What is Jupiter (JUP)?

In the crypto world, decentralized finance (DeFi) continues to revolutionize the world by allowing users to conduct financial transactions without the need for traditional intermediaries. However, this freedom also brings with it some challenges: fragmented liquidity, volatile prices, and user-unfriendly interfaces. This is where Jupiter (JUP), which runs on the Solana blockchain, comes into play. Jupiter is an advanced aggregator protocol that scans multiple decentralized exchanges (DEX) and offers the best prices to the user. It allows users to easily buy and sell at the most advantageous rates without being exposed to complex DeFi transactions. It brings together many features under one roof, from swap transactions to limit orders, from DCA (dollar cost averaging) strategies to bridging and perpetuals transactions, making DeFi more accessible. However, it would be insufficient to describe Jupiter as just a “DEX aggregator.” The project is building a financial ecosystem that redefines the user experience by leveraging Solana’s low-cost and high-speed infrastructure. Designed for both beginners and experienced traders, it stands out with its user-friendly interface, advanced trading tools, and decentralized governance. Jupiter, which has been growing steadily since its launch in 2021, currently manages more than 50% of the total DEX trading volume on Solana and is a leader in the DeFi space. In this guide, we will cover in detail what Jupiter does, how it works, the role of the JUP token, and the big steps it has taken so far. Let's answer questions such as what is Solana Jupiter, how does Jupiter work?

Jupiter Definition and Origin

Jupiter is a decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol running on the Solana blockchain. By aggregating prices from different decentralized exchanges (DEX) and liquidity pools in one place, it allows users to easily find the best exchange rates. This makes it possible to reach the most advantageous prices without having to check each platform separately.

Jupiter's goal is not limited to just offering the best trading rates; it also aims to establish a strong trading infrastructure in Solana's rapidly growing DeFi world. By using liquidity more efficiently and simplifying transaction routes, it makes DeFi transactions easier and more accessible for everyone. Users can now easily reach the best rates without having to check different exchanges one by one.

Jupiter was launched in October 2021. This period coincided with the rapid expansion of the Solana ecosystem and the high interest of users in low-cost, fast solutions. Jupiter was developed in response to this need, as a DEX router using Solana’s fast and low-fee infrastructure. Thanks to Solana’s high-volume transaction-per-second architecture, Jupiter can seamlessly handle large-volume and frequent exchanges. The project’s initial goal was to become Solana’s default trading platform and provide the ecosystem’s most robust trading infrastructure.

Jupiter’s launch in 2021 and its goal of leveraging Solana’s fast, low-cost infrastructure took it beyond being just a protocol that runs on Solana. By consolidating the dispersed liquidity on Solana into one place, Jupiter increased user confidence in the platform and increased trading volume. This led to increased adoption of Solana and increased its competitiveness in the DeFi space.

Jupiter’s History: Major Milestones

Jupiter’s short but eventful history showcases its rise in the Solana ecosystem and its innovative approach to DeFi. Let’s take a look at what happened one by one:

• 2021: Launch and first protocol integrations. Jupiter officially went live on the Solana blockchain in October 2021. The project’s initial goal was to become Solana’s default exchange platform and build the most robust exchange infrastructure. With the launch, integrations were achieved with leading DEXs on Solana, such as Raydium, Orca, and Serum. Thanks to these integrations, Jupiter was able to collect the best prices from different liquidity pools, and the platform’s core functionality was built on this structure.
• 2022: JUP token plans announced. Jupiter announced that it plans to launch the JUP token in 2022. This announcement was the first sign that the project would move towards community participation and decentralized governance. The JUP token was designed as a tool to give the community a say in the future of the platform.
• 2023: Become the largest Solana-based DEX aggregator by volume. Over the course of 2023, Jupiter rose to become the largest and most active DEX aggregator in the Solana ecosystem. During this period, Jupiter became the market leader, single-handedly managing over 50% of the total DEX trading volume on Solana.
• 2024: The Jupiter token airdrop and listing on centralized exchanges began. The highly anticipated first airdrop of the JUP token took place in January 2024. In this large-scale distribution, 1 billion JUP tokens were sent to over 1 million eligible wallets, rewarding early adopters. Following the distribution, JUP was listed on major centralized exchanges such as Bitmart, BingX, CoinDCX, HTX, and Bitrue, thus reaching a wider audience of investors.
• January 2025: $630 million JUP airdrop. In January 2025, the Solana market was very active, especially after US President Donald Trump announced the Solana-based TRUMP token. Jupiter volume also broke records for this reason. According to DeFiLlama data, Jupiter recorded a volume of $37 billion in the first month of the year. Meanwhile, the Jupiter team announced that they would carry out a $630 million JUP airdrop.

• January 2025 “Catstanbul”: Jupiter also held its first major conference event, “Catstanbul 2025” in Istanbul on January 25-26. The event announced important product updates, future plans, and new partnerships for the platform. One of the most notable moments was the live burning of 30% of the JUP token supply.
• June 2025: In June 2025, the Jupiter DEX router decided to temporarily pause its decentralized voting capabilities until the end of 2025.
• July 2025: As of July 2025, Jupiter continues to grow its influence in the DeFi space. As of June 2025, Jupiter reached a monumental milestone of surpassing $1 trillion in cumulative transaction volume on the Solana blockchain.
• JUP token future: Jupiter DAO announced plans for two more JUP airdrops in 2025 and 2026.

Why Is Jupiter Valuable?

Jupiter’s value in the Solana ecosystem goes beyond being just a trading platform. In fact, Jupiter is one of the cornerstones that supports Solana’s growth in the DeFi space. In addition to offering users the best rates, it also brings liquidity under one roof, simplifies the trading experience, and makes next-generation trading tools accessible to everyone. Now, let’s take a look at all the key features that make Jupiter valuable:

The most active and powerful DEX aggregator on Solana

Jupiter is the most active and dominant DEX router on Solana. The platform single-handedly manages more than 50% of the total DEX trading volume on the network, reaching a total volume of over $1 trillion as of June 2025, cementing its leadership. What does this mean for users? Better prices, lower slippage, and efficient transactions at all times. Jupiter’s intelligent routing algorithms minimize price change even on large transactions. Additionally, this trading volume and user interest creates a strong network effect: as more people use the platform, liquidity increases, leading to better rates and more users.

Easy integration with popular Solana wallets

Jupiter seamlessly integrates with the most popular wallets in the Solana ecosystem, such as Phantom, Backpack, and Solflare. This allows users to easily connect their wallets and make transactions quickly. In addition, thanks to the APIs provided by Jupiter, different dApps, wallets, and projects can also benefit from the platform's infrastructure.

Automatic comparison to find the best price

One of Jupiter's strengths is its advanced routing engine. This system instantly scans many DEXs on Solana, such as Raydium, Orca, and Serum, and finds the best price on whichever platform. Moreover, it can provide more efficient results by splitting swaps into multiple routes to reduce the slippage effect in large transactions. Thus, users always enjoy trading at the best price without having to check different exchanges one by one.

Intuitive interface and low transaction fees

Jupiter has a very user-friendly interface for both beginners and experienced investors. By simplifying the complex structure of DeFi, it makes it easier for more people to step into the field.

By leveraging Solana’s low transaction fees, Jupiter offers a cost advantage of up to 40% compared to Ethereum-based DEXs, a big plus for frequent traders.

In addition, the platform is not limited to simple swaps. Advanced tools such as limit orders, DCA (dollar cost averaging) strategies, and perpetual futures are also offered in a single interface. In other words, users can access everything they need through Jupiter without switching between different platforms.

Jupiter's basic features and working mechanism

Jupiter has become one of the most comprehensive DeFi platforms on Solana. It no longer just swaps tokens; it offers a fully-equipped infrastructure where users can implement different trading strategies, make cross-chain transactions, and even access advanced financial instruments such as interest-free loans. Of course, the swap feature is at the heart of the platform. Thanks to this system that collects liquidity from different DEXs on Solana, users can reach the best price rates and minimum slippage. Liquidity from platforms such as Raydium, Orca, and Serum allows users to make more advantageous transactions. In addition, during swap transactions, transactions can be personalized with settings such as routing preferences, which gives users more control.

Jupiter also brings the experience of traditional exchanges to the DeFi space by offering limit orders in a decentralized environment. Users who want to buy or sell at a certain price level can place their orders without having to constantly monitor the market. The system automatically performs the transaction when the target price is reached by monitoring on-chain prices. If there is not enough liquidity, it even divides the transaction into parts and completes it more smoothly.

Jupiter is also quite useful for users who adopt the dollar cost averaging (DCA) strategy. It is possible to make automatic buy/sell transactions by spreading a certain amount over time. This feature is especially valuable for those who want to reduce their risk against fluctuations in crypto markets. For example, a user can spread their investment over time by buying a certain amount of SOL every day, thus meeting the ups and downs of the market more balanced.

Another important feature offered by the platform is bridge support. Users can quickly and securely transfer tokens between different blockchains. By integrating various bridge solutions such as Mayan Finance, Debridge and Wormhole, Jupiter automatically determines the most efficient and cost-effective transfer route. This simplifies inter-chain interactions.

Perpetuals, offered for more advanced investors, are also another notable feature of Jupiter. This system, which runs on Solana, provides advanced trading options to professional traders by offering up to 100x leverage. At the same time, the platform also hosts its own liquidity pool (JLP Pool). Users provide liquidity by locking their tokens in this pool, and in return, they earn income from transaction fees. This both supports the platform's trading volume and offers the user a passive income opportunity.

Who is the Founder of Jupiter?

The team behind Jupiter and the decentralized governance approach it adopts are one of the most important elements that shape the character of the project. The platform was launched by an anonymous person known by the nickname "Meow" and an anonymous team. In the crypto world, anonymous teams are seen in many projects, and this approach is generally considered compatible with the philosophy of decentralization. In the case of Jupiter, although the team is not directly introduced, the technical achievements they have demonstrated and the fact that they have turned the project into the largest DEX router in Solana show that they have serious expertise. In addition, despite not revealing who they are, they have managed to establish a trust-based relationship with the community thanks to transparent airdrop policies, organized events (e.g. Catstanbul 2025) and a clear roadmap.

Jupiter's development process is completely community-oriented. Jupiter DAO, the decentralized autonomous organization, plays a very important role in this process. The platform's loyal community calls themselves "Space Catdets".

This entire structure is built on a strong decentralized governance principle. The JUP token is also positioned as a tool that provides a say in governance. Token holders can vote on many issues, from protocol upgrades to new project launches, from grant distributions to token emission programs, through the Jupiter DAO. However, as we mentioned before, Jupiter DEX decided in June 2025 to temporarily pause the DAO’s voting capabilities until the end of 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

In this section, we will answer the most frequently asked questions users have about Jupiter and the JUP token.

• What is Jupiter and what does it do?: Jupiter is a decentralized exchange (DEX) aggregator running on the Solana blockchain. Its main purpose is to provide users with the most suitable token swap rates from different DEXs in the Solana ecosystem.
• What is JUP coin, when was it distributed?: JUP is the native governance token of the Jupiter protocol. Token holders can vote on decisions regarding the future of the platform.1 The first JUP airdrop took place in January 2024 and 1 billion tokens were distributed. On January 9, 2025, the second airdrop (Jupuary) distributed another 700 million JUP, and there are plans for 2026
• Which exchanges does Jupiter scan?: Jupiter aggregates liquidity from many Solana-based decentralized exchanges (DEX) and automated market makers (AMM). These include leading Solana projects such as Raydium, Orca, and Serum. It has become a major decentralized exchange comparison tool because it supports many platforms.
• Why is Jupiter preferred in Solana?: Jupiter takes full advantage of Solana's high speed and low transaction fees. It is preferred due to its ability to automatically find the best price across multiple DEXs, minimize slippage, and offer advanced tools such as limit orders and DCA in a single interface. It reinforces its leading position by managing more than 50% of all DEX trading volume on Solana.
• What is Jupiter’s level of decentralization?: Jupiter has adopted a community-driven and decentralized governance model through the JUP governance token. Token holders can vote on important decisions through the DAO. However, in June 2025, it was decided to temporarily pause the DAO vote until the end of 2025.
• Is it safe to swap with Jupiter? The answer to the question of whether it is safe to swap with Jupiter is generally yes. The platform is non-custodial, meaning it never holds your funds; transactions occur directly from your wallet. Its code is open source and undergoes regular security audits. However, it is important to always make sure to use official links and be careful of phishing scams. Every investor should invest according to their own research.

To follow developments on Jupiter and the JUP token closely, check out our JR Crypto content series.