> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://bigbrainape.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How Big Brain Ape Works: A Complete Platform Overview

> Learn how Big Brain Ape's trading engine, portfolio tracker, alert system, and analytics dashboard work together to keep you in control of your crypto.

Big Brain Ape is built around four tightly integrated modules that work together to give you a complete picture of your crypto activity. Whether you are executing a swap, monitoring your portfolio's performance, or reacting to a price alert, every action flows through a unified platform designed to keep you informed and in control. You interact with the platform through a single dashboard, while the underlying systems handle real-time data feeds, on-chain execution, and analytics processing behind the scenes.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Trading Engine" icon="bolt">
    Execute instant token swaps and limit orders across Solana and EVM chains using aggregated liquidity sources. The engine routes your trade through the best available path to minimize slippage and fees.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Portfolio Tracker" icon="chart-pie">
    Monitor all your holdings across connected wallets in one place. See current balances, historical performance, and realized versus unrealized PnL at a glance.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Alert System" icon="bell">
    Set customizable price and volume alerts for any tracked token. Receive notifications via the dashboard or connected channels the moment your conditions are met.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Analytics Dashboard" icon="chart-line">
    Dive into token charts, whale wallet movements, top gainers and losers, and market-wide volume trends. All data updates in real time so you are always working with current information.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Non-Custodial by Design

Big Brain Ape never holds your funds. When you connect a wallet, you are granting the platform read access to your on-chain balances and the ability to present transactions for your approval — nothing more. Every trade you execute is signed directly in your own wallet before it is broadcast to the network. Your private keys never leave your device and are never transmitted to Big Brain Ape's servers. This means that even in the unlikely event of a platform outage or security incident, your assets remain safe and accessible directly through your wallet.

## Supported Networks

Big Brain Ape currently supports four networks. Each chain has its own gas token and transaction speed profile, so the network you choose affects confirmation times and fees.

| Network | Gas Token | Notes |
| - | - | - |
| **Solana** | SOL | High throughput, sub-second finality, and very low fees make Solana the fastest trading environment on the platform. |
| **Ethereum** | ETH | The broadest token selection and deepest liquidity, though gas costs are higher during peak usage. |
| **Base** | ETH | Coinbase's Layer 2 network offering Ethereum-compatible trading with significantly lower fees. |
| **Arbitrum** | ETH | An Ethereum Layer 2 rollup with fast finality and low gas costs, well suited to active traders. |

## How Trades Work

Every trade on Big Brain Ape follows the same straightforward flow regardless of which network you are on.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Connect your wallet">
    Open Big Brain Ape and click **Connect Wallet** in the top navigation bar. Select your wallet provider and approve the connection request that appears in your wallet extension or app.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select the token you want">
    Use the token search to find the asset you want to buy or sell. You can search by name, ticker symbol, or contract address.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set the amount">
    Enter how much you want to trade. The platform shows you the estimated output amount, price impact, and any applicable fees before you commit.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm in your wallet">
    Click **Swap** or **Place Order**. Your wallet opens a confirmation screen showing the exact transaction details. Review and approve it there. The trade is submitted to the network only after you sign.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Explore Further

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Wallets" icon="wallet" href="/concepts/wallets">
    Learn how to connect and manage your wallets across Solana and EVM networks.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Trading" icon="bolt" href="/concepts/trading">
    Understand swaps, limit orders, slippage tolerance, and platform fees.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Analytics" icon="chart-line" href="/concepts/analytics">
    Explore portfolio PnL, trade history, token charts, and whale tracking.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Your First Trade" icon="flag" href="/guides/first-trade">
    Follow a step-by-step walkthrough of executing your first trade on the platform.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Info>
  The Big Brain Ape API gives developers and power users programmatic access to trading, portfolio data, and alerts. If you want to automate your strategy or integrate BBA data into your own tooling, see the [API reference](/api/introduction) to get started.
</Info>