Title: Solana: Getting Block Height Exceeded Errors When Minting NFTs Using Metaplex

Introduction

Making non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on the Solana blockchain can be an exciting experience. However, I encountered a problematic error when trying to mint NFTs on the platform: “Block Height Exceeded.” This article will walk you through the troubleshooting steps and provide solutions to resolve this issue.

The Problem

When I try to mint an NFT using Metaplex, I noticed that I get the infamous “Block Height Exceeded” error. This happens when my transaction exceeds the maximum block height allowed on Solana. As a result, the transaction is rejected by the blockchain and I have to start over from the beginning.

The Solution

Fortunately, there are a few workarounds to resolve this issue:

1. Add a priority fee to the transaction

One approach to resolve this issue is to add a priority fee to your transaction by using the --priority-fee option when sending the NFT minting transaction. Here is an example of how to do this:

solana mint --tx-priority-fee=1000 mymetaplex-nft.json

This sets the priority fee for the transaction to 1000 SPK (Solana Plasma Kintsugi). The --priority-fee option is a new feature introduced in Solana 1.10 and allows you to set a custom fee per transaction.

2. Use a different transaction structure

You can also try using a different transaction structure that doesn’t rely on the --priority-fee option. One approach is to use the solana mint --tx-type=script command with a script that includes a function that adds the priority fee:

solana mint --tx-type=script mymetaplex-nft.json \
"function addPriorityFee(amount: u128) {
if (amount > 0) {
const fee = wait solana.client.fee(1000);
return amount + fee;
} else {
return amount;
}
}"

This script adds the priority fee to the transaction amount before creating the NFT.

3. Check Solana Documentation and Forums

Before trying these solutions, I recommend checking the official Solana documentation and forums for any updates or new information on this issue.

Conclusion

Minting NFTs on the Solana blockchain can be a bit tricky at times, but with the right approach, you should be able to resolve the “Block Height Exceeded” error. By adding priority fees to your transactions or using alternative transaction structures, you can overcome this issue and successfully mint your NFTs.

Recommendations

• Be sure to check the latest Solana documentation for any changes or updates on this issue.

• If you are having issues with Metaplex, try updating to the latest version of the platform (1.10.x or later).

• Consider using a different transaction structure that does not rely on priority fees.

I hope this article was helpful in resolving your “Block height exceeded” error when minting NFTs on Solana!