ERC 6551: Token Bound Accounts (TBA)
Basic Understanding
ERC-6551 allows NFTs to have associated smart contract accounts. These accounts can hold tokens, interact with decentralized applications (dApps), and execute transactions—just like a regular Ethereum account.
Before ERC-6551, NFTs were static assets. With TBAs, an NFT can own ERC-20 tokens, other NFTs, or interact with DeFi protocols.
How it works:
Each NFT gets an associated Token Bound Account (TBA), which is a smart contract wallet.
The TBA is linked to the NFT and managed by the NFT's owner.
The NFT can store tokens or execute on-chain actions.
Use Cases
GameFi & Metaverse
A game character NFT can hold in-game assets (weapons, potions, tokens).
When the character is sold, the new owner also gets the stored items.
On-Chain Identity
Users can own an NFT-based identity with on-chain history, achievements, and credentials.
DAO & Governance
An NFT membership card can hold voting power and interact with DAO governance contracts.
DeFi & Financial Instruments
NFT-backed loans: An NFT with a TBA can hold staked assets or act as collateral.
Composable NFTs
A fashion NFT (e.g., a digital avatar) can own wearable NFTs (clothing, accessories).
Advantages
NFTs Become Wallets – NFTs can own assets, removing the need for separate wallets.
Better Composability – Enables richer interactions between NFTs and DeFi, DAOs, gaming.
Improved Security – Smart contract-controlled accounts reduce risks of external wallets.
Gas Efficiency – Reduces the need for multiple transactions to move assets.
Disadvantages
Smart Contract Complexity – More complex than standard NFTs, requiring secure contract audits.
Adoption Curve – Wallets, marketplaces, and dApps need to support ERC-6551.
Higher Gas Costs – Deploying smart contract accounts for NFTs adds gas costs.
Architecture & Code Structure
1. Key Components
ERC-721 NFT: The main NFT that will have an associated wallet.
Token Bound Account (TBA) Smart Contract: A contract that acts as the NFT’s wallet.
Registry Contract: Deploys and manages TBAs for NFTs.
Diagram
3. Code Structure
Here’s a basic implementation of an ERC-6551 Token Bound Account:
A. ERC-6551 Registry (Factory to deploy TBAs)
B. Token Bound Account (Smart Contract Wallet for NFT)
C. NFT Contract (Uses ERC-6551)
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