Compressed NFTs (cNFTs) are a new type of non-fungible token designed to decrease the costs associated with minting and storing NFTs on the Solana blockchain. Traditional NFTs can incur high minting and storage costs, which limits their usage for large-scale applications. In contrast, cNFTs utilize state compression technology, allowing metadata to be stored offchain and thus significantly lowering storage needs and improving transaction speeds. This innovation has led to substantial cost savings; for example, a minting process that would typically cost over $74,000 can be reduced to under $200 using cNFTs, making them a game-changer for artists, developers, and businesses. Additionally, cNFTs promote more sustainable blockchain practices by cutting down energy usage associated with storage. They are particularly advantageous for high-volume applications, such as gaming or social media. The minting process involves setting up a compatible wallet, funding it with SOL, selecting a minting platform, preparing metadata, and utilizing Merkle trees to organize data efficiently. Ultimately, cNFTs maintain onchain ownership while allowing offchain storage, ensuring both cost-effectiveness and accessibility in the NFT ecosystem.

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