// GLOSSARY -- BLOCKCHAIN & CRYPTO FUNDAMENTALS

What is ERC-1155?

1 min read Updated

ERC-1155 is a multi-token standard that supports both fungible and non-fungible tokens in a single contract — more gas-efficient than deploying separate ERC-20 and ERC-721 contracts.

WHY IT MATTERS

ERC-1155 is the 'do everything' token standard. A single contract can manage fungible tokens (in-game currency), non-fungible tokens (unique items), and semi-fungible tokens (event tickets — identical until used). This flexibility is why it dominates gaming and collectible applications.

The gas efficiency is significant: batch transfers of multiple token types in a single transaction, shared contract deployment, and optimized storage patterns. For applications managing many token types, ERC-1155 can reduce costs dramatically.

Major platforms like OpenSea support ERC-1155. Game studios and NFT projects increasingly default to ERC-1155 for its flexibility and efficiency.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

ERC-1155 vs ERC-721?
ERC-721: one contract per collection, each token unique. ERC-1155: one contract for everything, supports both fungible and non-fungible tokens. ERC-1155 is more efficient for mixed-type collections.
When should I use ERC-1155?
When you need multiple token types (games, marketplaces), batch operations, or gas efficiency. For simple unique collections, ERC-721 is simpler. For pure fungible tokens, ERC-20 is standard.
Does ERC-1155 work with DeFi?
DeFi is primarily built around ERC-20. ERC-1155 fungible tokens need wrapper contracts to interact with most DeFi protocols. Support is growing but not universal.

FURTHER READING

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