What is Orca?
Orca is Solana's most user-friendly platform for decentralized cryptocurrency trading. With Orca, you can execute token swaps faster, cheaper, and with more confidence than on Ethereum-based DEXs—thanks to our innovative Fair Price Indicator. Beyond trading, users can provide liquidity to earn yield.
Traditional Trading vs. Automated Market Makers (AMMs)
Cryptocurrency trading operates through two primary models:
- Order Book Trading: Matches buyers directly with sellers
- AMM Trading: Users trade against liquidity pools rather than counterparties
AMMs like Orca offer superior blockchain compatibility due to their simplicity and composability—qualities that make them the future of DeFi.
Why Solana?
Solana outperforms competitors with:
- 50,000 TPS capacity
- 400ms block times
- $0.01 average transaction fees
Beyond technical specs, Solana's team vision and engineering prowess make it the ideal foundation for next-generation DeFi applications.
Governance Tokens
The ORCA governance token launched on August 9, 2021. Key details:
- Token Address: orcaEKTdK7LKz57vaAYr9QeNsVEPfiu6QeMU1kektZE (Solana Explorer)
- Governance Guide: V0 Governance Documentation
Token Distribution
ORCA tokens were retroactively airdropped on August 9, 2021 to:
- Liquidity providers
- Active traders
👉 Explore airdrop details in our Tokenomics section.
Funding History
- No public token sales conducted
- September 2021 private round allocated 9.6% of ORCA supply
- Investor tokens vest over 3 years after 1-year lockup
Compatible Wallets
Connect using these Solana wallets:
- Phantom (mobile/desktop)
- Solflare (multi-platform)
- Math Wallet (multi-chain)
- Coin98 Extension
- Slope
- Sollet.io
Mobile Accessibility
Access Orca through mobile wallets including Phantom, Solflare, Math Wallet, and Slope.
Smart Contract Transparency
All Orca contracts are open-source:
Security Audits
- Constant Product Pools: Kudelski-audited
- Stable Pools: Reviewed by Solana engineers
- Whirlpools: Dual-audited by Kudelski & Neodyme
Risk Disclosure
Using Orca involves three primary risks:
- Smart Contract Risk: Solana remains in beta
- Impermanent Loss: Price volatility impacts LPs
- Wallet Risk: Third-party wallet vulnerabilities
👉 Understand impermanent loss before providing liquidity.
Transaction FAQs
"Insufficient SOL": Need SOL for network fees (typically $0.0001-$0.001 per tx)
Fee Structure:
- 0.3% fee for most swaps
- 0.01% for stablecoin pools
- Network fees paid in SOL
Failed Transactions: Usually caused by:
- Slippage tolerance too low
- Network congestion
- Multi-pool routing issues
Advanced Features
Fair Price Indicator: Warns when:
- Prices deviate >1% from CoinGecko
- Price impact exceeds 1%
Price Impact: Larger orders face higher prices due to pool mechanics
Token Listing Policy
Orca team approves tokens based on:
- Project merit
- Contract security
- Community demand
Providing Liquidity
Earn 0.3% fees on all pool trades plus:
- ORCA rewards in Aquafarms
- Bonus tokens in Double-Dip pools
LP Token Note: Represent your pool share—redeemable anytime.
Yield Calculation
Track earnings manually by comparing:
- Initial deposit values
- Current withdrawal amounts
- Account for impermanent loss
Staking Options
Aquafarms: Earn ORCA for providing liquidity
Double-Dip Pools: Earn additional project tokens
Historical Staking: 72% APY during 2021 special event
Collectibles
Non-value NFTs that:
- Enhance UI visuals
- Can be traded like SPL tokens
Developer Integration
Build with Orca using:
Support Channels
- Bug Reports: #bug-reports on Discord
- Feedback: #feedback on Discord
- General Questions: Twitter | Telegram
FAQ Section
Q: Is Orca safer than Uniswap?
A: Both have audited contracts, but Orca benefits from Solana's lower-cost environment for security monitoring.
Q: Can I provide liquidity with any token?
A: Only approved token pairs—check our listed pools.
Q: Why choose Orca over centralized exchanges?
A: Non-custodial trading with higher potential yields through liquidity provision.
Q: How often are ORCA rewards distributed?
A: Continuously—harvest anytime with no lockups.
Q: What makes Whirlpools special?
A: Concentrated liquidity allows higher capital efficiency.
Q: Where can I learn advanced strategies?
A: Join our Discord for community-shared guides.