Solana mint authority and freeze authority explained
What mint and freeze authority mean on a Solana token, why they matter for safety, and how to check if they have been revoked.
Mint authority
On Solana, the mint authority is the wallet allowed to create new tokens. If it still exists, the creator can print any amount and sell it, which makes everyone else's tokens worth less. Most safe tokens revoke (remove) the mint authority after launch, so the supply can never grow.
Freeze authority
The freeze authority can freeze any wallet holding the token, so those tokens cannot be moved or sold. Some stablecoins keep it for legal reasons, but for a new memecoin it is a major warning: the creator could freeze buyers and stop them selling.
Token-2022 extensions
Tokens made with Solana's newer Token-2022 program can have extensions such as transfer fees (a tax on every transfer) or transfer hooks (custom code that runs on every transfer). Some of these are set at creation and can never be removed.
How to check
Paste the mint address into DexGrade's Solana token checker. It shows whether mint and freeze authority are revoked, lists any Token-2022 extensions, and includes them in the grade.