All fourteen exchanges we cover take applications through an official online form or portal, and the largest say applications must come from the project team directly. Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, and Bitget state that applying is free; Binance and Bitget say they do not work with third-party agents. Documentation demands differ most: KuCoin requires a legal opinion letter and KYC for at least three core members, OKX asks for verifiable ecosystem metrics and a MiCA white paper for EEA listings, and Coinbase and Kraken publish indicative review timelines. Every exchange expects orderly trading after listing.
Key takeaways
- Apply directly everywhere; Binance blacklists projects that use intermediaries.
- Free to apply per official pages: Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, Bitget.
- Heaviest documentation: KuCoin (legal opinion, 3× KYC, audits).
- Published timelines: Coinbase, Kraken, KuCoin.
- EEA: MiCA white paper needed; OKX says ≥20 business days before listing.
Side by side
| Exchange | Where to apply | Who applies / agents | Fees (official) | Notable requirements | Timeline (official) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Binance | Official forms for Spot, Futures, Alpha | Founder, CEO or key member; intermediaries disqualified and blacklisted | No fee to review or apply | 2025 notice: adoption, business model, tokenomics incl. market-maker holdings, audits, team and compliance; liquidity depth for trading tokens | Not stated; email contact if past initial review |
| Coinbase | coinbase.com/listings | Project; merit-based | Free | White paper, team, tokenomics, source code, audits; legal, compliance, security reviews | Due diligence ~1 week; trading often within 2 weeks of approval |
| Kraken | Asset Listing Application, one per token | Project; DMs and emails ignored | No listing fee; no paid fast-track | Asset profile, market fit, security, regulatory posture, community | ~2 weeks to acknowledge; ~2–6 weeks to live for most EVM tokens |
| OKX | Official token listing form | Project; do not ask for direct contacts | Not stated on pages reviewed | Overview, TVL and user metrics, tokenomics, team, funding; MiCA white paper for EEA | Not stated |
| Bybit | Listing Apply form | Project | Not stated | Basic, project, and listing info; Spot X launch programs | Not stated |
| Bitget | LaunchHub application | Project; no external agencies | No brokerage, application, or evaluation fees | Legal, compliance, technical security evaluation; ongoing monitoring | Not stated |
| KuCoin | AssetsHub (only official channel) | Project, with KuCoin account | Not stated in guide reviewed | Due diligence form, entity docs, legal opinion letter, audits, KYC for ≥3 core members | Preliminary review typically 1–2 weeks |
| Gate | gate.com/listing | Project; verify BD staff | Not stated | Contact by Gate BD team | Not stated |
| MEXC | Token listing application | Project | Terms mention non-refundable sums and a refundable liquidity deposit | KYC, source code disclosure, notice of supply changes, no early announcement | Not stated |
| HTX | Apply to List | Project; Initial or Direct Listing route | Not stated | Agreement to Listing Terms | Not stated |
| Crypto.com | Official listing application | Project; only shortlisted contacted | Not stated | Legal and security reviews passed first; committee assesses business, compliance, tech and liquidity risk | Not stated |
| BingX | Listing FastTrack | Individuals or teams | No brokerage, application, or evaluation fees; fees depend on review outcome and cooperation | Project information; marketing solutions available | Review typically 7–14 days |
| LBank | Token listing application portal | Project, logged in | Not stated | Business negotiation on listing, promotion plan, and agreements | Evaluation within 48 hours |
| XT.com | Listing form | Project; official channel verifies BD staff, agents/affiliates, and payment addresses | Paid tiered plans (basic or marketing) | Security, compliance, technical screening; smart contract verification; watchlist screening | Go-live within 7 days |
Summarised from each exchange’s official pages, linked in the individual guides, as reviewed on the date above. Policies change; confirm on the official page before acting.
What every exchange has in common
- An official application you submit yourself.
- Interest in a real product and users, clear tokenomics, and security (audits, verified contracts).
- Monitoring after listing: several exchanges mention liquidity, spread, depth, or volume.
- Scam warnings: impersonated BD staff and fake agents are a problem across the industry.
What this means for your plan
Prepare one data room that satisfies the strictest requirements (KuCoin’s document list is a good benchmark), then tailor each application. Arrange your market maker before the first listing goes live. If you want help getting ready, use the listing readiness form.
Head-to-head comparisons
To build one checklist for the exchanges you are targeting, use the exchange listing checklist.
- Binance vs Coinbase · OKX vs Binance · Kraken vs Coinbase · Crypto.com vs Coinbase
- Bybit vs OKX · Bybit vs Bitget · Bitget vs MEXC · BingX vs MEXC
- KuCoin vs Gate · HTX vs Gate · MEXC vs LBank vs XT.com
Frequently asked questions
Which exchange is easiest to get listed on?
None is ‘easy’ in a way we can verify, and difficulty depends on your project. Exchanges with many listings tend to accept earlier-stage projects; the largest exchanges are the most selective. See tier 1 vs tier 2 exchanges.
Which exchanges say listing is free?
Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, and Bitget state on their official pages that they do not charge listing or application fees. See CEX listing fees.
Which exchanges publish listing timelines?
Coinbase (due diligence averages about a week; trading often within two weeks of approval), Kraken (acknowledgement in about two weeks; most EVM tokens live two to six weeks after approval), KuCoin (preliminary review typically one to two weeks), BingX (review typically 7–14 days), LBank (evaluation within 48 hours), and XT.com (go-live within 7 days of agreement and payment).
Sources
- Binance FAQ: How to list your coins on Binance
- Coinbase: A Guide to the Digital Asset Listing Process at Coinbase
- Kraken: Get listed on Kraken
- OKX: How can I get my project listed on OKX?
- Bybit: Listing application
- Bitget: Listing application
- KuCoin: Listing application guide
- Gate: Listing application
- MEXC: Listing terms
- HTX: Apply to list
- Crypto.com Help Center: Token Admission and Removal Rules and Criteria
- BingX Listing FastTrack
Last reviewed 12 November 2026. Exchange and platform policies change; always confirm on the official page before acting.
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