Metaplex's latest NFT standard (mpl-core) that uses a single account per asset instead of multiple accounts (mint + metadata + master edition + token account). Core NFTs are cheaper to mint (~0.003 SOL), have built-in plugin support (royalties, freeze, attributes, app data), and native collection-level operations. Designed to replace the legacy Token Metadata standard.
Start with the shortest useful explanation before going deeper.
Metaplex's latest NFT standard (mpl-core) that uses a single account per asset instead of multiple accounts (mint + metadata + master edition + token account). Core NFTs are cheaper to mint (~0.003 SOL), have built-in plugin support (royalties, freeze, attributes, app data), and native collection-level operations. Designed to replace the legacy Token Metadata standard.
Use the quick analogy first so the term is easier to reason about when you meet it in code, docs, or prompts.
Think of it as a building block that connects one definition to the larger Solana system around it.
Place the term inside its Solana layer so the definition is easier to reason about.
SPL assets, token standards, metadata, and NFT primitives.
Turn the term from vocabulary into something operational for product and engineering work.
This term unlocks adjacent concepts quickly, so it works best when you treat it as a junction instead of an isolated definition.
Use this compact block when you want to give an agent or assistant grounded context without dumping the entire page.
Metaplex Core NFT (core-nft) Category: Token Ecosystem Definition: Metaplex's latest NFT standard (mpl-core) that uses a single account per asset instead of multiple accounts (mint + metadata + master edition + token account). Core NFTs are cheaper to mint (~0.003 SOL), have built-in plugin support (royalties, freeze, attributes, app data), and native collection-level operations. Designed to replace the legacy Token Metadata standard. Aliases: Core Asset, mpl-core Related: NFT (Non-Fungible Token), Metaplex Token Metadata
Use glossary context, relationships, mental models, and builder paths to get structured answers instead of generic chat output.
Optional: paste Anchor, Solana, or Rust code so the Copilot can map primitives back to glossary terms.
The Copilot will answer using the current term, related concepts, mental models, and the surrounding glossary graph.
These branches show which concepts this term touches directly and what sits one layer beyond them.
A non-fungible token on Solana—an SPL token with 0 decimals, supply of 1, and revoked mint authority. The NFT's metadata (image, attributes) is stored off-chain (Arweave/IPFS) linked via the Metaplex metadata account's URI field. NFTs can be standard, compressed (cNFT), programmable (pNFT), or Core assets, each with different trade-offs.
The Metaplex Token Metadata program (metaqbxxUerdq28cj1RbAWkYQm3ybzjb6a8bt518x1s) that attaches rich metadata to any SPL token or NFT. It creates a PDA-derived metadata account storing: name, symbol, URI (pointing to off-chain JSON), creators array, seller fee basis points, and collection info. The de facto standard for NFT metadata on Solana.
These are the next concepts worth opening if you want this term to make more sense inside a real Solana workflow.
These entries are easy to mix up when you are reading quickly, prompting an LLM, or onboarding into a new layer of Solana.
The Metaplex Token Metadata program (metaqbxxUerdq28cj1RbAWkYQm3ybzjb6a8bt518x1s) that attaches rich metadata to any SPL token or NFT. It creates a PDA-derived metadata account storing: name, symbol, URI (pointing to off-chain JSON), creators array, seller fee basis points, and collection info. The de facto standard for NFT metadata on Solana.
A non-fungible token on Solana—an SPL token with 0 decimals, supply of 1, and revoked mint authority. The NFT's metadata (image, attributes) is stored off-chain (Arweave/IPFS) linked via the Metaplex metadata account's URI field. NFTs can be standard, compressed (cNFT), programmable (pNFT), or Core assets, each with different trade-offs.
An NFT stored as a leaf in an on-chain Merkle tree via State Compression, reducing minting cost by ~1,000-5,000x. Only the tree root hash is stored on-chain; leaf data is indexed off-chain. A 1M cNFT collection costs ~50 SOL vs ~12,000 SOL for standard NFTs. Created via the Bubblegum program; transfers require Merkle proofs.
Glossary entries become useful when they are connected. These links are the shortest path to adjacent ideas.
A non-fungible token on Solana—an SPL token with 0 decimals, supply of 1, and revoked mint authority. The NFT's metadata (image, attributes) is stored off-chain (Arweave/IPFS) linked via the Metaplex metadata account's URI field. NFTs can be standard, compressed (cNFT), programmable (pNFT), or Core assets, each with different trade-offs.
The Metaplex Token Metadata program (metaqbxxUerdq28cj1RbAWkYQm3ybzjb6a8bt518x1s) that attaches rich metadata to any SPL token or NFT. It creates a PDA-derived metadata account storing: name, symbol, URI (pointing to off-chain JSON), creators array, seller fee basis points, and collection info. The de facto standard for NFT metadata on Solana.
These entries live beside the current term and help the page feel like part of a larger knowledge graph instead of a dead end.
The original Solana Program Library token program (TokenkegQfeZyiNwAJbNbGKPFXCWuBvf9Ss623VQ5DA) that implements fungible and non-fungible token operations. It manages mints (token definitions) and token accounts (balances). Core instructions include InitializeMint, MintTo, Transfer, Burn, Approve (delegation), and Revoke. All SPL tokens on mainnet before Token-2022 use this program.
Solana Program Library—a collection of on-chain programs and client libraries maintained by Solana Labs. Key SPL programs include Token, Token-2022, Associated Token Account, Memo, Name Service, Stake Pool, and Account Compression. SPL programs are deployed to well-known addresses and serve as the standard building blocks for Solana applications.
The next-generation token program (TokenzQdBNbLqP5VEhdkAS6EPFLC1PHnBqCXEpPxuEb) that extends SPL Token with configurable extensions. Extensions include transfer fees, confidential transfers, transfer hooks, permanent delegate, non-transferable tokens, interest-bearing tokens, metadata, and more. Token-2022 is backwards-compatible with SPL Token for basic operations.
An on-chain account defining a token type. A mint specifies: supply (total minted), decimals (0 for NFTs, 6 for USDC, 9 for most tokens), mint authority (who can mint), and optional freeze authority. Each unique token (USDC, JitoSOL, etc.) has exactly one mint account. Mint address serves as the token's unique identifier.