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What Is Slippage in Crypto? Price Impact and Execution Explained

By StonkBuilder EditorialPublished 16 Sep 2026Updated 29 Oct 20263 min read

Slippage is the difference between an expected trade price and the price actually executed. On an automated market maker, price can move as a trade changes pool reserves; the Solana glossary describes slippage in this context. Market movement while a transaction is pending can also make the final result differ from the quote. The DEX guide gives the venue context, while the Jupiter Spot guide explains how to read a live quote without treating tolerance as a target price.

FigurePrice impact rises fast in a shallow pool
0%12.5%25%37.5%50%0255075100Order size ($k)Price impactDeep pool ($2M)Mid pool ($500k)Shallow pool ($100k)
A $50k order moves a $100k pool by about 33% but a $2M pool by about 2.4%, using a constant-product curve. Illustrative values for teaching, not live market data.

Illustrative swap example showing a 100-unit quoted output and 99.5-unit execution, with a note that slippage tolerance is a bound rather than a price target.

Read the quote and the tolerance separately

Before signing, check quoted amount, minimum received, price impact, network fee, route, and expiry or deadline if shown. Price impact describes how the trade size changes price along the route; slippage is the difference between expected and executed price. A user-selected tolerance is a limit on acceptable movement in some swap flows, not a discount or promised execution price.

In the diagram, the hypothetical quote is 100 units out and execution is 99.5 units out: a 0.5% difference before fees or other route effects. The example is illustrative, not a market quote. A high tolerance may allow a worse result; a low tolerance may cause a transaction to fail. Check how the current interface applies the setting.

Limits and responsible use

Lower tolerance may cause failure; higher tolerance may permit a materially worse fill and, depending on venue, increase sandwich exposure. Settings cannot make an illiquid asset liquid. This is educational, not a trading recommendation. Last reviewed 2026-10-22.

Quick review checklist

Before you rely on any crypto explanation, confirm the exact network, identifier, timestamp, data source, and intended audience. Follow the crypto glossary when a term is unfamiliar, and return to the crypto hub for the wider learning path. If the article describes a launch, pair it with the token launch guide and write down what the evidence does not establish. Prefer a small, reversible test over an irreversible action, keep private credentials out of forms and chats, and record material changes so readers can see what was updated.

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Reviewed by StonkBuilder Editorial · Last reviewed 22 Oct 2026

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