Understanding Solana Fees and the Benefits of ATLAS Locking on the Star Atlas Marketplace
Why Do I Pay a ~0.00203 SOL Fee When Buying Items?
When you buy a ship or resource for the first time, you might notice a small Solana network fee (~0.00203 SOL). This happens because:
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On Solana, each token type (e.g., ATLAS, ships, food, fuel) needs its own Token Account
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Creating this account requires a small deposit of SOL to make it rent-exempt
💡 Example:
If you buy AMMO, FUEL, FOOD, and TOOLS for the first time, you’ll pay the SOL fee for each resource. These are one-time fees per token type, not per transaction.
Can I Get My SOL Deposit Back?
Yes. If you decide to stop playing, you can close these Token Accounts and reclaim your SOL using:
However:
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If you close an account and later want to buy that item again, you'll need to pay the fee again to reopen the Token Account
Marketplace Transaction Fees
When someone sells an item on the Star Atlas Marketplace:
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A 6% fee is charged (the buyer pays nothing).
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The fee is split:
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2% to the DAO Treasury (1/3 of fee)
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4% to ATMTA (2/3 of fee)
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This fee can be reduced by locking ATLAS
ATLAS Locker & Marketplace Discounts
You can lock ATLAS tokens in the ATLAS Locker to earn daily POLIS rewards and reduce Marketplace fees.
Example:
With 560,000 ATLAS locked, you only pay 4.5% in Marketplace fees instead of 6%.
Learn more: How does the ATLAS Locker work?