New readers drown in abbreviations before they see a chart. Learn these twelve in order — each builds on the last — then dive into our full glossary when you hit an unfamiliar phrase in a launch thread.
1. SPL token
The standard format for fungible tokens on Solana. Every memecoin has a mint address — your wallet holds SPL token balances tied to that mint.
2. Wallet
Software that holds your keys and signs transactions. Phantom and Solflare are common. Your wallet connects to sites but should not share your seed phrase with anyone.
3. SOL
Native currency for fees and most trading pairs. Keep a small SOL buffer; empty wallets cannot pay transaction costs.
4. AMM
Automated market maker — programs that price swaps from pooled reserves. See our liquidity pool guide.
5. Liquidity pool
Reserves of two tokens enabling swaps. Thin pools mean high slippage for buyers.
6. Bonding curve
Launch pricing where cost rises as more tokens are bought — common on pump.fun before Raydium graduation.
7. Slippage
Gap between expected and executed swap price. Set tolerance deliberately in your wallet.
8. Mint authority
Power to create new tokens. Renounced authority means fixed supply — verify on Solscan.
9. Rug pull
Creators removing liquidity or dumping supply. See red flags article.
10. FDV
Fully diluted valuation — price times total supply. Often much higher than circulating market cap on new launches.
11. Snipe
Buying in earliest blocks after launch, usually with priority fees. High skill and high failure rate for casual readers.
12. Explorer
Public site (Solscan, SolanaFM) to read on-chain data — holders, transactions, program interactions. Your fact-check layer.
Ready to go deeper? Join a Risk Literacy Workshop or request a custom glossary briefing for your study group.