Using On-Chain Data to Determine Which Solana Ecosystem DApp Really Has Users
To judge whether a DApp has real users through on-chain data, the key is to see if the "number of users" matches the "transaction volume". On Solana, some programs have daily transaction volumes of millions of dollars but active users in the single digits – such data is most likely inflated. A DApp that truly has users will always have a stable and growing number of unique users underpinning its high transaction volume.
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Step 1: Use the Solscan Program Leaderboard to Filter – Look Directly at Active Users
What it does: Solscan's Program Leaderboard is the most direct tool for evaluating a DApp's genuine user base. It directly displays the 24-hour active user count for each program (smart contract), which represents unique addresses, not transaction counts.
How to use it:
Visit solscan.io and go to the "Program" or "Leaderboard" page.
Check these key metrics:
24-hour Active Users: The most important metric, representing how many unique addresses are actually using the DApp.
Transaction Success Rate: A higher success rate generally indicates a more stable program.
Interaction Volume: The total amount of economic activity; always view it together with the user count.
Set time filters to view 1-day, 7-day or 30-day data trends to gauge user growth or decline.
How to know it's done: You've filtered out a list of DApps with over 1,000 24-hour active users and a trend that is stable or upward.
If a program has extremely high transaction volume but only a handful of 24-hour active users, it means almost all the volume comes from wash trading by the same addresses (self-transactions or bot loop transactions) – not from real users.
Step 2: Verify with Real User Signals – Cross‑check with GMGN and Dune Analytics
What it does: Use different tools to cross-verify whether the selected DApps truly have independent users.
How to use it:
Check the DApp's top traders on GMGN: The more dispersed the user distribution, the better. If the top 10 addresses account for the vast majority of trading volume, the user base is unhealthy.
Query custom dashboards for the DApp on Dune Analytics: Search for community-created data dashboards and verify whether user numbers are growing continuously.
Check SNS domain bindings: The Solana Name Service (SNS) introduces on-chain proof of personhood for .sol domains, making domain ownership data a valuable signal for distinguishing real individuals from AI agents. A wallet bound to a .sol domain has a higher probability of belonging to a real person.
How to know it's done: You've confirmed through at least two independent data sources that the DApp's user count is broadly consistent with what Solscan displays.
Step 3: Evaluate "User Appeal" within the Ecosystem – Take Pump.fun as an Example
What it does: Use the DApp's actual contribution to the ecosystem as a judgment criterion. If a DApp truly has users, it will leave measurable traces in revenue, token issuance volume, ecosystem influence, and other dimensions.
How to use it:
Check the DApp's revenue: In Q2 2026, total revenue of consumer applications on Solana reached $263 million, accounting for about 41% of all DApp revenue across Web3. Among them, Pump.fun had around 1.3 million monthly active users and a daily average revenue of about $69,000.
Check the DApp's contribution to Solana on-chain activity: Grayscale reports show Solana processes over 100 million daily transactions, has 4.3 million daily active users, and cumulative DEX trading volume exceeding $3.6 trillion within the year. Major contributors include Jupiter and Pump.fun. If a DApp appears high on Solscan's active user leaderboard but contributes virtually nothing to core ecosystem metrics (volume, revenue, token launches), its "users" are likely inflated.
How to know it's done: You've confirmed that the target DApp's "user appeal" in the Solana ecosystem has translated into measurable on-chain revenue or transaction volume contribution.
Signs of Fake Users to Avoid
| Signal Type | Specific Behavior | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| High volume + low users | Millions in volume, but 24h active users in single digits | Highly likely wash trading |
| User spike then crash within a day | Abnormal explosive growth followed by a rapid collapse | Could be airdrop hunters completing tasks once |
| Extremely low transaction success rate | Success rate below 50% | Many failed transactions; program may be unstable or have operational issues |
| Top trader concentration too high | Top 10 addresses account for over 60% of volume | User concentration too high, unhealthy distribution |
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Confirming Your Judgment Is Complete
Using the Solscan Leaderboard, filter for DApps with over 1,000 24-hour active users, a relatively high transaction success rate, and a stable or upward user trend. Then cross-verify user numbers with Dune Analytics or other tools to ensure data consistency. Finally, check the DApp's actual contribution to the Solana ecosystem (revenue, transaction volume, etc.) to validate user quality. If all the above steps are passed, the DApp's user authenticity is relatively reliable.
