How to check whether a crypto project is still active
A crypto project is active when its team, code and on-chain activity show recent, verifiable signs. Check dated posts, code commits and regulator records.
Vahe HakobyanEditor-in-chief
Updated Oct 5, 20263 min readFact-checked
On this page
- A quiet week is not proof of death
- Check license claims in regulator records
- Keep dated screenshots
This guide walks through the checks in the order you would do them. The pages are public, and no check needs a wallet.
What counts as still active
A project counts as active when several signs point to recent work: people still building, code still written, and the token still moving between addresses. Each sign should be dated.
How to check a project step by step
Work through the checks in order and note the date of each finding. Each is a public page.
- 1Check dated postsOpen the official site, blog and social accounts and read the date on the newest post. A long gap is a warning sign.
- 2Inspect the code repositoryFind the repository the project links to and check the dates on commits and releases. No recent commits is a warning sign.
- 3Look up the token contractCopy the contract address from official materials into a block explorer. The transfers tab shows whether the token still moves.
- 4Confirm license claimsIf the project claims a US license or registration, check the named regulator. Search FinCEN's MSB registration database for a money services business, or the state licensing agency for a money transmitter.
What to do after you check
Public posts and histories change, so keep a dated record of each finding. The notes help if you report later.
Frequently asked questions
A dead blog is a warning sign, but a token can keep trading after the team quits.
Real accounts have a history and answer questions. Praise with no replies is a warning sign.
No. These checks use public pages and need no wallet. Some social sites may ask you to log in, which is normal.
In the US, you can file with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, the FTC, the SEC, the CFTC or your state regulator.
