Day 1 — Introduction & DLMM Basics
Introduction & Core DeFi Concepts
Bootcamp Overview
Session led by instructors Pesal and Megumi, emphasizing that all material is for educational purposes and not financial advice.
Key Terminology
- TVL (Total Value Locked) — Total capital deposited in a protocol or pool
- Volume — Trading activity and liquidity flow through a pool
- Slippage — Price difference between when a transaction is initiated and when it’s executed
DLMM vs. Standard AMM
Unlike Standard AMMs, the DLMM (Dynamic Liquidity Market Maker) allows for concentrated liquidity, making capital usage more efficient for LPs.
flowchart LR
A["Standard AMM"] --> B["Liquidity spread<br>across entire curve"]
A --> C["Less capital<br>efficient"]
A --> D["Simple to use"]
E["DLMM"] --> F["Concentrated<br>liquidity in bins"]
E --> G["Higher capital<br>efficiency"]
E --> H["Strategic<br>positioning"]
style A fill:#e68619,color:#fff
style E fill:#2d7d46,color:#fff
DLMM Mechanics: Bins & Bin Steps
Understanding Bins
Liquidity in DLMM is stored in Bins, which are specific price containers. Users can hold liquidity in these bins whether the current price is active there or not.
Key characteristics:
- Each bin represents a discrete price point
- Liquidity can exist in bins above or below the current market price
- Active bins earn fees when trades execute at their price level
flowchart TD
A["Price Range"] --> B["Bin 1<br>$95"]
A --> C["Bin 2<br>$100"]
A --> D["Bin 3<br>$105"]
A --> E["Bin 4<br>$110"]
C -.-> F["Active Bin<br>⚡ Earning Fees"]
B -.-> G["Below Price<br>Holds Token"]
D -.-> H["Above Price<br>Holds SOL"]
E -.-> H
style C fill:#2d7d46,color:#fff
style B fill:#1473e6,color:#fff
style D fill:#e68619,color:#fff
style E fill:#e68619,color:#fff
Bin Steps Explained
The Bin Step is the percentage difference in price between two consecutive bins, defining the granularity of the price range.
Impact of Bin Size
- Smaller Bin Step — Higher precision and smoother price changes
- Larger Bin Step — Wider price range coverage but with coarser price movements
Liquidity Distribution Types
When providing liquidity, you choose how to spread it across the price range. There are three basic distribution shapes:
1. Spot Distribution
- Uniform spread across your selected price range
- Most versatile, general-purpose option
- Good starting point for beginners
2. Curve Distribution
- Concentrated liquidity tightly around current price
- Best for stable pairs with minimal price movement (e.g., USDC/USDT)
- Higher capital efficiency in ranging markets
3. Bid-Ask Distribution
- Asymmetric distribution for directional strategies
- Allows gradual buying (bid) or selling (ask) as price moves
- Used for Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) approaches
flowchart LR
A["Spot"] --> A1["Even spread"]
B["Curve"] --> B1["Tight focus"]
C["Bid-Ask"] --> C1["Directional"]
style A fill:#1473e6,color:#fff
style B fill:#2d7d46,color:#fff
style C fill:#e68619,color:#fff
Note: Day 1 covers advanced strategies that use these distributions in combination with market analysis.
Impermanent Loss (IL)
The goal is to generate enough trading fees from volume to outweigh the temporary loss in asset value caused by price divergence.
Key concept: IL is not realized until you withdraw liquidity. The position value changes as prices move, but fees accumulate to offset this.
Profitability Focus
To be a profitable LP:
- Fees earned must exceed the “difference loss” (impermanent loss)
- High volatility can be beneficial if fees cover the price shifts
- Focus on volume-generating pools to maximize fee income
flowchart LR
A["LP Position"] --> B["Price Volatility<br>↕"]
B --> C["Impermanent Loss<br>⚠"]
A --> D["Trading Volume<br>📈"]
D --> E["Fee Income<br>💰"]
C --> F{"Fees > IL?"}
E --> F
F -->|Yes| G["✅ Profitable<br>Position"]
F -->|No| H["⚠ Losing<br>Position"]
style G fill:#2d7d46,color:#fff
style H fill:#c9252d,color:#fff
style E fill:#2d7d46,color:#fff
style C fill:#e68619,color:#fff
Platform Tour & Practical Walkthrough
Meteora Interface Overview
The Meteora app provides several key features for liquidity provision:
Quick Entry: Lightning Button
- Instantly zap into top trending pools
- One-click access to high-volume opportunities
- Streamlined onboarding for popular pairs
Opening a Position
Step-by-step process:
flowchart TD
A["Start"] --> B["Connect Wallet<br>Phantom, Solflare, etc."]
B --> C["Select Trading Pair<br>e.g., SOL/USDC"]
C --> D["Choose Bin Step<br>Price granularity"]
D --> E["Set Deposit Amount<br>Token quantity"]
E --> F["Select Distribution<br>Spot/Curve/Bid-Ask"]
F --> G["Single or Dual Side?"]
G -->|Single-sided| H["Deposit SOL only<br>or Token only"]
G -->|Dual-sided| I["Deposit both<br>SOL + Token"]
H --> J["Review & Confirm"]
I --> J
J --> K["Position Active<br>⚡ Earning Fees"]
style A fill:#888,color:#fff
style K fill:#2d7d46,color:#fff
- Connect wallet — Link your Solana wallet (Phantom, Solflare, etc.)
- Select pair — Choose trading pair (e.g., SOL/USDC)
- Choose parameters:
- Bin Step (price granularity)
- Deposit amount
- Liquidity distribution shape
- Confirm transaction — Review and approve
Single-Sided Liquidity
A key feature that allows providing liquidity with only one token:
Benefits:
- Deposit only SOL (or only the token) instead of requiring both
- Customize exposure based on market views
- Useful for directional strategies
Example: If you’re bullish on a token but it’s currently at a low price, deposit SOL only. As price rises, your SOL gradually converts to the token.
Token Safety Basics
Before providing liquidity to any pool, always research the token first. This is critical to avoid scams and rug pulls.
Essential Safety Checks
- Verify the contract address — Always check official sources (website, Twitter, CoinGecko)
- Scan for security issues — Use tools like Rugcheck.xyz
- Check holder distribution — Use Bubblemaps to spot suspicious concentration
- Look for organic volume — Avoid sudden spikes that disappear
Quick Red Flags
- ❌ Unverified or suspicious contracts
- ❌ Most tokens held by a few wallets
- ❌ Unrealistic APY promises (if it’s too good to be true…)
- ❌ Volume that suddenly stops (likely wash trading)
Golden Rules for Beginners
- Start small — Test with amounts you’re comfortable losing
- Avoid FOMO — Don’t chase pumps without analysis
- Stick to established tokens first — SOL/USDC and major pairs are safer for learning
- Monitor your positions — Check daily, especially when learning
Note: Day 1 provides detailed security workflows, token vetting processes, and advanced risk management strategies.
Resources & Community
Join the Community
- Meteora Discord — Official platform updates and support
- LP Army Discord — Bootcamp community and ongoing coaching
- Certification — Complete bootcamp form to earn roles and access advanced content
Next Steps
- Complete daily bootcamp sessions
- Practice with small positions first
- Join Discord channels for ongoing support
- Apply strategies incrementally as you learn