ERC-1155: The Multi-Token Standard That Changed NFTs and Game Assets

When you think of NFTs, you probably imagine a single unique digital item—like a piece of art or a collectible card. But what if one smart contract could handle ERC-1155, a blockchain standard that allows multiple token types in a single contract. Also known as Semi-Fungible Token Standard, it doesn’t just track one thing—it tracks hundreds, even thousands, of different assets at once. That’s the power of ERC-1155. Unlike older standards like ERC-20 (for coins) or ERC-721 (for single NFTs), ERC-1155 lets you bundle them all together. Need to issue 10,000 identical game skins, plus 5 rare ones, plus 500 tradable currency tokens? One contract. One transaction. No waste.

This isn’t just about saving space on the blockchain. It’s about speed, cost, and real-world use. Games like DeFi gaming platforms, blockchain-based games that use tokens for in-game economies rely on ERC-1155 to let players earn, trade, and use assets without waiting minutes for each action to confirm. Marketplaces like OpenSea and Immutable X use it because it cuts gas fees by up to 90% compared to running separate contracts. Even smart contracts, self-executing code on blockchains that automate rules and transactions built on ERC-1155 can trigger actions across multiple token types at once—like unlocking a rare item when you hold a specific number of currency tokens. It’s not magic. It’s efficiency.

And that’s why you’ll find ERC-1155 everywhere in the posts below. From game tokens that vanish overnight to NFTs tied to real-world rewards, the pattern is clear: projects that use ERC-1155 aren’t just trying to be cool—they’re trying to work. Some succeed. Most don’t. But the standard itself? It’s here to stay. Below, you’ll see how it’s been used, abused, and sometimes ignored entirely. You’ll learn which projects actually built on its strengths, and which ones just slapped the label on a scam. No fluff. Just what matters.