Editorial policy

This policy exists because directory sites have a credibility problem: nobody knows what's paid, what's scraped, and what's actually reviewed. Here is exactly how CryptoSumo works — the whole thing, including the uncomfortable parts.

1. Selection criteria

A resource earns a listing by meeting all of these:

• Real and operating. The product works today, with active users or verifiable on-chain activity. Dead, defunct or 'coming soon' projects don't get listed.
• Track record or serious scrutiny. Either meaningful time in production, or substantial public audits and a credible team. Brand-new anonymous projects generally don't qualify.
• Genuine utility. It solves a real problem — custody, trading, research, security, education — rather than existing only to sell a token.
• Verifiable claims. The marketing matches the on-chain data. If DeFiLlama, Dune or an explorer contradicts the pitch, the pitch loses.

Most submissions are rejected. If we're not confident we'd recommend the resource to a friend, we don't list it.

2. How reviews are written

• Every listing is written by a human who has used the product, read its documentation and checked its public data.
• Each page carries a fact-checked date. Facts are re-verified on a rolling schedule; fees and features that change often are described with ranges and a 'confirm on the official site' note.
• Pros and cons are mandatory. We don't write puff pieces — a listing without cons is an ad, and we don't run ads disguised as reviews.
• Security notes are non-negotiable: every resource page explains the specific risks of that category (custody risk, contract risk, phishing risk) and how to manage them.

3. Sumo Picks

A "Sumo Pick" is our editors' recommendation for the most common use case in that category. Picks are chosen on the same criteria as everything else — utility, security track record, transparency, support quality — and cannot be bought. Not for any price, in any form, ever.

4. Delisting policy

Listings are removed when a project:

• Shuts down, is abandoned, or has its team arrested mid-fraud (yes, we've removed wallets for this),
• Suffers a major incident and fails to handle users responsibly,
• Pivots into predatory behaviour — misleading yields, aggressive token shilling, dark patterns.

Delistings happen quietly but immediately. We keep the editorial record in the About page's history when an incident is itself educational.

5. Money — the full disclosure

• We never accept payment for a listing, a ranking or a Sumo Pick. Not one cent, ever, from anyone.
• Some outbound links include affiliate tags. When you click such a link and become a customer, the company may pay us a commission. This never costs you more, and it never changes the review — the review is written first, the tag is added later, and only where a programme exists.
• The site runs no display advertising, no sponsored posts, no paid newsletters, and sells no user data because it collects none.

6. Corrections

We make mistakes; when we do, we fix them and update the fact-check date. If you spot an error, stale fee or dead link, tell us via the contact page — corrections usually land within a week.

7. What we are not

We are not financial advisors, not an exchange, not a custodian and not affiliated with any listed project unless stated. Listings are research starting points, not endorsements, and nothing here is investment advice. Read the disclaimer.