Coinbase has released a comprehensive guide outlining its crypto asset listing process, aiming to bring greater **transparency** to how new tokens are added to its exchange. This move comes as the platform faces growing questions from the crypto community about fairness and potential listing fees.

The Coinbase asset listing process is structured around five key steps:

– **Application Submission**: Projects begin by completing an online questionnaire that covers essential details about the asset, including its technology, purpose, and team.

– **Business Assessment**: Submitted assets undergo an evaluation of business factors to ensure their relevance and potential merit.

– **Core Reviews**: Coinbase conducts thorough legal, compliance, and technical security reviews, holding each asset to the same high standards.

– **Communication**: The exchange maintains direct communication with project teams, clarifying next steps and any required information.

– **Listing and Launch**: Once an asset passes all assessments, it is listed on the Coinbase Exchange, with trading typically enabled within two weeks after approval.

Coinbase’s guide emphasizes that **all listings are free**, and the approval process is strictly merit-based. No project is charged a fee, and every token is assessed under identical criteria, regardless of its size or popularity. The due diligence period usually lasts about a week, though more complex projects or incomplete applications can extend review timelines.

Projects that are built on supported networks such as **Ethereum**, **Solana**, and **Base** may experience faster listing times compared to those on new blockchains, as integration is more straightforward for established ecosystems.

This new transparency effort aligns with Coinbase’s broader strategy to become a platform capable of supporting a vast array of tokens, partly by integrating decentralized exchange features. The exchange aims to lower barriers for new assets while upholding its legal and technical compliance standards.

Amid recent drops in trading volume and revenue, Coinbase is also exploring new monetization strategies, including introducing a small fee for large conversions of its USDC stablecoin. Despite industry challenges, Coinbase’s focus remains on openness and providing equal opportunity for projects seeking a listing.