v2: TinySPL's zkNFT Standard
Last updated
Last updated
The zkNFT standard is a novel NFT framework developed by TinySPL on the Solana blockchain, leveraging cutting-edge zk compression technology. Built to address the limitations of the existing compressed NFT standard, zkNFTs offers enhanced functionality, scalability, and transaction efficiency. It represents the next step in optimizing blockchain state utilization, crucial for a fast, scalable blockchain like Solana.
For a long time, compressed NFTs have been the first and only use case of compression on Solana. With ZK compression preview, we will be able to fully utilize generalized compression on Solana for all sorts of use cases like new compressed NFT standards.
The zkNFT standard emerges as a direct improvement over the previous compressed NFT standard, which is limited in scope and flexibility. zkNFTs extend the compression capabilities beyond simple NFTs, allowing for more versatile and feature-rich asset handling.
Furthermore, with the rise of more SPL standards — each offering distinct value propositions — we recognize that Solana is heading toward greater fragmentation. This fragmentation further complicates the user experience and presents challenges for developers working across various standards.
Rather than contributing to this fragmentation, we believe zkNFTs as a new class of compressed assets built with ZK compression will allow us to unify the diverse standards on Solana, making the ecosystem stronger and more accessible for all.
Learn more:
zk compression Technology The zkNFT standard is built on top of the zk compression framework. zk compression uses zero-knowledge proofs to compress on-chain state, reducing the state costs of not just NFTs but any type of data stored on the Solana blockchain. This allows zkNFTs to cost significantly less to own and send.
Better Support for Solana’s Transaction Limitations One of the main advantages of zkNFTs over compressed NFTs is their ability to use less space in transactions. With Solana imposing a maximum transaction size of 1200 bytes, zkNFTs are designed to ensure that even complex transactions fit within this limit, allowing more composability over the previous compressed NFT standard.
Enhanced Features: Delegation and Freezing
Delegation: zkNFTs support a robust delegation model, allowing token holders to delegate specific rights or actions associated with their NFT to another user. This feature is particularly useful for decentralized applications (dApps) that require flexible asset management, where users can temporarily transfer privileges without giving up ownership. One notable use case is the ability to list NFTs on a marketplace without transferring the asset out of the owner’s wallet. Instead, the user can delegate the right to transfer the NFT, ensuring that the asset still shows up on the owner’s wallet until the transaction is completed.
Freezing: zkNFTs introduce an asset freezing mechanism, which permits certain tokens to be "frozen" under specific conditions. This feature is ideal for situations where NFTs might need to be locked for governance purposes, fraud prevention, or temporarily disabling transfers.
Royalty Enforcement: zkNFTs provide a built-in royalty enforcement mechanism, ensuring that creators or designated beneficiaries receive a percentage of proceeds from every secondary sale of their NFT. This feature is enforced directly at the protocol level, preventing bypassing of royalty payments by using alternative trading methods. It promotes fair compensation for creators, adding to the sustainability of the NFT ecosystem while maintaining trust between creators, traders, and marketplaces.
On-Chain Metadata Support: zkNFTs offer the capability to transfer metadata directly on-chain, enabling verifiable attributes for each NFT. This feature allows users, marketplaces, and dApps to perform on-chain verification of an NFT’s attributes.
Interoperability and Flexibility While the original compressed NFTs were limited to specific use cases, zkNFTs are designed to support a wider variety of assets. By being built on zk compression, the zkNFT standard is highly versatile, and this adaptability enables zkNFTs to integrate better into existing ecosystems, while also future-proofing them for broader use cases in Solana’s evolving blockchain landscape.
Scalability and Ecosystem Growth zkNFTs are built with the future in mind, designed to support the growth of the NFT and broader Solana ecosystem.
Compression Method
Metaplex Bubblegum standard
zk compression
Extensibility and Flexibility
Limited to a strict schema defined by the Bubblegum standard, restricting customization and new features
Highly extensible and flexible, has a plugin system that augment zkNFT functionality and introduce custom features, enabling a wide range of use cases beyond the original NFT schema
Transaction Size
Depends on Merkle Tree size
Common transactions like transfers take up less transaction space
Delegation Support
No
Yes
Freezing Functionality
No
Yes
Royalty Support
No protocol-level enforcement, allowing for potential bypassing of royalties in secondary sales
Built-in royalty enforcement ensures creators receive a percentage of all secondary sales
On-Chain Metadata Support
Hard to bring metadata on-chain for on-chain verification
Metadata can be easily transferred directly on-chain, enabling verifiable attributes for each NFT
The zkNFT standard will bring a revolutionary upgrade to both TinySPLas a standard and the Solana blockchain by providing enhanced features, greater flexibility, and optimized resource usage.
zkNFTs not only solve the scalability issues presented by the previous compressed NFT standard but also introduce key innovations like delegation, freezing, and transaction space efficiency.
We believe the new standard is poised to become the foundation for next-generation NFT applications on Solana, driving greater adoption and expanding the potential of decentralized assets.