What is an SPL token?
Short answer: SPL stands for Solana Program Library. An SPL token is a fungible (or non-fungible) asset created using Solana's shared Token Program. It is Solana's equivalent of an Ethereum ERC-20 but lives inside a shared program instead of an individual contract, which is what makes Solana tokens fast and cheap to launch.
How an SPL token works on Solana
Every SPL token is defined by a mint account. The mint account stores the decimals, the current total supply, the mint authority (who can mint more tokens), and the freeze authority (who can freeze holder accounts).
Holders own balances through token accounts. Each wallet has one token account per SPL token it holds. The accounts are tracked by a single program: the SPL Token Program.
SPL vs ERC-20
- Code model: Each ERC-20 has its own deployed contract. SPL tokens share one Token Program, parametrised by the mint account.
- Fees: Solana fees are typically fractions of a cent. Ethereum gas can be several US dollars per transaction.
- Finality: Solana finalises in under a second. Ethereum mainnet takes longer to fully confirm.
- Metadata: SPL uses the Metaplex Token Metadata standard, separate from the mint account, which stores the name, symbol, and image link.
Mint, freeze, and update authorities
- Mint authority controls whether new tokens can be created.
- Freeze authority can freeze any holder's token account.
- Update authority can change the on-chain metadata.
Public launches commonly revoke mint and freeze authorities to prove the supply is fixed and holders cannot be frozen.
How to create an SPL token
The cleanest no-code path is the SPL creator: it generates the mint, writes Metaplex metadata, takes the platform fee on-chain, and revokes whichever authorities you choose, all in one wallet flow. See the step-by-step guide for the full walkthrough.
Create your SPL token
Open the Solana creator and have an SPL token deployed, with metadata and authorities configured, in under 30 seconds.
Create SPL tokenFrequently asked questions
Is SPL the same as Solana?
No. Solana is the blockchain. SPL (Solana Program Library) is a collection of programs that includes the token standard SPL uses for fungible and non-fungible tokens on Solana.
How is SPL different from ERC-20?
ERC-20 is a contract-based standard on Ethereum. SPL tokens are managed by a shared on-chain Token Program. The result is the same kind of fungible token, but cheaper and faster to create on Solana.
What is a mint account?
A mint account holds the configuration for an SPL token: total supply, decimals, mint authority, freeze authority. Every SPL token has exactly one mint account.
What are token accounts?
A token account holds a balance of a specific SPL token for a specific owner. Each wallet has one token account per token it holds.
Where is the metadata stored?
Metadata (name, symbol, logo, links) is stored separately using the Metaplex Token Metadata Program. The mint account points to the metadata account.
How much does an SPL token cost to create?
On TheTokenLauncher, from 0.1 SOL as a platform fee plus a fraction of a SOL in network fees.