CoinGecko requires that your token already trades on an exchange CoinGecko tracks; you then submit the New Coin/Token Listing request from a CoinGecko account, prove ownership with a public post from the project’s official social account, and wait up to 5 days (Regular Pass) or within 24 hours with a paid Fast Pass. CoinMarketCap asks for a functional website and block explorer, public trading with material volume on at least one CMC-tracked exchange, and a project representative; its online form is the only way to apply, free-tier timing is not guaranteed, and a paid CMC Priority service exists. Neither site lets anyone pay to change data, and both warn about impostors.
Key takeaways
- Trade first. Both sites need the token to trade on an exchange they already track.
- Apply only through the official forms: CoinGecko’s Request Form, CoinMarketCap’s online submission form.
- CoinGecko review: up to 5 days (Regular Pass) or within 24 hours (paid Fast Pass, approval not guaranteed).
- CoinMarketCap free-tier timing is not guaranteed and can range from days to months; CMC Priority is its official paid fast-track.
- Many tokens now appear automatically via GeckoTerminal and CMC’s DexScan, but a verified page still needs a request.
CoinGecko vs CoinMarketCap at a glance
| Question | CoinGecko | CoinMarketCap |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisite | Actively tradable on an exchange CoinGecko tracks | Functional website and block explorer; actively traded with material volume on at least one CMC-tracked exchange; a project representative |
| Where to apply | Request Form → Request & Listing → New Coin/Token Listing (logged in) | Online submission form only |
| Ownership proof | Public verification post from an official social account, then reply with the Request ID | Evidence from credible, independently verifiable sources; complete, structured submissions are prioritised |
| Review time | Up to 5 days (Regular Pass); within 24 hours (paid Fast Pass) | Free tier not guaranteed (days to months); CMC Priority has set turnaround times |
| Pre-launch option | Preview Listing | Untracked or preview listing |
| Automatic pages | GeckoTerminal (DEX data) | DexScan (unverified DEX pages) |
| What gets you disqualified | Community spam (“When list?”) | Bribery, spam, duplicate requests, angry messages, manipulated figures |
How to list on CoinGecko, step by step
- Make sure the token trades on an exchange CoinGecko tracks (its Exchanges page lists them).
- Publish the verification post from an official social account linked from your website.
- Log in to a CoinGecko account and open the Request Form → Request & Listing → New Coin/Token Listing.
- Choose Active Listing (or Preview Listing if you have not launched).
- Fill in every field you can, upload the token image, and paste the verification post link.
- Choose Regular Pass or Fast Pass and submit.
- Reply to your post with the Request ID from the confirmation email, and track status under Request & Listing.
CoinGecko asks that your website and docs show the same information as the request. Differences slow things down.
Preparing a listing? Get a readiness call. Get a listing readiness call →
How to list on CoinMarketCap, step by step
- Meet the tracked-listing guidelines: website, block explorer, trading with material volume on a CMC-tracked exchange, and a named representative.
- Write the case in a separate document first. CMC asks for quantified, specific, evidenced points and no hyperbole. It also asks new coin applicants to submit its Annex M and C forms and to onboard to its Self-Reported Data (SRD) system.
- Submit through the online form, choosing the correct request type. Applications in the wrong category are discarded.
- Do not chase. Duplicate requests and status pings add to the queue.
CMC evaluates holistically and benchmarks against other projects. Its framework names trading volume and market pairs, community engagement, traction, team, product-market fit, practicality, innovation and longevity.
Staying listed
CoinMarketCap may delist a market, exchange or asset without notice for low liquidity or suspicious trading, stopped development, misleading information, investigations or watchlists, very poor community reception, IP infringement or attempted bribery. Inactive pages need active trading on at least two CMC-supported exchanges to qualify for reactivation. Real, two-sided liquidity is what keeps both data pages and exchange listings healthy. See delisting risk and market-making vs wash trading.
Avoid the listing-fee scams
Both sites are impersonated. CoinMarketCap warns about phishing emails from look-alike addresses and people asking for listing fees while posing as current or former staff; its only paid route is CMC Priority, bought directly. CoinGecko’s paid route is Fast Pass inside its own form. Anyone else selling a “guaranteed CMC/CG listing” is selling something neither site offers. See listing scams and fake agents.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a CoinGecko listing take?
CoinGecko says the Regular Pass review takes up to 5 days and the paid Fast Pass expedites the review to within 24 hours. Fast Pass speeds up the review; it does not guarantee approval.
How long does a CoinMarketCap listing take?
CoinMarketCap says free-tier turnaround is highly variable and not guaranteed, from days to months or years depending on industry interest, because it benchmarks requests against other projects. CMC Priority is its paid service with set turnaround times.
Can we list on CoinGecko or CoinMarketCap before our exchange listing?
Not as a tracked listing. CoinGecko requires the token to be tradable on a tracked exchange, and CMC requires active trading on at least one tracked exchange. CoinGecko offers a Preview Listing for tokens that have not launched, and CMC shows untracked or preview listings for projects that do not yet meet its tracking guidelines.
What is CoinGecko's public verification post?
Before submitting, you publish a post from an official social account linked from your website stating that you are submitting a CoinGecko request, with your GeckoTerminal link if you have one. You paste that post’s link into the form, then reply to the post with the Request ID from your confirmation email.
Can someone pay to get us listed on CoinMarketCap faster?
Only CoinMarketCap itself, through CMC Priority. CMC says its form is the only way to request a listing, that bribing staff leads to blacklisting and delisting, and warns about people requesting listing fees while impersonating CMC staff.
Sources
- CoinGecko: How to List a New Cryptocurrency on CoinGecko
- CoinGecko: Verification Guide for Listing/Update Requests
- CoinGecko: Methodology
- CoinMarketCap: Listings Criteria (updated Nov 2026)
Last reviewed 12 November 2026. Exchange and platform policies change; always confirm on the official page before acting.
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