Solana Token Safety and Basics

Reading a token address

Every token on Solana has a mint address: a long string of letters and numbers, usually 32 to 44 characters. It is the token's real identity. The name and ticker are just labels that anyone can reuse, which is why look-alike tokens exist.

• Get the mint address from the project's official website or verified social accounts, never from a reply, a direct message or a random group post.
• Compare the full address, not only the first and last characters. Scammers create addresses that start and end the same way.
• On this site, the shortened mint is always shown next to the symbol, and the Token Inspector under the chart has a copy button and links to block explorers.

Mint and freeze authority

Two settings on a token tell you how much control its issuer still has.

• Mint authority can create more supply. If it is active, the issuer can dilute holders at any time.
• Freeze authority can freeze token accounts so tokens cannot be moved or sold. If it is active, the issuer can lock holders out.

Some legitimate tokens keep one of these on purpose, for example regulated stablecoins. For a small or new token, an active authority is a reason to be careful. This site flags tokens with an active mint or freeze authority above the swap when it can read them.

Tokens created with the Token-2022 standard can add extra features, such as transfer fees. Read the token's details before you trade it.

Liquidity, price impact and slippage

Liquidity is how much value sits in the pools that traders swap against. With thin liquidity, even a small trade moves the price, and selling later can be hard.

• Price impact is how far your trade moves the price. The swap widget shows it before you sign.
• Slippage tolerance is the largest price change you accept between the quote and execution.
• A very high slippage setting makes failed swaps rarer but lets the final price drift far from the quote. Raise it deliberately, not by default.

Token accounts and rent

Solana keeps each token you hold in its own token account. Creating one requires a small refundable deposit of roughly 0.002 SOL. That is why your SOL balance can drop slightly the first time you receive a new token. If you close an empty token account later, the deposit comes back to you.

Always keep a little SOL in your wallet for network fees and these deposits.

What "verified" does and does not mean

A "Verified by Jupiter" badge means the token is on Jupiter's verified list. It helps you avoid obvious fakes, but it is not an audit and not a safety rating. Verified tokens can still fall to zero, and a token can be unverified simply because it is new.

The same goes for the category labels in the Top 100 table: they are matched on the ticker as a convenience and say nothing about safety.

Protocols, TVL and liquid staking

The Solana Protocols directory on the home page ranks protocols by TVL, the value deposited on Solana, using DeFiLlama's public data. TVL shows size and activity. It does not show whether the code is safe.

• DEXs and aggregators let you swap tokens. Jupiter, which powers this site's swap, is an aggregator.
• Lending protocols let you deposit assets to earn interest or borrow against collateral, with liquidation risk if prices move.
• Liquid staking tokens (LSTs) represent staked SOL and keep earning staking rewards while you hold them. They add smart-contract risk on top of SOL itself.

Before you deposit into any protocol, read its documentation, check for published audits, and start with an amount you can afford to lose.

Common scam patterns

• Fake airdrops and "claim" sites. Anything that asks you to connect a wallet to claim free tokens is a red flag.
• Direct messages with links. Real projects and support teams do not message you first.
• Look-alike tokens and sites. Same name and logo, different mint address or domain.
• Unexpected signing prompts. If a transaction asks for permissions you do not understand, reject it.
• Pressure and promises. Guaranteed returns, countdown timers and "send X, get 2X" offers are scams.
• Anyone asking for your seed phrase. No legitimate service ever needs it.

Wallet hygiene

• Never share your seed phrase or private key, and never type it into a website.
• Keep long-term savings in a separate wallet from the one you use to try new apps.
• Read every approval your wallet shows before you sign it.
• Bookmark the sites you use instead of following links from messages or ads.
• Keep your wallet app and browser up to date.

This site is non-custodial: it has no accounts, no backend and no access to your keys. Every transaction is signed in your own wallet.

Using this site's safety tools

1. Load the tokenSearch by name or paste the mint address in the search box on the home page. Check the warnings shown above the swap.
2. Open the Token InspectorUnder the chart you will find the mint address, a copy button and links to RugCheck, Solscan and DexScreener.
3. Run a RugCheck auditPaste any mint address into the RugCheck Quick Audit card to open its report.
4. Add it to your PortfolioTap the star on a token in the Tokens list to add it to the Portfolio tab. The list is stored only in your browser and is never sent to any server.
5. Review the quoteCheck the output amount, price impact and slippage in the swap widget before you confirm in your wallet.

For more on swapping and bridging, read the Solana swap and bridge guide, or see how this site works.

Glossary

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