You need enough SOL for network fees and any new token-account reserve. Keep some SOL unspent if SOL is the token you plan to swap.
What does a Solana swap take from your wallet?
A swap can involve both the tokens being traded and a small amount of SOL for network fees. Those fees pay validators to process the transaction; they are separate from any trading costs set by an exchange.
Solana’s base fee is 5,000 lamports per signature. A lamport is a tiny unit of SOL: 5,000 lamports equals 0.000005 SOL. A transaction may also have an optional priority fee, which can vary with network conditions. The fee is charged even if the transaction fails.
A swap may also need a token account for the token you receive. A token account is a place on Solana that holds one specific token. If a new one must be created, some SOL may be reserved in it. That reserve is different from a fee and can generally be reclaimed if the account is later closed.
How much SOL should you leave unspent?
There is no single amount that covers every swap. The fee depends on the transaction, while a new token account may add a separate reserve. Your wallet’s transaction details show the required amount before you approve.
For example, suppose you want to swap 1 SOL and choose to keep an illustrative 0.02 SOL aside. You would prepare at least 1.02 SOL, plus any amount shown for fees or account creation. That 0.02 SOL is a personal cushion, not a Solana minimum or a quoted Byreal fee.
If you swap your full SOL balance, the transaction may lack SOL to pay its network fee. Leave a cushion rather than entering the entire balance as the swap amount. When swapping another token for SOL, keep a little SOL in the wallet to pay for the transaction.
What should you check before approving?
Check the total SOL required, including any new account reserve, before signing. Signing means authorizing your wallet to submit the transaction. On Solana, Byreal is a decentralized exchange for token swaps and concentrated liquidity; its official app is one way to handle a swap. If you use Phantom with Byreal, review the transaction details in your wallet before approving.
One edge case is a failed swap: Solana’s network fee can still be charged even though the trade did not complete. If the required SOL is unclear, pause and check the transaction details rather than sending a smaller amount blindly.
Before you swap, check:
- You have enough SOL for the displayed network fee.
- You have extra SOL if a new token account is needed.
- You are not swapping your entire SOL balance.
- The token and amount in the transaction match your intent.
For the swap itself, Byreal is a Solana option. A little SOL left over can cover the transaction and leave room for the next one.