Mint Authority and Freeze Authority on Solana, Explained
What mint authority and freeze authority mean on Solana tokens, why active authorities are a rug risk, and how to check whether they've been revoked.
TRENCHSCORE RESEARCH··3 MIN READ
Every token on Solana is created by a mint account. That account stores two settings that decide how much power the creator keeps after launch: the mint authority and the freeze authority. If you trade Solana memecoins, these are the first two things to check — and both should normally say revoked.
//What is mint authority?
The mint authority is the address allowed to create new tokens. While it's active, the supply isn't really fixed: the holder of that authority can mint millions of new tokens at any moment and sell them into the pool, diluting everyone else and draining the liquidity.
Revoking it sets the authority to nothing, permanently. Once revoked, nobody — including the creator — can ever mint again. It can't be undone.
//What is freeze authority?
The freeze authority can freeze any holder's token account. A frozen account can't send, receive or sell. That makes an active freeze authority the Solana equivalent of a honeypot: buyers get in, then the creator freezes them so they can't get out.
Like mint authority, it can be revoked permanently. Major Solana DEXs and launchpads generally expect it removed for ordinary tokens, which is why legitimate memecoins revoke it at launch.
//Active vs revoked: what it means for you
| Setting | Active means | Revoked means |
|---|---|---|
| Mint authority | Supply can be inflated and dumped at any time | Supply is fixed forever |
| Freeze authority | Your wallet can be frozen so you can't sell | Nobody can freeze holders |
//Are there legitimate reasons to keep them?
Yes — for very different kinds of tokens. Regulated stablecoins keep freeze authority for compliance, and protocols that issue rewards may need mint authority. Serious projects usually hand those powers to a multisig or governance program and document why. A brand-new memecoin with an anonymous team has no such excuse: for memecoins, treat an active mint or freeze authority as a deal-breaker.
//Revoked isn't the same as safe
Revoking both authorities closes two doors, but others stay open:
- Liquidity. If the creator still controls the LP, they can pull the pool. See liquidity locks vs LP burns.
- Supply concentration. A fixed supply means little if insiders hold most of it across dozens of wallets. See bundles, snipers and insiders.
- Metadata update authority. A separate authority can change the token's name, symbol and image after launch — a tool for impersonating other tokens.
- Token-2022 extensions. Tokens built on the newer Token-2022 program can carry a permanent delegate, transfer fees or transfer hooks. Read Token-2022 extension risks.
//How to check mint and freeze authority
- 01Paste the token's mint address into a Solana explorer (Solscan, Solana Explorer) and open the token overview. Look for the mint authority and freeze authority fields. Empty or "none" means revoked.
- 02Or paste it into TrenchScore. The contract audit on every Solana token page shows mint authority and freeze authority as pass or fail, alongside liquidity lock status and dev holdings.
//Quick checklist for any Solana token
- Mint authority: revoked
- Freeze authority: revoked
- LP: burned or locked (most Pump.fun graduates burn automatically)
- Token program: standard SPL, or Token-2022 with no risky extensions
- Top holders: no single entity or cluster with an outsized share — see how to read top holders
Run the full routine with the memecoin due diligence checklist.
//Frequently asked questions
What does 'mint authority revoked' mean?+
It means no address can ever create new tokens of that mint. The supply is fixed permanently, and the change can't be reversed.
Is a token with freeze authority a scam?+
Not automatically — regulated stablecoins keep freeze authority for compliance. But for memecoins and new launches, an active freeze authority lets the creator trap holders, so treat it as a serious red flag.
Do Pump.fun tokens have mint or freeze authority?+
Tokens created through Pump.fun are launched with mint and freeze authority revoked, and liquidity is burned when they graduate. You should still check holders, bundles and dev selling.
// Sources
Educational content, not financial advice. Crypto assets are highly risky and most new tokens lose most of their value — always do your own research.