A study by blockchain data provider Bitquery examined the impact of FOMO platform fees on trading outcomes for Solana users. The social trading app, operated by FOMO Labs, charges fees on transactions that ultimately affected wallet profitability across its user base.
Bitquery tracked 829,539 wallets that purchased coins through FOMO on Solana between January 13 and October 7, 2026. Before accounting for platform fees, 15% of wallets were profitable. After fees were deducted, that figure dropped to 10%, meaning fees pushed 32% of pre-fee winning wallets into losses.
The analysis found that fees accounted for approximately 10% of aggregate losses across the tracked wallets, with most losses stemming from the token trades themselves rather than platform charges. The study measured only Solana transactions and included both app trades and trades made outside FOMO in the same coins being followed.
Fee Structure Varies by Trade Size
FOMO's fee schedule depends on trade size, token type, and routing method. On its lowest-fee Solana route, the platform charges 0.1 USDC for trades below 5 USDC, 2% from 5 to 47.5 USDC, 0.95 USDC from 47.50 to 190 USDC, and 0.5% above 190 USDC. Other routes charge 0.5% with a 0.95 USDC minimum.
For smaller trades, flat fees can significantly impact total cost. A 10 USDC transaction on the lowest-fee route carries a 0.2 USDC fee (2% of trade size), while other routes charge 0.95 USDC (9.5% of trade size). The platform also offers reduced rates for selected major tokens and referral discounts.
According to FOMO's terms updated October 26, the displayed transaction fee takes precedence over general examples, though the company does not guarantee the displayed fee will match the final charge. Spot fees depend on size, token, and routing, and can vary between quote and settlement.
Methodology and Limitations
For each wallet, Bitquery combined sale proceeds with the value of unsold coins held on October 7, then deducted acquisition spending and FOMO fees. The study tracked median spending of approximately $130 per wallet on coins, about $4 paid in FOMO fees, and an overall median loss of $25.
The analysis is limited to Solana transactions and does not account for coins held before January 13, 2026. Recorded app fees totaled approximately $40 million across the studied wallets, while estimated total losses reached about $395 million.
Bitquery noted that the comparison measures fees' accounting impact on recorded transactions but does not test whether cheaper charges would alter trading behavior, coin selection, timing, or frequency—factors that could produce different outcomes.
