TokenSniffer: Automated Scam Detection

The crypto market has been gripped by a wave of ‘meme coin' craze in recent weeks, causing concern among industry players. Fueled by FOMO, both average traders and major players are getting in on the act, often targeting tokens that have no established reputation. This frenzy has also led to the resurgence of the notorious Pump&Dump scheme.

Whether you're a novice trader or an overwhelmed investor faced with a plethora of new tokens, it is now significantly easier to identify potential scams before making a financial commitment

To address this need, Solidus Labs has introduced its TokenSniffer service, designed precisely for this purpose.

How does the TokenSniffer scanner work?

TokenSniffer operates by dissecting the code of a token's smart contract. This allows it to expose potential security weaknesses and flag up potentially fraudulent projects from the get-go.

To verify whether a cryptocurrency is a scam, all you need to do is enter the token's contract address into the search bar on the service's website. TokenSniffer will then scrutinize the smart contract and provide you with an in-depth breakdown of the token, including details of its liquidity, price trends, and security rating. This analysis hinges on whether certain security features are embedded within the smart contract, such as defenses against bot activity and protective measures against theft.

The scanner will reveal several metrics in an accessible visual format:

1. Whether this token is truly up for sale or it's just a fraudulent bait-and-switch.
2. The transaction fees applied to both buying and selling.
3. The status of the contract's source verification.
4. The amount of circulating tokens held within the coin creator's wallet. Any quantity above 5% is considered critical, making the project appear centralized and prone to manipulation.
5. Whether the token has adequate liquidity.
6. The number of tokens that have been burned or locked up.

Analysis of meme coin ELON. Source: tokensniffer.com

Fraud risk is measured on a 100-point scale. If a project racks up less than 50 points during the contract scan, it might be wise to preserve your funds for a more dependable token.

Pros and Cons of the TokenSniffer Service

Solidus Labs is no newcomer to the digital market scene. It has carved out a niche for itself with Web3 solutions to combat cyber attacks and works alongside regulators in the fight against money laundering through smart contracts. Given that its scanners are trusted tools not just for major fintech companies but also for financial authorities, TokenSniffer's analysis is something you can rely on.

TokenSniffer's primary aim is to flag potentially fraudulent tokens to avoid investments falling into them. This can be a real game-changer for investors who are new to the crypto space or who don't have the technical expertise needed to independently evaluate the security of a smart contract.

TokenSniffer also offers users the advantage of real-time information on newly created tokens. This serves as a valuable tool for savvy market players, helping them spot promising investment opportunities at their earliest stages.

TokenSniffer can prove beneficial not only to traders and investors but to developers as well. They can utilize this service to assess the security of their smart contracts and implement necessary improvements.

However, it is important to note that TokenSniffer is not flawless. It doesn't detect every potential vulnerability. For instance, it cannot monitor a project's social interactions. 

Therefore, the information provided by TokenSniffer should be seen as a starting point for further individual investigation, commonly referred to as “Do Your Own Research” (DYOR). For more detailed insights into the process of verifying a cryptocurrency project, we invite you to read our dedicated article.