Settings and execution
Axiom Trade settings explained
Four settings decide whether an Axiom trade confirms, how fast, and how much it costs beyond the trading fee: slippage, priority fee, bribe and MEV mode. Axiom documents the defaults, offers presets, and calculates a recommended priority fee and bribe from live network data. This guide explains what each setting does, who receives the money, and what to change for a quiet market, a congested network and a competitive launch.
Short version: use Axiom's recommended priority fee and bribe, keep MEV mode on Secure for buys, keep slippage low by default and raise it only for the specific token that needs it. Save two or three presets so you switch rather than edit mid-trade.
The four settings
| Setting | What it does | Default | Paid to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slippage | Maximum price move you accept between placing and confirming; beyond it the trade is cancelled | Per preset | Nobody. It is a limit, not a cost |
| Priority fee | Extra payment to validators for faster confirmation | 0.001 SOL | Solana validators |
| Bribe | Tip to block builders to place your transaction early; also called a Jito tip | 0.001 SOL | Block builders and validators |
| MEV mode | How your transaction is routed: Off, Reduced or Secure | Axiom recommends Secure | Nobody directly; affects route and speed |
None of these go to Axiom. Axiom's revenue is the trading fee covered in fees explained. You reach the panel from the settings icon at the top right of the terminal.
Slippage
Axiom defines slippage as the difference between the expected and executed price, and the setting as the maximum you will accept. Its docs give a deliberately extreme example: setting 1000% means accepting up to a 10x move before cancellation. If the price moves beyond your limit while the transaction is confirming, the trade fails with "slippage exceeded" and you still pay the network fees for the attempt.
- Low (1–5%) protects you from overpaying but fails more often on fast tokens.
- High (20%+) lands more reliably on launches, but Axiom's docs warn that without MEV protection high slippage invites sandwiching.
Treat it per token. Raise it for one volatile trade, then set it back. A high default across every trade is the quietest way to overpay.
Priority fee
Solana's base fee is tiny, and in busy periods transactions with only the base fee wait. The priority fee is an extra payment that Axiom's docs say increases the likelihood of faster confirmation "especially in times of high network congestion and high volume tokens". The default is 0.001 SOL. Signs it is too low: trades sit unconfirmed, then expire or fail without a slippage message. Axiom's docs also note that presets exist so you can adapt fees to market conditions quickly, and that Axiom calculates a recommended value from current transactions.
Bribe
Axiom describes the bribe as an additional incentive paid to validators to prioritise your transaction, default 0.001 SOL, "optional but recommended for high volume trades". It matters most when many people are trying to buy the same token in the same second, which is why launch snipers raise it. For an ordinary buy of a token with liquidity, the default is fine. The hand-and-coin icon at the top right shows the current minimum MEV bribe; Axiom's docs say your fee should be above that minimum for protection to work.
MEV mode
Axiom offers three modes. Off broadcasts to everyone and leaves you exposed to front-running. Reduced submits via Jito with some residual exposure to rogue validators. Secure waits for a whitelisted validator and is the mode Axiom recommends, at the cost of some speed. Axiom's docs also note that protection is only necessary for buys and not needed for most sells. The MEV protection guide goes through each mode and the sandwich attack they defend against.
Suggested settings by situation
| Situation | Slippage | Priority fee | Bribe | MEV mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Normal buy, token with liquidity | Low | Recommended | Recommended | Secure |
| Volatile token, quiet network | Raised for this trade | Recommended | Recommended | Secure |
| Congested network | Unchanged | Raised | Recommended | Secure |
| Competitive launch or migration | Raised | Raised | Raised above the shown minimum | Secure, or Reduced if you accept the risk for speed |
| Selling | Low to moderate | Recommended | Recommended | Usually not needed |
These are starting points. The only test that matters is whether your trades land at the price you expected; adjust one setting at a time.
Errors these settings cause
| Message | Setting involved | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Slippage exceeded | Slippage | Raise for this trade or wait for calmer price action |
| Insufficient SOL balance to cover priority fee and bribe fee | Priority fee and bribe | Deposit a little SOL, or lower the two fees |
| Transaction expired | Priority fee | Raise it and resend |
| Filled far above the quoted price | MEV mode and slippage | Switch to Secure, lower slippage |
The complete list with diagnosis steps is in transaction failed.
Settings FAQ
What are the best settings for Axiom Trade?
There is no single best. For most trades: Axiom's recommended priority fee and bribe, Secure MEV mode, low slippage. Raise priority fee during congestion and bribe only for competitive launches.
What is the bribe fee on Axiom?
A tip paid alongside your transaction so block builders include it early, defaulting to 0.001 SOL. It goes to the network, not Axiom.
Does Axiom set the fees for me?
Axiom's docs say it analyses current transactions and calculates a recommended bribe and priority fee for both speed and security. You can accept those or override them with presets.
Do I pay priority fee and bribe on failed trades?
If the transaction reached the network and failed, yes. If it was never sent, for example because the wallet lacked SOL, no.
Does the referral discount change these settings?
No. Referral code THANKS reduces Axiom's trading fee. Network settings are independent.
Sources: Solana Fees and Market pages on docs.axiom.trade. Read 5 November 2026.