Token-2022 Basics

9 examples to get you started with Token-2022 (Token Extensions) - 7 basic and 2 intermediate.

Prerequisites

solana config set --url devnet
spl-token --program-id TokenzQdBNbLqP5VEhdkAS6EPFLC1PHnBqCXEpPxuEb --version

cargo add anchor-lang@0.32.1 anchor-spl@0.32.1

Token-2022 program ID: TokenzQdBNbLqP5VEhdkAS6EPFLC1PHnBqCXEpPxuEb.

Basic Examples

1. Create a Token-2022 Mint

Same CLI flow as classic SPL with explicit program ID.

spl-token create-token --program-id TokenzQdBNbLqP5VEhdkAS6EPFLC1PHnBqCXEpPxuEb --decimals 6

• Mint account is larger when extensions are enabled
• Default mint without extensions behaves like classic Token
• Always pass program ID in client derivation paths

Related: Transfer Fees - fee extension

2. Create ATA for Token-2022 Mint

ATA derivation includes token program ID.

spl-token create-account <MINT> --program-id TokenzQdBNbLqP5VEhdkAS6EPFLC1PHnBqCXEpPxuEb

• Wrong program ID in derivation yields wrong ATA address
• Associated Token program is shared with classic Token
• Rent scales with account size when extensions attach to accounts

Related: Associated Token Accounts (ATAs)

3. Inspect Extension Layout

Display shows enabled extensions on mint/account.

spl-token display <MINT> --program-id TokenzQdBNbLqP5VEhdkAS6EPFLC1PHnBqCXEpPxuEb

• Extension data appended to base SPL layout
• Immutable extensions cannot be removed after init
• Plan extension set before mainnet mint creation

Related: Metadata & Metadata Pointer

4. Mint and Transfer (No Extensions)

Baseline Token-2022 without extensions mirrors classic behavior.

spl-token mint <MINT> 1 --program-id TokenzQdBNbLqP5VEhdkAS6EPFLC1PHnBqCXEpPxuEb
spl-token transfer <MINT> 0.5 <RECIPIENT> --fund-recipient --program-id TokenzQdBNbLqP5VEhdkAS6EPFLC1PHnBqCXEpPxuEb

• CLI amounts are UI amounts, not raw base units - 1 mints one token
• Wallets must detect Token-2022 program on mint account owner field
• @solana-program/token-2022 package provides instruction builders
• DEX support varies - verify router compatibility

Related: Migrating from SPL Token

5. Read Mint Owner Program via RPC

Clients branch on token program before building instructions.

import { createSolanaRpc, address } from "@solana/kit";
 
const TOKEN_2022 = address("TokenzQdBNbLqP5VEhdkAS6EPFLC1PHnBqCXEpPxuEb");
const rpc = createSolanaRpc("https://api.devnet.solana.com");
 
const { value } = await rpc.getAccountInfo(address("MINT_PUBKEY")).send();
const isToken2022 = value?.owner === TOKEN_2022;
console.log("Token-2022 mint:", isToken2022);

• Mint owner field is the token program ID
• Use correct package for instruction encoding
• DAS may unify reads; transactions still need correct program

Related: Reading NFTs (DAS API)

6. Enable Transfer Fee Extension (CLI)

Common revenue extension configured at mint init.

# There is no --enable-transfer-fees flag; the fee is configured by these two flags
spl-token create-token --program-id TokenzQdBNbLqP5VEhdkAS6EPFLC1PHnBqCXEpPxuEb \
  --decimals 6 \
  --transfer-fee-basis-points 100 \
  --transfer-fee-maximum-fee 1

• --transfer-fee-maximum-fee is a UI amount: 1 caps the fee at one token
• Fee basis points and max fee set in extension init data
• Withheld fees accumulate in accounts until harvested
• Wallets should show net received amount

Related: Transfer Fees

7. Use token_interface in Anchor

Single code path for Token and Token-2022 mints.

use anchor_lang::prelude::*; // InterfaceAccount, Interface
use anchor_spl::token_interface::{Mint, TokenAccount, TokenInterface};
 
#[derive(Accounts)]
pub struct Deposit<'info> {
    pub mint: InterfaceAccount<'info, Mint>,
    #[account(mut, token::mint = mint)]
    pub user_token: InterfaceAccount<'info, TokenAccount>,
    pub token_program: Interface<'info, TokenInterface>,
}

• InterfaceAccount deserializes both program layouts
• Never mix in anchor_spl::token::{Mint, TokenAccount} - those are classic-Token-only and their owner check rejects Token-2022 accounts
• Pass actual token_program account matching mint owner
• Required for protocols accepting arbitrary listed tokens

Related: SPL Token in Programs

Intermediate Examples

8. Transfer Hook Extension Overview

Custom program invoked on every transfer.

// Transfer hook program ID stored in mint extension
// Token-2022 CPIs to hook with extra accounts from remaining_accounts

• Hook can enforce allowlists, royalties, or accounting
• Extra accounts must be passed in client transactions
• Advanced CU and failure modes - test on Surfpool 0.12.0

Related: Transfer Hooks

9. Choose Extensions for Product Requirements

• Enable only what you need - immutable extensions add permanent complexity
• Document unsupported wallet behavior for users

Related: Token-2022 Best Practices

Stack versions: This page was written for Agave 4.1.1, Solana CLI 3.0.10, Anchor 0.32.1, anchor-lang 0.32.1, Rust 1.91.1, @solana/kit 7.0.0, Surfpool 0.12.0, and LiteSVM 0.6.x.

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