Bitget Tightens Token Listing Criteria with Mandatory Legal and Team Reviews

Bitget Reinforces its Mandatory Background Checks As It Updates Its Policy and Listing Rules

Cryptocurrency exchange Bitget is introducing new stringent standards for token listings to protect users from the growing number of exit scam projects. Every blockchain project seeking to list its token on the platform undergoes a comprehensive legal review to verify its code quality, security and compliance aligned with Bitget’s strategy.

“ Projects looking to list a token on Bitget must undergo a rigorous legal and technical review to assess its code quality, security measures, and regulatory compliance, in accordance with Bitget’s listing criteria. This is an important step to protect our users from projects with high risks. Those that do not meet the standards will not be able to get listed on Bitget,” emphasized Hon Ng, Chief Legal Officer at Bitget.

These measures are expected to enhance user experience and protection on Bitget while balancing the need for Bitget to remain agile and innovative. This process will help young crypto companies better understand how to conduct business in their country. “Ultimately, these requirements help projects move forward with confidence and grow their communities more efficiently, such listing requirements are an essential part of Bitget’s listing process” added Hon Ng.

The exchange is also strengthening its requirements for the token evaluation process by introducing updated protocols and stricter criteria. Special attention will be paid to tokenomics, including a detailed analysis of token supply, distribution, and utility, as well as the experience and qualifications of the development team. For debut projects, the evaluation begins with an analysis of the project's fully diluted valuation (FDV), a key metric that measures the potential value of the total token supply. The FDV should align with the amount raised, typically not exceeding 20 times the financing. For example, a project raising $5 million should have an FDV under $100 million. This ensures valuations don't mislead investors.

Projects will be carefully evaluated based on their previous funding rounds, which will help identify any potential risks associated with fund management and use. Projects with backing from well-established institutions are more likely to pass Bitget's rigorous standards, while those with lesser-known or dubious backers are subjected to additional due diligence. Bitget also carefully examines the token unlock schedule, as a rushed or short-term unlock period, typically under two years, can indicate a lack of long-term commitment from the project team and may lead to early sell pressure, jeopardizing the token's stability.

For projects with tokens already in circulation, on-chain data is analyzed to assess the economic health and token’s trading activity. A critical comparison is made between the trading volume and the FDV, where a significant disparity, such as an FDV above $10 million with a 24-hour trading volume below $1 million, signals potential overvaluation. Such discrepancies suggest the potential for price manipulation or a lack of organic demand, warranting a stricter evaluation.

For tokens already listed on other exchanges, Bitget assesses smart contract security and token distribution. High-risk indicators, such as suspended trading or issuers capable of altering balances, raise red flags. Projects with concentrated token distribution — where over 50% is retained by the team or the issuer holds more than 20% — are considered risky. Bitget uses blockchain explorers to uncover true distribution patterns, exposing schemes that falsely present a dispersed supply. For instance, Simpson-themed tokens in 2024 attempted to hide centralized control by spreading holdings across multiple addresses, but the analysis revealed the truth, leading to their rejection.

Another critical criterion will be the project's activity on social media, including community engagement and online reputation. The team members will also be analyzed for any connections to fraud, investor deception, or involvement in illegal activities in the past. Bitget ensures that potential listings pass rigorous checks to exclude high-risk assets. In evaluating debut projects, considerations include financial, security, compliance, political, and ethical risks. This comprehensive review is vital for detecting schemes such as Ponzi structures or projects with histories of unethical behavior, such as rug pulls. Smart contract security, liquidity pool safety, and the concentration of holdings are thoroughly scrutinized. Despite significant hype, Bitget rejected projects after evaluation revealed litigation and compliance risks involving founders.

Additionally, Bitget will require projects to present a detailed business plan and roadmap to reduce the risk of the listing of short-lived projects and scams. These measures are solely aimed at enhancing transparency, trust and protection of the interests of the exchange's users while preventing potential risks associated with listing unreliable tokens.

“Our KYC and AML procedures are strict and our approach to this protection is uncompromising. Users put in considerable effort to gather documents to register. We appreciate that and want to make sure we protect them and that they can expect the same from projects. Strengthening control over new projects presented on the exchange and available for trading is aimed at improving the quality of our platform. These controls will reduce the risk of scam tokens. However, we encourage all of our users to seek independent financial advice before investing,” added Hon Ng.

Popular or promising blockchain projects may gain access to listing on the exchange without additional fees, provided their token is in demand among users worldwide. In other cases, token placement may be conducted on a commercial basis, but still requires passing all the criteria checks.

Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget and head of the exchange's listing strategy, emphasized:

"Our goal is to create a secure and reliable trading environment. By implementing these rigorous standards, we are not only protecting our users but also ensuring that the projects listed on Bitget are robust and have long-term potential. We are committed to growing our spot market in the coming years, and these enhanced criteria are a crucial part of that strategy. Furthermore, our commitment extends beyond the pre-listing process. We actively support projects post-listing by helping them implement their marketing plans and successfully launch their tokens."

All these innovations are part of Bitget's global strategy to strengthen its position in global markets by adhering to global regulatory requirements, cooperating with regulators and financial leaders, and obtaining necessary licenses and registrations.

About Bitget

Established in 2018, Bitget is the world's leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 45 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading, AI bot and other trading solutions. Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more. Bitget inspires individuals to embrace crypto through collaborations with credible partners, including being the Official Crypto Partner of the World's Top Professional Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM, as well as a global partner of Olympic Athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team).

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