From “it’s too complex” to “I have a 15-minute checklist.” The goal is to quickly run through a token and decide whether to dig deeper or not. The checklist does not replace a deep dive but helps filter out what isn’t worth looking at on the chart. For an introduction to fundamental analysis and how it fits with technical analysis, see the overview article.

Step 1. Basic info (3 minutes)

Where to check: CoinMarketCap, CoinGecko

Checklist:

• Top 200 by market cap (below — high manipulation risk)
• 24h volume > $1M (otherwise hard to enter/exit)
• Trades on 3+ exchanges (dependency on one venue — risk)
• Has USDT/USDC pair (stable liquidity)

Red flags:

• ❌ Top 500+ by market cap
• ❌ Volume < $100,000 per 24h
• ❌ Only one exchange (especially unknown)
• ❌ No stablecoin pairs

Decision: If 2+ red flags — skip.

Step 2. Project and team (5 minutes)

Where to check: Project website, Twitter, Discord, GitHub

Checklist:

• Website with problem and solution description (not just “to the moon”)
• Whitepaper or documentation (clear what project does)
• Team is public (names, LinkedIn, experience)
• GitHub is active (commits in last month)
• Socials are active (posts 2-3 times per week, not just “partnerships”)

Red flags:

• ❌ No product description (only “crypto revolution”)
• ❌ Team is anonymous (no names, only nicknames)
• ❌ GitHub is empty or last commit > 6 months ago
• ❌ Socials only promise “X100” and “next Bitcoin”
• ❌ Partnerships with unknown projects (or fake)

Decision: If 2+ red flags — skip.

Step 3. Tokenomics (5 minutes)

Where to check: CoinMarketCap, Token Unlocks, project website

Checklist:

• Max Supply is stated (clear how many tokens will exist)
• Circulating Supply > 50% of Max Supply (otherwise many ununlocked)
• No major unlocks in next 30 days
• Team has < 20% of tokens (or 2+ year vesting)
• Token has utility (needed for product, not only speculation)

Red flags:

• ❌ Max Supply not stated (infinite emission)
• ❌ Circulating Supply < 20% of Max Supply
• ❌ Unlock > 10% of supply in next 7 days
• ❌ Team has 30%+ tokens without vesting
• ❌ Token is not needed for product (only “hold and wait for growth”)

Decision: If 2+ red flags — skip.

For more: What Is Tokenomics — metrics, token types, examples.

Step 4. On-chain context (2 minutes)

Where to check: Glassnode, CryptoQuant, Arkham

Checklist:

• MVRV < 2 (not in overheated zone)
• Outflow from exchanges in last 7 days (accumulation)
• No anomalous whale transfers (> 5% supply per day)

Red flags:

• ❌ MVRV > 3 (overheated zone, correction risk)
• ❌ Inflow to exchanges > 10,000 BTC per week (for BTC)
• ❌ Whales transferring tokens to exchanges (possible selling)

Decision: If 1+ red flag — delay entry, wait for better moment.

For more: On-Chain Metrics — MVRV, SOPR, whales, services.

Step 5. Final check (1 minute)

Questions before entry:

1. Do I understand what the project does?
2. Does the token have real utility?
3. Is the market overheated (MVRV, narratives)?
4. Am I ready to lose the entire position amount?

If at least one answer is “no”:

• Don’t enter or reduce position by 2-3x
• Use stop loss mandatory

Summary

Quick analysis formula:

• Steps 1-3 (15 minutes) — “junk/not junk” filter
• Step 4 (2 minutes) — entry timing
• Step 5 (1 minute) — final decision

If token passed all 5 steps:

• ✅ Can move to technical analysis for entry
• ✅ Position size — by risk management
• ✅ Stop loss — mandatory

If token failed any step:

• ❌ Skip or position 3-5x smaller than usual
• ❌ Stop loss — mandatory

Remember: Fundamental analysis doesn’t guarantee profit. It only reduces risk of entering obviously weak projects. Technical analysis gives entry and exit points.

For more on risk management: Risk Management for Beginner Traders.

FAQ

How long does the checklist take in practice?

First run — 15–20 minutes. Once you’re used to the data sources — 10–15 minutes per token.

Can I skip on-chain metrics?

Yes, for a first filter steps 1–3 (basic info, project, tokenomics) are enough. On-chain adds cycle context and large-holder behavior; useful for a deeper pass — see on-chain metrics in FA.

What to do after the checklist?

If the token passed the filter — move to technical analysis for entry: levels, indicators, volume. If not — either skip or strictly limit position size and stop loss.

What services to use for the checklist?

• Basic info: CoinMarketCap, CoinGecko
• Tokenomics: Token Unlocks, project website
• On-chain: Glassnode, CryptoQuant, Arkham
• Team and project: Twitter, Discord, GitHub

Can you trade only by checklist?

No. Checklist only filters “junk”. For entry use technical analysis: levels, indicators, volume. Checklist answers “is it worth looking”, technical analysis answers “when to enter”.