ERC-1155 Explained: What It Is, How It Works, and Why It Matters in Crypto

When you think of tokens on Ethereum, you probably think of ERC-20, a standard for single-type fungible tokens like coins or utility tokens or ERC-721, the original standard for unique, non-fungible tokens like digital art or collectibles. But ERC-1155, a multi-token standard that combines both fungible and non-fungible tokens in one smart contract is quietly changing how projects build on-chain. It doesn’t force you to choose between a coin and an NFT—you can have both, in the same transaction, for less gas and less code. That’s why games, marketplaces, and DeFi apps are switching to it.

Before ERC-1155, if you wanted to sell a character skin (an NFT) and a currency pack (a fungible token) in a game, you needed two separate contracts, two separate transactions, and paid gas twice. With ERC-1155, you bundle them into one call. The contract can handle thousands of token types under one address, making it way more efficient. It’s not just about saving money—it’s about reducing complexity. Projects like Enjin, Splinterlands, and even big NFT marketplaces use it because it scales better. You can mint 10,000 unique items and 1 million coins in one go, without bloating the blockchain.

It also makes trading simpler. Instead of approving each token type separately, users approve the whole contract once. That’s why wallets and DEXs are starting to support it natively. And while ERC-721 still rules in art and collectibles, ERC-1155 is where the action is for functional NFTs—like in-game items, event tickets, or loyalty points that can be swapped, burned, or traded. It’s the bridge between utility and ownership.

What you’ll find below are real examples of how ERC-1155 shows up in the wild—not as theory, but in actual crypto projects. Some are games using it to power their economies. Others are tokens built on top of it that failed or succeeded based on how well they used its features. You’ll see why some projects chose ERC-1155 over others, and why some ignored it entirely—and paid the price. This isn’t about hype. It’s about what works, what doesn’t, and how to spot the difference when you’re looking at a new token or project.