# CEX Ready > CEX Ready (cexready.com) is an independent, plain-language resource for crypto token projects preparing for, or already trading on, centralized exchanges. It explains crypto market making, exchange listing preparation, liquidity, and related services (audits, tokenomics, legal structuring, marketing, DEX liquidity, CoinGecko/CoinMarketCap listings, custody), and offers free, disclosed referral introductions to vetted partners, chiefly a crypto market-making partner. CEX Ready may be paid by partners for introductions. It does not sell listings, guarantee prices or volume, or submit exchange applications on a project's behalf. Key positions: market makers quote two-sided markets to tighten spreads and add depth; they cannot guarantee price. Wash trading and paid volume are market manipulation and have led to criminal and civil charges (e.g. the U.S. DOJ/SEC cases of October 2024). Binance, Coinbase, Kraken and Bitget state that listing applications are free; Binance and Bitget say they do not work with third-party listing agents, so applications must come directly from the project team. Projects can request an introduction at https://cexready.com/get-intro/ ## Start here - [Home](https://cexready.com/): Independent guides to crypto market making, CEX listing preparation, and liquidity for token projects, plus free, disclosed introductions to a market maker. - [Get an introduction](https://cexready.com/get-intro/): Tell us about your token project and tick the services you need: market making, listing prep, audits, marketing and more. Free; referral fees disclosed. - [About](https://cexready.com/about/): CEX Ready is an independent information site for token projects. How it works, who it is for, how we are paid for introductions, and what we never do. - [Editorial policy](https://cexready.com/editorial-policy/): How CEX Ready researches its guides: primary sources, dated reviews of exchange pages, no invented numbers, and disclosed referral compensation. - [FAQ](https://cexready.com/faq/): Answers to common questions on crypto market making, exchange listings, costs, timelines, wash trading, and how CEX Ready introductions work. - [Glossary](https://cexready.com/glossary/): Plain-language definitions of market making, liquidity, and listing terms: spread, depth, slippage, maker, taker, token loan, wash trading, TGE, MiCA. ## Services - [Services](https://cexready.com/services/): Market making, listing prep, audits, tokenomics, legal, marketing, DEX liquidity, CoinGecko/CMC and custody: what each service is and when you need it. - [Crypto market making](https://cexready.com/services/crypto-market-making/): What a crypto market maker does for a token project, retainer vs loan-and-option models, KPIs to put in the contract, what drives cost, and red flags to avoid. - [CEX listing preparation](https://cexready.com/services/cex-listing-preparation/): How token projects prepare for a CEX listing: documents, technical readiness, compliance, liquidity planning, and why exchanges reject agents. - [DEX liquidity](https://cexready.com/services/dex-liquidity/): How token projects set up DEX liquidity: pool types, concentrated ranges, LP locks, MEV risk, and how DEX liquidity relates to CEX market making. - [Smart contract audits](https://cexready.com/services/smart-contract-audits/): Why token projects get a smart contract audit before listing, what it covers, what drives cost and time, and how to choose an auditor. - [Tokenomics design](https://cexready.com/services/tokenomics-design/): How tokenomics affects exchange listings and liquidity: supply and allocation, vesting and unlocks, circulating supply, and market-maker inventory. - [Legal and token structuring](https://cexready.com/services/legal-token-structuring/): The legal work behind a token listing: entity structure, token classification opinions, MiCA white papers, KYC/KYB, and market-maker contracts. - [KOL, marketing and PR](https://cexready.com/services/kol-marketing-pr/): How token projects use KOL campaigns, crypto PR, and content around a listing: what to measure, disclosure rules, and claims that create risk. - [Community management](https://cexready.com/services/community-management/): What crypto community management covers, why it matters around exchange listings, scam and impersonation defense, and how to evaluate a team. - [CoinGecko and CoinMarketCap listing](https://cexready.com/services/coingecko-coinmarketcap-listing/): How CoinGecko and CoinMarketCap listings work per their support pages: eligibility, request forms, review times, paid fast-tracks, and scams to avoid. - [Fundraising and launchpads](https://cexready.com/services/fundraising-launchpads/): How token projects raise before listing: private rounds, exchange launchpads, public sales, and how each affects supply, unlocks, and liquidity. - [Custody and wallet security](https://cexready.com/services/custody-wallet-security/): How token projects secure treasury and admin keys: multisigs, custodians, timelocks, inventory transfers to market makers, and monitoring. ## Exchanges - [Exchanges](https://cexready.com/exchanges/): How to apply for a token listing on major exchanges, from each exchange's official pages: application links, who may apply, fees, and timelines. - [Binance](https://cexready.com/exchanges/binance/): How Binance listing works per Binance's own pages: the official form, who must apply, Alpha, Futures and Spot stages, no fees, and its ban on agents. - [Coinbase](https://cexready.com/exchanges/coinbase/): How Coinbase listing works per Coinbase's guide: free application, legal, compliance and security reviews, timelines, and the phased launch with auction. - [OKX](https://cexready.com/exchanges/okx/): How to apply for an OKX listing per OKX's own pages: the official form, what to include and avoid, MiCA white-paper rules for the EEA, verifying contacts. - [Bybit](https://cexready.com/exchanges/bybit/): How to apply for a Bybit spot listing through the official form, how Spot X launch programs relate, and what we could not verify about fees. - [Kraken](https://cexready.com/exchanges/kraken/): How Kraken listing works per Kraken: one application per token, evaluation criteria, no listing fee, typical timelines, pre-TGE, and the public roadmap. - [Bitget](https://cexready.com/exchanges/bitget/): How to apply for a Bitget listing per Bitget's official page: four steps, no fees, no external agencies, post-listing monitoring, reporting misconduct. - [KuCoin](https://cexready.com/exchanges/kucoin/): How to apply for a KuCoin listing via AssetsHub: required documents incl. legal opinion and audits, KYC for three members, review time, anti-fraud checks. - [Gate](https://cexready.com/exchanges/gate/): How to apply for a token listing on Gate (gate.com) through its official page, and how Gate says to verify BD contacts and payment requests. - [MEXC](https://cexready.com/exchanges/mexc/): How to apply for a MEXC listing and what its published Listing Terms require: disclosures, supply-change notices, announcement embargoes, deposits. - [HTX](https://cexready.com/exchanges/htx/): How to apply for a token listing on HTX: the Apply to List page, initial listing versus direct listing, HTX Listing Terms, and the official listing contact. ## Chains - [Chains](https://cexready.com/chains/): How liquidity and listings differ on Ethereum, Solana, BNB Chain, Base, TON and Arbitrum: token standards, DEX venues, and exchange support. - [Ethereum](https://cexready.com/chains/ethereum/): Liquidity and listing notes for ERC-20 tokens on Ethereum: Uniswap pools, gas and MEV, contract permissions, and fast exchange integration. - [Solana](https://cexready.com/chains/solana/): Liquidity and listing notes for Solana tokens: SPL and Token-2022, Raydium, Orca and Meteora pools, Jupiter routing, and mint and freeze authorities. - [BNB Chain](https://cexready.com/chains/bnb-chain/): Liquidity and listing notes for BEP-20 tokens on BNB Chain: PancakeSwap pools, launch bots, contract checks, and Binance's stated BNB preferences. - [Base](https://cexready.com/chains/base/): Liquidity and listing notes for tokens on Base, Coinbase's Ethereum L2: Aerodrome and Uniswap pools, low fees, and Coinbase's expedited network support. - [TON](https://cexready.com/chains/ton/): Liquidity and listing notes for TON tokens: the Jetton standard, STON.fi and DeDust pools, Telegram-native users, and non-EVM exchange integration. - [Arbitrum](https://cexready.com/chains/arbitrum/): Liquidity and listing notes for Arbitrum tokens: ERC-20 on an Ethereum L2, Uniswap and Camelot pools, bridging, canonical addresses, and CEX deposits. ## Guides - [Guides](https://cexready.com/guides/): Plain-language guides for token projects: market making, choosing a market maker, KPIs, loan and option deals, wash trading, listing checklists. - [What is crypto market making?](https://cexready.com/guides/what-is-crypto-market-making/): Crypto market making explained: what market makers do, how bids, asks, spread and depth work, how market makers earn, and what they cannot do for a token. - [How to choose a market maker](https://cexready.com/guides/how-to-choose-a-market-maker/): A due-diligence checklist for choosing a crypto market maker: identity, venues, strategy, KPIs, loan terms, custody, reporting, and termination. - [Market maker red flags](https://cexready.com/guides/market-maker-red-flags/): Twelve warning signs that a crypto market maker is selling manipulation, taking excessive risk with your tokens, or is not what it claims. - [Market maker KPIs](https://cexready.com/guides/market-maker-kpis/): The KPIs to put in a market-making agreement (spread, depth at ±2%, uptime, volume share) and how to verify them from exchange data. - [Retainer vs loan and option model](https://cexready.com/guides/retainer-vs-loan-option-model/): Retainer vs token loan with call options: how each crypto market-making model works, the incentives and risks of each, and how to compare proposals fairly. - [Token loan terms explained](https://cexready.com/guides/token-loan-terms/): Market-maker token loan and call option clauses explained: loan size, term, strikes, tranches, exercise, return of tokens, custody, protections. - [What drives market-making cost](https://cexready.com/guides/market-making-cost/): Why crypto market-making costs vary so much: venues, pairs, spread and depth targets, inventory, volatility, loan and option terms, and how to compare quotes. - [Market making vs wash trading](https://cexready.com/guides/market-making-vs-wash-trading/): Legitimate market making vs wash trading: why fake volume is manipulation, the 2024 SEC and DOJ cases against so-called market makers, and MiCA rules. - [Pre-listing checklist](https://cexready.com/guides/pre-listing-checklist/): A step-by-step checklist for a centralized exchange listing: contract, documents, legal, tokenomics, market maker, security, and listing day. - [Listing day playbook](https://cexready.com/guides/token-launch-day-playbook/): A playbook for a token's first CEX listing day: deposits, opening auctions, market maker readiness, communications, moderation, and monitoring. - [Liquidity around a CEX listing](https://cexready.com/guides/cex-listing-liquidity/): What liquidity means around a CEX listing: spread, depth, orderly trading, what exchanges say they monitor, and why volume is a poor proxy. - [CEX vs DEX liquidity](https://cexready.com/guides/cex-vs-dex-liquidity/): How liquidity differs on centralized exchanges (order books, market makers) and DEXs (AMM pools, LPs), and how token projects plan for both. - [Listing scams and fake agents](https://cexready.com/guides/listing-scams-and-fake-agents/): How exchange listing scams work and what exchanges say: no listing agents, free applications, impersonated BD staff, and how to verify any contact. - [MiCA white papers for listings](https://cexready.com/guides/mica-whitepaper-for-listings/): What a MiCA crypto-asset white paper is, why EU listings need one, OKX's 20-business-day rule, templates, ESG data, and machine-readable filing. - [Questions to ask a market maker](https://cexready.com/guides/market-maker-questions/): Thirty due-diligence questions to send every crypto market maker before signing: identity, venues, strategy, KPIs, loans, reporting, and exit terms. - [Market making for small caps](https://cexready.com/guides/market-making-for-small-cap-tokens/): How market making works for small-cap and newly launched tokens: realistic scope, which venues to start with, inventory needs, KPIs, and what to avoid. - [Token unlocks and liquidity](https://cexready.com/guides/token-unlocks-and-liquidity/): How unlocks, vesting cliffs, airdrops, and treasury sales affect exchange liquidity and price, and how projects and market makers prepare. - [Delisting risk](https://cexready.com/guides/delisting-risk/): Why exchanges and data aggregators delist tokens: low liquidity, suspicious trading, inactivity, compliance issues, breaches, and how to reduce the risk. ## Optional - [Full text of all pages](https://cexready.com/llms-full.txt): every page as plain Markdown in one file - [Sitemap](https://cexready.com/sitemap.xml) - [Privacy](https://cexready.com/privacy/)