What Is Lighter DEX?
Lighter is a decentralized exchange built on Solana that offers 0% taker and maker fees — the only major DEX to do so. It's perfect for scalpers, arbitrage traders, and anyone who trades frequently.
Step 1: Get a Solana Wallet
Lighter runs on Solana, so you need a Solana-compatible wallet. Recommended options:
- Phantom Wallet — Browser extension + mobile app, most popular
- Solflare — Full-featured Solana wallet
- Backpack — Newer wallet with xNFT support
Install your chosen wallet as a browser extension, create a new wallet, and save your seed phrase in a safe place.
Step 2: Fund Your Wallet with SOL and USDC
You'll need SOL for transaction fees (gas) and USDC for trading. Buy SOL on any centralized exchange (Coinbase, Binance, Kraken) and withdraw it to your Solana wallet address. Then swap some SOL for USDC on a Solana DEX like Jupiter.
Step 3: Visit the Lighter DEX Website
Go to lighter.xyz and click "Connect Wallet" in the top right corner. Select Phantom (or your wallet provider) from the list and approve the connection request.
Step 4: Enter Your Referral Code
Before trading, use the referral code 718610TD to unlock any available benefits. Look for a referral or invite field in your account settings or during the deposit process.
Step 5: Deposit Funds
Click "Deposit" and select the asset you want to trade with. Confirm the transaction in your wallet. Deposits on Solana process in under 1 second with gas fees under $0.01.
Step 6: Start Trading with Zero Fees
Once your funds are deposited, navigate to the trading interface. All trades on Lighter are 0% taker and 0% maker. Place your first trade and experience true zero-fee trading.
Pro Tips for New Lighter Users
- Start with small positions to understand the platform
- Take advantage of 0% fees for scalping strategies
- Monitor Solana network congestion — during peak times, transactions may take longer
- Keep at least 0.1 SOL in your wallet for gas fees