Metaplex Protocol Development Guide

A comprehensive guide for building NFTs, digital assets, and token launches on Solana using the Metaplex Protocol - the industry standard powering 99% of Solana NFTs and tokens.

What is Metaplex?

Metaplex is the leading tokenization protocol on Solana, providing smart contracts and tools for creating, selling, and managing digital assets. From simple NFTs to compressed collections of billions, from fair token launches to hybrid token/NFT systems, Metaplex provides the infrastructure.

Key Statistics

• 99% of Solana NFTs use Metaplex standards
• $10B+ in transaction value facilitated
• 78% of Solana NFTs minted via Candy Machine (as of 2022)
• Billions of compressed NFTs possible at minimal cost

Overview

Metaplex provides multiple products for different use cases:

NFT Standards

Launch & Distribution

Utilities

Program IDs

Core Programs (Mainnet & Devnet)

SPL Programs (Required)

Quick Start

Installation

# Core NFTs (Recommended for new projects)
npm install @metaplex-foundation/mpl-core \
  @metaplex-foundation/umi \
  @metaplex-foundation/umi-bundle-defaults

# Token Metadata NFTs
npm install @metaplex-foundation/mpl-token-metadata \
  @metaplex-foundation/umi \
  @metaplex-foundation/umi-bundle-defaults

# Compressed NFTs (Bubblegum)
npm install @metaplex-foundation/mpl-bubblegum \
  @metaplex-foundation/umi \
  @metaplex-foundation/umi-bundle-defaults

# Candy Machine
npm install @metaplex-foundation/mpl-candy-machine \
  @metaplex-foundation/umi \
  @metaplex-foundation/umi-bundle-defaults

# Core Candy Machine
npm install @metaplex-foundation/mpl-core-candy-machine \
  @metaplex-foundation/umi \
  @metaplex-foundation/umi-bundle-defaults

# Genesis (Token Launches)
npm install @metaplex-foundation/mpl-genesis \
  @metaplex-foundation/umi \
  @metaplex-foundation/umi-bundle-defaults

# File uploads (Arweave via Irys)
npm install @metaplex-foundation/umi-uploader-irys

Umi Setup

All Metaplex SDKs use Umi, a modular Solana framework:

import { createUmi } from '@metaplex-foundation/umi-bundle-defaults';
import { mplCore } from '@metaplex-foundation/mpl-core';
import {
  keypairIdentity,
  generateSigner
} from '@metaplex-foundation/umi';

// Create Umi instance
const umi = createUmi('https://api.mainnet-beta.solana.com')
  .use(mplCore());

// Option 1: Use generated keypair
const signer = generateSigner(umi);
umi.use(keypairIdentity(signer));

// Option 2: Use existing keypair
import { createSignerFromKeypair } from '@metaplex-foundation/umi';
const keypair = umi.eddsa.createKeypairFromSecretKey(secretKeyBytes);
const signer = createSignerFromKeypair(umi, keypair);
umi.use(keypairIdentity(signer));

// Option 3: Use wallet adapter (browser)
import { walletAdapterIdentity } from '@metaplex-foundation/umi-signer-wallet-adapters';
umi.use(walletAdapterIdentity(wallet));

MPL Core (Recommended)

The next-generation NFT standard with single-account design, lower costs, and built-in plugins.

Why Core?

Create a Core NFT

import { createUmi } from '@metaplex-foundation/umi-bundle-defaults';
import {
  mplCore,
  create,
  fetchAsset
} from '@metaplex-foundation/mpl-core';
import {
  generateSigner,
  keypairIdentity
} from '@metaplex-foundation/umi';
import { irysUploader } from '@metaplex-foundation/umi-uploader-irys';

// Setup
const umi = createUmi('https://api.mainnet-beta.solana.com')
  .use(mplCore())
  .use(irysUploader());

// Upload metadata
const metadata = {
  name: 'My Core NFT',
  description: 'A next-gen NFT on Solana',
  image: 'https://arweave.net/your-image',
  attributes: [
    { trait_type: 'Background', value: 'Blue' },
    { trait_type: 'Rarity', value: 'Legendary' }
  ]
};
const metadataUri = await umi.uploader.uploadJson(metadata);

// Create NFT
const asset = generateSigner(umi);
await create(umi, {
  asset,
  name: 'My Core NFT',
  uri: metadataUri,
}).sendAndConfirm(umi);

console.log('Asset created:', asset.publicKey);

// Fetch the asset
const fetchedAsset = await fetchAsset(umi, asset.publicKey);
console.log('Asset data:', fetchedAsset);

Core with Plugins

import {
  create,
  ruleSet,
  plugin,
} from '@metaplex-foundation/mpl-core';

// Create with royalty enforcement
await create(umi, {
  asset,
  name: 'Royalty Enforced NFT',
  uri: metadataUri,
  plugins: [
    {
      type: 'Royalties',
      basisPoints: 500, // 5%
      creators: [
        { address: creatorAddress, percentage: 100 }
      ],
      ruleSet: ruleSet('None'), // or 'ProgramAllowList', 'ProgramDenyList'
    },
    {
      type: 'FreezeDelegate',
      frozen: false,
      authority: { type: 'Owner' },
    },
    {
      type: 'TransferDelegate',
      authority: { type: 'Owner' },
    },
  ],
}).sendAndConfirm(umi);

Core Collections

import {
  createCollection,
  create,
  fetchCollection,
} from '@metaplex-foundation/mpl-core';

// Create collection
const collection = generateSigner(umi);
await createCollection(umi, {
  collection,
  name: 'My Collection',
  uri: collectionUri,
}).sendAndConfirm(umi);

// Create asset in collection
const asset = generateSigner(umi);
await create(umi, {
  asset,
  name: 'Collection Item #1',
  uri: assetUri,
  collection: collection.publicKey,
}).sendAndConfirm(umi);

Transfer & Burn

import { transfer, burn } from '@metaplex-foundation/mpl-core';

// Transfer
await transfer(umi, {
  asset: assetPublicKey,
  newOwner: recipientPublicKey,
}).sendAndConfirm(umi);

// Burn
await burn(umi, {
  asset: assetPublicKey,
}).sendAndConfirm(umi);

Token Metadata

The original Solana NFT standard using Program Derived Addresses (PDAs).

Create NFT with Token Metadata

import { createUmi } from '@metaplex-foundation/umi-bundle-defaults';
import {
  mpl