Deploying Your React Blockchain App to the Web: A Complete Guide

In today’s Web3-driven world, building a decentralized application (dApp) with React and blockchain technology is just the beginning. To make your dApp accessible to users, you need to deploy it to the web. This article walks you through how to deploy your React blockchain app using popular tools like Vite, Netlify, and IPFS, ensuring it’s live, decentralized, and production-ready.

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Prerequisites

Before you deploy your app, make sure you have the following ready:

• A completed React frontend (Vite or Create React App)
• A smart contract deployed to a blockchain network (e.g., Ethereum, Polygon)
• A Web3 provider (e.g., MetaMask, Infura, or Alchemy)
• Hosting account (e.g., Netlify, Vercel, or Fleek for IPFS)

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Step 1: Build Your React App for Production

If you’re using Vite (highly recommended for blockchain apps):

bashCopyEditnpm run build

This command creates a dist/ directory with optimized files.

For Create React App:

bashCopyEditnpm run build

This will generate a build/ folder containing your production-ready assets.

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Step 2: Configure Environment Variables

Make sure your app can connect to your smart contract. Typical variables include:

envCopyEditVITE_CONTRACT_ADDRESS=0xYourSmartContractAddress
VITE_INFURA_API_KEY=your_infura_key
VITE_NETWORK=goerli

Store them in a .env file (prefixed with VITE_ for Vite).

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Step 3: Choose a Hosting Platform

Option 1: Deploy to Netlify (Great for Beginners)

1. Push your code to GitHub.
2. Create a free Netlify account.
3. Link your GitHub repo to Netlify.
4. Set the build command to npm run build.
5. Set the publish directory to dist (Vite) or build (CRA).
6. Add environment variables in the Netlify dashboard.

👉 Your dApp will be live on a custom Netlify URL (e.g., yourapp.netlify.app).

Option 2: Deploy to IPFS via Fleek (Decentralized Hosting)

1. Go to Fleek and sign up.
2. Connect your GitHub repository.
3. Choose IPFS as your hosting option.
4. Set the build settings:
   • Framework: Vite or React
   • Build command: npm run build
   • Publish directory: dist or build
5. Deploy and get a permanent IPFS hash.

This makes your dApp fully decentralized, accessible via IPFS gateways.

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Step 4: Verify Your dApp Works on the Web

After deployment:

• Open your hosted app in a browser.
• Ensure MetaMask or another wallet connects successfully.
• Test smart contract interactions.
• Check the console for any CORS or Web3 errors.

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Bonus: Enable ENS or Custom Domains

If you want a cleaner URL:

• Use ENS (Ethereum Name Service) for IPFS sites (e.g., yourapp.eth.limo)
• Use custom domains in Netlify or Fleek settings

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SEO Tips for Blockchain dApps

1. Add meaningful <title> and <meta> tags.
2. Use keywords like “Ethereum wallet,” “Web3 login,” and “blockchain voting app.”
3. Create a sitemap.xml and robots.txt.
4. Add Open Graph tags for rich social media sharing.

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Conclusion

Deploying your React blockchain app is a critical step toward making your dApp accessible to users worldwide. Whether you prefer centralized platforms like Netlify or decentralized options like IPFS, the process is straightforward with the right setup. With your app live, you’re ready to engage users in the decentralized future.