Brian Armstrong Reveals Coinbase Token Listing Criteria

CEO Brian Armstrong published a full breakdown of how projects can apply and what criteria Coinbase actually looks at during its listing process.

According to the post, the process is merit-based. No fees. No shortcuts. Every project goes through the same reviews, in the same order, regardless of its size or popularity.

The Five Steps to Listing on Coinbase

To get listed, projects must pass through five key stages:

1. Submit an application Teams need to provide detailed documentation, including the whitepaper, tokenomics, source code, team background, block explorers, and audit reports.
2. Business evaluation Coinbase reviews the asset’s technical integration requirements, market demand, and community traction.
3. Core reviews begin Every token undergoes legal, compliance, and technical security evaluations. These checks determine whether Coinbase can safely list and support the asset.
4. Direct communication If the process moves forward, Coinbase reaches out by email or through scheduled calls to clarify issues and fill in any gaps.
5. Final approval and rollout Once the token passes the reviews, it enters the listing pipeline. The technical team begins integration, and Coinbase schedules the market launch.

Review Timelines and Chain Support

In most cases, due diligence takes about one week. If everything goes smoothly, trading starts within two weeks after approval. Coinbase typically completes the full process in under 30 days.

However, some projects move faster. Tokens on supported chains like Ethereum, Solana, Base, Optimism, or Arbitrum often require less engineering work. In contrast, new blockchains need custom integrations, which can delay listings.

The Three Core Reviews

Coinbase evaluates every token using three mandatory checks:

• Legal The legal team determines whether the asset counts as a security under current laws.
• Compliance and risk Analysts assess how tokens are distributed and traded. They check for fraud, financial crime, and consumer risk.
• Technical security Engineers audit the contract code and infrastructure. They check if Coinbase can securely hold, transfer, and support the token.

If the project runs on a new blockchain, the review includes additional checks like consensus design, governance structure, and network resilience.

Where Most Projects Struggle

Coinbase also pointed out the most common reasons for rejection or delay. For instance:

• Marketing that makes unrealistic promises can raise regulatory flags
• Protocols with centralized control often fail the decentralization check
• Incomplete applications without governance or tokenomics details slow everything down
• Lack of updates during the review process leads to mistrust

Coinbase encouraged teams to stay transparent and complete every section of the application.

What Happens After Approval

After the green light, projects enter a phased market rollout. This allows the platform to manage volatility and build liquidity before full trading goes live.

• Deposit-only phase Users can deposit tokens, but trading hasn’t started yet.
• Auction phase Coinbase collects limit orders to establish a fair opening price.
• Limit-only trading Traders can use limit orders, but market orders remain disabled.
• Full trading Once order books look healthy, Coinbase enables all trade types.

Each stage depends on metrics like liquidity depth and volatility. If problems arise, Coinbase can delay or pause trading to keep markets stable.

Why This Matters

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The listing guide arrives at a key moment for crypto. With new U.S. regulations taking shape, Coinbase wants to show that it’s playing by the rules.

The platform isn’t just another exchange. It’s positioning itself as a long-term partner for serious crypto projects. Getting listed on Coinbase means more than access to liquidity. It signals legitimacy, technical strength, and regulatory readiness.

The Talk

Real voices. Real reactions.

KOLsMediaCommunity

@brian_armstrong Hey Brian, why haven’t you listed Hype? Which of the requirements has it not met?

"We get a ton of questions about how and why assets get listed on Coinbase. To be more transparent we wrote a guide on how it all works. TL;DR: listings are free and merit-based. Every asset is evaluated against the same standards. Link in replies. https://t.co/HmqQDt6085"— @

Alex

@GRATCRYPTO

4 days ago

@brian_armstrong That’s awesome 👏 How much is merit going for at Coinbase? Asking for a friend

"We get a ton of questions about how and why assets get listed on Coinbase. To be more transparent we wrote a guide on how it all works. TL;DR: listings are free and merit-based. Every asset is evaluated against the same standards. Link in replies. https://t.co/HmqQDt6085"— @

Horvasio

@horvasio

3 days ago

@brian_armstrong this. the team put a lot of work into making our listings process transparent, and this blog does a great job explaining the 'why' behind what we do. super excited to see this out there.

"We get a ton of questions about how and why assets get listed on Coinbase. To be more transparent we wrote a guide on how it all works. TL;DR: listings are free and merit-based. Every asset is evaluated against the same standards. Link in replies. https://t.co/HmqQDt6085"— @

shaaa

@shaaa256

4 days ago