Crypto Exchange Listing Checklist: Everything You Need to Get Approved
Applying for a crypto exchange listing can be complex, but having a step-by-step checklist will increase your chances of approval. Below is a detailed checklist covering everything you need for a Centralized Exchange (CEX) or Decentralized Exchange (DEX) listing.
✅ 1. Tokenomics & Utility
🔲 Clearly define the purpose & use case of your token.
🔲 Ensure a limited & reasonable supply (avoid excessive inflation).
🔲 Create a balanced token distribution (vesting schedules for team & investors).
🔲 Implement staking, governance, or other real-world utilities to sustain demand.
💡 Example: BNB (Binance Coin) is used for trading fee discounts, staking, and payments, making it attractive for CEX listings.
🔲 Clearly define the purpose & use case of your token.
🔲 Ensure a limited & reasonable supply (avoid excessive inflation).
🔲 Create a balanced token distribution (vesting schedules for team & investors).
🔲 Implement staking, governance, or other real-world utilities to sustain demand.
💡 Example: BNB (Binance Coin) is used for trading fee discounts, staking, and payments, making it attractive for CEX listings.
✅ 2. Smart Contract Security & Audit
🔲 Ensure your smart contract is well-coded and free from vulnerabilities.
🔲 Get a third-party security audit from firms like CertiK, Hacken, or Solidproof.
🔲 Conduct a bug bounty program to identify hidden security risks.
🔲 Lock liquidity for DEX listings to increase trust (use Unicrypt, PinkSale, or Team Finance).
💡 Tip: CEXs require an audit before listing; without one, your application will likely be rejected.
🔲 Ensure your smart contract is well-coded and free from vulnerabilities.
🔲 Get a third-party security audit from firms like CertiK, Hacken, or Solidproof.
🔲 Conduct a bug bounty program to identify hidden security risks.
🔲 Lock liquidity for DEX listings to increase trust (use Unicrypt, PinkSale, or Team Finance).
💡 Tip: CEXs require an audit before listing; without one, your application will likely be rejected.
✅ 3. Legal Compliance & Regulatory Documents
🔲 Prepare a Legal Opinion Letter confirming your token is not a security.
🔲 Ensure compliance with AML (Anti-Money Laundering) & KYC (Know Your Customer) regulations.
🔲 Avoid privacy-focused features that may trigger legal concerns (e.g., Monero-style anonymity).
🔲 If operating in the US or EU, ensure compliance with SEC & MiCA regulations.
💡 Tip: Some exchanges require you to register as a legal entity before listing.
🔲 Prepare a Legal Opinion Letter confirming your token is not a security.
🔲 Ensure compliance with AML (Anti-Money Laundering) & KYC (Know Your Customer) regulations.
🔲 Avoid privacy-focused features that may trigger legal concerns (e.g., Monero-style anonymity).
🔲 If operating in the US or EU, ensure compliance with SEC & MiCA regulations.
💡 Tip: Some exchanges require you to register as a legal entity before listing.
✅ 4. Liquidity & Market Demand
🔲 Ensure enough liquidity (CEXs prefer tokens with at least $100,000–$500,000 liquidity).
🔲 For DEX listings, create a liquidity pool on Uniswap, PancakeSwap, or QuickSwap.
🔲 Partner with a market maker to maintain price stability on CEXs.
🔲 Maintain healthy daily trading volume (CEXs favor tokens with $50,000+ daily volume).
💡 Tip: Without liquidity, your token won’t be tradable, leading to delisting risks.
🔲 Ensure enough liquidity (CEXs prefer tokens with at least $100,000–$500,000 liquidity).
🔲 For DEX listings, create a liquidity pool on Uniswap, PancakeSwap, or QuickSwap.
🔲 Partner with a market maker to maintain price stability on CEXs.
🔲 Maintain healthy daily trading volume (CEXs favor tokens with $50,000+ daily volume).
💡 Tip: Without liquidity, your token won’t be tradable, leading to delisting risks.
✅ 5. Community & Marketing Strategy
🔲 Build an active Twitter, Telegram, and Discord community.
🔲 Ensure you have at least 5,000+ followers & active engagement before applying.
🔲 Publish articles on Cointelegraph, Coindesk, or CryptoSlate to increase credibility.
🔲 Run airdrop/bounty campaigns to increase awareness before listing.
💡 Tip: CEXs check your social media activity & engagement before approving listings.
🔲 Build an active Twitter, Telegram, and Discord community.
🔲 Ensure you have at least 5,000+ followers & active engagement before applying.
🔲 Publish articles on Cointelegraph, Coindesk, or CryptoSlate to increase credibility.
🔲 Run airdrop/bounty campaigns to increase awareness before listing.
💡 Tip: CEXs check your social media activity & engagement before approving listings.
✅ 6. Exchange Compatibility & Technical Setup
🔲 Confirm your token meets exchange requirements:
🔲 For DEX listings, verify token metadata on Etherscan, BscScan, or Polygonscan.
💡 Tip: Some CEXs require a token bridge if your blockchain is not natively supported.
🔲 Confirm your token meets exchange requirements:
- ERC-20 (Ethereum)
- BEP-20 (Binance Smart Chain)
- Solana, Polygon, Avalanche, etc.
🔲 For DEX listings, verify token metadata on Etherscan, BscScan, or Polygonscan.
💡 Tip: Some CEXs require a token bridge if your blockchain is not natively supported.
✅ 7. Exchange Application Process
🔲 Research the exchange’s listing requirements & fees.
🔲 Complete the official application form on the exchange’s website.
🔲 Provide all required documents (tokenomics, whitepaper, legal opinion, security audit).
🔲 Follow up with the exchange’s listing team after submitting your application.
💡 Tip: Some exchanges charge non-refundable application fees ($5,000–$10,000), so apply wisely.
🔲 Research the exchange’s listing requirements & fees.
🔲 Complete the official application form on the exchange’s website.
🔲 Provide all required documents (tokenomics, whitepaper, legal opinion, security audit).
🔲 Follow up with the exchange’s listing team after submitting your application.
💡 Tip: Some exchanges charge non-refundable application fees ($5,000–$10,000), so apply wisely.
✅ 8. Avoiding Red Flags 🚨
🔲 No anonymous team – Ensure your team has LinkedIn profiles & public presence.
🔲 No fake trading volume – Avoid wash trading (CEXs can detect it and ban your token).
🔲 No excessive token unlocks – Large early unlocks scare away exchanges & investors.
🔲 No scam associations – Ensure your token isn’t flagged for previous scams or fraud.
💡 Tip: Transparency is key—CEXs will reject tokens that lack trustworthiness.
🔲 No anonymous team – Ensure your team has LinkedIn profiles & public presence.
🔲 No fake trading volume – Avoid wash trading (CEXs can detect it and ban your token).
🔲 No excessive token unlocks – Large early unlocks scare away exchanges & investors.
🔲 No scam associations – Ensure your token isn’t flagged for previous scams or fraud.
💡 Tip: Transparency is key—CEXs will reject tokens that lack trustworthiness.
🚀 Final Checklist Summary: Are You Ready for a Listing?
Category | Requirement | Status |
Tokenomics & Utility | Clear purpose, strong demand | ✅/❌ |
Smart Contract Audit | CertiK, Hacken, Solidproof, or other | ✅/❌ |
Legal Compliance | Legal Opinion Letter, AML/KYC compliance | ✅/❌ |
Liquidity | Minimum $100K liquidity (CEX) or liquidity pool (DEX) | ✅/❌ |
Community | 5,000+ followers & active engagement | ✅/❌ |
Technical Compatibility | ERC-20, BEP-20, or other supported standard | ✅/❌ |
Application Process | Forms, required documents, follow-up | ✅/❌ |
Avoiding Red Flags | No scams, fake volume, or poor security | ✅/❌ |
🚀 Need Help Getting Listed?
We offer exchange listing consulting & strategy to help you pass exchange reviews smoothly.
Contact us today for expert guidance!
We offer exchange listing consulting & strategy to help you pass exchange reviews smoothly.
Contact us today for expert guidance!
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