Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has publicly released the exchange's detailed token listing process in a move to bolster transparency. In an X post on September 12, 2025, Armstrong stated that the guide was created in response to numerous questions about how cryptocurrencies get approved for trading on the platform.
The five-step listing process includes: 1) Project submission via online questionnaire requiring whitepapers, tokenomics, team backgrounds, and source code; 2) Business assessment evaluating market demand, community traction, and technical integration requirements; 3) Core reviews by legal, compliance, and technical security teams; 4) Ongoing communication with issuers via email and phone/video calls; 5) Technical integration and trading activation once approved.
The legal review focuses on whether a token might be considered a security, while compliance examines token distribution and on-chain activity for financial crime risks. Technical security reviews assess contract code, design, and operational risks. For new blockchains, Coinbase evaluates technical design, consensus mechanisms, network resilience, and governance models.
The typical timeline involves: approximately one week for due diligence, followed by two weeks for technical integration, with most listings completed within 30 days of review initiation. Tokens on supported networks (Ethereum, Base, Solana, Arbitrum, Optimism, Polygon, Avalanche) process faster than those requiring custom engineering for new chains.
Common hurdles include regulatory risk from unclear public statements, excessive centralization in protocol architecture, and incomplete applications. Armstrong emphasized that "listings are free and merit-based" with every asset evaluated against identical standards.
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