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This is a fictional example and not real documentation. The purpose is to demonstrate my technical writing.

← how to transfer tokens | how-to's

How to Burn Tokens

Scenario

You’ve transferred tokens to a holder, and now the real-world asset they represent has matured, been redeemed, or otherwise settled. You need to burn (i.e., destroy) the tokens to reflect that they no longer represent an active or valid claim on the underlying asset.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

  • Node.js and npm installed on your system
  • A basic working knowledge of JavaScript or Node.js
  • Access to the ABC-Labs API base URL: https://api.abc-labs.com
  • The wallet_address holding the tokens to be burned
  • Sufficient token balance in that wallet

Refer to our Getting Started Guide if you don’t have access to our testing system.

Steps

1. Create a file called burn-token.js

Inside that file, add the following code:

const axios = require('axios');

const burnToken = async () => {
  try {
    const response = await axios.post('https://api.abc-labs.com/api/tokens/burn', {
      asset_id: 'GOVT-BOND-UK-2025',
      amount: 500,
      holder_wallet_address: '0xFEDCBA9876543210ABCD' // replace with the holder_wallet_address you're using
    });

    console.log('Burn successful:', response.data);
  } catch (error) {
    if (error.response) {
      console.error('Burn failed with error:', error.response.data);
    } else {
      console.error('Network or unknown error:', error.message);
    }
  }
};

burnToken();

2. Run the script

In your terminal, run:

node burn-token.js

If successful, you’ll see a response like:

{
  "status": "success",
  "asset_id": "GOVT-BOND-UK-2025",
  "amount_burned": 500,
  "holder_wallet_address": "0xFEDCBA9876543210ABCD",
  "transaction_id": "TX-90002"
}

This confirms that the digital tokens were successfully burned.

Common Errors & Troubleshooting

Error Code Meaning Likely Cause Solution
400 Bad Request Invalid input Incorrect or missing parameters. Verify asset_id, holder_wallet_address, or amount.
403 Forbidden Not allowed Wallet doesn’t own or control the tokens. Confirm ownership or permissions.
409 Conflict Insufficient balance Holder wallet doesn’t have enough tokens. Check balance first.
404 Not Found Token doesn’t exist Token may already have been burned or never minted. Double check asset_id.

Still having issues? Contact our Support team.

What comes next?

  • Post-Trade Automation: Learn about post-trade automation and how it compares with traditional post-trade workflows.
  • Token Lifecycle: Learn how tokens are minted, transferred, queried, and burned throughout their lifecycle.
  • API Reference Guide: Detailed overview of endpoints, request payloads, and response formats.
  • Glossary of Key Concepts: Definitions and explanations of common terminology used throughout the docs.