Education 5 min read

How To Track Crypto Whales On Solana DEX Platforms

Tracking large wallet holders, or ‘crypto whales’, on Solana-based decentralized exchanges (DEXs) can provide valuable trading insights. Solana’s fast and inexpensive network makes it a popular choice for active traders, including whales who often move large sums on DEXs like Orca, Raydium, and Jupiter.

If you’re a beginner, this guide will walk you through simple and free methods to identify and monitor whale activity for potential trading signals.

Why whale tracking matters on Solana

Whales can influence market behavior by making large purchases or sales that shift token prices, especially in lower-liquidity pools. Monitoring their moves helps traders:

  • Anticipate potential price movements.
  • Identify tokens gaining early whale interest.
  • Detect possible exits or dumps before prices drop.

Solana DEX trades are on-chain and transparent, meaning anyone can inspect large swaps and wallet movements using free tools.

Key Solana DEX platforms to watch

  • Orca – Known for its user-friendly interface and concentrated liquidity pools.
  • Raydium – A major AMM with farming and liquidity opportunities.
  • Jupiter – A trade aggregator that routes swaps across Solana DEXs for best pricing.

Whales often use these platforms for large swaps due to their liquidity depth and routing options.

Best free tools for tracking whale activity

Solana explorers: Solscan and Solanafm

Solana explorers let you view wallet and transaction data in detail.

  • Solscan: Offers transaction history, token balances, and a ‘whale tracking’ dashboard. You can search wallet addresses and view their holdings, past trades, and interaction with DeFi protocols. Solscan allows creating an account to set watchlists and receive email alerts.
  • SolanaFM: A beginner-friendly alternative with visual charts and a focus on large wallets. It highlights the most active wallets and shows real-time token flows.

Use these explorers to follow the wallet involved in a large swap and track its future activity.

Solscan dashboard
Solscan dashboard

Dex Screener for Solana

DEX Screener aggregates trade data across multiple Solana DEXs. It’s especially useful for:

  • Filtering trades by size (e.g., show only swaps over $10,000).
  • Identifying sudden spikes in volume.
  • Viewing real-time trades on tokens of interest.

Steps to use DEX Screener:

  1. Select the Solana network.
  2. Search for a token or pair (e.g., SOL/USDC).
  3. Use filters to show large trades.
  4. Click on a trade to view wallet addresses involved.
  5. Copy the wallet address and investigate further on Solscan.
DEX Screener dashboard
DEX Screener dashboard

Telegram bots and alerts

Once you’ve identified a whale wallet, it helps to track their movements automatically.

  • Solana RayBot: A Telegram bot that lets you follow wallet addresses. It notifies you when tracked wallets make swaps, transfers, or interact with DeFi protocols.
  • Whale Alert (Twitter and Telegram): Sends out notifications for large USDC, USDT, or SOL transfers on Solana, especially to or from exchanges.
  • Solscan Telegram Bot: Offers real-time whale alerts based on wallet activity and large transactions.

These bots are beginner-friendly and don’t require code. They help you stay ahead without constant manual checks.

 

How to track whale activity step-by-step

Step 1: Spot large trades

Open DEX Screener, select Solana, and apply a filter to show trades above a certain size (e.g., $20,000). Look for repeated large purchases of a single token, which may indicate accumulation.

Step 2: Identify the wallet

Click on the trade to open the transaction details. Copy the wallet address receiving the token.

Step 3: Investigate the wallet

Paste the address into Solscan or SolanaFM. Look for patterns:

  • What other tokens does it hold?
  • Has it made similar purchases before?
  • Does it interact with multiple DEXs?
  • Is it a known exchange wallet or an individual whale?

Avoid wallets labeled as exchanges or custodians, as these often aggregate user funds.

Step 4: Track the wallet

Add the wallet to your Solscan watchlist or input it into RayBot or Whale Alert. Set alerts for future swaps or transfers. This lets you react quickly if the whale buys more or begins selling.

Step 5: Interpret with caution

Not all large movements are bullish. If a whale sends tokens to a centralized exchange, it may signal an upcoming sale. If they remove liquidity or withdraw funds, it could mean they’re exiting the market. Use context to judge the intent.

Examples from 2025

Meme coin surge in May 2025

During a meme coin boom on Solana, whales rapidly accumulated tokens like PENGU and DOGWIFHAT. Tools like DEX Screener and Whale Alert showed multiple six-figure buys routed through Jupiter. Traders who noticed this early rode significant price surges.

Sobb token pump-and-dump

A single whale used multiple wallets to accumulate large amounts of a low-cap token, SOBB. After hyping it through community channels, the whale dumped all holdings within hours. This was identified via Solscan by spotting wallet clustering and synchronized sell-offs.

Tips and warnings

  • Confirm patterns: Don’t trade based on a single whale action. Look for repeated behavior across multiple wallets.
  • Be wary of spoofing: Some large trades are fake or involve internal transfers. Use explorer tools to validate.
  • Check wallet labels: Solscan sometimes identifies wallets belonging to exchanges. Avoid mistaking these for individual whales.
  • Don’t chase pumps: Whales often sell after a token gets attention. Enter early or wait for a correction.
  • Use alerts: Set alerts to track key wallets instead of manually checking every hour.

Final thoughts

Whale tracking on Solana DEXs is accessible to beginners using free tools like Solscan, DEX Screener, and Telegram bots. By observing large trades, investigating wallet behavior, and setting alerts, you can spot potential trading opportunities or avoid sudden dumps. While not foolproof, combining whale tracking with your own research adds another valuable layer to your trading strategy.

Stay alert, be cautious, and let the data guide you.

  1. 01.

    How can I identify whale wallets on Solana?

    You can identify whale wallets on Solana by using block explorers like Solscan or SolanaFM. Look for wallets with large balances, frequent high-value transactions, or consistent activity across DEXs like Orca, Raydium, or Jupiter. Tools like DEX Screener can help surface large trades in real time, revealing potential whale activity.

  2. 02.

    What is the best free tool to track whale trades on Solana DEXs?

    DEX Screener is one of the best free tools to track whale trades on Solana. It allows users to filter trades by size and view real-time activity across multiple DEX platforms. Pairing this with Solscan for wallet analysis and Telegram bots like RayBot for alerts gives a powerful free whale-tracking setup.

  3. 03.

    Are whale trades on Solana a reliable trading signal?

    Whale trades can indicate early accumulation or upcoming sell-offs, but they should not be used as the sole trading signal. Always verify context using Solscan or SolanaFM, and combine whale tracking with technical analysis or market sentiment to avoid false positives or manipulation risks.

Mohammad Shahid @ CryptoManiaks
Mohammad Shahid

Mohammad is an experienced crypto writer with a specialisation in cybersecurity. He covers a wide variety of topics spanning everything from blockchain and Web3 to the retail crypto space. He has also worked for several start-ups and ICOs, gaining insight into the mindset and motivation of the founders behind the projects.

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