelin’s ERC20 implementation, which ensures standard token behavior.
• The constructor mints an initial supply of tokens to the contract deployer.

Step 5: Compile the Smart Contract

1. Click on the Solidity Compiler tab in the left sidebar (represented by a “solidity” icon).
2. Ensure that the compiler version is set to 0.8.0 or higher (the same version used in your contract).
3. Click the Compile SimpleToken.sol button. If the contract is free of errors, you should see a green checkmark confirming successful compilation.

Step 6: Deploy the Token Contract on VSC Testnet

1. In the left sidebar, go to the Deploy & Run Transactions tab (represented by an Ethereum logo).
2. Under Environment, select Injected Web3. This connects Remix to your MetaMask wallet (ensure MetaMask is set to the VSC Testnet).
3. You should see your wallet address appear automatically under the Account field.
4. Under the Contract section, select SimpleToken from the dropdown menu.
5. In the Value input field, enter the initial supply you want for your token. For example, entering 1000000 will mint 1,000,000 tokens.
6. Click the Deploy button.

MetaMask will prompt you to confirm the transaction. After confirmation, your token contract will be deployed on the VSC testnet!

Step 7: Verify the Deployment and Check the Contract

Once the deployment is successful, you can verify the contract and interact with it:

1. View on Block Explorer: Copy the contract address from the Remix console and paste it into the VSC Testnet block explorer: https://testnet-scan.vsgofficial.com. This will allow you to track the contract and any transactions related to it.
2. Interact via Remix: After deployment, you can interact with the token contract directly from Remix:

• Click on the contract instance under the Deployed Contracts section in Remix.
• You’ll see the available functions for your token, including totalSupply(), balanceOf(), transfer(), etc. You can use these to verify token balances, send tokens, or interact with other token functionalities.

Congratulations!

You have successfully deployed your own ERC-20 token on the Vector Smart Chain testnet. From here, you can continue experimenting by deploying more advanced smart contracts or even building dApps that integrate your custom token. Be sure to test thoroughly on the testnet before moving to the mainnet.

Next Steps:

Join the Community: Share your deployed token and get feedback in the VSC Telegram Group.

Test the Token: Use VSCDEX to swap or provide liquidity for your token.

Develop Advanced Contracts: Explore more complex features such as minting, burning, or staking functionalities.