How to make your first DEX swap safely (Uniswap, Jupiter)
A beginner's guide to DEX swaps: connecting a wallet, finding the right token, slippage, approvals, fees and how swaps are taxed in India.
- Checked against the rules: Oct 2026
- Sources cited · No buy or sell calls
Before you start
You need a wallet (MetaMask or Phantom), the token you want to swap, and a little native token for fees. Set up MetaMask.
1. Go to the official site
Uniswap (EVM networks) and Jupiter (Solana) are popular. Type the address yourself or use a bookmark. Fake DEX sites are a common way to drain wallets.
2. Connect your wallet and choose the network
Make sure the DEX and your wallet are on the same network.
3. Pick the right token
Search by name, but confirm the contract address from the project's official site or a trusted data site. Copycat tokens are common.
4. Check the quote and slippage
The DEX shows how much you'll get, the price impact and the fee. Slippage is how much worse a price you'll accept. Around 0.5% is common for large tokens. High price impact means low liquidity. Be careful.
5. Approve, then swap
On EVM networks, the first swap of a token asks for an approval. Your wallet may let you limit it to the amount you're swapping. Then confirm the swap.
Tax
India treats each swap as a transfer of one VDA for another. Gains are taxed at 30% plus cess. How to report swaps.
Sources
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