Mint authority
Every Solana SPL token has a mint authority: the account allowed to create new tokens. If it is still active, the creator can mint new supply at any moment and sell it, diluting every holder. A revoked (disabled) mint authority means the supply is fixed forever.
Rule: mint authority must be revoked. Tokens launched on Pump.fun have it revoked by default; on tokens launched elsewhere, an active mint authority is a critical red flag.
Freeze authority
The freeze authority can freeze any token account, which means your tokens stay in your wallet but you cannot transfer or sell them. Scam tokens use it to let people buy and then block every sale except the creator's — a "honeypot".
Rule: freeze authority must be revoked. Like mint authority, it is disabled by default on Pump.fun tokens.
LP burned or locked
When a token trades on a DEX, its liquidity sits in a pool. Whoever adds liquidity receives LP tokens that represent a claim on that pool. If the creator keeps those LP tokens, they can withdraw the liquidity at any time: the price collapses and holders are left with tokens nobody can buy. This is the classic liquidity-pull rug.
Burning the LP tokens (sending them to an address nobody controls) or locking them in a time-lock contract removes this risk. "LP burned 100%" means no one can pull the liquidity.
How it works on Pump.fun
- On the bonding curve there is no LP at all: liquidity is the curve itself, managed by the Pump.fun program. LP checks do not apply at this stage — that is why Edge Rugcheck turns the LP filter off for New Pairs and Final Stretch.
- After migration to PumpSwap, the LP is typically burned automatically, so a healthy migrated Pump.fun token shows LP burned at or near 100%.
- Tokens launched directly on other DEXes depend entirely on what the creator did — always check.
Transfer tax (Token-2022)
Tokens created with the newer Token-2022 standard can include a transfer fee, taken on every transfer. A small fee can be legitimate, but a high one makes it hard to exit. Edge Rugcheck shows it separately from the Pump.fun swap fee.
Why these are "critical" checks
Holder concentration and launch activity are judgement calls. Authorities and LP are not: if mint or freeze authority is active, or the token is already flagged as rugged, the creator has a direct technical way to take your money. That is why Edge Rugcheck marks these as critical and shows High risk whenever one of them fails, regardless of the other filters.
Key takeaways
- Mint and freeze authority must be revoked — no exceptions.
- LP burned/locked protects against liquidity pulls; it only applies after migration.
- Passing these checks removes the technical rug vectors, not market risk.