A sniper (noun: a sniper; verb: to snipe) is an automated system or very fast manual trader that submits a buy transaction for a newly launched token within the first confirmed Solana block after the token's creation. Sniping is distinct from bundling: bundlers execute in the same transaction bundle as the token creation; snipers execute as early as possible in the block immediately following, competing with other snipers for the earliest post-launch entry.
Sniper infrastructure
Effective sniping requires low-latency connections to Solana RPC nodes, typically using Jito's bundle tips to ensure transaction priority, and automated scripts that monitor for new token creation transactions and respond within milliseconds. Consumer-grade wallets and manual trading are not competitive with bot snipers; the bot sniper advantage is structural, not skill-based for human traders.
Impact on retail traders
In heavily sniped launches, the first tradeable seconds have already been claimed by automated systems buying at the lowest possible prices. Retail traders entering seconds or minutes later are buying from snipers' positions rather than from the protocol. Some platforms have implemented anti-sniper mechanisms, but these are generally imperfect and can be worked around.