Getting Something Back From Rugged Tokens
Updated · 4 min read
When a token is rugged, the tokens themselves may be worthless, but the rent deposit locked in your token account is ordinary SOL that belongs to you.
Two steps: burn, then close
An account can only be closed when its balance is zero. For worthless leftovers, burn the remaining tokens first; after that the account is empty and closing it returns the deposit.
Burning is irreversible, so only burn tokens you are certain you do not want.
When closing is not possible
Some scam tokens use a freeze authority to lock holder accounts. A frozen account cannot be burned or closed until the issuer unfreezes it, which in practice may never happen. Such accounts are skipped automatically by the scanner.
Check your wallet for locked SOL
Scan any Solana address for empty token accounts and see exactly how much rent you can reclaim. Free to check, non-custodial to close.
Frequently asked questions
Will burning a rugged token cost me money?
Only the normal network fee, a tiny fraction of the deposit you get back when closing.