SPL Token Basics

SPL tokens are the standard token assets used on Solana. Bonkit relies on those token standards when users create a mint, manage supply, or distribute tokens through campaigns and batch sends.

Core Terms

The Basic Model

At a high level:

token = mint + supply rules + authority rules + metadata
The mint defines the token, while token accounts hold balances.

A wallet does not hold the mint itself. It holds token accounts associated with that mint.

You can think of a wallet balance as:

balance(wallet, mint) = sum of token accounts owned by wallet for that mint

Why This Matters in Bonkit

When you use Bonkit:

• The mint address is the only token identifier the Airdrop Studio CLI and the Airdrop SDK need
• The CLI fetches decimals, symbol, and name automatically when you enter the mint in the Draft step
• Token authority still belongs to the wallet that controls the mint — Bonkit only signs the actions you approve

Authorities

Common authority concepts include:

• mint authority
• freeze authority
• metadata update authority

In practice, Bonkit only lets the connected wallet execute actions that its authorities allow.

Token Programs

You may see:

• Token
• Token-2022

The important user-level difference is that Token-2022 can support more advanced extensions and control patterns. If you do not need those features, a standard token may be simpler.

Official references:

• Token Program and Token Accounts 
• SPL Token Basics 

Read Next

• Create Airdrop with the CLI
• Airdrop SDK Getting Started