Create Compressed NFT | Metaplex CLI

The mplx bg nft create command mints a compressed NFT into an existing Merkle tree. If you do not have a Merkle Tree yet create one first.

Basic Usage

Interactive Wizard (Recommended)

mplx bg nft create --wizard

With Specific Tree

mplx bg nft create my-tree --wizard

File-Based Creation

mplx bg nft create my-tree --image ./nft.png --json ./metadata.json

URI-Based Creation

mplx bg nft create my-tree --name "My NFT" --uri "https://example.com/metadata.json"

Arguments

Argument	Description
`TREE`	Tree name (saved) or Merkle tree address (optional in wizard mode)

Options

Option	Description
`--wizard`	Use interactive wizard
`--name <value>`	NFT name
`--uri <value>`	Existing metadata URI
`--json <value>`	Path to JSON metadata file (requires `--image`)
`--image <value>`	Path to image file
`--description <value>`	NFT description
`--attributes <value>`	Attributes in "trait:value,trait:value" format
`--animation <value>`	Path to animation/video file
`--project-url <value>`	External project URL
`--symbol <value>`	On-chain symbol
`--royalties <value>`	Explicit leaf royalty % (0–100, decimals allowed e.g. `7.5`). Opts out of collection inherit
`--inherit-royalties`	Store inherit sentinel `65535` and empty leaf creators. Requires `--collection` with a Royalties plugin. Default when the collection has Royalties and you omit `--royalties`, `--creator`, and JSON `seller_fee_basis_points`
`--creator <address>:<share>`	Leaf payout split (repeatable; shares must sum to 100). For explicit-leaf mints, the default is payer @ 100%. Opts out of inherit even if `--royalties` is omitted. Incompatible with `--inherit-royalties`
`--collection <value>`	Core collection address (must have BubblegumV2). Metaplex Core collections
`--owner <value>`	Leaf owner public key (defaults to payer)

Global Flags

Flag	Description
`-c, --config <value>`	Path to config file. Default is `~/.config/mplx/config.json`
`-k, --keypair <value>`	Path to keypair file or ledger (e.g., `usb://ledger?key=0`)
`-r, --rpc <value>`	RPC URL for the cluster
`--json`	Format output as JSON

Examples

Create using the wizard:

mplx bg nft create --wizard

Create with specific tree using wizard:

mplx bg nft create my-tree --wizard

Create with existing metadata URI:

mplx bg nft create my-tree --name "My NFT" --uri "https://arweave.net/xxx"

Create with local files:

mplx bg nft create my-tree --image ./artwork.png --json ./metadata.json

Create with metadata flags:

mplx bg nft create my-tree \
  --name "Cool NFT #1" \
  --image ./nft.png \
  --description "A very cool compressed NFT" \
  --attributes "Background:Blue,Eyes:Laser,Hat:Crown" \
  --royalties 5

Create in a collection (auto-inherits royalties when the collection has a Royalties plugin):

mplx bg nft create my-tree \
  --name "Collection Item #1" \
  --image ./nft.png \
  --collection 7kPqYxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Force inherit from the collection Royalties plugin:

mplx bg nft create my-tree \
  --name "Inherited cNFT" \
  --uri "https://arweave.net/xxx" \
  --collection 7kPqYxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx \
  --inherit-royalties

Explicit leaf royalties with creator splits (opts out of inherit):

mplx bg nft create my-tree \
  --name "Split cNFT" \
  --uri "https://arweave.net/xxx" \
  --collection 7kPqYxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx \
  --royalties 7.5 \
  --creator Addr111111111111111111111111111111111111111:60 \
  --creator Addr222222222222222222222222222222222222222:40

Output

Uploading image... ✓
Uploading metadata... ✓
Creating compressed NFT... ✓

--------------------------------
Compressed NFT Created!

Tree: my-tree
Owner: YourWalletAddressHere
Asset ID: CNFTAssetIdHere
Royalties: inherited (leaf sentinel 65535)

Signature: 5xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Explorer: https://solscan.io/tx/5xxx...
--------------------------------

Metadata JSON Format

When using --json, your metadata file should follow this structure:

{
  "name": "My NFT",
  "symbol": "MNFT",
  "description": "Description of the NFT",
  "seller_fee_basis_points": 500,
  "attributes": [
    { "trait_type": "Background", "value": "Blue" },
    { "trait_type": "Rarity", "value": "Rare" }
  ],
  "properties": {
    "files": [
      { "uri": "", "type": "image/png" }
    ]
  }
}

The image field will be automatically populated with the uploaded image URI.

If seller_fee_basis_points is set, the CLI treats it as an explicit leaf rate and does not inherit from the collection.

Inherited royalties

When minting into a Core collection that has a Royalties plugin, the CLI can store the inherit sentinel (65535) and empty leaf creators instead of copying the collection rate onto every cNFT. DAS then resolves the collection rate for display. See Reading Inherited Royalties.

Create a Bubblegum-ready collection with royalties:

mplx bg collection create \
  --name "My Compressed Collection" \
  --uri "https://example.com/collection.json" \
  --royalties 5

Intent	Flags
Auto-inherit	`--collection <COL>` and omit `--royalties`, `--creator`, and JSON `seller_fee_basis_points`
Force inherit	`--collection <COL> --inherit-royalties`
Explicit leaf rate	`--royalties <0-100>` (decimals ok). Opts out of inherit
Explicit splits	`--creator <ADDR>:<share>` (repeatable; shares sum to 100). Opts out of inherit even without `--royalties` (leaf rate is then `0%`)

--inherit-royalties requires --collection with a Royalties plugin and cannot be combined with --royalties, --creator, or JSON seller_fee_basis_points. A plain mplx core collection create is not enough — the collection needs BubblegumV2 (and Royalties, to inherit).

Notes

The tree argument can be either a saved tree name or a public key address
If the tree is private, you must be the tree authority to mint
If the tree is public, anyone can mint NFTs to it
The RPC must support DAS API
Bubblegum V2 only - These commands work with Bubblegum V2 trees and use Metaplex Core collections (not Token Metadata collections)
Attributes format: "trait:value,trait:value" - colons separate trait from value, commas separate pairs
The wizard offers inherit vs explicit royalties when the selected collection has a Royalties plugin