NFTs: A Quick Guide to Standards, Storage, and Airdrops

When working with NFTs, non‑fungible tokens that represent unique digital assets on a blockchain. Also known as digital collectibles, they give creators provable ownership and let traders buy, sell, or showcase artwork, music, virtual land, and more. In plain terms, an NFT is a piece of data stored on a ledger that can’t be exchanged on a one‑to‑one basis like a Bitcoin. Because each token carries its own identifier, you can trace its history back to the minting event. That traceability fuels the whole market, from high‑profile art drops to community‑run game items. Below we’ll break down the building blocks that make NFTs work and why those blocks matter for anyone watching the space.

Key Standards and Storage that Power NFTs

If you’ve heard the term ERC‑721, the original Ethereum NFT specification that assigns a unique ID to each token. is thrown around, you’re hearing about the first widely adopted standard. ERC‑721 requires a smart contract to store metadata—usually a link to an image or video file—so each token is truly one‑of‑a‑kind. ERC‑1155 is another essential piece; ERC‑1155, a multi‑token standard that lets developers batch‑mint both fungible and non‑fungible assets in a single contract. This batch capability cuts gas costs and is why many game‑related NFTs prefer ERC‑1155. Both standards share a common need: reliable off‑chain storage for the asset’s actual media. That’s where decentralized NFT storage, solutions like IPFS, Arweave, or Filecoin that keep files immutable and distributed. When a token’s metadata points to a decentralized hash, the file lives beyond any single server, protecting the artwork from being taken down or altered. In practice, a creator will mint an ERC‑721 token, attach an IPFS hash, and then list it on a marketplace. The three elements—standard, metadata, and storage—form a chain: NFTs encompass ERC‑721 and ERC‑1155 (subject‑predicate‑object), those standards require reliable metadata, and decentralized storage influences NFT longevity (semantic triple). Understanding this trio helps you spot real projects versus scams that host files on temporary URLs.

Now let’s talk about a hot trend that keeps popping up in headlines: NFT airdrops. An airdrop is a free distribution of tokens to wallet holders, but with NFTs the stakes are higher because the asset’s value can skyrocket instantly. Guides like the “NFTP airdrop on Heco Chain” or “Unbound SuperHero NFT airdrop” teach you to verify contract addresses, check the token’s royalty settings, and watch for red flags like unlimited supply or missing provenance. The same verification steps you use for standard NFTs apply, but you also need to watch the airdrop’s source chain—whether it’s Ethereum, Solana, or Binance Smart Chain—since each chain has its own cost structure and security model. By cross‑checking the airdrop’s smart‑contract code with the standards we mentioned (ERC‑721 or ERC‑1155) and confirming the media lives on decentralized storage, you can separate genuine community giveaways from phishing traps.

If you’re ready to dig deeper, the articles below cover everything from how to compare ERC‑721 vs. ERC‑1155 fees, to the best ways to protect your NFTs with decentralized storage, and step‑by‑step checks for safe airdrop claims. Whether you’re a collector, creator, or just curious, this collection gives you practical tools to navigate the fast‑moving NFT landscape.