How to check if a Solana token is a rug
No tool can promise a coin is safe. But most Solana rug pulls leave the same on-chain fingerprints, and you can check all of them in a couple of minutes for free. Here is the order we check things in.
1. Copy the contract address (CA), not the name
Names and tickers can be copied by anyone. Scammers launch "vamp" copies of trending coins within minutes. Always get the CA from the project's own X account or the pump.fun page you trust, then check that exact address.
2. Is the mint authority revoked?
If the mint authority is still active, someone can create new tokens at any time and dump them on buyers. pump.fun coins have it revoked by default; coins launched elsewhere often do not. Active mint authority is one of the biggest red flags.
3. Is the freeze authority revoked?
An active freeze authority lets the creator freeze your wallet's tokens so you cannot sell. That is how "honeypot" coins on Solana usually work.
4. Who holds the supply?
Look at the top 10 holders, excluding the liquidity pool and the bonding curve. If a few wallets hold a large share, they can crash the price by selling. Watch for many fresh wallets funded from the same source: that is often a bundled launch.
5. Is the liquidity locked, burned, or still on the curve?
On a DEX like Raydium, the LP tokens represent the pool. If the creator still holds them, they can pull the liquidity. Burned or locked LP is better. pump.fun coins still on the bonding curve have no removable LP yet, but that does not stop the creator or insiders from selling.
6. Age, volume and the dev's history
Brand-new coins with thin liquidity are the riskiest. Check whether the creator wallet has launched many coins that died quickly. A dev with a string of dead coins is a pattern, not bad luck.
Do it in one step
JestSprout's free rug check reads all of the above from public on-chain data and DexScreener and explains each result in plain words. No sign-up, no wallet connect. A low score is not a guarantee, and a high score is not proof of a scam. It is a starting point for your own research.
FAQ
Can a rug checker guarantee a token is safe?
No. It checks known on-chain risk signals. A team can still sell, abandon the project or lie. Use it to catch obvious traps, not as a green light.
Is it free?
Yes. JestSprout's rug check is free, needs no account and never asks you to connect a wallet.
Does it work for pump.fun coins?
Yes. Paste the token address (it usually ends in "pump") and it checks authorities, holders, the bonding curve and the creator's history.
More: Red flags glossary · Launch checklist · Rug Screener
Educational only, not financial advice.