A checklist to quickly assess whether a project is worth holding long-term
As the crypto market matures, more and more people realize that:
Good project ≠ Good token
The long-term growth of a token is determined by its Tokenomics (token economic model)
I studied multiple projects that emerged in bull markets and summarized the commonalities of 5 successful tokens, along with practical check methods and real cases for your quick reference 👇
1️⃣ Utility + Buyback and burn mechanism
📖 Simple understanding:
Tokens need 'use', for example:
Pay protocol fees
Unlock function / Obtain voting rights
Staking / Pledging to earn income
If a portion of income is used for buybacks + burns, it can create positive price support.
✅ How to judge?
Does the project documentation mention using ≥10% of income for buybacks?
Is there an on-chain traceable wallet address provided?
📌 Case: Hyperliquid ($HYPE)
54% of transaction fees injected into the assistance fund, used for ongoing buybacks and burning of $HYPE.
2️⃣ Limited total supply + Predictable release
📖 Simple understanding:
Total supply + Unlock rhythm must be clear to avoid 'sudden crashes'.
✅ How to judge?
Is there a detailed Token Release Schedule?
Can it be imported into Excel or Tokenomist tools to simulate daily unlocks?
📌 Case: Uniswap ($UNI)
Total supply of 1 billion, 2% annual inflation, release rules written into the contract, completely transparent.
3️⃣ Fair distribution + Long-term lock-up mechanism
📖 Simple understanding:
Community first, the longer the team/VC lock-up period, the better, to prevent dumping.
✅ How to judge?
Do the team + VC account for more than 50%?
Is there a setting for ≥12 months Cliff (lock-up period)?
📌 Case: Hyperliquid ($HYPE)
Airdrop 31% to the community, no VC
Team lock-up starting from 1 year, linear unlock until 2028
4️⃣ Substantial earnings + Sustainable staking incentives
📖 Simple understanding:
Rewards come from the protocol's real income (like ETH / USDC), not from issuing more tokens.
✅ How to judge?
Compare 'real yield APR' vs 'token inflation APR'
If over 70% comes from inflation → Potential Ponzi risk
📌 Case: GMX / GNS / dYdX
Staking rewards come from trading fees, a typical 'Real Yield' project.
5️⃣ Real and effective governance rights
📖 Simple understanding:
Governance tokens must be able to decide resource allocation / parameter changes, not just symbolic voting.
✅ How to judge?
Have governance proposals been executed in the last six months?
Is the voting participation rate >5%?
📌 Case: Uniswap DAO
Established an ecological fund of $165 million through grants in March 2025, with effective and transparent governance.
✅ Summary: This is my standard template for screening projects
Almost every project with long-term growth meets at least four of these five criteria.
📌 My personal standards:
No VC / Team lock-up transparency
Airdrop more + Reasonable holder concentration
Clear real income, not 'empty rotation incentives'
If a project gives tokens to the community from Day 1, it deserves long-term attention.
📌 Like + bookmark this practical list to prepare for your next investment decision.
