Beginner’s Guide to Degen Crypto Plays in 2025: Trading Bots, Wallets & Memecoin Strategies

Welcome to the wild world of “degen” crypto plays! In 2025, low-cap memecoins and on-chain trading bots are all the rage among crypto enthusiasts looking for the next 100x gem.

Degen (short for degenerate) plays refer to those high-risk, high-reward trades – the kind where you could get rekt or make a fortune overnight. They’re popular because small investments can yield life-changing gains (remember how tiny memecoins like Shiba Inu turned into multi-billion phenomena?). Social media hype, whale investors, and Telegram “alpha” groups fuel these trends, making degen plays a hot topic this year.

For example, Royal Corgi Inu (RCINU) – a new Solana memecoin – is currently buzzing in alpha communities. RCINU’s contract address is EGVt4DvEc7rHAQcLJ4rS4mDFp7VaEmPpkwRBHCifPduCon Solana, and it boasts a tiny market cap (under $10k) with most liquidity burned, indicating a classic degen setup. Some traders believe $RCINU could emulate Shiba Inu’s stunt, and even a few whale wallets are reportedly watching this coin closely for an early entry.

This tutorial will show you how to dive into such degen plays safely – covering the wallets you need, the trading bots (Trojan, Maestro, Axiom) that simplify trading, beginner-friendly strategies, and most importantly how to stay safe in this high-stakes arena.

What Are Degen Crypto Plays and Why Are They So Popular in 2025?

“Degen” plays are essentially extremely speculative crypto trades, often in meme coins or newly launched tokens with very low market caps. These are not blue-chip investments but gambles on unproven coins that could either skyrocket or go to zero. So why are people crazy about them in 2025?

• High Risk, High Reward: Degen traders embrace volatility. One outstanding aspect of degen trading is how fast-paced the wins and losses are – you might double your money in minutes or lose it just as quickly. The allure is that a few hundred dollars in a micro-cap coin could potentially turn into tens of thousands if you catch a moonshot. As one degen puts it, “You could get rekt or you could make a fortune from degen plays.”
• Memecoin Mania Resurgence: Memecoins (like DOGE, SHIB, PEPE) have captured the public imagination in recent years. In 2025, this trend continues on emerging networks (e.g. Solana, Base, Arbitrum) where new meme tokens launch daily. Traders chase the next Pepe or next Shiba Inu, hoping to ride a viral narrative from obscurity to top-tier exchange listings.
• Community and Alpha Sharing: Crypto communities on Telegram and X (Twitter) are constantly sharing “alpha” – insider info or early tips on new tokens. Telegram alpha call groups have become influential hubs where crypto veterans and KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders) drop early calls on tokens, contract addresses, and insider insights. Getting in early via these groups can mean the difference between a 100x gain or being late to the party. This real-time flow of information and FOMO creates a vibrant (if chaotic) environment for degen plays but can still turn your money to Zero (0).
• Better Tools for On-Chain Trading: Unlike the wild west of a few years ago, 2025’s degen traders have access to advanced on-chain trading tools and bots that make it easier to snipe launches and manage trades. Decentralized trading bots on Telegram (like Trojan and Maestro) or dedicated platforms (like Axiom) let everyday traders execute pro-level strategies (auto sniping, copy-trading whales, stop-loss, etc.) with a few clicks. These tools level the playing field and attract more people into high-speed memecoin trading.

In short, degen plays are thrilling and potentially lucrative, which is why so many crypto newbies and veterans alike are drawn to them. But they’re also very risky. The rest of this guide will walk you through setting up the essential wallets, using popular trading bots (Trojan, Maestro, Axiom) to navigate degen plays, strategies for finding and profiting from new tokens, and risk management to avoid scams.

Setting Up Your Wallets for Degen Trading

Before jumping into trading, you’ll need crypto wallets to store your coins and interact with bots. Typically, degen tokens live on various chains (Solana, Ethereum, BSC, etc.), so we recommend setting up both a Solana wallet and a multi-chain EVM wallet to cover your bases.

In this section, we’ll install Phantom Wallet (for Solana) and Bitget Wallet (formerly BitKeep, for multi-chain/EVM), and prepare them for use in trading bots.

📱 Installing Phantom Wallet (Solana)

Phantom is a user-friendly wallet for the Solana blockchain (akin to MetaMask for Solana). It comes as a mobile app or browser extension. Here’s how to set it up:

1. Download Phantom: Go to the official Phantom website or app store and install the wallet. On mobile, download Phantom Wallet from the iOS App Store or Google Play. On desktop, add the Phantom extension to your browser from Phantom’s official site. Launch the app/extension once installed.
2. Create a New Wallet: Phantom will prompt you to create a new wallet. Follow the on-screen steps to generate a new Solana wallet. Back up your seed phrase in a secure place (write it down offline). This 12-word mnemonic is the only way to recover your wallet if you lose access – never share it with anyone.
3. Fund Your Wallet with SOL: Most Solana meme coins trade against SOL, so you’ll need some Solana in your Phantom wallet for trading and gas fees. You can buy SOL on a major exchange and then withdraw to your new Phantom wallet address. Simply copy your Phantom wallet address and send SOL to it. Phantom makes this easy: the app clearly shows your address and a “Receive” button. Ensure you have at least a few dollars worth of SOL to start (e.g. 0.1 SOL or more) for transaction fees and token purchases.
4. (Optional) Connect to dApps: Phantom can connect to Solana DEXs and DeFi apps. For example, you can directly swap SOL for tokens like RCINU using Phantom’s built-in Swap feature or via Solana DEXs (e.g. Raydium). But since we’ll often use bots for trading, you might not use the manual swap often. Still, it’s good to know Phantom has this capability.

That’s it! Your Phantom wallet is set up. Keep your recovery phrase safe. Now you’re ready to use Phantom in tandem with Solana trading bots like Trojan (or directly on Solana DEXs if needed).

🔐 Installing Bitget Wallet (Multi-Chain, EVM)

For Ethereum and other EVM-compatible chains (BSC, Arbitrum, Base, etc.), a versatile wallet like Bitget Wallet is ideal. Bitget Wallet is the rebranded BitKeep wallet – a popular multi-chain Web3 wallet supporting 130+ blockchains. It will allow you to hold ETH, BNB, and any memecoin tokens on those chains, and it can be imported into trading bots like Maestro.

Follow these steps to set up Bitget Wallet:

1. Download Bitget Wallet: Visit the official Bitget Wallet site (web3.bitget.com) or find “Bitget Wallet: Crypto & Bitcoin” on the iOS App Store/Google Play. There’s also a Chrome browser extension available. Download and install the mobile app or extension.
2. Create a New Wallet: Open Bitget Wallet and tap “New Wallet”. You’ll be asked to choose a main chain in some versions – for example, select Ethereum as the primary chain for now (you can manage multiple chains later). Proceed to create the wallet. The app will generate a seed phrase (mnemonic); back up these 12 words securely (write them down and never screenshot or share them). Confirm the backup as instructed by re-entering the words in order.
3. Set a Password: After backing up the mnemonic, you’ll set a password/PIN for the app. This is used to unlock the wallet on your device. Choose a strong password but note this is not a substitute for the seed phrase – the phrase is still needed if you reinstall or use on another device.
4. Add Funds (ETH/BNB/etc.): To trade on Ethereum or BSC, you’ll need some native coin in your wallet (ETH for Ethereum tokens, BNB for BSC tokens, etc.). Just like with Phantom, you can send assets from an exchange or another wallet. Copy your Bitget wallet address for the desired chain (in the app, tap the asset and click “Receive” to get the address) and withdraw funds to it. Start small, maybe $50-$100 worth of ETH or BNB, to cover a few trades and gas fees. Memecoin trading on Ethereum can have high gas fees in congested times, so keep that in mind.
5. Importing/Managing Wallets: Bitget Wallet lets you manage multiple wallets. If you already had a MetaMask or TrustWallet, you can import by private key or mnemonic as well. In Bitget, go to “My Wallet > Import Wallet” and you can enter an existing wallet’s private key to import it. This is optional – as a beginner, one new wallet is fine. But the ability to import will be useful when connecting your wallet to bots.

With Bitget Wallet set up, you now have a multi-chain wallet ready to hold any token from Ethereum, BSC, and more. It’s a powerful wallet (supporting millions of tokens across all major networks) and even features built-in swaps and DApp browsers. But for our purposes, its main role is to interface with trading bots and store your coins safely.

Security Tip: Always double-check that you downloaded the official Phantom or Bitget Wallet app/extension (beware of fake apps!). Never share your seed phrases. These wallets are non-custodial, meaning you control the keys – which is exactly what you want for safety in DeFi.

Now that our wallets are ready, let’s move on to the exciting part – using trading bots to hunt memecoin opportunities!

Using Trading Bots for Low-Cap Memecoin Trading

One hallmark of degen trading in 2025 is the use of Telegram trading bots and specialized platforms. These bots let you snipe new launches, execute trades faster than any human could on a normal exchange, copy-trade whales, set automated sell orders, and more – all from a chat interface or unified dashboard. We’ll introduce three powerful tools for memecoin trading:

• Trojan Bot – a Telegram bot focused on Solana memecoin trading (fast and feature-rich, perfect for Solana gems like RCINU).
• Maestro Bot – a popular multi-chain Telegram bot that works on Ethereum, BSC, Solana, Arbitrum, and beyond, with advanced sniping and safety features.
• Axiom – an all-in-one web trading platform (not on Telegram) that integrates multi-chain trading with wallet tracking and analytics, giving you a pro-level dashboard for degen trading.

Each of these has its own strengths. We’ll give a beginner-friendly intro to each, including how to set them up (using the referral links provided) and basic usage for trading memecoins.

🤖 Trojan Bot – Your Solana Meme Coin Sniper

Trojan Bot (Achilles Trojan) is a Telegram-based crypto trading bot tailored for the Solana ecosystem. Think of it as a one-stop shop to trade Solana tokens via Telegram with lightning speed and automation. Trojan rose to prominence during Solana’s 2023 meme coin boom (coins like BONK, etc.), and by 2025 it’s a go-to tool for Solana degens.

Key Features: Trojan focuses on versatile trading automation and Solana-specific optimization. Some highlights include:

• Built for Speed on Solana: Solana is known for high throughput and low fees, and Trojan is engineered to capitalize on that with fast execution and minimal latency in high-volume markets. It even uses a #BOLT mode for speedier transactions, staying ahead in Solana’s ultra-fast memecoin trading.
• Automated Trading & Strategies: You can set predefined strategies so Trojan auto-executes buys/sells based on triggers. It supports things like copy-trading other wallets, stop-loss orders, and take-profit orders. This means you can mimic successful traders or set the bot to automatically sell if price drops by X%, etc., avoiding emotional decisions.
• Portfolio Tracking and DCA: Trojan provides a dashboard of your holdings and allows dollar-cost averaging (DCA), stop-loss, and other portfolio tools to manage risk. Unusual for a Telegram bot, it gives a pretty comprehensive view of your investments on Solana and helps optimize returns.
• Multiple Bot Instances (Achilles, etc.): The Trojan system actually has multiple bot instances (named Achilles, Agamemnon, Nestor, etc.) which share your account info. This is purely to balance load – all have the same features; your wallet and settings sync across them. So don’t be confused if you see different Trojan bot links – they all connect to the same backend for you.
• Low Fees: Trading isn’t free, but Trojan’s fees are modest: 1% per trade, and if you sign up with a referral (like our link) it’s 0.9% per trade. Some popular tokens (e.g. $BONK) were even made commission-free on Trojan. There’s no monthly subscription required for basic use – you pay a small fee on each trade, which is worth the convenience for many.

Getting Started with Trojan: Here’s how a beginner can start using Trojan Bot on Solana:

1. Launch the Bot on Telegram: Click our Trojan Bot referral link (this will open Telegram): 【https://t.me/achilles_trojanbot?start=r-cryptoking4u】. This opens the “Achilles Trojan Bot” chat in Telegram. Hit the Start button or type /start. The bot will greet you and automatically create a Solana wallet address linked to your Telegram account. (It’s non-custodial – Trojan does not hold your funds; the wallet is generated for you and you retain control).
2. Fund Your Trojan Wallet: After setup, Trojan will show your new Solana deposit address. Top it up with some SOL to begin trading. You can send SOL from your Phantom wallet or a centralized exchange to this address. Only you have access to this wallet, but the bot can use it to execute trades on your behalf. Make sure to send enough SOL to cover both the cost of tokens you want to buy and a little extra for Solana transaction fees (fees are low, but keep maybe 0.01–0.05 SOL spare).
3. Explore Commands and Interface: Trojan Bot is menu-driven. It typically has buttons or commands like Wallet (to view balance), Buy/Sell (to trade a token), Settings, Strategies, etc. For example, to buy a token, you might press a Buy button and then paste the token’s contract address or select it from a trending list. Trojan will show the current price and ask how much SOL you want to spend. Everything happens in the Telegram chat, with the bot providing prompts.
4. Sniping a Token: To quickly snipe a new token (like as soon as it launches on a DEX), you can paste the token’s address into the bot as soon as it’s available. Trojan will parse the token and let you execute a buy within seconds, often faster than manual traders on Phantom could. It scans thousands of tokens and can detect new listings and trends with its AI engine – giving you an edge on early entries.
5. Setting Stop-Loss/Take-Profit: One pro-tip for beginners: use Trojan’s safety features. In the Settings or Portfolio menu, you’ll find options for stop-loss and auto-sell. For instance, you can instruct Trojan to automatically sell a percentage of your position if the price doubles (take-profit) or to cut losses if price drops 20%. Trojan’s auto-sell (take-profit) feature is very handy – you can set up multiple sell targets (say sell 50% if +100%, another 25% if +200%, etc.). This lets you secure profits and even your initial capital without constantly watching the chart. As one newbie shared, using Trojan’s auto-sell to take profit at 2x and 3x gains allowed them to retain their initial and profit even while away from the screen.
6. Copy Trading and Signals: Trojan also offers a copy-trade feature – you can follow some top wallets or addresses. When enabled, the bot will mimic trades of those wallets. For example, if you identify a whale wallet that’s very successful, Trojan can auto-buy whatever that wallet buys, in real-time. (Be cautious with this though – not every whale trade is a winner, and you should vet who you copy). Still, it’s a powerful feature that effectively lets beginners piggyback on seasoned traders’ moves. Trojan’s philosophy is “buy and forget” automation – if you set your strategies (copy trade, stop-loss, etc.), it handles execution 24/7, even if you’re offline.

Trojan is user-friendly for a Telegram bot and provides tutorials in-line to help configure everything. It is, however, focused purely on Solana. If your aim is trading Solana gems like RCINU or others from pump groups, Trojan is a fantastic tool. Use our link to get the fee discount and dive in.

Why Trojan? If you love Solana’s speed and low fees, Trojan gives you a serious edge: AI-driven trend detection, automated strategies, and no need to constantly babysit trades. It’s also continuously audited for security (by firms like Trail of Bits), so the team emphasizes safety. Many users praise Trojan for letting them automate buys and sells, reducing the stress and emotion of manual degen trading.

🤖 Maestro Bot – Multi-Chain Telegram Trading Made Easy

If your degen adventures extend to Ethereum, BSC, Arbitrum or other chains, Maestro Bot is your best friend. Maestro is one of the original and most popular Telegram trading bots, launched in 2022 and steadily improved to support numerous networks. By 2025, it ranks among the top 5 Telegram bots (alongside names like Unibot and BananaGun) and has a huge user base and proven track record.

Key Features: Maestro’s feature set is comprehensive and beginner-friendly despite the advanced tech under the hood. Here’s why Maestro shines:

• Multi-Chain Support: Maestro isn’t limited to one blockchain. It works across Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain (BSC), Solana, Tron, Base, Avalanche, Arbitrum, Polygon (Sonic), TON, and more. This means one bot interface for all your favorite networks’ meme coins. Whether it’s an ETH Uniswap gem or a Solana token, Maestro has you covered.
• Sniper Bot Automation: Maestro’s core is the Sniper Bot – it lets you snipe token launches at Block 0, meaning the moment liquidity is added. You can set an Auto Snipe with a max spend, and Maestro will handle the rest, buying the token instantly when it appears. It also handles presale claim sniping and even frontruns malicious rug pulls with an Anti-Rug feature. Maestro’s patented Anti-Rug can detect when a developer tries something sneaky (like pulling liquidity or a honeypot function) and help protect your trade.
• Advanced Order Types: Unlike many basic bots, Maestro supports limit orders for buys and sells, stop-loss and take-profit, trailing stop losses, etc. You can set a buy order at a certain dip price or a sell order at a target, and Maestro will execute it even while you sleep. This is great for taking profits or cutting losses without constant monitoring.
• Multi-Wallet & Security: You can use up to 10 wallets simultaneously within Maestro – useful to compartmentalize funds or run multiple strategies. Wallet private keys you import are AES-encrypted and stored securely by the bot, and if you generate new wallets through Maestro, it gives you the seed phrase so you have full control. No custody risk – you can always import these wallets back to MetaMask/Bitget later. Maestro also has Anti-MEV protection (to avoid sandwich attacks on your trades) and general scam detection to warn you if a token looks fishy.
• Copy Trading & Whale Alerts: Maestro offers powerful social trading features. With CopyTrade, you can replicate trades of specific wallets – for example, mirror a known “alpha” trader’s moves on ETH or BSC. You can add up to 3 wallets to copy (10 if you’re a Premium user). It even has a feature to blindly frontrun those wallets (enter slightly before/with them) if you dare. Additionally, Maestro’s separate Whale Bot can send you instant Telegram alerts whenever a watched whale wallet makes a big transaction. Following whales can tip you off to new opportunities, and Maestro automates that intel for you.
• Telegram Integration & Scraping: Since Maestro lives in Telegram, it can integrate with channels/groups. It has a Call Channel scraper – meaning if you’re in Telegram groups where people post token calls (contract addresses), Maestro can detect those and even auto-buy if you set it to. Essentially, it can listen to alpha groups for you and act. This is next-level automation for those deep in the Telegram alpha scene.

With such features, Maestro truly acts like your personal trading assistant across chains, available via simple commands in a chat.

Getting Started with Maestro: Here’s how to set up and use Maestro Bot (using our referral link):

1. Start Maestro on Telegram: Click our Maestro referral link: 【https://t.me/maestro?start=r-cryptoking4u】. This opens the Maestro bot chat in Telegram. Hit Start. The bot will present a welcome message. Typically, it might ask you to agree to terms or select a language.
2. Account Setup & Wallets: After starting, you’ll access the main menu by sending /sniper (Maestro’s command to open the sniper interface). From the menu, go to Wallets. Here, you can either generate a new wallet for a given chain or import an existing wallet by private key. For beginners, generating a new wallet through Maestro is easiest – the bot will create one and show you the seed phrase (copy this down!). The keys are encrypted on their side for security. Alternatively, if you want to use your Bitget/MetaMask wallet, choose “Connect existing” and paste your wallet’s private key. (Only do this with wallets you specifically dedicate to the bot – don’t ever paste a private key that holds significant funds elsewhere). You can set up wallets for each chain you plan to use (e.g., an ETH wallet, a BSC wallet, etc.). Enable the chains you want by toggling them in the menu.
3. Funding the Wallets: If you generated new wallets in Maestro, you’ll need to fund them. For ETH, send some ETH to the new address (shown in /wallets menu). Same for other chains (send BNB to BSC wallet, etc.). Maestro doesn’t hold your funds; it’s just using these addresses. Alternatively, if you imported an existing wallet, it will already have whatever funds you had in it. Ensure each wallet has enough native coin for gas and some capital to trade with. (Maestro’s docs suggest bridging to Base or other networks if needed – but as a beginner, stick to simpler means like direct deposits).
4. Using the Sniper Bot – Buying/Selling: Now you’re set to trade! Maestro’s interface might feel like a mini command-line in Telegram. To buy a token, you typically paste its contract address into the chat when prompted. For example, type /buy or select the Buy option, enter the contract address of the token (Maestro will auto-detect which chain it’s for if your wallets for that chain are active), then enter the amount to spend. Maestro will execute the swap through the DEX. It also allows setting slippage tolerance (important for volatile tokens; you might set 10%+ slippage to ensure the buy goes through). For selling, you can do /sell or use the menu, input the token and amount to sell. You can also set limit orders easily: for instance, /limitbuy [contract] [price] [amount] to place a buy at a target price, or corresponding sell. There are shortcut buttons for common actions, and you can always type /help to see command usage.
5. Setting up Advanced Tools: Take advantage of Maestro’s safety and automation:
   • Anti-Rug: Maestro’s anti-rug is automatic – it monitors for suspicious liquidity changes. For example, if a dev tries to pull liquidity or a token is suspected as a honeypot, Maestro may warn or attempt to protect your trade. Always pay attention to any warnings it outputs after you input a contract.
   • Copy Trading: If you want to copy a whale, get their address and use the copy trade feature. In Maestro’s menu, there’s Copytrade config where you can add an address and set parameters (like copy their buys in real-time). Maestro will then mimic that wallet’s trades for you, up to an amount you specify. This is a bit advanced for a total beginner, but it’s there when you’re ready.
   • Channel Alerts: If you join Telegram call channels, you can link Maestro to them so that with one click, you can buy tokens mentioned in those channels. (Maestro’s documentation or support can guide on setting the Call Channel feature – you usually forward a message to the bot or use the scraper tool).
   • Portfolio and Tracking: Use /wallet or the Wallet Bot feature to see your balances across chains. Maestro’s Wallet Bot can send you price alerts on your holdings so you know when something pumps or dumps without staring at charts.
6. Fees and Premium: Maestro, unlike Trojan, often operates on a subscription/premium model for some features. The basic usage might charge a small fee per trade (similar ~1%) or require holding a certain bot token – these models can change, so check current info. There is a Premium membership (~$200/month) that unlocks the maximum features (more wallets to copy, faster speeds, etc.). But as a beginner, you can use Maestro in free mode with standard features and pay per trade. The fee is worth the convenience (the revenue numbers – $4.35M in one month of 2023 – show many are gladly using it). Our referral link may offer benefits in fee or access.

Maestro’s strength for beginners is its balance of power and accessibility. It was literally designed to make DeFi trading convenient through Telegram. The interface holds your hand with menus, and the team provides 24/7 support if you get stuck. Plus, the security incidents they’ve faced were handled impressively – e.g., in late 2023 an exploit on their router contract occurred, and Maestro immediately refunded users ~610 ETH out of pocket, even giving bonuses to cover losses. That kind of response built trust in the community.

In summary, use Maestro Bot if you want a one-bot solution for all chains, especially Ethereum and BSC memecoins. It’s like having a Swiss Army knife for degen trading: snipe launches, copy whales, get whale alerts, track multiple wallets, and not worry (too much) about scams thanks to anti-rug. All from a Telegram chat! Use our link to jump in and try it out – it’s fun to see it in action with even a small amount.

💻 Axiom – All-in-One On-Chain Trading Platform

The third tool, Axiom, is a bit different. It’s not a Telegram bot – it’s a full-fledged web trading platform (also has a desktop app feel) that aims to be the “only application you need to trade on-chain.” Backed by Y Combinator and launched in 2024, Axiom gained huge popularity and by mid-2025 reportedly captured over 50% market share among memecoin trading platforms. It’s like a Bloomberg terminal for degens: ultra-fast execution, multi-chain support, token discovery, wallet tracking, and more in one interface.

Key Features: Axiom brings a professional, all-in-one trading experience which is still accessible to beginners due to its clean UI. Here’s what you get:

• Web-Based Trading Terminal: No need for Telegram commands – Axiom has a slick dashboard where you can execute trades on DEXs with one-click. Speed is a selling point – Axiom’s custom order execution engine lands your orders in ≤1 blockchain block, using colocated nodes and MEV protection to avoid frontrunning. In practice, this means when you place a buy or a stop-loss, it hits the chain extremely fast, which is crucial in fast-moving meme markets.
• Multi-Chain (Solana & EVM): Axiom started with Solana focus (it was big during Solana meme season) but is built to support Ethereum, Base, and others, making it future-proof as a cross-chain hub. Currently, Solana trading is fully integrated (perfect for coins like RCINU), and Ethereum and more chains are on the roadmap. So you can expect Axiom to eventually handle both your Solana and Ethereum degen needs in one place.
• Token Discovery & Analytics: Axiom shines in helping you find what to trade. It has built-in analytics dashboards:
  • Discover: a dashboard ranking tokens by volume, momentum, etc. You can see what’s trending right now and filter by time or category. This saves you from flipping through sites like DEX Screener – Axiom surfaces hot tokens for you.
  • Pulse: a unique Solana feature tracking real-time token migrations from dev launchpads (Pump.fun to Raydium, for example). This basically alerts you to brand new launches hitting the market, with the option to snipe instantly as they go live. It’s like getting an alert “Token XYZ just launched” and you can buy it in one click on the same screen.
  • Wallet Tracking: Axiom has an integrated wallet tracker that lets you follow top wallets and mirror their moves. You can literally see what a known whale is holding, when they bought, their PnL, etc., all in the app. If you want to copy trade them, Axiom makes it easy (no manual input of addresses into bots; it’s part of the platform).
  • Tweet Monitor: A unique touch – Axiom can integrate crypto Twitter feeds into your dashboard. It curates tweets from influencers or dev accounts of tokens you care about, so you might catch bullish or bearish news instantly without leaving the platform.
• Trading and Automation: When it comes time to trade, Axiom is built for memecoin trading nuances:
  • One-Click Trading & Sniping: You can market buy or sell tokens with one click from the dashboard (no form-filling in Metamask etc.). For new tokens, Sniper Mode lets you preset parameters to ape into newly minted tokens extremely fast.
  • Limit Orders & Conditional Orders: Axiom supports limit buys/sells just like a centralized exchange. You can also set conditions like “Buy on Migration” (auto-buy the moment a token migrates to mainnet/Raydium) or “Sell on Migration” (auto-sell if a project migrates and you suspect a dump). These are meme-specific triggers that show Axiom’s devs know the degen game.
  • Portfolio Dashboard: At any time, you can view your overall portfolio across spots and even perpetuals if you trade those. It breaks down your PnL, asset allocation, etc., so you have a big-picture view of your degen portfolio health. This helps in taking stock and not overexposing to one coin.
• Rewards and Referrals: Axiom incentivizes usage with a reward system. For example, you earn points and even SOL rewards by trading (they share a portion of fees back as loyalty). There are rank tiers – the more you trade, the higher your rewards rate. They also have a 3-level referral program (invite friends and earn a cut of their trading fees up to 35%). Using our referral link when signing up will typically grant you a fee discount (commonly 10% off trading fees) and makes you part of our network.

Getting Started with Axiom: Axiom is straightforward to sign up for and use:

1. Sign Up via Referral: Go to Axiom (web) using our referral link: 【https://axiom.trade/@collins4u】. This should direct you to create an account with the referral code applied. You can sign up using an email address, Google account, or even just connect a wallet to create the account. (Using email/Google is easiest for beginners – no KYC required for the basic $500/week crypto purchase limit).
2. Set Up Axiom Wallet: When you create your account, Axiom will also set up a built-in Axiom Wallet for you. This wallet is non-custodial but managed through Axiom’s secure infrastructure (they partner with Turnkey for key management). It’s kind of like how an exchange creates a wallet for you, except here you control it and it’s on-chain. You can also connect external wallets, but the default Axiom wallet is convenient and secured with top-notch tech (air-gapped, etc.). Upon account creation, it will prompt you to back up your recovery info for the Axiom wallet – do that.
3. Fund Your Account: To start trading, deposit some funds into Axiom. Since Solana is the primary focus at the moment, you’ll need SOL. Axiom provides a few ways:
   • Buy Crypto in-app: They have integration with Coinbase Pay, allowing you to buy up to $500 of crypto per week without full KYC. This is a quick way to get SOL using a card or bank.
   • Deposit from another wallet: You can send SOL from Phantom or an exchange to your Axiom wallet address (visible in your account dashboard).
   • Other chains: If you want to trade on other chains Axiom supports, you’d deposit those respective coins similarly (e.g. ETH for Ethereum trades). But to start, a few SOL (say 1-5 SOL) is plenty to play with Solana tokens.
4. Discover & Research Tokens: Now, use the Discover page on Axiom. Here you’ll see a list of tokens trending by volume, etc., on Solana (or other selected chain). For example, you might spot $RCINU on the list if it’s trending – showing its volume and price changes. You can click it to get more details. Use filters to find just-launched tokens or ones with sudden volume spikes (typical signs of something moving). Check the Pulse tab for any brand new launches – you might catch a stealth launch here. Axiom basically gives you data-driven leads so you’re not guessing in the dark.
5. Trade on Axiom: Once you pick a token, trading is easy. Click the token and you’ll get a trading interface (think of a simplified Uniswap/Raydium UI but much faster). Enter how much to buy or sell, set slippage, and hit the trade button. Your transaction will be sent through Axiom’s execution engine. Because of their MEV-resistance and fast nodes, you likely won’t get frontrun and your order should fill quickly at a fair price. If it’s a very new token with no chart yet, use Sniper mode – Axiom will handle the rest to get you in on the first block of trading. You can also set limit orders: e.g., if you want to buy on a dip, place a limit buy at a lower price and Axiom will execute when reached (no need to constantly watch).
6. Set Auto Strategies: For a beginner, a nice Axiom feature is one-click strategies. For instance, after buying a token, you can in one click set a strategy that simultaneously places a sell order at, say, +100% profit and maybe another at +200%, plus a stop-loss at -30%. This way, you’ve automated your profit-taking and risk management from the get-go. It’s similar to what we described with Trojan’s auto-sell, but Axiom’s interface makes it very easy to configure these multi-step strategies as a preset. Use this! It enforces discipline.
7. Track and Adjust: Head to your Portfolio page to see all your positions. Axiom updates your PnL (profit and loss) in real-time. If something mooned and hit your target, you’ll see your stablecoin balance up from the sale. If something is tanking and you didn’t set a stop, you might decide to manually cut it. You can also follow Wallets – e.g., add a known whale to your watchlist. The Wallet tracker will show what they hold and trade. Maybe you notice they aped into a coin that’s not on your radar – you can then quickly research and decide if you want in. And the Tweet feed will show if, say, the project dev tweeted about a new exchange listing – valuable info for your decision-making.

Axiom, in summary, is powerful but approachable. It’s like using a modern crypto exchange interface, except it’s all decentralized and geared for tiny cap coins. Many beginners actually prefer Axiom because you don’t have to memorize commands or navigate Telegram menus – everything is clickable and visual. Plus, it bundles the research tools (trending tokens, whale watching, news) so you spend less time on external websites. With Axiom’s speed and integrated safety (non-custodial wallet with strong security, MEV protection, etc.), it’s arguably one of the safest ways to play in degen land.

Use our Axiom link to sign up and get a trading fee discount. Explore the platform with small trades until you get comfortable. One day you’re identifying the next moon via Axiom’s analytics, placing sniper buys, and managing an entire portfolio – all in one app. It’s a fun way to “trade smarter, not harder”, as they say.

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Now that you have wallets set and an understanding of these bots/platforms (Trojan for Solana via TG, Maestro for multi-chain via TG, and Axiom for an integrated web experience), let’s talk strategy. Knowing how to use the tools is half the battle – the other half is knowing what to trade and how to manage those trades in the unpredictable world of degen coins.

Beginner-Friendly Degen Trading Strategies 🎯

Successful degen trading isn’t just ape-and-pray (though it might seem like that at times). Smart degens use certain strategies to tilt odds in their favor and manage the chaos. Here are some beginner-friendly strategies you should learn:

1. Sniping New Token Launches

One common degen strategy is “sniping” – getting into a new token at or immediately after launch before it pumps. The idea is to buy at the earliest possible price (often when liquidity is just added on a DEX) and ride the initial hype pump.

• How to Find New Launches: New launches are often announced in alpha groups or sites like DxSale/PinkSale (for presales), or on Solana “mint” calendars. A tool like Axiom’s Pulse or Discover can alert you to tokens that just started trading. Also, watch DEX screener’s “new pairs” page or join Telegram channels that post stealth launch addresses. For example, on Solana, Pump.fun was a platform that degens watched for brand-new tokens. On Ethereum/BSC, devs sometimes announce stealth launches on Twitter or alpha channels just minutes before adding liquidity.
• Using Bots to Snipe: This is where bots give you a huge edge. If you have the contract address of a token that’s about to launch, you can set up a sniper buy in Maestro or Trojan. Maestro’s Auto Snipe feature lets you input an address before liquidity is added, and it will automatically execute the buy on the first block the token trades. Similarly, Trojan scans Solana for new token listings and can pounce immediately. Axiom’s sniper mode can also automatically buy the second a token migrates to mainnet liquidity. The key for you is: be prepared. The moment you see liquidity txn go through (or get a heads-up from a dev), start the sniper. Speed matters because prices can 10x in seconds after launch if it’s hyped.
• Slippage and Gas Settings: When sniping, you often have to set high slippage tolerance (sometimes 15%, 20% or more) because the price moves up so fast that your transaction needs leeway to still execute. Bots usually allow you to configure this; e.g., “Auto Snipe with 20% slippage”. Also, on Ethereum, being early in the block might require setting a high gas price. Some bots and Axiom handle the gas optimizations for you, but be mindful: in a hot launch, you may spend a few extra dollars on gas to ensure you don’t get stuck behind others.
• Don’t Ape Too Large Initially: As a beginner, it’s wise to start with small positions on snipes. Maybe $50-$100 worth of ETH or SOL into a new token. If it rugs (turns scam) or has issues, your loss is small. If it moons 10x, hey you still made good money. Remember that new launches are very volatile – it’s not uncommon to see a token do a 5x in minutes then dump back near launch price. So consider taking profit on a part of your position quickly (more on that in Taking Profits below).
• Example: Suppose an alpha call group announces “XYZ token launching now, here’s the address!” You quickly copy the address. In Maestro, you hit /snipe, paste address, set spend e.g. 0.05 ETH, slippage 15%. Maestro buys the token within seconds of liquidity being added. You get, say, 1 billion XYZ tokens. The price shoots up 3x in a minute. You could sell a portion (or set a take-profit order) to secure gains. Or use Trojan on Solana: you see on Axiom’s Pulse that Royal Corgi Inu (RCINU) migrated to Raydium (meaning trading is live), so you quickly use Trojan to buy at $0.000002. RCINU then doubles to $0.000004 (nice!) – you might then take out your initial SOL and let the rest ride.

Sniping is thrilling but be prepared for mis-fires (failed transactions, or buying into a honeypot by accident if you’re unlucky). Always double-check the token address is correct (scammers sometimes post fake addresses in chats to trap snipers). And once you’ve sniped, shift to risk management mode – don’t marry the coin, consider that first pump as a chance to secure profit.

2. Watching Whale & KOL Wallets

Another strategy is to follow the smart money. Crypto “whales” (addresses holding large funds) and KOLs (key opinion leaders/influencers) often have early info or skills to pick winners. If you can monitor what they’re buying, you might discover a gem early or get confidence in a trade.

• Whale Trackers: There are tools like Nansen that highlight what top profitable wallets are buying, but those can be expensive. Instead, our bots can help:
  • Maestro’s Whale Bot can notify you the instant a tracked whale makes a transaction. For example, you add Wallet 0xABC (known to be an early Shiba buyer or a known influencer’s wallet) to Maestro’s watchlist. When 0xABC buys $XYZ token, you get a Telegram alert “Whale bought 5 ETH of XYZ”. You can then quickly evaluate XYZ (maybe it’s a new launch or some low-cap they aped). If it looks promising, you might jump in too (just be aware whales can dump on you later).
  • Axiom Wallet Tracking: On Axiom, you could actually see the positions of whale wallets visually. For instance, you follow a wallet and notice they’ve amassed a position in RCINU or some other meme. You could decide to buy some as well, effectively copy-trading manually with insight into their PnL and entry prices.
• Copy Trading Features: Rather than just watching, you can automate copying. Trojan and Maestro both allow direct copy-trading of wallet addresses. As mentioned, Maestro can mirror up to 3 wallets for free (more if premium). If you enable this, whenever your chosen whale buys or sells, your bot will buy/sell proportionally. This is powerful but use with caution – you need to trust that the wallet you copy has good risk management. A whale might tolerate losing $50k on a bad trade – you might not! So perhaps start by copy-trading more modest “smart” traders or only allocate a small portion of your funds to copy trading.
• Social Signals from KOLs: Sometimes following a wallet that belongs to an influencer (KOL) can hint when they are about to shill something. E.g., you see an influencer’s wallet buy a ton of a token, and a day later they start tweeting about it – classic pattern. Being able to see that buy beforehand is gold. There are free bots on Twitter that track notable wallets too. But generally, hooking into something like Maestro or Axiom’s tracking is easier for a beginner than manually trawling Etherscan.
• Wallet Leaderboards: Some platforms (like Nansen, or even community spreadsheets) publish lists of top performing wallets. In 2025, there are even Telegram groups where people share addresses of “100x hunters.” If you get those, you can plug them into our tools. For example, SuperX (another bot) focuses on curated profitable wallets and copy trading them, which shows how valuable this approach is. While we focus on Trojan/Maestro/Axiom, be aware a whole subculture exists of sharing “whale alpha.”

Important: Just because a whale buys doesn’t mean it’s not a scam. Whales get duped too or might be part of orchestrated pumps. Use wallet watching as one input, not blindly. If a whale buy aligns with other signals (like the project has hype, or multiple smart wallets are buying), then it’s more compelling.

3. Tapping into Alpha Groups (but Carefully)

We’ve referenced Telegram alpha call groups a lot – these are private or public groups where people share tips on what to buy. In 2025, they’re a huge part of memecoin trading. They can be extremely valuable but also dangerous due to misinformation.

• Benefits of Alpha Groups: Good alpha groups give you:
  • Early alerts on launches or stealth drops. You might find out about a token hours or days before the general public.
  • Buy/Sell signals from experienced traders. Some group admins are skilled traders who post when they buy something and when they plan to sell.
  • Crowdsourced due diligence: Members will often share findings (contract info, liquidity lock status, Etherscan analysis). One person might catch that a contract isn’t renounced or has a suspicious function, flagging it as risky. Another might notice a known dev wallet involved, giving confidence. This hive-mind can quickly vet a project’s legitimacy.
  • Community hype: Let’s face it, if you’re in a group with 5,000 members and everyone’s aping a coin, that buy pressure alone can pump it. Alpha groups often coordinate buys (sometimes dangerously like pump groups, but it is what it is).
• Examples of Alpha Groups: Names can range from general crypto forums to exclusive Discord servers. Some well-known ones include “Real Collins/Life Signal”, “Lynk”, “Potion Alpha”, etc., each offering unique insights. Many require holding a certain NFT or token to join (token-gating access). There are also influencer-led groups where a personality shares their calls. If you don’t have access to paid groups, even public Telegram channels like “new coin launches” or certain subreddits can serve as alpha sources. Twitter (X) is also a form of alpha group if you curate a good list of degen traders – they often hint at what they’re buying.
• Caution – Not All That Glitters Is Gold: For every legit alpha group, there are many pump-and-dump groups or paid shill channels:
  • Pump/Dump Ops: Some groups exist to generate exit liquidity for the leaders. They’ll tell members “buy XYZ now!”, while the insiders got in earlier and will sell on the members.
  • Shill Agendas: If a group is constantly pushing tokens that require you to buy through their referral or their own token, be wary. Sometimes dev teams create fake “alpha” groups to promote their project.
  • Subscription Scams: Be cautious paying heavy fees for a group unless it has a proven track record. Some just take your money and give basic info you could get free on Twitter.
• DYOR Always: Even in a great group, Do Your Own Research is rule #1. As the Medium article says: even if a high-profile group posts a coin, always verify liquidity locks, token distribution, etc.. Before you follow a call:
  • Check if liquidity is locked and for how long (use tools or ask if someone checked).
  • Check if the contract is verified and doesn’t have obvious backdoors.
  • See if the top holders are reasonable (no single holder with 50% unless it’s a burn or lock) – groups often share a quick holder analysis or you can use sites like Bubblemaps to visualize distribution.
  • If something feels off (dev is anon, website is sketchy, too much hype with no substance), consider skipping even if group is excited.
• Integrating Alpha with Bots: You can combine this with your tools:
  • If an alpha group calls a token, you can immediately use Maestro or Trojan to buy. In fact, Maestro’s Call Channel integration means you might literally have a button to buy directly from the Telegram message.
  • You can also feed the alpha info into your Axiom strategy – e.g., if group says “we expect XYZ to pump hard but it’s risky, take profits quick”, you might decide to buy on Axiom and simultaneously set a trailing stop loss to protect yourself if it reverses.

In essence, alpha groups can be a goldmine for finding degen plays early, but you have to approach them with a critical mind. Start by lurking, see how their past calls performed, and never over-allocate just because “everyone is bullish” there. Often the loudest hype can mean they’re trying to dump on you. Use the group as one tool in your toolkit – alongside on-chain data, your bots’ scanners, and plain common sense.

4. Taking Profits and Managing Risk

This is perhaps the most important strategy of all. Degen trading is risky, so you need to have a plan for taking profits and cutting losses. Otherwise, a winning trade can turn into a round-trip (up and then back down to zero), or a small loss can become a wipeout.

• Follow the 2X Rule (Return of Investment): A common degen practice: if a token doubles (100% gain), take out your initial investment. This way, you’re “free rolling” with house money on the rest. For example, you put $100 into a coin, it 2x to $200 – sell $100 worth and let the remaining $100 ride. Now, no matter what, you can’t lose money on that play.
• Many traders even take initial + some profit at 2x (like take 70%, leaving 30% to ride). Bots make this easy: you can set an auto-sell at +100% gain for a certain portion. As we saw, Trojan’s auto-sell feature let one user set multiple tiers: e.g., sell 75% if price hits 3x, 55% if hits ~2.1x. Configure something similar that fits your risk appetite.
• Use Stop-Loss (or Stop-Limit) Orders: Not every trade will moon – some will dump. It’s wise to decide a stop-loss level (e.g., “I’ll sell if it drops 30% from my buy”). Maestro and Trojan allow setting stop-loss orders that execute automatically if price hits that trigger. Axiom as well lets you place stop or conditional sell orders. If the token suddenly rugs or dumps, you won’t lose everything – your bot will try to exit as per your plan. Note: in extremely illiquid situations, stop-losses might not save you (if there’s no buyers/liquidity, you might not be able to sell). But generally, it’s good practice to have an exit strategy.
• Don’t Get Greedy: The mantra “bulls make money, bears make money, pigs get slaughtered” applies. If a coin did 5x or 10x in a day, take profits! Sure, maybe it goes 100x eventually, but at least scale out gradually. A good tactic: sell incrementally on the way up. For instance, sell 20% at 2x, another 20% at 4x, etc. That way you realize gains while still keeping some moonbag if it keeps going. Bots can automate laddered take-profits like this (just set multiple limit sells at various price points).
• Set a Trading Bankroll & Position Sizes: As a beginner, define how much total money you’re willing to “play” with in degen trading (an amount you can afford to lose in worst case). Say that’s $1000. Then split it across multiple plays rather than ape all in one coin. Maybe $50-$100 per token. This diversification means one scam won’t zero you out. It also lowers the emotional stress on each trade so you can stick to your plan. Many degens follow a rule: never put more than 5%–10% of your bankroll in one play.
• Secure Your Profits Off-Chain: When you get a big win, consider converting some of that into a stablecoin or even withdrawing to fiat. It’s tempting to roll all wins into the next play, but that’s how people end up round-tripping and never actually keeping profits. For example, after a great week of trading, you might convert a portion of profits to USDC and send to a safer wallet or exchange to hold. Treat yourself or boost your savings – the point is to realize the gains. RealJef (your blog host) would probably agree that realized gains pay the bills, unrealized ones often vanish.
• Emotional Control: Beginner degens often panic sell bottoms or hold bags to zero out of hope. Try to set rules and let the bot enforce them. If you decided “I’ll sell if it goes -50%,” do it (or have it pre-set as an order). Don’t cancel the order last minute because “maybe it’ll rebound.” Likewise, if you planned to take profit at 2x and it hits, don’t suddenly get greedy and say “I’ll wait for 4x” – maybe take at least partial profit as planned. Using automation helps remove some of this emotion. Many bots allow trailing stop features – this is great to ride momentum: e.g., a trailing stop will move up as price goes up, and only sell when price dips from the peak by a set percentage. That way if a coin just keeps pumping, you stay in, but if it reverses by say 15% off the top, you automatically sell to lock in profit.
• Know When to Walk Away: Not every day will be a win. Set daily loss limits for yourself. If you hit it, step away and come back later. It helps to avoid revenge trading (chasing losses) which often ends badly.

To sum up: Always have an exit plan. The tools (Trojan/Maestro/Axiom) all have built-in ways to execute that plan (auto-sell, stop-loss, limit orders). Use them to discipline yourself. This is what separates consistent traders from pure gamblers. Secure those gains and limit those losses – you’ll live to trade another day and steadily grow your account, rather than boom and bust.

Staying Safe: Avoiding Scams, Honeypots & Rug Pulls 🔒

The degen realm is rife with scams. Rug pulls, honeypots, phishing – you name it. Staying safe is paramount. Here are essential tips and tools to protect yourself while degen trading:

☠️ Honeypot/Rug Check Before You Buy

A honeypot token is one that lets you buy but won’t let you sell. Scammers use tricky contract code to trap buyers, then run off with the liquidity. Always do a quick honeypot check on any suspicious new token before aping:

• Use Honeypot Checker Tools: There are free websites that simulate a buy and sell to test a token. For Ethereum/BSC, TokenSniffer and Honeypot.is are popular – they’ll report if selling is restricted or taxes are abnormal. For Solana, check if the contract has freeze authority or mint authority enabled (honeypots often have a function to freeze assets). Tools like SolSniffer or Detect Honeypot can analyze Solana token programs for malicious behavior. Always run these checks if you’re not 100% sure the token is safe.
• Scan Liquidity and Holder Distribution: A lot can be learned from liquidity and holders:
  • If liquidity is extremely low (like only $500 on a token) and you plan to put $200, realize you’ll move the price a lot and exiting will be hard. Low liquidity is a risk factor.
  • If liquidity isn’t locked or burned, that’s a huge red flag. It means the dev can yank the liquidity pool at any time (rug pull), as happened in the infamous Squid Game coin scam. Use DEXTools or Solana Tracker to see liquidity lock info. For example, Solana Tracker shows RCINU’s LP is 79% burned (good).
  • Check holder stats: if one wallet holds 40% of supply, that could be the dev or a presaler who can dump on everyone. A healthy distribution is usually no single holder above a few percent (excluding burn wallet). Tools like Bubblemaps visualize if a few wallets are linked or dominating supply.
• Read the Contract (if you can): On Etherscan/BscScan, look at the token’s contract code (if verified). Red flags include:
  • Functions like _enableTrading(bool) or setTax(uint) that the dev could call later to change behavior.
  • Hardcoded block or time delays for selling.
  • Extremely high tax fees (like 20%+ which might not be obvious until you try to sell and get much less).
  • If you’re not a coder, at least read comments on tokensniffer or GitHub or see if others flagged the contract on Reddit.
  • On Solana, since contracts are compiled, rely on community audits and the fact Solana Tracker shows Mint Authority and Freeze Authority status (both should be Disabled ideally, as with RCINU).

🛡️ Use Trusted Tools & Bot Safety Features

• Trade with Verified Bots: Stick to the official bots like the ones we discussed. If someone DMs you a link to “new Uniswap bot” – ignore it. Use the official referral links or websites to start bots (like the ones in this guide). Maestro, Trojan, Axiom – all have established reputations. Rogue bots can steal your keys or funds.
• Maestro’s Anti-Rug & Scam Detection: Rely on those bot warnings. Maestro’s Anti-Rug feature actively monitors transactions. For example, if it sees the token’s liquidity being pulled, it might auto-sell or alert you, potentially saving you from holding a worthless token. It also protects against certain MEV bot tricks that could trap your trade. While these aren’t foolproof, they add a layer of defense.
• Trojan’s Security Audits: Trojan claims to be audited and non-custodial. Still, if using Trojan’s generated wallet, consider moving large excess funds out periodically. Only keep what you need for trading in the bot at any time.
• Axiom’s Infrastructure: Axiom uses secure key management (Turnkey) and is decentralized and non-custodial. Make sure you enable any 2FA or security features in your Axiom account. Also, because Axiom deals with your wallet, never share your login or device with someone else.
• Beware of Phishing and Imitators: Scammers may create Telegram bots with names similar to Maestro or Trojan. Only use the official links. Also, never ever give your seed phrase or private key to ANYONE or any site that isn’t the official wallet app. Bots will never ask for your seed phrase in chat. If you’re importing a key into a bot like Maestro, that’s done through a secure inline interface – no random person should be involved. If someone on Telegram PMs offering “setup help” and asks for your keys – it’s a scam (the mods of these services will never DM first).

🔍 Red Flags & Gut Checks

• Too Good to Be True: If a project promises insane APY or says “guaranteed profit” – run. Degen plays are never guaranteed. Scammers exploit greed. For instance, the SquidGame token lured people with a hit show theme and went 1000x in days, but had glaring red flags (unknown team, sloppy website, and people literally couldn’t sell but buyers ignored that). Don’t ignore obvious red flags because of FOMO. A legitimate project, even a meme, should have some transparency and basic info.
• Anonymous/Unverified Team: Many meme coins have anonymous devs, but if absolutely zero information exists and they can’t even be bothered to set up a proper website or Telegram, that’s a warning. Not saying you can’t play them (some anon coins do moon), but size your bet small and be extra careful.
• Strange Trading Behavior: Watch the chart after launch – if you see only buys, no sells, that could be a honeypot (no one can sell) or a manipulated pump. Or if liquidity is getting drained out in chunks (you’ll see the price suddenly drop big without many sells – often a dev pulling liquidity). If your bot flags an issue or you notice something off, consider exiting immediately if you can.
• Community Feedback: Check places like Reddit’s r/cryptocurrency or Twitter to see if a coin is being flagged as scam. Often, within hours of a scam launch, someone posts a warning. For example, token trackers or community watchdogs (like tokensniffer, RugDoc, etc.) might have already labeled a contract as malicious. A quick search of the token name + “scam” can sometimes reveal a lot.
• Stay Updated on Scam Techniques: New scam techniques pop up (e.g., dusting attacks, approval exploits). A good practice is to regularly revoke token approvals on your wallets using tools like Revoke.cash or Solana explorer, so that if you interacted with a malicious contract it can’t drain you later. Also, never connect your wallet to random DApps you don’t trust – stick to known DEXs or platforms like Axiom.

🔒 Secure Your Accounts

• Hardware Wallet for Large Funds: If you start making sizable profits, consider moving most funds to a hardware wallet (Ledger, Trezor). You can still connect a hardware wallet to these bots via MetaMask if needed. But keep your core savings in cold storage, away from the degen address you use daily.
• Separate Trading Wallets: It’s wise to use separate wallets for degen trading vs longer-term holds. We already did that by creating dedicated Phantom/Bitget wallets for the bots. This way, if worst-case a bot got compromised or you accidentally approve a bad contract, your main funds are not at risk.
• Passwords and 2FA: For any accounts (Axiom login, email, etc.), use strong passwords and enable 2-factor authentication. It’s not directly on-chain safety, but if someone phishes your email and resets your Axiom password, that could be a problem. Basic op-sec goes a long way.

By following these safety practices, you dramatically reduce the chances of a catastrophic loss. The goal is to survive and thrive in degenland – not get wiped out by one scam. As the Tangem security blog summarized: always DYOR, never invest more than you can afford to lose, and be skeptical of everything. Combine healthy paranoia with the smart use of tools and you’ll navigate this space much more safely.

Conclusion: Degen Trading Can Be Fun and Profitable – If You Play It Smart

Diving into degen crypto plays is like riding a rollercoaster: exhilarating highs, gut-churning drops, and plenty of twists. For beginners in 2025, the landscape is both more rewarding and more dangerous than ever. Memecoins can pump harder and faster, but scams have gotten craftier too.

The good news is you’re not navigating blindly. By setting up solid wallets (Phantom, Bitget), you have secure bases on both Solana and EVM fronts. With tools like Trojan Bot, Maestro Bot, and Axiom, you’ve essentially armed yourself with the cutting-edge weapons and shields of the degen world:

• Trojan gives you a sniper’s edge on Solana and hands-free automation.
• Maestro puts multiple chains at your fingertips, with safety nets like anti-rug and an army knife of trading features.
• Axiom offers a pro-grade command center to discover, execute, and manage trades at blazing speed.

With these, you can spot opportunities early (via analytics and alpha groups), act on them quickly (via sniping and bots), and manage your positions wisely (via auto-orders and tracking).

We discussed strategies – from sniping fresh launches to piggybacking on whale moves, leveraging community “alpha” while applying your own judgment, and always taking profits to make your degen adventures actually pay off. Remember, realized gains > paper gains. The aim is to grow your portfolio over time, not just score one big win and give it all back on the next.

Most critically, we stressed safety. The crypto saying goes, “Stay safe, anon.” In practice, that means checking for honeypots, verifying contracts, locking down your keys, and never trusting blindly. If you protect your downside, the upside will take care of itself.

As you venture out, consider starting small. Use these bots with tiny trades to get comfortable. Join a couple of well-regarded communities to soak in knowledge (but filter out noise). Over time, you’ll develop an intuition for what’s a legit moonshot vs. what’s likely a trap. Every mistake (and you will have some) is a lesson – just make sure they’re small mistakes you can afford.

Degen trading can absolutely be fun and even life-changing – if approached with the right mix of boldness and caution. You now have a clear tutorial to guide you. So set up those wallets, fire up Trojan or Maestro using our referral links for some bonuses, or sign into Axiom for a streamlined experience. Perhaps your first 10x is just a snipe away!

Happy hunting out there, and stay safe in the degen streets! 🚀🥳

Disclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes and not financial advice. Always do your own research. Crypto markets are extremely volatile – only invest what you can afford to lose. Good luck and have fun!