SPL
Documentation

Authority Control

Manage token authorities and control permissions for your SPL tokens.

Authority Types

Mint Authority

High Impact

Controls the ability to create new tokens, increasing the total supply.

Keep AuthorityCan mint more tokens
Transfer AuthorityGive control to another address
Revoke AuthorityFixed supply forever

Freeze Authority

Compliance

Ability to freeze individual token accounts, preventing transfers.

Use Cases:
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Security incident response
  • Preventing unauthorized transfers

Update Authority

Metadata

Controls who can update token metadata like name, symbol, description, and image.

Best Practices

For Utility Tokens

  • Keep mint authority for ecosystem rewards
  • Consider multisig for authority management
  • Plan for governance transition

For Store of Value

  • Revoke mint authority immediately
  • Consider keeping freeze authority for security
  • Document authority decisions publicly