When you buy an NFT, you’re not just buying a picture—you’re buying a NFT standard, a set of rules written into blockchain code that defines ownership, transferability, and metadata for digital assets. Also known as NFT smart contracts, these standards are the invisible foundation that makes NFTs work. Without them, your digital art, collectible, or game item would be just a file with no proof of ownership. Think of NFT standards like the rulebook for a game: everyone has to follow the same rules, or the whole system breaks.
The two biggest NFT standards are ERC-721, the original standard for unique, indivisible tokens, used by projects like CryptoPunks and Bored Ape Yacht Club, and ERC-1155, a more flexible standard that lets one contract handle both unique and multiple identical items, like in-game skins or limited-edition drops. ERC-721 is simple: one token, one item, no copies. ERC-1155 is smarter: it can create 10,000 copies of the same NFT, or one rare version, all under the same contract. That’s why big gaming projects and marketplaces like OpenSea now use ERC-1155—it saves money and reduces blockchain clutter.
These standards don’t just affect how NFTs are created—they shape what you own. Buying an NFT under ERC-721 doesn’t give you copyright. It gives you a token that points to a file, usually stored on a server that could vanish tomorrow. That’s why projects like LNR Lunar Crystal NFT or HashLand’s New Era NFT airdrops matter: if the underlying standard doesn’t include clear rights or off-chain storage guarantees, your NFT could become worthless. The same goes for NFT art ownership—many buyers think they own the art, but the standard rarely transfers legal rights. You own a digital certificate, not the image.
Some NFTs use other standards, like Polygon’s MINT or Solana’s Metaplex, but most still follow ERC-721 or ERC-1155 because Ethereum dominates the space. Even if you’re trading on a different chain, the concepts are the same: the standard defines what’s possible. If a project claims to offer "rare" NFTs but uses a weak or custom standard, it’s risky. The same way you wouldn’t buy a car without a VIN, you shouldn’t buy an NFT without knowing its standard.
What you’ll find in the posts below aren’t just random NFT stories. They’re real cases where NFT standards made the difference—between a valuable collectible and a dead token, between a secure trade and a total loss. From the vanished Lunar Crystal NFT airdrop to the synthetic mining NFTs of HashLand, the pattern is clear: the standard determines the substance. Whether you’re collecting, trading, or just trying to avoid scams, understanding these rules isn’t optional. It’s the only way to know what you’re really buying.
NFT metadata is the hidden data that gives digital assets their identity, traits, and value. Learn the core structure, storage options, common mistakes, and how to make sure your NFTs last.
