> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.webacy.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Snipers & Bundlers

> Learn how snipers and bundlers manipulate token launches by front-running liquidity adds, dumping on retail buyers, and inflating early holder counts.

## Overview

**Snipers** and **bundlers** are traders who use automated tools to gain unfair advantages during token launches. They acquire large positions before regular users can participate, often leading to price manipulation and losses for retail traders.

<Warning>
  Tokens with high sniper or bundler activity at launch often experience rapid price dumps. Check holder analysis before investing in newly launched tokens.
</Warning>

## Snipers

### What They Do

* Monitor mempool for new token deployments
* Execute buy transactions in the same block as liquidity addition
* Pay high gas fees to front-run other buyers
* Acquire tokens at the lowest possible price

### How They Operate

1. **Detection**: Bot monitors for `addLiquidity` transactions
2. **Front-running**: Submit buy with higher gas fee
3. **Acquisition**: Get tokens before price moves up
4. **Exit**: Sell into retail buying pressure

### Impact

* Regular buyers pay higher prices
* Snipers dump on later entrants
* Creates immediate sell pressure

## Bundlers

### What They Do

* Bundle multiple transactions into a single block
* Often use private mempools (e.g., Flashbots)
* Coordinate token launch + immediate purchases
* Can control significant supply from block 0

### How They Operate

1. **Preparation**: Create multiple wallets
2. **Bundling**: Package launch + buys together
3. **Execution**: All transactions in one block
4. **Distribution**: Spread holdings across wallets

### Impact

* Supply concentration from first block
* Artificial holder count inflation
* Coordinated dump capability

## Detection Indicators

| Tag               | Severity | Description                |
| ----------------- | -------- | -------------------------- |
| `has_been_sniped` | Medium   | Token was sniped at launch |
| `bundled_token`   | High     | Token launch was bundled   |

### Holder Analysis Tags

| Tag                | Description                             |
| ------------------ | --------------------------------------- |
| Sniper percentage  | % of supply held by identified snipers  |
| Bundler percentage | % of supply from bundled transactions   |
| Block 0 holders    | Wallets that bought in the launch block |

## API Example

```bash theme={null}
# Get holder analysis for a token
curl -X GET "https://api.webacy.com/holder-analysis/So111...?chain=sol" \
  -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY"
```

<Note>
  Early holder analysis covers Solana tokens launched within the last 12 months and BSC tokens deployed within the last 3 months (data provider retention). Older tokens return `data_availability: "unsupported_token_age"`; previously analyzed tokens continue to return stored results.
</Note>

Response example:

```json theme={null}
{
  "totalHolders": 1250,
  "analysis": {
    "sniperPercentageHolding": 35.5,
    "bundlerPercentageHolding": 22.3,
    "top10HoldersPercentage": 68.2,
    "block0Holders": 8,
    "block0Percentage": 45.0
  },
  "flags": [
    {
      "tag": "has_been_sniped",
      "severity": "medium"
    },
    {
      "tag": "bundled_token",
      "severity": "high"
    }
  ]
}
```

## Red Flags at Launch

| Indicator                                | Risk Level   |
| ---------------------------------------- | ------------ |
| >30% sniper holdings                     | High         |
| >20% bundler holdings                    | High         |
| >50% in block 0                          | Critical     |
| Fewer than 10 unique block 0 wallets     | Suspicious   |
| Rapid holder count increase then plateau | Manipulation |

## Protection Strategies

1. **Wait before buying** - Let initial volatility settle
2. **Check holder analysis** - Use our [Holder Analysis](/api-reference/holder-analysis/get-detailed-early-holder-analysis-for-a-token) endpoint
3. **Monitor distribution changes** - Healthy tokens show gradual distribution
4. **Verify team holdings** - Transparent teams disclose their wallets
5. **Watch for coordinated sells** - Snipers often dump together

## Legitimate vs Malicious

Not all early buyers are malicious:

**Legitimate Early Buyers:**

* Team/investor allocations (disclosed)
* Presale participants
* Community members with advance notice

**Malicious Actors:**

* Undisclosed insider wallets
* MEV bots with no project relationship
* Coordinated dump groups