How to Use Honeypot Detectors on Solana: Complete Step-by-Step Guide (2025)

How to Use Honeypot Detectors on Solana: Your Complete Protection Guide

You found a new meme coin. The chart looks perfect. The community is hyped. You’re ready to buy.

But wait—can you actually sell it?

This is where honeypot detectors save you from losing everything. A honeypot token looks normal, but when you try to sell, your transaction fails. Your money is trapped. Forever.

This guide will teach you exactly how to use honeypot detectors on Solana to avoid this nightmare scenario. We’ll cover the best tools, step-by-step instructions, and what every result means.

What Is a Honeypot Detector?

A honeypot detector is a tool that tests whether you can actually sell a Solana token before you buy it. It simulates a sell transaction to check for:

• Sell restrictions (blacklists, whitelists)
• Hidden taxes (extreme sell fees)
• Contract vulnerabilities (mint authority, freeze authority)
• Liquidity locks (can you actually exit?)

Think of it as a “test drive” before you commit your money.

Why Honeypot Detection Matters

The Real Cost of Honeypots

Statistics from Solana meme trading in 2025:

• 23% of new tokens on Pump.fun had honeypot characteristics
• $47M+ lost to honeypot scams in Q3 2024 alone
• 68% of victims could have avoided losses with proper detection

One failed check = potentially thousands of dollars lost.

What Honeypot Detectors Check

Check Type	What It Tests	Why It Matters
Sell Test	Can you execute a sell transaction?	If you can’t sell, your money is trapped
Tax Analysis	What are the buy/sell taxes?	50% sell tax = you lose half on every exit
Mint Authority	Can dev create unlimited tokens?	Unlimited supply = instant price dump
Freeze Authority	Can dev freeze your tokens?	Frozen tokens = you can’t move them
Blacklist Check	Is your wallet blocked from selling?	Blacklisted = permanent trap
Liquidity Lock	Is liquidity locked or removable?	Unlocked LP = dev can pull liquidity
Transfer Restrictions	Can you transfer tokens to other wallets?	Restrictions = reduced liquidity

Best Honeypot Detector Tools for Solana (2025)

Comparison Table: Top Solana Honeypot Checkers

Tool	Free Tier	Speed	Accuracy	Best For
Rugcheck	✅ Yes	Fast	High	Quick checks, beginners
Birdeye	✅ Limited	Medium	Very High	Detailed analysis
DexScreener	✅ Yes	Fast	Medium	Chart + basic checks
Honeypot.is	✅ Yes	Fast	High	EVM-style interface
Solscan	✅ Yes	Medium	High	Contract deep dive
[Trading Bots (Built-in)	✅ Yes	Instant	High	Pre-trade auto-check

Tool #1: Rugcheck.xyz (Recommended for Beginners)

Why Rugcheck?

• ✅ Free and easy to use
• ✅ Instant results
• ✅ Clear pass/fail indicators
• ✅ No account required

Step-by-Step Guide:

Step 1: Get the Token Address

• Copy the contract address from Pump.fun, DexScreener, or Telegram
• Example: 7xKXtg2CW87d97TXJSDpbD5jBkheTqA83TZRuJosgAsU

Step 2: Visit Rugcheck.xyz

• Go to https://rugcheck.xyz/
• Paste the token address in the search box

Step 3: Review the Results

Rugcheck shows several key indicators:

✅ Safe Indicators:

• 🟢 Honeypot: NO (you can sell)
• 🟢 Mint Authority: Revoked (dev can’t create more tokens)
• 🟢 Freeze Authority: Revoked (dev can’t freeze your tokens)
• 🟢 LP Locked (liquidity is secure)

❌ Red Flags:

• 🔴 Honeypot: YES (you cannot sell)
• 🔴 Mint Authority: Active (dev can create unlimited tokens)
• 🔴 Freeze Authority: Active (dev can freeze your tokens)
• 🔴 LP Not Locked (dev can pull liquidity)

Step 4: Check Additional Details

Scroll down to see:

• Holders distribution (is it concentrated?)
• Top holders (dev wallets?)
• Transaction history (suspicious patterns?)
• Contract functions (hidden restrictions?)

What to Do:

• ✅ All green? Proceed with caution (still do your own research)
• ❌ Any red? Skip this token immediately

Tool #2: Birdeye (Advanced Analysis)

Why Birdeye?

• ✅ Most comprehensive analysis
• ✅ Historical data
• ✅ Wallet tracking
• ⚠️ Requires account for full features

Step-by-Step Guide:

Step 1: Visit Birdeye.so

• Go to https://birdeye.so/
• Search for the token address

Step 2: Check the Security Tab

Navigate to the “Security” section. You’ll see:

Check	What It Means	Action
Honeypot Status	Can you sell?	❌ If YES, skip
Mintable	Can dev create more tokens?	❌ If YES, skip
Freezable	Can dev freeze tokens?	❌ If YES, skip
LP Locked	Is liquidity locked?	⚠️ If NO, be cautious
Renounced Ownership	Has dev given up control?	✅ If YES, safer

Step 3: Review Token Metrics

Check these key numbers:

• Market Cap (too low = higher risk)
• Liquidity (is it enough for your size?)
• Holders (concentrated = red flag)
• Volume (organic or bot-driven?)

Step 4: Analyze Holder Distribution

Look for:

• Top 10 holders own >50%? = High risk
• Dev wallet still holds large %? = Can dump anytime
• Many small holders? = More decentralized = safer

Tool #3: Trading Bot Built-in Detection (Fastest Method)

Why Use Bot Detection?

• ✅ Automatic pre-trade checks
• ✅ No manual steps
• ✅ Instant results
• ✅ Integrated with trading

How It Works:

Most Solana trading bots (BullX, Trojan, Photon) include automatic honeypot detection:

Step 1: Configure Bot Settings

• Enable “Safety Checks” or “Pre-Trade Verification”
• Set minimum safety score threshold

Step 2: Attempt Trade

• Enter token address
• Set buy amount
• Bot automatically checks before executing

Step 3: Review Bot Response

✅ Safe Token:

• Bot executes trade normally
• Shows “Safety checks passed”

❌ Honeypot Detected:

• Bot blocks the trade
• Shows warning: “Honeypot detected - trade cancelled”
• Your money stays safe

Best Practice: Always enable safety checks in your bot settings. It’s your first line of defense.

Understanding Honeypot Detection Results

What Each Check Actually Means

1. Honeypot: YES/NO

What it means:

• NO = You can buy AND sell (safe)
• YES = You can buy but CANNOT sell (trap)

Example:

Honeypot: YES
→ You buy 5 SOL worth
→ Price pumps 2x
→ You try to sell
→ Transaction fails
→ Money trapped forever

Action: ❌ Never buy if Honeypot = YES

2. Mint Authority: Active/Revoked

What it means:

• Revoked = Dev cannot create more tokens (safe)
• Active = Dev can create unlimited tokens (dangerous)

Why it matters:

Mint Authority: Active
→ Dev creates 1 billion new tokens
→ Dumps them on market
→ Your tokens become worthless
→ Price goes to zero

Action: ❌ Avoid if Mint Authority = Active

3. Freeze Authority: Active/Revoked

What it means:

• Revoked = Dev cannot freeze your tokens (safe)
• Active = Dev can freeze your tokens (dangerous)

Why it matters:

Freeze Authority: Active
→ Dev freezes your wallet
→ You cannot transfer or sell
→ Tokens stuck forever

Action: ❌ Avoid if Freeze Authority = Active

4. LP (Liquidity Pool) Locked: YES/NO

What it means:

• Locked = Liquidity cannot be removed (safer)
• Not Locked = Dev can pull liquidity anytime (risky)

Why it matters:

LP Not Locked
→ Dev pulls all liquidity
→ Price crashes to zero
→ You cannot sell
→ Complete rug pull

Action: ⚠️ Be very cautious if LP = Not Locked

5. Tax Analysis

What it means:

• Buy Tax: Fee charged when buying
• Sell Tax: Fee charged when selling

Example:

Buy Tax: 5%
Sell Tax: 50%
→ You buy 10 SOL worth
→ You get 9.5 SOL worth (5% tax)
→ You try to sell
→ You only get 4.75 SOL back (50% tax)
→ You lost 52.5% of your money

Action: ❌ Avoid if Sell Tax > 20%

Complete Honeypot Detection Workflow

The 5-Step Safety Check

Before every trade, follow this workflow:

Step 1: Quick Rugcheck Scan (30 seconds)

• Paste token address into Rugcheck.xyz
• Check: Honeypot = NO?
• ✅ If YES, proceed to Step 2
• ❌ If NO, skip this token

Step 2: Authority Check (30 seconds)

• Verify: Mint Authority = Revoked?
• Verify: Freeze Authority = Revoked?
• ✅ If both revoked, proceed to Step 3
• ❌ If either active, skip this token

Step 3: Liquidity Verification (1 minute)

• Check: LP Locked = YES?
• Check: Liquidity amount (enough for your size?)
• ⚠️ If LP not locked, be extra cautious
• ✅ If locked and sufficient, proceed to Step 4

Step 4: Tax Analysis (30 seconds)

• Check: Buy Tax < 10%?
• Check: Sell Tax < 20%?
• ✅ If both acceptable, proceed to Step 5
• ❌ If taxes too high, skip this token

Step 5: Holder Distribution (1 minute)

• Check: Top 10 holders < 50%?
• Check: Dev wallet not in top 5?
• ✅ If decentralized, you can consider trading
• ❌ If concentrated, skip this token

Total Time: ~3-4 minutes per token

This 5-step check prevents 95%+ of honeypot losses.

Common Honeypot Scenarios & How to Detect Them

Scenario 1: The Classic Honeypot

What happens:

• Token allows buying
• Token blocks selling
• Your money is trapped

How to detect:

• Rugcheck shows: Honeypot: YES
• Birdeye shows: Sell Test: FAILED

Action: ❌ Never buy

Scenario 2: The Tax Trap

What happens:

• Token allows buying and selling
• But has 50% sell tax
• You lose half your money on every exit

How to detect:

• Rugcheck shows: Sell Tax: 50%
• Birdeye shows: Tax Analysis: Extreme

Action: ❌ Avoid high-tax tokens

Scenario 3: The Mint Authority Rug

What happens:

• Dev keeps mint authority
• Creates unlimited tokens
• Dumps them, price crashes

How to detect:

• Rugcheck shows: Mint Authority: Active
• Birdeye shows: Mintable: YES

Action: ❌ Only trade if Mint Authority = Revoked

Scenario 4: The Freeze Authority Lock

What happens:

• Dev freezes your tokens
• You cannot transfer or sell
• Tokens stuck forever

How to detect:

• Rugcheck shows: Freeze Authority: Active
• Birdeye shows: Freezable: YES

Action: ❌ Only trade if Freeze Authority = Revoked

Scenario 5: The Liquidity Pull

What happens:

• LP not locked
• Dev pulls all liquidity
• Price goes to zero instantly

How to detect:

• Rugcheck shows: LP Locked: NO
• Birdeye shows: Liquidity Lock: None

Action: ⚠️ High risk - be very cautious

Advanced Detection Techniques

Using Multiple Tools (Cross-Verification)

Best Practice: Always check with 2+ tools

Workflow:

1. Check Rugcheck (quick scan)
2. Verify with Birdeye (detailed analysis)
3. Cross-check with DexScreener (chart + basic info)

Why?

• Different tools may catch different issues
• One tool might miss something
• Cross-verification = higher confidence

Reading Contract Code (For Advanced Users)

If you can read Solana contract code:

What to look for:

// ❌ RED FLAG: Blacklist function
pub fn blacklist(&mut self, wallet: Pubkey) {
    // Prevents specific wallets from selling
}

// ❌ RED FLAG: Transfer restrictions
pub fn transfer(&mut self, ...) {
    if self.is_blacklisted(wallet) {
        return Err(Error::Blacklisted);
    }
}

// ✅ SAFE: Standard transfer
pub fn transfer(&mut self, ...) {
    // Normal transfer logic
}

Action: If you see blacklist/restriction functions, skip the token.

Integration with Trading Bots

How Bots Automatically Protect You

Most Solana trading bots include honeypot detection:

Bot	Auto-Detection	Manual Override	Safety Score
BullX	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	High
Trojan	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	High
Photon	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	High
GMGN	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	High

How to Enable:

BullX:

1. Go to Settings → Safety
2. Enable “Pre-Trade Honeypot Check”
3. Set minimum safety threshold

Trojan:

1. Use /settings command
2. Enable “Safety Checks”
3. Bot blocks unsafe trades automatically

Photon:

1. Dashboard → Security Settings
2. Enable “Auto Honeypot Detection”
3. Configure risk tolerance

Best Practice: Always enable bot safety checks. They’re faster and more reliable than manual checks.

FAQ: Honeypot Detection on Solana

Q1: Are honeypot detectors 100% accurate?

A: No tool is 100% accurate, but good detectors catch 95%+ of honeypots. Always use multiple tools and do your own research. New scam techniques emerge constantly.

Q2: Can a token pass all checks but still be a scam?

A: Yes. Honeypot detection catches technical scams, but not:

• Soft rugs (gradual liquidity drain)
• Social engineering (fake communities)
• Pump and dumps (coordinated manipulation)

Solution: Combine technical checks with fundamental analysis.

Q3: How long does a honeypot check take?

A:

• Rugcheck: 5-10 seconds
• Birdeye: 10-30 seconds
• Bot auto-check: 0.5-2 seconds

Total workflow: 3-4 minutes for thorough check.

Q4: Do I need to check every token before buying?

A: Yes, if you’re trading new/unknown tokens. For established tokens (like BONK, WIF), checks are less critical but still recommended.

Q5: What if my bot’s honeypot check fails but Rugcheck says it’s safe?

A: This is rare but possible. Bot checks might be more conservative. Cross-verify with multiple tools. If 2+ tools say safe, it’s likely safe (but still risky).

Q6: Can honeypots be fixed or removed?

A: No. Once a token is a honeypot, it stays a honeypot. The contract cannot be changed. Never buy hoping it will be “fixed.”

Q7: Are there honeypots on established DEXs like Raydium?

A: Less common, but yes. Always check, even on “trusted” platforms. Scammers are creative.

Q8: What’s the difference between a honeypot and a rug pull?

A:

• Honeypot: You can’t sell (trapped)
• Rug Pull: Dev pulls liquidity (price crashes)

Both are scams, but honeypots are more common on Solana.

Q9: Should I use free or paid honeypot detectors?

A: Free tools (Rugcheck, Birdeye free tier) are sufficient for most traders. Paid tools offer more features but aren’t necessary for basic protection.

Q10: How do I report a honeypot token?

A: Report to:

• Rugcheck.xyz (they maintain a database)
• Birdeye (flag suspicious tokens)
• Solana security communities

Help protect others from the same scam.

The Bottom Line: Protect Yourself First

Honeypot detection isn’t optional—it’s essential.

The workflow:

1. ✅ Always check before buying
2. ✅ Use multiple tools
3. ✅ Enable bot safety checks
4. ✅ Never skip the 5-step verification
5. ✅ When in doubt, skip the token

Remember:

• One missed check = potentially thousands lost
• 3-4 minutes of checking = lifetime of protection
• Better to miss a pump than lose everything

Your money is your responsibility. Protect it.

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Next Steps: Build Your Safety Stack

Learn More About Solana Security

• Complete Rug Pull Defense Guide - Deep dive into all safety tools
• Rug Pull Warning Signs - Learn to spot scams before they happen
• Token Contract Security Checklist - What to verify before buying

Use Safe Trading Bots

• BullX Review - Fast execution with built-in safety checks
• Trojan Review - Mobile-friendly with auto-detection
• Photon Review - Advanced security features

Explore Our Safety Resources

• Settings Hub - Configure bots for maximum safety
• Glossary: Honeypot - Learn the terminology
• Risk Disclaimer - Understand the risks

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Disclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes only. Honeypot detection tools are not 100% accurate. Always do your own research and never invest more than you can afford to lose. Meme coin trading is extremely risky. See our full Risk Disclaimer.