Catenaa, Tuesday, September 15, 2025- Coinbase released a public guide detailing how digital assets are evaluated for listing, stressing that applications are free and merit-based.
The move comes as the exchange faces renewed accusations from projects claiming it demanded multimillion-dollar fees for token listings.
CEO Brian Armstrong said the new guide aims to increase transparency and counter persistent controversy.
The five-step evaluation covers business reviews, legal and compliance checks, and technical security assessments. Tokens on established networks such as Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, and Avalanche receive faster approval than those requiring new blockchain integrations.
Coinbase said assets offering clear utility and governance rights fare better than tokens promising speculative gains. The average due diligence process takes about a week, with trading usually beginning within two weeks.
The release follows Armstrong’s push to position Coinbase as an “everything exchange” capable of supporting millions of tokens through decentralized exchange integration.
The company’s phased rollout process includes transfer-only periods, limit order auctions, and full trading activation to protect market integrity.
The transparency initiative comes as Coinbase faces revenue pressure. Q2 revenue fell to $1.5 billion, below forecasts, with trading volume down 45% to $43 billion. Net income dropped sharply to $33.2 million from $294.4 million a year earlier.
Coinbase has also introduced new fees on large USDC-to-USD conversions and announced a $2 billion convertible notes offering.
