The Solana NFT Standard
Metaplex is the standard protocol for NFTs on Solana. Over 130 million NFTs have been minted using Metaplex, and virtually all of them store their metadata and media permanently on Arweave.
From Jay-Z to Sotheby's, from indie artists to major brands, Metaplex + Arweave is how Solana NFTs work.
Why Arweave?
NFTs have a metadata problem. The token itself lives on-chain, but the actual content (the image, the video, the attributes) needs to be stored somewhere. Options include:
- IPFS: Content-addressed but not permanent. Files disappear if no one pins them.
- Centralized servers: Cheap but temporary. Companies shut down; servers go offline.
- On-chain storage: Permanent but expensive. Storing a JPEG on Ethereum costs thousands.
- Arweave: Permanent, decentralized, and affordable. Pay once, stored forever.
Metaplex chose Arweave because NFTs need their content to outlive their creators. A JPEG NFT isn't worth much if the image link breaks.
How It Works
When you mint an NFT through Metaplex:
- Media is uploaded to Arweave (images, videos, audio)
- Metadata JSON is uploaded to Arweave with attributes and media links
- NFT is minted on Solana pointing to the Arweave metadata URI
- Content is permanent: the Arweave links will work forever
The flow is seamless for creators. Metaplex tools handle the Arweave upload automatically.
The Numbers
Metaplex's Arweave integration has resulted in:
- 130+ million NFTs with Arweave metadata
- Petabytes of media stored permanently
- Major collections from Magic Eden, Tensor, and other marketplaces
- Zero broken links for properly configured NFTs
This makes Arweave one of the most-used storage layers in all of crypto, processing millions of uploads daily during peak minting activity.
Notable Collections
Collections using Metaplex + Arweave include:
- DeGods and y00ts: Major PFP collections with millions in trading volume
- Solana Monkey Business: One of Solana's original NFT projects
- Okay Bears: Mainstream crossover collection
- Sotheby's auctions: Fine art sales with permanent provenance
When serious money is at stake, Arweave's permanence becomes essential.
Developer Tools
Metaplex provides comprehensive tools for building with NFTs:
- Candy Machine: Mint pages and drops
- Token Metadata: Standard NFT format
- Bubblegum: Compressed NFTs (cNFTs)
- Sugar: CLI for managing collections
All tools integrate Arweave storage by default, ensuring creators don't need to think about permanence. It just works.
Getting Started
- Create NFTs at metaplex.com
- Developer docs at developers.metaplex.com
- Community on Discord and Twitter
Metaplex proved that permanent storage and NFTs are natural partners. When you're selling digital ownership, the content needs to last. Arweave makes that guarantee possible.