TokenAnvilSTEP-BY-STEP SPL TOKEN GUIDE
A checklist for creating and verifying a Solana token
Creating a token means creating a new mint account on Solana, choosing its decimals and authorities, and minting the initial supply to a token account controlled by your wallet. TokenAnvil packages those steps into one guided form. Your connected wallet remains responsible for approving the transaction; the site never asks for a seed phrase or private key.
TokenAnvil creates Solana SPL tokens only. It does not create Ethereum, BNB Chain, or Base tokens, and it does not create liquidity, exchange listings, or investment outcomes. The mint address you get is a technical asset you can verify in any Solana explorer.
Comparing the tool before starting? See the Solana token creator features and pricing. This page walks through preparation and verification in order.
Before you open your wallet
- Write down the token's intended use and the exact name and symbol you will publish. Names are not unique; the mint address is.
- Prepare a square PNG or JPG logo and a short description. Check that you have permission to use the name and image.
- Decide the whole-token supply, decimals, recipient wallet, and whether future minting or freezing should remain possible.
- Keep SOL in the signing wallet for network costs, even if paying the TokenAnvil tool fee in USDC or USDT.
- Use Devnet for a rehearsal. A Devnet mint is not a Mainnet token; repeat the reviewed settings on Mainnet when ready.
What “create a Solana token” actually means
On Solana, a token starts as a mint account that stores total supply, decimals, mint authority, and optional freeze authority. When you create through TokenAnvil, the workflow:
- Creates the mint on the cluster you selected (Devnet or Mainnet)
- Attaches human-readable metadata (name, symbol, description, logo) so wallets and explorers can display it
- Mints the initial supply to a token account owned by your wallet
- Optionally revokes mint and/or freeze authority if you choose those protections
The mint address is the token’s unique on-chain identifier. Names and symbols help people recognize it, but they are not uniqueness guarantees. Always publish and verify the exact mint address before asking anyone to interact with the token.
Review the official SPL Token basics if you want Solana’s own explanation of mint accounts and authorities.
1. Decide what the token is for
Write one honest sentence describing the token before choosing any settings. A game currency, community access token, loyalty point, or software experiment may need very different supply and authority choices. TokenAnvil creates the technical asset; it does not create market demand, liquidity, legal status, or financial value.
Founder tip: If you cannot describe what a holder can do with the token today—without referring to future price, listings, or revenue—pause and clarify the use case before minting on Mainnet.
2. Prepare the token identity and metadata
Choose a readable name, a short symbol, and a square PNG or JPG logo. The token description should explain its intended use without promising profit or guaranteed appreciation. Metadata helps wallets and explorers display a recognizable identity, but the mint address remains the token’s unique on-chain identifier.
| Field | Practical tip |
|---|---|
| Name | Clear and unique enough for support. Avoid ticker-only names that collide with unrelated projects. |
| Symbol | Short ticker for display. Symbols are not uniqueness guarantees on Solana—the mint address is. |
| Description | State the legitimate use today. Do not invent price promises or listing claims. |
| Logo | Square image, readable at small sizes. Use a stable hosted URL; broken image links travel with the metadata URI. |
For field-by-field detail, see the SPL token metadata guide.
3. Choose supply and decimals
Total supply is how many token units you initially create. Decimals control how those units can be divided and displayed; they do not increase the token’s value. Common patterns:
- 0–2 decimals for simple point or ticket-style units
- 6–9 decimals when you want finer transfer precision similar to many Solana tokens
Model the smallest useful unit and whether more supply must ever be created later. That decision ties directly to whether you keep or revoke mint authority.
4. Devnet vs Mainnet
Solana has separate clusters. Devnet is for rehearsal. Mainnet is the live network where your mint address becomes a permanent public record. Practice the full flow on Devnet first so spelling, supply, decimals, metadata, and authority choices are confirmed before you spend Mainnet SOL.
Devnet (practice)
- TokenAnvil tool fee: free
- Uses Devnet SOL (no Mainnet value)
- Ideal for checking UI, metadata, and wallet prompts
- Do not treat a Devnet mint as a production launch
Mainnet (live mint)
- TokenAnvil tool fee: $4.99–$9.99
- Wallet also pays Solana network fees in SOL
- Mint address and authorities are public and durable
- Authority revocation, if chosen, is permanent
Switch the creator to Devnet, connect a supported Solana wallet, fill out the same settings you intend to use, and complete a test mint. Confirm that the resulting mint address and metadata look correct before moving to Mainnet.
5. Decide which authorities to keep
Mint authority allows additional supply to be created later. Freeze authority can freeze token accounts. Revoking either role is permanent, so an irreversible setting should never be selected merely because it sounds more trustworthy.
Before you revoke: If you may need controlled emissions later (rewards, airdrops, game sinks that refill), keep mint authority and document who controls the key. If freeze is not part of your design, revoking freeze authority can reduce a common holder concern—but only after you understand the trade-off.
In TokenAnvil, optional authority protections are paid add-ons ($2.50 each). Selecting both brings the TokenAnvil fee from the $4.99 base to $9.99. Read the authority decision guide and match the settings to the token’s real operating model.
What creation costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Base tool fee (Mainnet) | $4.99 |
| Mint authority revoke add-on | $2.50 |
| Freeze authority revoke add-on | $2.50 |
| Maximum TokenAnvil fee (both add-ons) | $9.99 |
| Devnet practice | Free (TokenAnvil tool fee) |
| Solana network fees | Paid separately in SOL by the connected wallet; shown before you approve |
Fees cover the minting workflow, metadata preparation, and optional authority actions—not liquidity, listings, or marketing results.
6. Create and verify the mainnet token
- Connect your wallet and confirm that you are on Mainnet.
- Enter the final name, symbol, description, logo, supply, and decimals.
- Review the tool fee and separate estimated network fee.
- Confirm mint and freeze authority choices (keep or revoke).
- Approve only the transaction you understand in your wallet.
- Save the mint address and transaction signature immediately.
- Verify the mint address in an independent Solana explorer before sharing it.
After the mint exists
Creating a mint does not automatically create liquidity, exchange availability, a token page in every wallet, or a market. Those are separate decisions. Before you announce the token, publish one official page with the exact mint address, network (Mainnet), intended use, which authorities remain, and where to report impersonation. Never ask a holder for a seed phrase.
If the wallet approves but no mint appears
- Check the wallet's activity for a transaction signature. Do not immediately pay for a second attempt.
- Look up that signature in an independent Solana explorer on the same network you selected.
- If it failed, read the reported reason and confirm wallet balance, network, and token details before retrying.
- If it succeeded, use the resulting mint address to inspect supply, decimals, metadata, and authorities. A wallet may take time to display a new token.
- If the result remains unclear, contact TokenAnvil support with the signature and mint address. Never send your seed phrase or private key.
Frequently asked questions
Can I create a token for free?
You can practice on Devnet without a TokenAnvil tool charge. A mainnet launch includes the TokenAnvil fee and the network costs shown before wallet approval.
Which wallets work?
The live creator detects supported Solana browser wallets. Phantom and Solflare are the primary supported choices; availability depends on the extension or mobile wallet installed in your browser.
Can TokenAnvil access my tokens?
The transaction is signed by your connected wallet. TokenAnvil does not request or store your seed phrase or private key.
Does creating a token list it or add liquidity?
No. TokenAnvil creates the SPL mint and helps with metadata and optional authority actions. Liquidity pools, DEX listings, and market making are separate steps outside this tool.
Is this for Solana only?
Yes. TokenAnvil is a Solana SPL token creator. It does not mint tokens on Ethereum, BNB Chain, Base, or other networks.
Related guides
Trust notes before you mint
- Non-custodial: your wallet signs every create and authority action. TokenAnvil never holds your private keys or your tokens.
- Price shown up front: the TokenAnvil fee is $4.99 base, $9.99 maximum with both revoke add-ons, and settles on Solana in the same wallet-approved workflow. Network fees are shown before you approve.
- Authority choices stay yours: keep, transfer, or revoke mint/freeze authority on purpose; revocation on Mainnet cannot be undone.
- Practice first: run the same create path on Devnet with no TokenAnvil tool fee before you spend Mainnet SOL.
Ready to create?
Open the app, connect your wallet, rehearse on Devnet if needed, then create on Mainnet when your settings and disclosures are ready.