ERC-20

ERC-20 is a token standard that allows developers to create and issue smart contracts on the Ethereum network. Tokens made to the ERC-20 standard can have many functions such as paying for goods and services or used to represent things like loyalty rewards.

Blockchain Ethereum
Type Fungible
Popular token Tether
Required Functions totalSupply, balanceOf, transfer, approve, allowance, transferFrom
Released 2015
Use cases Utility and Security Tokens
Explore ERC-20 APIs

Build with ERC-20 tokens on CryptoAPIs

Now that you know what ERC-20 is, integrate it: read ERC-20 token transfers, balances, and contract metadata across supported chains through one REST API.

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ERC-20
ERC-721
Omni Layer
TRC-20
TRC-721
BEP-20

Work with ERC-20 tokens via the CryptoAPIs API

Read ERC-20 token transfers, balances, and metadata across the chains CryptoAPIs supports β€” through one unified REST API, with no node to run.

Token transfers

List full ERC-20 token transfer history for any token contract or address, with pagination and real-time updates.

Token balances

Read current ERC-20 token holdings for any address in a single call.

Contract metadata

Get token contract details β€” symbol, name, decimals, and total supply β€” for any supported token.

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The fungible token standard

Ethereum didn't just implement the use of tokens, it’s based on them and ERC-20 is one of the most important Ethereum token standards. The ERC-20 introduces a standard for fungible tokens meaning that 1 token is and will always be equal to all the other tokens of the same kind.