Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to get a token listed on a centralized exchange?
Prepare thoroughly (audited contract, documented tokenomics, legal position, verifiable traction, liquidity plan) and apply directly through each exchange’s official application form as the founder or a core team member. Major exchanges say applications are free. See the pre-listing checklist.
How do I find a reliable crypto market maker?
Shortlist firms that already trade on your target exchanges, send each the same scope and question list, compare written KPIs and total cost over the term, check custody and termination terms, and reject anyone selling volume or price outcomes. CEX Ready can introduce you to a vetted market-making partner.
How long before listing should we hire a market maker?
Early enough to complete legal review, KYC, account setup, and inventory transfers before trading opens. Exchange timelines vary (Coinbase says review to listing is generally under 30 days; Kraken cites about two to six weeks after approval for most EVM tokens), so start before your application is approved.
Are exchange listing fees real?
Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, and Bitget state that applying or listing is free. Some exchanges’ published terms refer to payments or deposits (MEXC’s terms mention a refundable liquidity deposit). Never pay an individual or agency claiming to arrange a listing.
What does CEX Ready do?
We publish independent guides on market making, listings, and liquidity, and make free introductions for token projects to vetted partners, chiefly a crypto market-making partner. We may be paid by partners for introductions. We do not sell listings or submit exchange applications. See about.
Does CEX Ready work with projects on any chain?
Yes. We cover Ethereum, Solana, BNB Chain, Base, TON, Arbitrum and others. What matters is whether the target exchanges support the token’s network; see our chain guides.
Every question answered on this site
The answers below live on topic pages, next to the detail that supports them.
Services
- What does a crypto market maker actually do day to day? — Crypto market making
- How much does a crypto market maker cost? — Crypto market making
- When should a project hire a market maker? — Crypto market making
- Is a market maker required to list on an exchange? — Crypto market making
- What is a token loan and call option deal? — Crypto market making
- Can a market maker guarantee our token price or trading volume? — Crypto market making
- How do we verify a market maker's performance? — Crypto market making
- Can someone get my token listed on Binance, OKX, or Coinbase for a fee? — CEX listing preparation
- What documents do exchanges usually ask for? — CEX listing preparation
- How long does an exchange listing take? — CEX listing preparation
- Do we need a market maker before applying? — CEX listing preparation
- How much liquidity should we put in a DEX pool? — DEX liquidity
- Should we lock our liquidity? — DEX liquidity
- Is DEX liquidity the same as market making? — DEX liquidity
- Do exchanges require a smart contract audit? — Smart contract audits
- How long does an audit take? — Smart contract audits
- What is the difference between an audit and a bug bounty? — Smart contract audits
- Does a simple ERC-20 or SPL token need an audit? — Smart contract audits
- How much supply should be circulating at listing? — Tokenomics design
- Why does tokenomics matter to a market maker? — Tokenomics design
- Should a liquidity allocation be in the token plan? — Tokenomics design
- Do we need a legal opinion to list a token? — Legal and token structuring
- What is a MiCA white paper? — Legal and token structuring
- Where should the token entity be incorporated? — Legal and token structuring
- Do KOL campaigns work for token launches? — KOL, marketing and PR
- Can we announce our exchange listing early? — KOL, marketing and PR
- Should marketing mention price targets or returns? — KOL, marketing and PR
- Should our community push exchanges to list us? — Community management
- What does a community manager do on listing day? — Community management
- How do we protect the community from impersonators? — Community management
- How long does a CoinGecko listing take? — CoinGecko and CoinMarketCap listing
- Does CoinMarketCap charge for listings? — CoinGecko and CoinMarketCap listing
- Why is my token not showing a price? — CoinGecko and CoinMarketCap listing
- Can someone guarantee a CoinMarketCap or CoinGecko listing? — CoinGecko and CoinMarketCap listing
- What is an exchange launchpad? — Fundraising and launchpads
- Do investors care about the market-making plan? — Fundraising and launchpads
- Does a token sale count against our listing review? — Fundraising and launchpads
- Should a token project use a multisig? — Custody and wallet security
- How should we send tokens to a market maker? — Custody and wallet security
- Do we need a qualified custodian? — Custody and wallet security
Exchanges
- Does Binance charge a listing fee? — Binance
- Can a consultant or agent apply to Binance for us? — Binance
- What is the Binance Alpha to Spot path? — Binance
- How will Binance contact us? — Binance
- Does Coinbase charge a listing fee? — Coinbase
- How long does a Coinbase listing take? — Coinbase
- Why does liquidity matter for a Coinbase launch? — Coinbase
- Which networks are fastest to list on Coinbase? — Coinbase
- How do I apply to list on OKX? — OKX
- Does OKX need a MiCA white paper? — OKX
- Someone from 'OKX listings' contacted us. How do we check? — OKX
- Where is the official Bybit listing application? — Bybit
- Does Bybit charge listing fees? — Bybit
- What is Bybit Spot X? — Bybit
- Does Kraken charge to list a token? — Kraken
- How long does Kraken take to list a token? — Kraken
- Can we apply before our token launches? — Kraken
- Where can we see if Kraken plans to list a token? — Kraken
- Does Bitget charge listing fees? — Bitget
- Can a listing agency apply to Bitget for us? — Bitget
- What happens after a token is listed on Bitget? — Bitget
- What documents does KuCoin require for a listing? — KuCoin
- How long does KuCoin's listing review take? — KuCoin
- How do we know a KuCoin contact is real? — KuCoin
- How do I apply to list on Gate? — Gate
- We received an email from Gate asking for payment. Is it real? — Gate
- What are Gate's listing fees? — Gate
- Does MEXC charge listing fees? — MEXC
- Can we announce our MEXC listing ourselves? — MEXC
- What does MEXC require after listing? — MEXC
- What is the difference between initial and direct listing on HTX? — HTX
- How do we contact HTX about listing? — HTX
- Does HTX publish listing fees? — HTX
Chains
- Is an ERC-20 token easier to list on exchanges? — Ethereum
- Uniswap v2 or concentrated liquidity for launch? — Ethereum
- What contract features do exchanges look at on Ethereum? — Ethereum
- Should we revoke mint and freeze authority on Solana? — Solana
- Do exchanges support Token-2022 tokens? — Solana
- Which Solana DEX should we launch on? — Solana
- Does launching on BNB Chain help with a Binance listing? — BNB Chain
- What do traders check on BNB Chain tokens? — BNB Chain
- Is a BEP-20 token easy for exchanges to support? — BNB Chain
- Does launching on Base mean Coinbase will list our token? — Base
- Where does liquidity form for Base tokens? — Base
- Should we deploy on Base and Ethereum mainnet? — Base
- Are TON tokens harder to list on centralized exchanges? — TON
- What should a TON project prepare for listing day? — TON
- Do Telegram mini-app users trade on centralized exchanges? — TON
- Should our token be native on Arbitrum or bridged from Ethereum? — Arbitrum
- Which DEX should we use on Arbitrum? — Arbitrum
- Is Arbitrum supported by centralized exchanges? — Arbitrum
Guides
- How do crypto market makers make money? — What is crypto market making?
- Is market making legal? — What is crypto market making?
- What is the difference between a market maker and a market taker? — What is crypto market making?
- How many market makers should a token have? — How to choose a market maker
- Should we choose the market maker with the cheapest retainer? — How to choose a market maker
- What should be in a market-making agreement? — How to choose a market maker
- Is it a red flag if a market maker asks for a token loan? — Market maker red flags
- A firm says it can get us listed on a major exchange. Is that legitimate? — Market maker red flags
- What is depth at ±2%? — Market maker KPIs
- What is a good spread for a new token? — Market maker KPIs
- Should volume be a KPI? — Market maker KPIs
- How can we check a market maker's KPI reports? — Market maker KPIs
- Which is better, a retainer or a loan and option deal? — Retainer vs loan and option model
- Why do market makers ask for call options? — Retainer vs loan and option model
- What are the risks of lending tokens to a market maker? — Retainer vs loan and option model
- How are strike prices usually set? — Token loan terms explained
- Can a market maker sell the tokens we lend? — Token loan terms explained
- What happens if the market maker goes bankrupt? — Token loan terms explained
- Why won't you publish typical market-making prices? — What drives market-making cost
- What makes market making more expensive? — What drives market-making cost
- Is a free market maker possible? — What drives market-making cost
- Is wash trading illegal in crypto? — Market making vs wash trading
- How can a project tell if its market maker is wash trading? — Market making vs wash trading
- Is buying volume ever acceptable for a listing? — Market making vs wash trading
- When should the market maker deposit inventory? — Listing day playbook
- What is an opening auction? — Listing day playbook
- What if the price moves violently after listing? — Listing day playbook
- Can a token be delisted for poor liquidity? — Liquidity around a CEX listing
- Why is volume a poor measure of liquidity? — Liquidity around a CEX listing
- Do we need both CEX and DEX liquidity? — CEX vs DEX liquidity
- Can a market maker manage DEX liquidity too? — CEX vs DEX liquidity
- Is it legitimate to pay someone to list my token on Binance? — Listing scams and fake agents
- How do I verify that someone works for an exchange? — Listing scams and fake agents
- Are paid fast-track services on CoinGecko or CoinMarketCap scams? — Listing scams and fake agents
- Do all exchange listings need a MiCA white paper? — MiCA white papers for listings
- Who submits the MiCA white paper? — MiCA white papers for listings
- What happens if we miss the 20-business-day deadline? — MiCA white papers for listings
- Is market making worth it for a small token? — Market making for small caps
- How many exchanges should a small project list on? — Market making for small caps
- Why do small tokens attract volume sellers? — Market making for small caps
- Do token unlocks always push the price down? — Token unlocks and liquidity
- How can a market maker help with an unlock? — Token unlocks and liquidity
- Should we tell exchanges about upcoming unlocks? — Token unlocks and liquidity
- Can low trading volume get a token delisted? — Delisting risk
- Do exchanges warn before delisting? — Delisting risk
- What should we do if an exchange flags our token? — Delisting risk
Need a market maker or listing help?
Tell us about the project: chain, venues, timing, and which services you need. If there is a fit, we introduce you to a partner who covers it. Free for projects.
Request an introductionDisclosure: CEX Ready may be paid by partners for introductions. We never guarantee listings, prices, or volume.