Token Standards (ERC-721, SPL, BEP-20)
Technical standards for different token types on various blockchains.
Token standards are technical interfaces defining how tokens work on a specific blockchain — uniformity enables interoperability.
Ethereum token standards:
•ERC-20 — fungible tokens (USDT, UNI, LINK)
•ERC-721 — NFT (non-fungible), each unique
•ERC-1155 — multi-token (gaming), both fungible and NFT
•ERC-4626 — tokenized vault (DeFi yield)
•ERC-404 — hybrid fungible/NFT (experimental)
Solana token standards:
•SPL (Solana Program Library) Token — fungible (USDC, JUP...)
•Metaplex NFT Standard — NFT on Solana
•Token-2022 — extended SPL with confidential transfers
BNB Chain:
•BEP-20 — ERC-20 equivalent on BSC
•BEP-721 — ERC-721 NFT equivalent
•BEP-2 — original Binance Chain token (obsolete)
Polygon / L2:
•Mostly EVM-compatible → same ERC standards
Bitcoin token standards:
•Ordinals — NFT inscriptions directly on BTC
•BRC-20 — fungible tokens on Bitcoin (experimental)
•Runes — optimized fungible tokens (2024, Taproot)
Why it matters:
•Right wallet/exchange must support right standard
•Sending ERC-20 to wrong network = token loss