ERC-1155: What It Is and How It's Changing NFTs and Tokens

When you think of NFTs, you probably imagine unique digital art or collectibles—but ERC-1155, a flexible blockchain token standard that combines fungible and non-fungible tokens in a single contract. Also known as the multi-token standard, it lets developers manage dozens or even hundreds of token types without bloating the blockchain. Unlike older standards like ERC-20 (for coins) or ERC-721 (for unique NFTs), ERC-1155 does both. That means one smart contract can handle a game’s currency, a rare weapon, and a skin—all in one go. It’s not just more efficient—it’s cheaper, faster, and way less messy.

This matters because blockchain tokens, digital assets that represent value on a network. Also known as crypto assets, they’re the building blocks of Web3. Before ERC-1155, every new NFT or token needed its own contract. That meant higher gas fees, slower transactions, and more room for errors. Now, with ERC-1155, a single transaction can mint 100 unique items or swap 500 coins at once. Projects like NBOX and SpaceY 2025 use it to power in-game economies, where players earn, trade, and use different assets without switching platforms. Even smart contracts, self-executing code on blockchains that run when conditions are met. Also known as blockchain programs, they’re the engine behind automated systems get simpler to build and audit. That’s why top GameFi and NFT platforms are moving to ERC-1155—it’s not a trend, it’s a upgrade.

But it’s not just for games. Think digital identities, event tickets, loyalty points, or even real estate deeds—all can be bundled under one contract. That’s why you’ll see ERC-1155 popping up in posts about NFT airdrops, tokenomics, and blockchain gaming. The projects here don’t just mention it—they rely on it. Whether it’s a rare NFT from a giveaway or a fungible token used to unlock features, ERC-1155 is quietly making it all possible. Below, you’ll find real examples of how this standard is used, abused, and optimized in today’s crypto landscape.