Freeze Delegate

The Freeze Delegate Plugin allows you to freeze Core Assets, blocking transfers and burns while the asset remains in the owner's wallet. Perfect for escrowless staking, marketplace listings, and game mechanics.

Summary

The Freeze Delegate is an Owner Managed plugin that freezes Assets in place. When frozen, the Asset cannot be transferred or burned until thawed by the freeze authority.

• Freeze Assets without transferring to escrow
• Delegate freeze authority to a program or other wallet
• Authority is revoked on transfer (for non-permanent version)
• Use Permanent Freeze Delegate for irrevocable freezing

Out of Scope

Collection-level freezing (use Asset-level only), permanent freezing (see Permanent Freeze Delegate), and Token Metadata freeze authority (different system).

Quick Start

Jump to: Add Plugin · Delegate Authority · Freeze · Thaw

1. Add the Freeze Delegate plugin: addPlugin(umi, { asset, plugin: { type: 'FreezeDelegate', data: { frozen: true } } })
2. The Asset is now frozen and cannot be transferred
3. Thaw when ready: update the plugin with frozen: false
4. Authority is revoked on transfer

Common Use Cases

• Escrowless staking: Freeze NFTs while staked without transferring to escrow
• Marketplace listings: Lock NFTs for sale without escrow accounts
• Game item locking: Temporarily lock items during gameplay
• Rental protocols: Lock NFTs while rented out
• Governance: Lock tokens during voting periods
• Collateral: Lock NFTs used as lending collateral
• Tournaments: Lock NFTs during competition participation

Works With

Arguments

Functions

Add Freeze Delegate Plugin to an Asset

The addPlugin command adds the Freeze Delegate Plugin to an Asset. This plugin allows the Asset to be frozen, preventing transfers and burns.

import { publicKey } from '@metaplex-foundation/umi'
import { addPlugin } from '@metaplex-foundation/mpl-core'
const assetAddress = publicKey('11111111111111111111111111111111')
await addPlugin(umi, {
  asset: assetAddress,
  plugin: { type: 'FreezeDelegate', data: { frozen: true } },
}).sendAndConfirm(umi)

Delegate the Freeze Authority

The approvePluginAuthority command delegates the freeze authority to a different address. This allows another address to freeze and thaw the Asset while maintaining ownership.

import { publicKey } from '@metaplex-foundation/umi'
import { approvePluginAuthority } from '@metaplex-foundation/mpl-core'
const asset = publicKey('11111111111111111111111111111111')
const delegateAddress = publicKey('22222222222222222222222222222222')
await approvePluginAuthority(umi, {
  asset: asset.publicKey,
  plugin: { type: 'FreezeDelegate' },
  newAuthority: { type: 'Address', address: delegateAddress },
}).sendAndConfirm(umi)

Updating the Freeze Delegate Plugin

The Freeze Delegate Plugin can be updated to change the frozen state of the asset. This is the same as using the Freezing an Asset and Thawing a Frozen Asset functions shown below.

Freezing an Asset

The freezeAsset command freezes an Asset, preventing it from being transferred or burned. This is useful for escrowless staking or marketplace listings.

import { publicKey } from '@metaplex-foundation/umi'
import { freezeAsset, fetchAsset } from '@metaplex-foundation/mpl-core'
const assetAddress = publicKey('11111111111111111111111111111111')
const assetAccount = await fetchAsset(umi, assetAddress)
const delegateSigner = generateSigner(umi)
await freezeAsset(umi, {
    asset: assetAccount,
    delegate: delegateSigner.publicKey,
    authority: delegateSigner,
  }).sendAndConfirm(umi)

Thawing a Frozen Asset

The thawAsset command unfreezes a frozen Asset, restoring its ability to be transferred and burned.

import { publicKey } from '@metaplex-foundation/umi'
import { thawAsset, fetchAsset } from '@metaplex-foundation/mpl-core'
const assetAddress = publicKey('11111111111111111111111111111111')
const assetAccount = await fetchAsset(umi, assetAddress)
const delegateSigner = generateSigner(umi)
await thawAsset(umi, {
  asset: assetAccount,
  delegate: delegateSigner,
}).sendAndConfirm(umi)

Common Errors

Asset is frozen

You tried to transfer or burn a frozen Asset. The freeze authority must thaw it first.

Authority mismatch

Only the freeze delegate authority can freeze/thaw the Asset. Check who has the plugin authority.

Plugin not found

The Asset doesn't have a Freeze Delegate plugin. Add it first with addPlugin.

Notes

• Owner Managed: requires owner signature to add
• Authority is automatically revoked when the Asset transfers
• Frozen Assets can still be updated (metadata changes allowed)
• Use Permanent Freeze Delegate if you need the authority to persist after transfer
• Freezing is immediate - no confirmation period

Quick Reference

Freeze States

Authority Behavior

FAQ

Can I freeze an Asset I don't own?

No. The Freeze Delegate is Owner Managed, so only the owner can add it. After adding, you can delegate authority to another address.

What's the difference between Freeze Delegate and Permanent Freeze Delegate?

Freeze Delegate authority is revoked on transfer. Permanent Freeze Delegate authority persists forever and can only be added at creation time.

Can a frozen Asset be burned?

No. Frozen Assets block both transfers and burns. Thaw the Asset first if you want to burn it.

Can I freeze an entire Collection at once?

Not with the regular Freeze Delegate (Assets only). Use Permanent Freeze Delegate on the Collection instead - it supports collection-level freezing and will freeze all Assets in that Collection at once. Note that Permanent Freeze Delegate can only be added at Collection creation time.

Does freezing affect metadata updates?

No. The Asset owner or update authority can still update metadata (name, URI) while frozen. Only transfers and burns are blocked.

How do I implement escrowless staking?

1. Add Freeze Delegate plugin with your staking program as authority
2. When user stakes: freeze the Asset
3. When user unstakes: thaw the Asset
4. The NFT never leaves the user's wallet

Related Plugins

• Permanent Freeze Delegate - Irrevocable freeze authority, supports Collections
• Transfer Delegate - Allow delegate to transfer Assets
• Burn Delegate - Allow delegate to burn Assets

Glossary