NFT Types

Metaplex Core NFTs

Metaplex Core is the latest and most modular NFT standard on Solana, designed for maximum flexibility, scalability, and performance. Built with a plugin-based architecture, it supports advanced use cases and custom behaviors.

Pros:

• Highly modular and customizable via plugins.
• Better performance and lower compute costs than Legacy.
• Compatible with current and future token extensions.
• Supports dynamic metadata and on-chain logic.

Metaplex Legacy NFTs

Also known as the "Token Metadata" standard, this is the original and most widely used NFT type on Solana. It represents a fixed NFT structure with on-chain metadata linked to an off-chain asset.

Cons:

• More expensive than Core
• Higher minting and update costs.
• Inefficient for large-scale or dynamic use cases.

cNFTs (Compressed NFTs)

Definition:
Compressed NFTs are a scalable NFT format on Solana that uses Merkle tree structures to significantly reduce storage costs. Ideal for high-volume collections and on-chain games.

Pros:

• Extremely low minting and storage costs.
• Perfect for mass-minting (e.g., 100k+ NFTs).
• Efficient for games, tickets, and loyalty systems.

Cons:

• Unable to freeze
• Limited functionality (no native token transfers or plugin support).

🔁 Summary Table