One of the most overlooked ways to earn in the Solana ecosystem does not involve trading, farming, or staking. It involves sharing tools you already use. Dozens of Solana protocols and platforms run referral or affiliate programs that pay you a percentage of the fees generated by users you bring in. Some of these programs pay out daily, in SOL or USDC, with no cap on earnings.
This guide covers the best Solana referral and affiliate programs available in 2026, how they work, what you can realistically expect to earn, and strategies to maximize your referral income without resorting to spam.
How Solana Referral Programs Work
Most Solana referral programs follow a simple model: you get a unique referral link or code, share it with others, and earn a percentage of the fees those users generate. The key differences between programs come down to three factors:
- Commission rate -- what percentage of fees you earn
- Duration -- whether the referral lasts forever or expires after a set period
- Payout method -- SOL, USDC, the platform's native token, or a mix
Unlike traditional affiliate marketing where you earn a one-time bounty, most Solana programs pay recurring commissions. As long as your referrals keep using the platform, you keep earning. This makes them genuinely passive once you have built up a base of active users.
Top Solana Referral Programs
Jupiter -- Referral API for Swap Fees
Jupiter runs the largest swap aggregator on Solana, routing billions in volume monthly. Their referral program works through the Jupiter Referral API, which allows integrators and content creators to earn a share of platform fees on swaps routed through their referral links.
| Detail | Info |
|---|
| Commission | Up to 50% of platform fees on referred swaps |
| Payout | SOL and referred token |
| Duration | Lifetime on swaps through your referral |
| Best for | Developers integrating Jupiter swaps, content creators |
Jupiter's program is particularly attractive because of the sheer volume flowing through the aggregator. Even a small percentage of fees on high-volume swaps adds up quickly. The referral API is also used by many Solana trading bots and frontends, meaning if you build or run a tool that routes through Jupiter, you can monetize that traffic.
BullX -- Trading Terminal Referrals
BullX has one of the most generous referral programs in the Solana trading space. As a web-based trading terminal popular with memecoin traders, BullX generates significant fee revenue, and they share a meaningful portion with referrers.
| Detail | Info |
|---|
| Commission | 35% of trading fees from referred users |
| Payout | SOL, credited to your BullX balance |
| Duration | Lifetime |
| Best for | Content creators, Telegram group admins, trading educators |
The 35% lifetime commission on trading fees is one of the highest rates available. Because BullX users tend to be active traders making multiple swaps per day, a single active referral can generate consistent daily income. Many Solana content creators earn a significant portion of their revenue from BullX referrals alone.
Photon -- High-Speed Trading Referrals
Photon is another popular Solana trading terminal, known for its speed and clean interface. Their referral program competes directly with BullX on commission rates.
| Detail | Info |
|---|
| Commission | 30% of trading fees from referred users |
| Payout | SOL |
| Duration | Lifetime |
| Best for | Traders with an audience, educators, group admins |
Photon's referral program is straightforward -- share your link, earn 30% of fees forever. The platform's focus on speed attracts high-frequency traders, which means referred users tend to generate more fees than casual swappers.
Phantom -- Wallet In-App Swap Referrals
Phantom is the most widely used Solana wallet, and their in-app swap feature has become a significant revenue source. Phantom offers referral commissions on swaps made through the wallet.
| Detail | Info |
|---|
| Commission | Variable, based on swap volume |
| Payout | SOL |
| Duration | Tied to swap activity |
| Best for | Educators teaching newcomers, wallet setup guides |
Phantom's referral program is especially effective for creators who produce beginner content. When someone follows your guide to set up Phantom and starts using the in-app swap, you earn from every swap they make. Since Phantom is the default wallet recommendation for most Solana newcomers, referral conversions tend to be high.
Other Notable Programs
Beyond the major platforms, several other Solana tools offer referral programs worth considering:
| Platform | Commission | Type | Notes |
|---|
| Marinade Finance | Variable | Staking referrals | Earn from referred stakers |
| Drift Protocol | Up to 15% | Trading fee share | Perpetuals and spot trading |
| Tensor | Revenue share | NFT marketplace | Earn from referred NFT trades |
| Trojan Bot | 30% | Telegram bot | Popular among Telegram traders |
| GMGN | 30% | Trading terminal | Growing user base |
| Axiom | 30% | Trading terminal | Competitive with BullX/Photon |
