ERC-721 VS ERC-1155: WHICH IS BETTER FOR NFT MARKETPLACES?

Ethereum has emerged as a groundbreaking open-source blockchain network that allows developers to build decentralized applications and smart contracts. One of Ethereum's most impactful elements is the availability and use of token standards, which encourage innovation by allowing developers to build their own applications.

Two notable Ethereum token standards are ERC-721 and ERC-1155, both of which are tied to the growing popularity of the non-fungible token (NFT) and their applications.

A token is a single smart contract or a segment of code on the blockchain. NFTs are unique crypto tokens that can represent digital or physical assets like artwork, game items, and real estate, sold and purchased on NFT marketplaces. Because of the unique identification and metadata that sets them apart from one another, equal exchange is not possible with NFTs, differentiating them from fungible tokens such as cryptocurrencies.

Setting the Standards

In the blockchain world, token standards lay out the rules and functions determining how a particular crypto token works. These application-level specifications empower smart contracts to fulfill their essential functions.

Token standards guide developers in creating and deploying new tokens on the supporting blockchain. Ethereum token standards—which are known as Ethereum Request for Comment (ERC)—designate specific functions for each token type and enable interactions between smart contracts and applications.

Anyone can create and propose an ERC, but it must go through a thorough review, feedback, and revision process before being accepted by Ethereum's development community.

ERC-721

Introduced in 2017, ERC-721 is a revolutionary token standard that set off the NFT phenomenon and became an NFT creation pillar in Ethereum’s ecosystem. The ERC-721 token standard has been a cornerstone for billions of dollars worth of NFTs. The token standard provides a standard interface for NFTs, and all tokens are unique. ERC-721 allows NFTs to be transferred between accounts, also making them tradeable for other currencies.

One of ERC-721’s practical functions is that it allows users to identify the total supply of a set of NFTs available on the network. Other functionalities include obtaining the current token balance of an account and approval of the number of tokens within an account that a third-party account can transfer.

NFTs based on ERC-721 are most commonly used for digital artwork, but use cases also extend to music and blockchain-based games.

ERC-1155

Introduced in 2018, ERC-1155 is a multi-token standard that provides a standard interface for smart contracts managing multiple types of tokens. The original intention behind the creation of ERC-1155 involved addressing the challenges experienced by developers in the world of blockchain-based gaming.

ERC-1155 improves upon the functionality of ERC-721, increasing its efficiency and correcting evident implementation errors. It can support an infinite quantity of tokens in a single contract, underpinning fungible, semi-fungible, and NFTs, which can transition between both of the former during its lifecycle.

ERC-1155 also has a security function that verifies a transaction's validity, allowing tokens to be returned to the issuer if a transaction fails. This eliminates the anxiety of potential user mistakes such as sending tokens to the wrong address. This function, along with other rules, safeguards against exploitation.

ERC-721 vs ERC-1155: Major Differences

Batch Transfers: ERC-1155 can facilitate batch transfers, reducing network congestion and lowering gas costs by up to 90%. ERC-721’s need for transactions to be created for individual NFTs leads to slow, inefficient transactions and higher gas fees. Gas fees refer to the required cost for conducting a single transaction on the Ethereum blockchain.

Token Support: ERC-721 only supports the creation of NFTs, while ERC-1155 not only supports the creation of NFTs but also fungible and semi-fungible tokens, facilitating the conversion of these types of tokens to NFTs and vice-versa. This flexibility is a significant advantage for ERC-1155.

Transaction Security: Unlike ERC-721, ERC-1155 has a transfer security function that enables hassle-free transactions and allows tokens to be reclaimed by the issuer if sent to the wrong address. This asset security capability also includes logging everything during a token's lifecycle, from minting to burning.

Decentralized Exchange (DEX) Support: ERC-1155 is serviceable for a DEX because it has built-in code that supports a DEX by fulfilling certain smart contract aspects. ERC-721 has no such enhanced support capability.

Metadata Flexibility: Compared to ERC-721’s use of static metadata incorporated within a smart contract, ERC-1155 has more flexibility in maintaining countless Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) codes.

While ERC-721 is an effective token standard that has served a significant purpose, ERC-1155 brings greater efficiency, flexibility, and security, allowing savings in both time and cost. Existing non-ERC-1155 projects should migrate to the standard to experience expanded functionality.

The ERC-1155 token standard could be a building block for tradable digital assets produced, stored, and exchanged in an NFT marketplace. This marketplace could be developed by blockchain experts at an experienced software development company.

NFT Marketplaces

NFTs have quickly ascended into being a massive industry. A report by TechNavio projects that the NFT market will register a growth of $147.24 billion between 2021 and 2026. NFTs have been prevalent in art, collectibles, and gaming, with growing potential for even more uses.

Unlike fungible (divisible and non-unique) tokens such as cryptocurrencies, NFTs cannot be traded directly. Their unique identifiers and metadata make equal exchange between them an impossibility. Therefore, they require a unique platform known as an NFT marketplace.

There are numerous types of NFT marketplaces, including:

• Mass NFT marketplace: A Large marketplace that hosts a vast assortment of NFT collections, ranging across various industries and niches.
• Gaming platforms: A type of NFT marketplace that focuses on gaming and VR . Their unique NFT collectibles can be sold via the marketplace or swapped with other players.
• Sports NFTs: A large portion of NFT sales are in the sports sector, featuring sports highlights and collectibles such as digital trading cards sold as NFTs.
• Real Estate: An NFT platform that facilitates the decentralized trading of virtual “land” in the metaverse and other interactive platforms. NFTs could also be used within the physical real estate industry, registering ownership or debt on actual property.
• Curated digital artwork marketplaces: A type of NFT marketplace that facilitates the purchasing of unique, single-edition digital artwork. This NFT platform tends to be stringent in selecting artists.

Key NFT Marketplace Components (Tech and Architecture)

An NFT marketplace should include unique, advanced front-end and back-end features for optimized functionality, support, and differentiation.

NFT Minting Capabilities: NFT marketplace platforms should have NFT minting capabilities in which data is validated and a digital file can be turned into a digital asset or crypto collectible recorded onto the Ethereum blockchain.

Developing these capabilities would require blockchain expertise and experience working with frameworks such as React.js , Node.js , and Express.js, along with Ethereum smart contract development standards. Therefore, the services of a reputable software development company would be required.

Intuitive UI: An NFT marketplace should include an intuitive, engaging user interface to ensure user-friendly NFT trading. The marketplace storefront is an important feature that serves as a dashboard and provides seamless access to all necessary NFT information such as bids, price history, and transactions.

Secure Storage Database: One requirement for an NFT marketplace is safe, reliable database storage. The database would store all the sensitive data of user and admin profiles, also carrying information about the NFTs. A file storage network such as the Interplanetary File System (IPFS) would secure NFTs and prevent replication of digital assets because of the content identifier feature.

Third-Party Integrations: An optimal NFT marketplace would need integrations with third-party technologies and services such as crypto wallets , social media platforms, and payment gateways. Such integrations would be based on organizational needs and could be more or less extensive.

NFT Marketplace Development

Ethereum is a dynamic, decentralized blockchain network with token standards that spur innovation in development. ERC-1155 is the most flexible and efficient of these token standards and can facilitate batch transfers, greater token support, and asset transfer security, compared to previous standards like ERC-721, which has limitations that lead to slower, more costly transactions.

ERC-1155 could be used for NFTs minted, stored, and traded on an NFT marketplace developed and designed with advanced functionality for different industries and organizations. These customized NFT marketplace development services should be carried out by an experienced software development company adept in blockchain technology and adhering to Ethereum development standards. Such a software development company could construct intuitive, user-friendly front-end and secure, advanced back-end resources for an effective NFT marketplace.