> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.kumbaya.xyz/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.kumbaya.xyz/getting-started/basics.md).

# The basics: tokens, gas, and slippage

Three things every Kumbaya user should be comfortable with. None of them are complicated.

## Tokens

A **token** on Kumbaya is just an ERC-20 - a contract on MegaETH that keeps track of who owns how much. Every token has a contract address (a long hex string starting with `0x...`), a symbol like `$KUM`, and a name. The address is what's authoritative - anyone can deploy a token called "USDC", but only one address is the real USDC.

When you "send a token" or "swap a token", you're really telling that token's contract to update its internal balances. There's no central database and no platform-side ledger.

## Gas

Every transaction on MegaETH costs **gas** - a tiny amount of ETH paid to the network for processing the transaction. On MegaETH, gas costs are typically a small fraction of a cent per swap, so this rarely matters in practice. But you do need a small amount of ETH in your wallet to cover gas, even if you're swapping other tokens.

If you ever see a transaction fail with **"Insufficient gas"**, top up some ETH and try again.

## Slippage

When you swap, the price you saw in the UI and the price you actually got can differ. That difference is **slippage**, and it happens because:

* Other people's trades may move the price between when you clicked and when your transaction confirms.
* Your own trade moves the price (especially in pools with less liquidity).

Kumbaya lets you set a **slippage tolerance** - a maximum acceptable difference. If the actual price would exceed your tolerance, the transaction reverts and you're not charged.

* **Default tolerance**: 0.5%. Fine for most major tokens.
* **For new launches or thin pools**: try 1–3%.
* **If your swap fails with "Slippage exceeded"**: bump tolerance or reduce trade size.

For more detail see [**Slippage and gas explained**](/trading/slippage-and-gas.md).

## Where to next

* [**Connect your wallet →**](/getting-started/connect-your-wallet.md) if you haven't yet
* [**Swapping tokens →**](/trading/swap.md) for your first trade