A Definitive Guide to ERC-6551 Token Standard

The current market for NFTs is booming at an unprecedented rate. 10,000 wallets interact with NFTs on any given day as of 2023. ERC-6551, a new token standard, is well-positioned to capitalize on this growth by providing a more versatile and user-friendly token standard for NFTs.

In this blog, we’ll dive deeper into this latest NFT token standard and how it is becoming mainstream lately.

Without any further ado, let’s get you started!

What is the ERC-6551 NFT Token Standard?

ERC-6551 is a new token standard for non-fungible tokens (NFTs) that was released on May 7, 2023. It enhances the functionality and value of NFTs by giving them smart contract capabilities. 

ERC-6551 token standard functions as smart contract wallets which indicates ERC-6551s are capable of holding tokens and other NFTs similar to regular smart contract wallets.

ERC-6551 Token Standard: Combatting the Existing Token Standard Challenges

The need for the ERC-6551 standard is to address the limitations of the previous standard, ERC-721. ERC-721 is a suitable standard to create NFT token, but it does not allow NFTs to interact with other smart contracts or decentralized applications (dApps). This limits the usefulness of NFTs and prevents them from being used in a wide range of applications.

ERC-6551 addresses this limitation by giving NFTs smart contract capabilities. This allows NFTs to own other assets, interact with dApps, and evolve over time. This makes NFTs more valuable and useful for businesses and users alike.

The ERC-6551 NFT token standard can overcome a number of challenges faced by previous token standards. Let’s discover the existing challenges and how the ERC-6551 token standard is overcoming them:

• Lack of interoperability: Previous token standards were not interoperable with each other, which made it difficult to use them in a variety of applications. ERC-6551 tokens are interoperable with other ERC-6551 tokens, as well as with other token standards such as ERC-721 which makes them more versatile and convenient for an array of applications.
• Security: Previous token standards were not as secure as they could be. ERC-6551 NFT tokens are stored in smart contracts, which makes them more secure than tokens that are stored on centralized exchanges. This makes them less vulnerable to hacking and fraud.
• Scalability: Previous token standards were not as scalable as they could be. ERC-6551 tokens are stored in smart contracts, which makes them more scalable than tokens that are stored on centralized exchanges. This makes them more suitable for use in large-scale applications.

Key Features of ERC-6551 Token Standard

Here are some of the key features of the ERC-6551 standard:

1. Token Bound Accounts (TBAs)
   TBAs are the key innovation of the ERC-6551 NFT token standard. They are smart contracts that are associated with a specific NFT. TBAs allow NFTs to own other assets, interact with dApps, and evolve over time.For example, an NFT could be used to represent a house. The TBA for that house could be used to store the house’s title, mortgage information, and other relevant data. The TBA could also be used to interact with dApps that offer home maintenance services or to sell the house to another user.
2. Compatibility with Existing NFTs
   ERC-6551 NFT standard is fully compatible with existing NFTs. This means that existing NFTs can be migrated to the ERC-6551 standard without any changes.To migrate an NFT to the ERC-6551 standard, the owner of the NFT simply needs to create a new TBA for it. The TBA can then be used to store the NFT’s metadata, such as its name, image, and description.
3. Future DevelopmentsThe ERC-6551 team is working on a number of future developments for the standard. These include support for multiple asset types, improved security, and increased scalability.Support for multiple asset types would allow TBAs to store other types of assets, such as ERC-20 tokens, ERC-721 tokens, and even physical assets. Improved security would make TBAs more resistant to hacking and fraud. Increased scalability would allow TBAs to handle more transactions per second.Overall, ERC-6551 is a significant improvement over the previous standard for NFTs. It offers a number of advantages that make it more valuable and useful for businesses and users alike while taking the NFT token development landscape to new heights.

How Does the ERC-6551 Token Standard Work?

ERC-6551 is an Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) that defines a new token standard for Non-fungible Tokens (NFTs). The standard was created by Future Primitive, an on-chain product studio led by Benny Giang and Steve Jang.

ERC-6551 introduces the concept of token-bound accounts (TBAs). TBAs are smart contract wallets that are linked to specific NFTs. This allows NFTs to own assets and interact with applications, making them more dynamic and interactive than ever before.

ERC-6551 is a significant development in the NFT space. The standard makes NFTs more dynamic and interactive, which could lead to increased adoption and usage.

Notable Benefits of ERC-6551 NFT Standard

Here are some of the specific benefits of ERC-6551:

• Increased interoperability: ERC-6551 tokens can interact with other smart contracts and dApps. This gives them a wider range of functionality and makes them more valuable to users.
• Enhanced security: ERC-6551 tokens are more secure than traditional NFTs because they are stored in smart contracts. This makes them less vulnerable to theft and fraud.
• Improved scalability: ERC-6551 tokens can be scaled more easily than traditional NFTs because they are stored in smart contracts. This makes them more suitable for use in large-scale applications.

Overall, the ERC-6551 NFT standard is a significant improvement over the previous standard for NFTs. It offers a number of advantages that make it more valuable and useful for businesses and users alike.

Use cases of ERC-6551 Standard

• Gaming
  ERC-6551 tokens can be used to create more engaging and interactive gaming experiences. For example, a game could allow players to use ERC-6551 tokens to buy and sell items, or to upgrade their characters.
• Art
  ERC-6551 tokens can be used to create more valuable and collectible pieces of art. For example, an artist could create an NFT that represents a limited edition print, or that grants the owner access to exclusive content.
• Finance
  ERC-6551 tokens can be used to create more secure and efficient financial applications. For example, a bank could use ERC-6551 tokens to issue loans or to track the ownership of assets.
• Real estate
  ERC-6551 tokens can be used to represent real estate assets, such as houses, apartments, and land. This could make it easier to buy, sell, and rent real estate, and could also help to reduce fraud and other problems.
• Identity
  ERC-6551 tokens can be used to create digital identities. This could be used for a variety of purposes, such as voting, signing contracts, and accessing services.
• Supply chain management
  ERC-6551 tokens can be used to track the movement of goods and services through the supply chain. This could help to improve efficiency, reduce fraud, and ensure the authenticity of products.
• Voting
  ERC-6551 tokens can be used to create a secure and transparent voting system. This helps in maximizing voter participation while avoiding frauds.
• Loyalty programs
  ERC-6551 tokens can be used to create loyalty programs. This could help businesses to reward their customers and encourage repeat business.
• Crowdfunding
  ERC-6551 tokens can be used to raise money for a variety of projects, such as new businesses, films, and charitable causes. This could make it easier for people to get involved in projects that they care about.

These are just a few of the potential use cases for ERC-6551 tokens. As the technology continues to develop, we can expect to see even more innovative and creative applications for ERC-6551 tokens.

The Verdict

ERC-6551 is a promising new standard for NFTs. The standard has the potential to make NFTs more dynamic, interactive, and secure while overcoming the loopholes and shortcomings of existing NFT token standards.

Planning to leverage the ERC-6551 NFT token standard into your business? Antier can be your ideal digital partner to give a boost to your NFT journey. We have a dexterous team of certified and skilled NFT experts with hands-on experience on all popular NFT token standards and a wide array of NFT token development tools and services.