Navigating the Token Listing Maze: CoinExs Balanced Approach Amidst Market Volatility

At the end of January, the CEO of Coinbase, Brian Armstrong, called for a reassessment of token evaluation criteria, highlighting the emergence of approximately one million new assets each week. Meanwhile, Changpeng Zhao (CZ) criticized Binance’s listing policy but acknowledged that, amid fierce competition, exchanges are eager to add trending coins as quickly as possible.

We spoke with Jeff Ko, the lead analyst at CoinEx, who is responsible for a «balanced approach» to token listings. The exchange aims to stay current by adding promising projects in their early stages but does not support «every new token.»

Together with the expert, we explore how centralized exchanges (CEX) are adjusting their listing policies in light of the meme-token craze, how to safely trade new assets, and how CoinEx’s strategy differs from its competitors.

**Jeff Ko:** Each exchange has its own listing process, which continually evolves in response to market dynamics. We aim to strike a balance between efficiency and price stability. Increased volatility prior to listings on decentralized exchanges is common, and each platform develops its own strategies to manage it.

**Jeff Ko:** We rigorously assess every token, considering community engagement, regulatory requirements, and technical attributes. Key factors in the listing decision include technological innovation and user demand for the asset.

**Jeff:** Before a token is listed, we ensure communication with the project’s representatives to understand their long-term plans. Meetings can be conducted either offline or online.

After the listing, we maintain contact to monitor the development of the blockchain or token. In some cases, collaboration on marketing initiatives may occur.

Trader interest is crucial, but in the long run, developer engagement plays a pivotal role.

**Jeff:** We do not compromise quality for speed. Our foremost priority is a thorough compliance check with regulatory and technical standards. We examine the team’s reputation, community involvement, on-chain data, and the project’s value to users. Timelines depend on the project’s complexity, but our priority remains the balance between promptness and responsible analysis.

**Jeff:** Meme tokens primarily rely on community activity and market demand. When evaluating them, we focus on on-chain data and user engagement.

Utility tokens are developed by teams with a clear vision. When listing them, we analyze their track records, technological solutions, risks, and the coin’s usefulness. This requires significant technical resources and preparation, including setting up nodes and infrastructure. Regardless of complexity, our main priority is the reliability and long-term potential of the project.

**Jeff:** We apply a standardized evaluation system to all assets without exception, which includes:

These measures help us maintain user trust and ensure high quality for the tokens listed on CoinEx.

**Jeff:** There have been quite a few. Recently, we saw a surge in AI-agent tokens. We were among the first to take notice of projects like ai16z (AI16Z), Fartcoin (FARTCOIN), and Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL), which showed impressive returns at the peak of this trend.

Another notable example is Berachain, which raised over $142 million from top investors, including Polychain Capital and OKX Ventures. It merges the Ethereum ecosystem’s features with the speed and scalability of Cosmos, positioning it as a strong contender among L1 blockchains. One of its tokens, HENLO, gained significant liquidity after being listed on CoinEx.

**Jeff:** Delisting is an essential aspect of the platform’s operations to uphold asset quality. Projects are regularly reviewed, and if an asset no longer meets our standards, we part ways with it.

CoinEx has developed its own AI-based risk management tools that analyze social media activity and on-chain data. If a project shows stagnation, fails to deliver on its promises, or is involved in unethical behavior, we respond swiftly.

**Jeff:** Trading new tokens presents both opportunities and significant risks.

First, thoroughly investigate the project, the team, and the tokenomics. A small number of holders combined with large unlocks can exert selling pressure.

Second, avoid rushing to buy a token in the initial seconds following the start of trading. It’s better to observe market sentiment in the first few hours, as prices can fluctuate considerably. Do not fall victim to FOMO and steer clear of impulsive decisions.