GMGN Complete Beginner's Guide: Getting Started with Smart Money Tracking (2025)

Why This Guide Exists

You’ve heard about GMGN. You know it’s powerful for tracking smart money and finding alpha early. But when you first visit the platform, it’s overwhelming.

This guide will take you from zero to trading on GMGN in under 30 minutes.

No fluff. Just actionable steps with everything you need to know.

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What You’ll Learn

By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to:

✅ Access GMGN (both web and Telegram)
✅ Connect your wallet securely
✅ Navigate the main interface
✅ Track smart money wallets
✅ Execute your first trade
✅ Set up alerts and watchlists
✅ Use the exclusive 10% discount code

Time Required: 20-30 minutes
Prerequisites: Basic crypto knowledge, a Solana wallet with some SOL

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Part 1: Getting Started with GMGN

Choose Your Interface: Web vs Telegram

GMGN offers two ways to access the platform:

Option A: Web Interface (Recommended for Beginners)

• Best for: Research, analytics, detailed charts
• Access: gmgn.ai
• Pros: Full feature access, better for learning
• Cons: Requires wallet connection

Option B: Telegram Bot

• Best for: Quick trades, mobile access, notifications
• Access: Search “@GMGNBot” on Telegram
• Pros: Fast execution, mobile-friendly, alerts
• Cons: Limited analytics compared to web

Recommendation: Start with the web interface to learn, then add the Telegram bot for quick trades later.

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Part 2: Web Interface Setup (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Visit GMGN with the Exclusive Discount

🎁 Use this link to get 10% off fees: gmgn.ai/?ref=S3hUT4Bu

Important: The discount is automatically applied when you sign up through this referral link. You’ll see “10% off fees” in your account settings after connecting.

Step 2: Connect Your Wallet

Supported Wallets:

• Phantom (Most Popular)
• Solflare
• Backpack
• Any Solana-compatible wallet

Connection Steps:

1. Click “Connect Wallet” in the top-right corner

   • You’ll see a wallet selection modal

2. Select your wallet (e.g., Phantom)

   • A popup will appear from your wallet extension

3. Approve the connection

   • ⚠️ Important: GMGN only requests permission to view your wallet address
   • It does NOT request permission to move funds
   • If you see a transaction approval, something is wrong - reject it

4. Verify the connection

   • Your wallet address should appear in the top-right
   • It will be abbreviated: ABC...XYZ

Step 3: Understand the Main Interface

Once connected, you’ll see:

Top Navigation Bar:

• Discover: Find new tokens and trending coins
• Smart Money: Track profitable wallets
• Portfolio: Your current positions
• Trade: Execute trades directly
• Alerts: Set up notifications

Main Dashboard:

• New Buys Feed: Real-time purchases by tracked wallets
• Trending Tokens: Popular coins right now
• Smart Money Activity: What whales are buying
• Your Watchlist: Tokens you’re tracking

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Part 3: Your First Time Using GMGN

Finding and Tracking a Smart Money Wallet

This is GMGN’s killer feature. Here’s how to use it:

Step 1: Navigate to Smart Money Section

1. Click “Smart Money” in the top navigation
2. You’ll see a list of profitable wallets ranked by various metrics

Step 2: Evaluate a Wallet

Before following anyone, check these metrics:

What to Look For:

• ✅ Win Rate: 60%+ is good, 70%+ is excellent
• ✅ Total Profit: Consistent profits over time
• ✅ Trade Count: 50+ trades (proves it’s not luck)
• ✅ Recent Activity: Active in the last 7 days
• ✅ Average Hold Time: Matches your strategy

Red Flags:

• ❌ Win rate too high (95%+) with few trades = lucky, not skilled
• ❌ No recent activity
• ❌ Only one big win inflating the numbers
• ❌ Extreme risk-taking (all-in on every trade)

Step 3: View Wallet Details

Click on any wallet to see:

• Full transaction history
• Current positions (what they’re holding now)
• Performance chart (profits over time)
• Buy/sell patterns
• Token preferences (what type of coins they trade)

Step 4: Follow the Wallet

1. Click the “Follow” button on the wallet page
2. This adds them to your feed
3. You’ll now see their new purchases in real-time on your dashboard

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Part 4: Executing Your First Trade on GMGN

Finding a Trading Opportunity

Two Main Ways:

Method 1: Follow Smart Money

1. Check your “New Buys Feed”
2. See what smart money wallets just bought
3. Research the token (more on this below)
4. Decide if you want to copy the trade

Method 2: Use Token Discovery

1. Go to “Discover” tab
2. Filter by:
   • New tokens (< 24 hours old)
   • Rising volume
   • Smart money interest
   • Safety scores
3. Research interesting tokens

Researching a Token (CRITICAL STEP)

Before buying anything, check these on the token page:

Safety Checks:

• ✅ Liquidity: Is there enough? ($50K+ is safer)
• ✅ Holder Distribution: Top 10 holders shouldn’t own >50%
• ✅ Contract: Is it renounced? (Check on RugCheck)
• ✅ LP Lock: Is liquidity locked? For how long?
• ✅ Smart Money Interest: Are respected wallets buying?

Market Checks:

• 📊 Volume: Is it real? (Not wash trading)
• 📊 Price Action: Recent trends
• 📊 Social Activity: Twitter, Telegram presence
• 📊 Age: When was it deployed?

Never skip this step. Smart money can be wrong. Always DYOR.

Executing the Trade

Once you’ve researched and decided to buy:

On GMGN Web:

1. Click “Trade” button on the token page
2. Enter the amount you want to buy
   • Start small (0.1-0.5 SOL) on your first trade
3. Check the slippage
   • Default: 5-10%
   • High volatility coins: 10-20%
   • Too low = transaction might fail
4. Review the details:
   • Token amount you’ll receive
   • Price impact
   • Estimated fees
5. Click “Swap”
6. Approve in your wallet
   • Your wallet (Phantom) will popup
   • Review the transaction
   • Click “Approve”
7. Wait for confirmation
   • Usually 5-20 seconds on Solana
   • You’ll see a success message

Trading Tips:

💡 Position Sizing:

• First trade: 0.1-0.5 SOL maximum
• Never go all-in on one token
• Risk 2-5% of your bankroll per trade

💡 Slippage Settings:

• Stable tokens: 1-3%
• Normal tokens: 5-10%
• High volatility: 10-20%
• If transaction fails, increase slippage by 2-5%

💡 Gas/Priority Fees:

• GMGN handles this automatically
• During high congestion, transactions may be slower
• Be patient, don’t spam transactions

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Part 5: Managing Your Portfolio

Viewing Your Positions

1. Click “Portfolio” in the top navigation
2. You’ll see:
   • All tokens you currently hold
   • Entry price vs current price
   • Unrealized P&L (profit/loss)
   • Total portfolio value

Selling a Position

When to Sell:

• Hit your profit target (e.g., 2x, 3x, 5x)
• Smart money you’re following starts selling
• Token shows red flags (rug warnings, suspicious activity)
• Your stop-loss is hit
• Need to cut losses and move on

How to Sell:

1. Find the token in your Portfolio
2. Click “Sell” or “Trade”
3. Choose sell amount:
   • Sell 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100%
   • Or enter a custom amount
4. Set slippage (usually 5-10%)
5. Click “Swap”
6. Approve in your wallet
7. Confirm the transaction

Selling Strategy (Recommended):

• Take profits in stages
• Example: Sell 25% at 2x, 25% at 3x, 25% at 5x, let 25% run
• This locks in profits while keeping upside exposure

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Part 6: Setting Up Alerts and Watchlists

Creating a Watchlist

Why Use Watchlists:

• Track tokens you’re interested in
• Monitor price movements
• Get notified of smart money activity

How to Create:

1. Find a token you want to watch
2. Click the “Star” icon on the token page
3. It’s added to your watchlist
4. Access anytime from “Watchlist” in navigation

Setting Up Alerts

Alert Types:

• Price alerts (token hits X price)
• Wallet alerts (tracked wallet makes a trade)
• New token alerts (new launches matching criteria)
• Volume alerts (sudden volume spikes)

How to Set Alerts:

1. Go to “Alerts” section
2. Click “Create New Alert”
3. Choose alert type
4. Set conditions (e.g., “Alert me when SOL > $150”)
5. Choose notification method:
   • Telegram (recommended)
   • Email
   • Browser notification
6. Save the alert

Pro Tip: Set up Telegram alerts for your most important wallets and tokens. You’ll get instant notifications on your phone.

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Part 7: Telegram Bot Setup (Bonus)

Why Add the Telegram Bot

The web interface is great for research, but the Telegram bot is better for:

• Quick trades when you’re away from computer
• Instant alerts on your phone
• Monitoring smart money on-the-go

Setting It Up

Step 1: Find the Bot

1. Open Telegram
2. Search: @GMGNBot
3. Start the conversation

Step 2: Connect Your Wallet

1. Bot will prompt you to connect
2. Two options:
   • Import private key (highest risk, fastest trades)
   • Use wallet connect (safer, slightly slower)

⚠️ Security Warning:

• If you import private key, use a burner wallet
• Never import your main wallet
• Only keep funds you’re actively trading
• Most people use a separate “trading wallet” with limited funds

Step 3: Set Your Preferences

1. Default slippage
2. Auto-approve settings (optional)
3. Alert preferences

Step 4: Start Trading

• Send token address to buy
• Use commands like /buy, /sell, /portfolio
• Get real-time notifications

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Part 8: Using Your Exclusive Discount

Verifying the Discount Is Applied

After signing up through the referral link:

1. Go to “Settings” or “Account”
2. Look for “Fee Structure” or “Referral Code”
3. You should see: “10% fee discount active”
4. Referral code: S3hUT4Bu

How the Discount Works

Normal GMGN Fees:

• Trading: 1% per swap
• With discount: 0.9% per swap

Savings Example:

• Trade $1,000: Save $1 per trade
• Trade $10,000: Save $10 per trade
• Over 100 trades: Save $100+

The discount applies automatically to all trades. No need to enter the code each time.

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Part 9: Common Issues and How to Fix Them

Problem 1: Wallet Won’t Connect

Solutions:

1. Check wallet extension is unlocked
2. Try a different browser (Chrome works best)
3. Disable other wallet extensions temporarily
4. Clear cache and cookies
5. Update wallet extension to latest version

Problem 2: Transaction Failed

Common Causes:

1. Slippage too low → Increase by 2-5%
2. Not enough SOL for gas → Keep 0.05-0.1 SOL for fees
3. Token liquidity too low → Try smaller amount
4. Network congestion → Wait and retry

Problem 3: Can’t See My Balance

Solutions:

1. Refresh the page
2. Disconnect and reconnect wallet
3. Check you’re on correct network (Solana mainnet)
4. Verify wallet address is correct

Problem 4: Alerts Not Working

Solutions:

1. Check Telegram bot is active (send it a message)
2. Verify alert conditions are set correctly
3. Test with a simple alert first
4. Check notification permissions in Telegram settings

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Part 10: Best Practices for GMGN Beginners

Do’s ✅

1. Start Small

• Use 0.1-0.5 SOL per trade initially
• Learn the platform before scaling up

2. Research Everything

• Check safety scores
• Verify liquidity
• Look at holder distribution
• Never buy blindly

3. Follow Multiple Wallets

• Don’t rely on just one
• Look for consensus among several smart money wallets
• Diversify your sources of alpha

4. Set Stop Losses

• Mental or automated
• Stick to your rules
• Don’t let emotions override your plan

5. Take Profits

• Sell in stages
• Lock in gains
• Greed is the enemy

Don’ts ❌

1. Don’t Copy Trade Blindly

• Smart money can be wrong
• They might have different risk tolerance
• Always DYOR (Do Your Own Research)

2. Don’t Chase Pumps

• If it’s already up 10x, you’re probably late
• FOMO leads to losses
• Wait for the next opportunity

3. Don’t Ignore Red Flags

• No liquidity = can’t sell
• Suspicious holder distribution = potential rug
• No social presence = dead project

4. Don’t Revenge Trade

• Lost money? Don’t immediately try to make it back
• Take a break
• Analyze what went wrong

5. Don’t Share Your Private Keys

• GMGN (web) doesn’t need your private key
• Only Telegram bot requires it (use burner wallet)
• Legit platforms never ask via DM

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Part 11: Your First Week Game Plan

Day 1-2: Learning Phase

• Connect wallet to GMGN
• Explore the interface
• Find and follow 3-5 smart money wallets
• Research 5-10 tokens (don’t buy yet)
• Set up a watchlist

Day 3-4: Small Position Phase

• Execute 1-2 small test trades (0.1 SOL each)
• Practice buying and selling
• Get comfortable with the interface
• Track your P&L

Day 5-7: Strategy Development

• Analyze what worked and what didn’t
• Refine your wallet following strategy
• Set up alerts for key opportunities
• Increase position sizes slightly (if comfortable)

Goal: By day 7, you should feel confident navigating GMGN and executing trades.

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Part 12: Next Steps - Intermediate Features

Once you’re comfortable with the basics, explore:

Advanced Features

1. API Access (For Developers)

• Automate wallet tracking
• Build custom alerts
• Create trading bots
• Read the API docs

2. Copy Trading

• Automatically copy smart money trades
• Set rules and limits
• Use with caution (requires trust)

3. Multi-Chain Trading

• GMGN supports 6 chains: Solana, Ethereum, TRON, Base, Blast, BNB
• Same interface, different networks
• Start with Solana, expand later

4. Advanced Analytics

• Correlation analysis
• Whale movement tracking
• Token flow visualization
• Historical performance data

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Part 13: Essential Resources

Official GMGN Resources

• Website: gmgn.ai (Use for 10% discount)
• Telegram Bot: @GMGNBot
• Documentation: docs.gmgn.ai
• Discord Community: Join here
• Twitter: @gmgnai

MemeGateway Resources

• GMGN Full Review: Read here
• GMGN Deep Dive: Advanced strategies
• Smart Money Tracking Guide: Learn more
• GMGN vs Other Bots: Comparisons

Safety Tools to Use Alongside GMGN

• RugCheck.xyz: Contract safety analysis
• Solscan.io: Transaction verification
• BirdEye.so: Additional analytics
• Token Sniffer: Scam detection

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Part 14: Frequently Asked Questions

Is GMGN safe to use?

Yes, with proper precautions:

• ✅ Established platform with good track record
• ✅ Web interface only requests view permission
• ✅ Audited by security researchers
• ⚠️ Telegram bot requires private key (use burner wallet)

Safety score: 8/10

How much does GMGN cost?

Fee Structure:

• Trading fee: 1% per swap
• With discount code: 0.9% per swap
• No subscription fees
• No hidden charges

Cost Example:

• $100 trade: $0.90 fee (with discount)
• $1,000 trade: $9 fee (with discount)

Can I use GMGN on mobile?

Yes, two ways:

1. Mobile browser: Visit gmgn.ai (less ideal)
2. Telegram bot: Full mobile experience (recommended)

The Telegram bot is designed for mobile and works great on phones.

What’s the minimum amount to start?

Recommended starting capital:

• Absolute minimum: 0.5 SOL (~$50-100)
• Comfortable start: 2-5 SOL ($200-500)
• Ideal: 5-10 SOL ($500-1000)

Remember: Only trade with money you can afford to lose.

How do I know which wallets to follow?

Evaluation Checklist:

1. Win rate 60%+ (70%+ is excellent)
2. 50+ trades minimum
3. Consistent activity
4. Reasonable risk management
5. Trades align with your strategy

Don’t follow blindly. Even the best wallets have losing trades.

Can I automate my trading on GMGN?

Yes, several ways:

1. API integration (for developers)
2. Copy trading features (built-in)
3. Telegram bot auto-buy (limited automation)

Warning: Automation carries risks. Start manual, add automation once experienced.

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The Bottom Line

GMGN is one of the most powerful tools for meme coin trading, but it has a learning curve.

This guide gave you everything you need to start:

• ✅ Account setup and wallet connection
• ✅ Understanding the interface
• ✅ Finding and following smart money
• ✅ Executing your first trade
• ✅ Managing your portfolio
• ✅ Setting up alerts
• ✅ Using the 10% discount

Your next steps:

1. Visit GMGN with the discount link
2. Connect your wallet
3. Follow 3-5 smart money wallets
4. Make a small test trade (0.1 SOL)
5. Track your results

Remember:

• Start small
• Always DYOR
• Don’t copy trade blindly
• Take profits in stages
• Learn from every trade

The meme coin market is 24/7. GMGN helps you stay ahead by following the smartest traders in real-time.

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Related Guides

Continue Your Learning:

• Why Meme Traders Use Trading Bots Instead of DEXs
• Best Solana Sniper Trading Bots 2025
• Solana Wallet Trackers & Smart Money Tools
• How to Safely Use Meme Trading Bots

Compare GMGN to Other Bots:

• GMGN Full Review
• GMGN vs Photon
• All Bot Comparisons

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Questions? Drop them in the GMGN Discord or MemeGateway community.

Remember: This is not financial advice. Trade at your own risk. Only invest what you can afford to lose.

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Last updated: January 5, 2025
Tutorial difficulty: Beginner
Time to complete: 20-30 minutes