metamask – Step-by-Step Guide to Transferring an NFT via MetaMask

Practically, yes. The ERC-721 standard supports a transfer function. You can use that to allow people to send you tokens.

Then you can use transfer again to send them to the one address. This is a well-known address that is unable to recover any assets sent to it. (The zero address is better known with the same feature, but the standard specifically disallows sending there.) This is an effective burn.

But the standard specifically does not standardize burning. Your new contract could use the above approach in general along with more specific proprietary burning approaches as needed on a per-asset-type basis.

There's a few ways to do it that I've seen.

1. Use attributes

All the attributes are stored succinctly into one variable of 256 bits. If you can create a repeatable process to create an image from attributes and you can guarantee that every different valid input creates a separate image then you're good. It is trivial for the smart contract to validate non-duplication. (See CryptoKitties)

2. Precalculate

You can precalculate all possible images. Then as tokens are minted the guaranteed-unique image is available. The entire set can be committed up-front, even if not publicly known. (Related to CryptoPunks)

3. Trust

As new tokens are minted they do not have any image at all. Then, asynchronously, you will create and publish those images. The smart contract does zero validation here and people must trust you.