SPL
Documentation

Supply Management

Understanding token supply, mint authority, and how to control your token's economics.

Token Supply Basics

Initial Supply

The number of tokens created when you first mint your token. This can be the total supply if you revoke mint authority, or just the initial distribution.

Initial Supply: 1,000,000 tokens

Decimals

Determines the precision of your token. 6 decimals is standard, meaning the smallest unit is 0.000001 tokens.

6 decimals = 1,000,000 raw units per token
Mint Authority Control

Mint authority determines who can create new tokens, directly affecting your token's supply economics:

Revoked Mint Authority

Fixed Supply

No one can create new tokens. Total supply is permanently fixed.

✓Prevents inflation
✓Builds trust with holders
✗Cannot mint more tokens later

Retained Mint Authority

Flexible Supply

You can create additional tokens in the future as needed.

✓Flexibility for future needs
✓Can reward users or fund development
✗Potential for inflation concerns
Common Supply Strategies

Fixed Supply Token

Mint all tokens upfront and immediately revoke mint authority. Common for store-of-value or collectible tokens.

Example: Create 21,000,000 tokens → Revoke mint authority

Gradual Release

Start with initial supply, retain mint authority for controlled future releases. Good for utility tokens with planned distributions.

Example: Create 1,000,000 tokens → Keep mint authority for team/community rewards

Zero Initial Supply

Create the mint with zero tokens, mint as needed. Useful for tokens earned through activities or staking.

Example: Create 0 tokens → Mint tokens as users earn them
Technical Considerations
Maximum Supply per Transaction

~9.2 quintillion tokens (limited by JavaScript's Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER)

Recipient Address

Tokens can be minted directly to any Solana address, not just your wallet