ERC-20 Approvals, Explained
An ERC-20 approval is permission for a contract to transfer tokens up to a stated amount. It is separate from the swap itself and may remain active afterward.
Key idea
Check the spender and allowance amount, not just the app name shown beside them.
In this guide
Related workflow
Token Approvals →Read the spender
The important address is the contract receiving permission. Confirm that address from a source you trust before granting access to a valuable token.
Read the amount
An exact allowance limits exposure to a specific amount. An unlimited allowance is convenient for repeated use, but it remains a much larger permission until it is changed or revoked.
Review old permissions
Allowances can outlive the trade that created them. Periodically review active approvals and revoke permissions for contracts you no longer use or trust.
Put it in context
Tools connected to this topic
Use the concepts above to understand what these tools show or ask you to approve.
Keep going
Related guides
The closest concepts to read next.
Wallets & safety · 4 min
Unlimited vs. Exact Token Approvals
Approval size is part of transaction risk. Match the permission to how much access the action actually needs.
Read next →Wallets & safety · 4 min
Revoke an ERC-20 Approval
Identify the spender first. Revoking the wrong allowance can break an app you still use without reducing the permission you meant to remove.
Read next →Wallets & safety · 5 min
Analyze a Solana Wallet
Use the public address only. Read balances and activity together, and treat labels as context rather than proof.
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