NFT Token Standards Explained: ERC-721, ERC-1155, and What Matters Now

When you buy an NFT, you’re not just buying a picture—you’re buying a piece of code that follows a specific NFT token standard, a set of rules that tells a blockchain how to recognize, track, and transfer digital ownership. Also known as blockchain token standards, it’s the invisible foundation that makes NFTs work across wallets, marketplaces, and games. Without these standards, your NFT would be just a file with no proof of ownership—useless on OpenSea, Blur, or any other platform.

Two standards dominate the space: ERC-721, the original NFT standard on Ethereum that gives each token a unique ID and makes it indivisible, and ERC-1155, a more flexible standard that lets one contract handle both unique and multiple identical tokens. ERC-721 is what you see in CryptoPunks and Bored Apes—each one is one-of-a-kind. ERC-1155 is behind games like The Sandbox and marketplaces that sell bundles of items, like 10 identical rare hats. The difference isn’t just technical—it affects cost, speed, and how you can use your NFTs in apps.

These standards don’t exist in a vacuum. They connect to how NFTs are minted, traded, and even taxed. If you’re claiming an airdrop like TAUR or participating in a Web3 sports game like Footballcraft, the underlying token standard determines if your wallet can hold it, if the marketplace can list it, and if your transaction will even go through. A poorly built contract using an outdated or unsupported standard can leave your NFT stuck, unsellable, or even lost forever.

Most of the NFT projects you’ve heard about—whether they’re generative art, gaming items, or collectibles—rely on one of these two standards. Even newer chains like Solana or Polygon have their own versions, but they’re built on the same ideas. The real question isn’t which chain you’re on—it’s whether the NFT you’re buying follows a standard that’s actually supported by the tools you use. If you’re holding an NFT from a project that didn’t use ERC-721 or ERC-1155, you’re already gambling on whether someone will ever want to buy it.

And it’s not just about ownership. NFT token standards control how royalties are paid, how metadata is stored, and whether your NFT can interact with other smart contracts. That’s why some NFTs work in games while others don’t. Why some sell for thousands and others sit worthless. Why some airdrops require you to jump through hoops just to claim a token that might not even be usable.

Below, you’ll find real reviews and breakdowns of NFT projects, exchanges, and airdrops—all filtered through the lens of what actually works under the hood. You’ll see why some NFT collections failed not because of design, but because of bad code. Why some platforms won’t list certain tokens. And how knowing the difference between ERC-721 and ERC-1155 can save you from losing money before you even click buy.