NFTs on Solana

Q: What's the difference between a standard NFT and a compressed NFT?

Standard NFTs use individual on-chain accounts for each asset, while compressed NFTs (cNFTs) use state compression and Merkle trees to store data more efficiently, significantly reducing storage costs.

Q: How do I verify an NFT's authenticity?

Verify an NFT's authenticity by checking its mint address and collection verification against trusted sources, such as the project's official website, documentation, or verified marketplaces.

Q: Are royalties guaranteed on Solana?

Royalties on Solana are primarily creator policies and are not always enforced at the protocol level. Their enforcement often depends on marketplace rules and, in some cases, on programmable NFT features.

Q: Where is NFT metadata stored?

NFT metadata is typically stored off-chain, often on decentralized storage solutions like IPFS or Arweave, with a URI pointing to it from the NFT's on-chain metadata account.

Introduction

NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) on Solana represent unique digital assets that cannot be replaced by identical items. They are used for:

Digital art and collectibles
In-game items
Tickets and passes
Identity and credentials
Real-world asset representation

This page explains how Solana NFTs work at a technical level, how different NFT types (standard, compressed, programmable) compare, how royalties and marketplaces behave, and what to watch for in terms of security and authenticity.

Diagram showing Solana NFT structure including mint accounts, metadata, collections, and different NFT types like standard, compressed, and programmable NFTs

NFTs on Solana - Understanding Digital Asset Structure

What is an NFT on Solana?

On Solana, an NFT is essentially:

A fungible SPL token mint with:
- Supply typically set to 1 (or a limited number for editions)
Plus a metadata account from the Metaplex Token Metadata program

The mint address is the unique identifier of the NFT. The metadata holds the human-readable part: name, image, attributes, collection, and so on.

Where Ethereum has ERC-721 and ERC-1155 standards built into the token interface, Solana NFTs are built on:

SPL tokens (for balances and ownership)
Separate metadata and edition accounts (for NFT behavior and display)

This layering gives Solana NFTs flexibility while still using the core token infrastructure.

Technical Architecture

Core Components

Solana NFTs consist of several accounts that together describe the asset:

Mint Account

The mint is the unique identifier of the NFT. For a typical 1/1 NFT:

Total supply is set to 1
Decimals are usually 0
Mint authority is often revoked after minting

This makes the token effectively non-fungible.

Associated Token Account (ATA)

The Associated Token Account (ATA) holds the NFT for a specific owner:

Each owner has a separate ATA for a given mint
When the NFT is transferred, the token moves from the seller’s ATA to the buyer’s ATA
The mint itself never changes

Metadata Account

The metadata account, managed by the Metaplex Token Metadata program, stores:

Name and symbol
URI (link to off-chain JSON metadata)
Creator list and verification flags
Collection information
Optional attributes and properties

Wallets and marketplaces use this account to display your NFT correctly.

Master Edition & Editions

For limited series and generative drops, Metaplex uses:

Master Edition – defines the original NFT and the maximum possible number of editions
Edition accounts – represent each copy minted from the master edition

This is common for:

Generative collections
Music and media releases
“Numbered” collectibles (e.g. #1/100, #2/100, …)

Collection

Collections are used to group NFTs and verify they belong to a specific project:

A collection mint and collection metadata exist separately
Individual NFTs reference the collection
The collection relationship can be verified by the collection authority

Verified collections help marketplaces and wallets highlight legitimate project NFTs and filter out fakes.

Minting Standards & Options

Standard NFTs

Standard NFTs use:

A mint account
One or more token accounts
A metadata account
Optional edition / collection accounts

Each NFT has its own set of accounts. This model is:

Simple and robust
Well supported by tooling and marketplaces
More expensive for very large collections (account rent)

Best for:

High-value 1/1s
Small/medium collections
Long-term art and collectibles

Compressed NFTs (cNFTs)

Compressed NFTs (cNFTs) use Solana’s state compression and Merkle trees:

Many NFTs are represented in a compressed Merkle tree
Only proofs and hashes live on-chain
Detailed data is kept in an off-chain index

Benefits:

Dramatically lower on-chain storage and minting cost
Practical for millions of NFTs

Common use cases:

Large gaming inventories
Loyalty and rewards programs
Ticketing and event passes

Tooling and marketplace support for cNFTs is growing, but may lag behind standard NFTs in some environments.

Programmable NFTs (pNFTs)

Programmable NFTs (pNFTs) extend standard NFTs with custom transfer rules, such as:

Royalty enforcement policies
Compliance / allowlist checks
Restricted transfers (e.g. only to certain addresses)

Logic is attached through the Metaplex metadata programs, rather than modifying the underlying SPL token standard.

This gives creators more control over:

How NFTs move
When royalties are enforced
On-chain policy guarantees instead of pure marketplace “honor systems”

Comparison of Minting Options

Aspect	Standard NFT	Compressed NFT (cNFT)	Programmable NFT (pNFT)
Storage footprint	Higher (separate accounts per NFT)	Lower (compressed tree)	Higher (accounts + rule logic)
Minting cost	Higher per NFT	Significantly lower	Higher
Tooling support	Mature and broad	Growing, varies by app	Emerging but expanding
Transfer behavior	Standard SPL token transfers	Transfers with compression proofs	Customizable transfer rules
Best use cases	High-value art, smaller collections	Massive scale (gaming, loyalty, tickets)	Enforced royalties, policy-sensitive assets
Decentralization	High	Medium (off-chain index + proofs)	High

Metadata & Storage

Metaplex Token Metadata Standard

The metadata JSON commonly includes:

name – NFT display name
symbol – short ticker/code
description – human-readable description
image – URI to the visual asset
attributes – trait list (used for rarity and filtering)
properties – more structured information, such as creators and files

The on-chain metadata account stores:

The URI
Verified creators
Collection information
Flags for mutability

Storage Solutions

Most Solana NFTs use URIs that point to:

✅ IPFS – content-addressed, distributed file system
✅ Arweave – “permanent” storage with single up-front payment

Projects often use gateways like https://ipfs.io/ipfs/... or project-specific gateways for easier browser access, while still relying on decentralized storage under the hood.

Metadata Mutability

By default, metadata can be mutable. Projects can later:

Keep metadata mutable (for dynamic NFTs or early-stage projects)
Make metadata immutable, preventing any changes

Immutable metadata plus verified creators and collections increases:

Collector confidence
Resistance to “stealth rug” metadata swaps

Royalties & Marketplace Dynamics

Royalties are intended to pay creators on secondary sales. On Solana, in practice:

Royalties are not enforced at the base protocol level
Enforcement depends on marketplace rules and sometimes on pNFT transfer logic

How Royalties Work in Practice

Standard NFTs rely on marketplaces to honor royalty settings in metadata
Some marketplaces enforce royalties by default, others made them optional
This led to inconsistent behavior across the ecosystem

Programmable NFTs (pNFTs) aim to strengthen this by allowing:

On-chain rules that require royalties to be paid under certain conditions
Transfer restrictions if royalty rules are not followed

Still, users need to understand each marketplace’s policies.

Historical Context

In 2022–2023:

Major marketplaces like Magic Eden initially enforced royalties
New marketplaces appeared with “zero-royalty” or “optional royalty” models
Creator income became harder to predict

This tension pushed the ecosystem towards more robust royalty tooling, including:

pNFTs with programmable rules
Clearer marketplace policies
On-chain standards for showing creator preferences

For creators, it is important to:

Publish clear royalty expectations
Choose NFT standards and marketplaces that align with those expectations

Wallet Integration & Management

Wallet Support

Popular Solana wallets such as:

Phantom
Solflare
Backpack

typically support:

Viewing NFTs in a dedicated “Collectibles” section
Sending NFTs to other wallets
Connecting to marketplaces and dApps that use NFTs

Transfer Considerations

NFT transfers are:

Irreversible once confirmed
Final at the protocol level

Good practice:

Double-check recipient addresses
Use a low-value NFT to test flows with new marketplaces or wallets
Avoid signing transactions from unknown or suspicious sites

Marketplace Integration

When listing NFTs:

Marketplaces may use escrow accounts or escrowless models
Fees, royalties, and listing durations vary
Some platforms specialize in art, others in gaming or AMM-like trading of NFTs

Always review:

Marketplace reputation and security history
Fee structure and royalty policy
Whether your NFT standard (standard / cNFT / pNFT) is fully supported

Costs & Performance

Solana’s low fees make NFT usage affordable, but there are still relevant costs:

Transaction fees: Very small, but can increase with congestion or priority fees
Account rent: New accounts (mints, token accounts, metadata accounts) require rent-exempt deposits in SOL

For large-scale NFT projects, these account costs can be significant. This is why:

Standard NFTs are ideal for smaller, higher-value sets
cNFTs are ideal for massive scale

For more detail on fees in general, see:

Transactions & Fees

Security & Authenticity

To avoid scams and mistakes:

✅ Verify mint address

Compare the mint address with official project sources (website, docs, X, Discord)
Cross-check with multiple explorers if needed

✅ Check collection verification

Many marketplaces show a “verified collection” badge
This confirms the NFT is part of the creator-verified collection, not an imitation

✅ Watch for phishing

Fake mints and airdrops can appear in your wallet
Avoid connecting your wallet or signing transactions on unknown sites
Manually type URLs or use bookmarked official links instead of random links

✅ Use hardware wallets for high value

Store high-value NFTs in a hardware wallet
Use a “hot” wallet only for daily interactions and minting

✅ Review approvals and connections

Revoke old dApp permissions when you no longer use them
Regularly clean up connected sites in your wallet

History & Evolution

Early Development (2021)

The Solana NFT ecosystem grew rapidly with Metaplex Candy Machine becoming the standard for generative drops
Collections like Degenerate Ape Academy helped establish Solana NFTs in the broader market

Compression Innovation (2023)

Compressed NFTs (cNFTs) using state compression enabled:
- Millions of NFTs at a fraction of previous costs
- New use cases like large-scale loyalty and game inventories

Programmable NFTs

Programmable NFTs (pNFTs) introduced:
- On-chain transfer rules
- Potentially stronger royalty guarantees
- Better support for regulated and compliance-sensitive use cases

Notable Programs & Standards

Candy Machine – generative minting infrastructure for standard NFTs
Bubblegum – compression framework for cNFTs
Token Metadata – core metadata program for all Metaplex-compatible NFTs

Ecosystem Examples

Well-known Projects & Platforms

Degenerate Ape Academy – early Solana blue-chip collection
Mad Lads – popular collection and ecosystem
Tensor – NFT marketplace with advanced trading features
Magic Eden – early and major Solana NFT marketplace

These are examples of how different marketplaces and collections approach royalties, cNFTs, and pNFTs.

Comparison to Ethereum

Compared to Ethereum:

Solana uses SPL tokens + metadata programs instead of ERC-721/1155
Solana offers:
- Lower transaction fees
- Faster confirmation times
- Different trade-offs in decentralization vs performance

For users and creators who work across chains, understanding these structural differences is important when porting collections or using bridges.

Reference Tables

NFT Components & Purpose

Component	Purpose	Control	Mutability	Notes
Mint	Unique token identifier	Creator at mint time	No (core identity)	NFT’s permanent fingerprint
Token Account (ATA)	Holds NFT for a specific owner	Owner	Yes (balance)	Ownership changes by moving tokens
Metadata	Descriptive info & URI	Creator / update authority	Mutable by default, can be made immutable	Drives how NFTs display in wallets
Master Edition	Defines edition limits	Creator	No (once set)	Used for limited series
Collection	Groups related NFTs	Collection authority	Yes (assignment, verification)	Helps verify authenticity

📝 Conclusion

Solana NFTs combine:

SPL token mints
Metaplex metadata and collection standards
Optional compressed and programmable models

This gives creators a flexible toolkit for everything from 1/1 art to massive game inventories. For users, understanding:

How NFTs are structured
Where metadata lives
How royalties and marketplaces actually behave
How to verify authenticity and manage security

is critical before moving serious value into the ecosystem.

As with any on-chain asset, testing flows on devnet before committing on mainnet is strongly recommended.

❓ FAQ

Q: What’s the difference between a standard NFT and a compressed NFT?

A: Standard NFTs use separate on-chain accounts (mint, metadata, token account) for each asset, while compressed NFTs (cNFTs) use state compression and Merkle trees so only compressed proofs live on-chain. This significantly reduces storage and minting costs, especially at large scale.

Q: How do I verify an NFT’s authenticity?

A: Check the NFT’s mint address and collection against official project sources (website, docs, or social channels). Then confirm the collection is verified on reputable marketplaces or explorers before buying or interacting.

Q: Are royalties guaranteed on Solana?

A: No. Royalties on Solana are primarily creator policies, not hard protocol rules. Enforcement depends on marketplace behavior and, for some assets, on programmable NFT (pNFT) transfer rules.

Q: Where is NFT metadata stored?

A: Most NFTs store a URI in the on-chain metadata account that points to off-chain JSON hosted on IPFS or Arweave. The JSON file then points to the actual media (images, videos, etc.).

Q: What’s the difference between cNFTs and pNFTs?

A: cNFTs are about scaling and cost via compression. pNFTs are about behavior and rules, allowing custom transfer logic (like enforced royalties or compliance checks). They solve different problems and can be used in different contexts.

Q: Can NFTs on Solana be bridged to Ethereum or other chains?

A: Yes, but not natively by the Solana protocol. Third-party bridges and wrappers handle cross-chain representation. This introduces extra complexity, fees, and smart contract risk, so always research the specific bridge.

📚 References and Further Reading

NFT with Metadata – Official Solana developer course module on NFTs