Methodology

Verification Standards

How G.MARKETS decides which projects receive a verification badge — what we confirm, what we don't endorse, and how to apply.

Why we curate

G.MARKETS is an editorial reference, not a trading venue. We do not custody assets, process transactions, or profit from price action on any coin we verify. Our only relationship to a verified project is the review fee paid at the time of approval.

This separation is deliberate. Curation only has value when it is independent from the asset's performance. Curators who profit from a coin going up have an incentive to verify too freely. We don't have that incentive.

Curation also means rejection. Not every project that applies will be verified. The criteria below are the criteria — they don't bend for connections, hype, or fees. Rejected projects receive a clear reason and may reapply free after addressing the issues raised.

The full record of approvals and revocations is public on the verification log.

Why some projects are verified without applying

The founding verified set was selected editorially based on objective criteria — market capitalization, exchange coverage, multi-year track record, verifiable team, and no fraud signals. These projects didn't apply and didn't pay. They are verified because they meet the standard at scale and any reasonable curator would include them.

The verification fee is for projects that want to apply for review and receive the associated marketing benefits — the announcement on @gokhshtein, the published comparison card, the embeddable badge for their own site, and the spotlight placements depending on tier. It covers review time and editorial maintenance.

The fee does not purchase verification. Applications can be rejected, and no payment is taken on rejection. Projects pay only after approval.

This is the standard separation used by editorial publications and curated indices — free baseline inclusion for projects that obviously qualify, paid application for projects that want formal review and the marketing package. The split is no different from how index inclusion (S&P 500), editorial “Best of” lists, or trademark registration work.

The Tiers

Verified

The project has been reviewed and its identity, listing, and metadata confirmed against external sources. Verified projects appear with a gold checkmark badge across every G.MARKETS surface.

Featured

An editorial tier reserved for hand-selected projects with notable traction, product depth, or sector relevance. All Featured projects are also Verified. Featured projects appear with the orange star badge.

What We Confirm

Before issuing a Verified badge, G.MARKETS confirms each of the following:

Project identity. The applicant controls the official communication channels for the project (domain, X handle, GitHub, or equivalent).
Listing legitimacy. The project has an active listing on a reputable market data source with consistent metadata across our platform.
Active status. The project shows ongoing activity — measurable trading volume, on-chain activity, or visible development — at the time of review.
Working surfaces. A reachable website, public contact path, and verifiable team presence (doxxed founder, registered entity, or established pseudonym with track record).
No active rug or fraud signals. The project has not been flagged by major exchanges, regulators, or independent on-chain analysis for behavior consistent with rug pulls, honeypots, or coordinated scam patterns.

What Verification Does Not Imply

A G.MARKETS verification badge is an identity and metadata confirmation. It is not any of the following:

Not financial advice. The badge does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold, or any prediction about future price.
Not an endorsement of the project's long-term viability.Verification reflects the project's state at the time of review and is subject to revocation if circumstances change.
Not a security audit. G.MARKETS does not audit smart contracts, tokenomics, or security claims. Independent audits remain the responsibility of the project and the user.
Not a guarantee against loss. Crypto assets are inherently volatile. Verified projects can and do lose value.
Not permanent. Verification may be revoked if a project becomes inactive, abandoned, or is flagged for behavior inconsistent with the criteria above.

How Featured Is Awarded

Featured is an editorial designation, not a paid tier alone. Projects considered for Featured status typically demonstrate one or more of:

Sustained market cap and trading volume above sector medians
Product depth — working application, active user base, or measurable on-chain usage
Sector relevance — meaningful position within a tracked category (Layer 1, DeFi, AI, etc.)
Editorial fit with G.MARKETS' coverage focus

Featured status is reviewed quarterly. Falling out of Featured does not remove the underlying Verified status.

Application Process

Submit an application via /get-listed with project details and contact information. Or email listing@gokhshtein.com directly. Applications are free. No payment is taken at this stage.
G.MARKETS reviews the submission against the criteria above. Most reviews complete within 24–72 hours.
If approved, the applicant receives a payment link for the listing tier they selected. Once paid, the project is added to the verified set and the badge appears across G.MARKETS surfaces within ~60 seconds.
If rejected, the applicant receives a clear reason and may reapply free after addressing the issues raised. No money is taken on rejection.

G.MARKETS is an informational tool. Nothing on this site constitutes financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. Always do your own research and consider your own financial situation before making any decision related to crypto assets.