TL;DR
A token safety check is a due diligence process that examines on-chain properties of a Solana token (authorities, holders, liquidity, deployer) to assess the risk of scam or rug pull.
Before buying any token: (1) Mint authority revoked? If not, supply can be inflated. (2) Freeze authority revoked? If not, your tokens can be locked. (3) Top holder concentration reasonable? Top 10 wallets under 25%. (4) LP burned or locked? Prevents liquidity removal. (5) No bundle concentration? Check for coordinated insider buying. (6) Deployer track record? Verified via Deployer Hunter. Failing any of these is a red flag.
MadeOnSol’s Token Scanner runs all these checks automatically and outputs a risk score (0-100). RugCheck is a popular third-party tool that grades token safety. Birdeye and DEX Screener show holder and liquidity data. Most trading bots have built-in safety checks that warn or block trades on flagged tokens. Using multiple tools gives the most comprehensive view.
Automated tools catch the obvious red flags but can’t evaluate everything. Check the project’s social media (is engagement real or botted?). Verify the team (are they doxxed or anonymous?). Assess the narrative (does this have legs or is it a 15-minute trend?). Look at the chart pattern (organic growth or clearly manipulated?). The combination of automated safety checks and manual research is your best defense.