The CEX Listing Myth: Why It Fails 99% of Projects and What You Can Do Instead

The “No-Fail” Illusion and the Pressure Cooker of a CEX Listing

Founders are led to believe that a CEX listing is a foolproof solution, a “must-have” step that will transform their project. This perception, however, is skilfully constructed by exchanges to capitalise on the high-stress mindset of founders. Exchanges prey on this pressure, knowing full well that many founders are stretched thin, handling investor expectations, community anticipation, development milestones and the ticking clock of their own timelines.

Once a founder commits to a CEX listing, the pressure becomes even more intense. The timeline is set, the marketing packages are locked in, and the expectations from investors and community members are higher than ever. Many founders find themselves in a situation where they feel there’s no turning back, convinced that this is their one shot at a successful launch. They’re made to believe that the CEX listing simply can’t fail.

Here’s where the exploitation begins:

1. Exchanges Exploit Founder Stress: CEXs know that founders are under intense pressure, and they use this knowledge to pitch their services as a “guaranteed” way to fulfil investor and community expectations. Founders are often led to believe that CEXs are the only way to succeed, but the numbers paint a starkly different picture. For instance, in  2024, Tier 1 and Tier 2 CEXs listed over 2,000 new tokens, yet 99% of these projects fail to meet their TGE goals and fail to attract real community engagement. Instead of a guaranteed success, the majority of these projects struggle to stay afloat, let alone thrive.
   
2. Trapped by Timelines and Sunk Costs: Once founders commit to a CEX listing, they quickly find themselves trapped by strict timelines and mounting costs. CEXs charge significant fees for listing, Market Maker retainers, and additional marketing packages, promising that these will lead to community growth and visibility. However, overspending on these unsuccessful listing strategies often results in founders sacrificing future runway with minimal results. This cycle of upfront investment for limited return leaves founders financially and emotionally exhausted.
   
   

3. High-Stakes Launches with No Room for Error: CEXs market their listings as high-stakes events, convincing founders they need this critical “win” to achieve success. Yet, the number one false assumption in Web3 is that TGE success is tied to a listing strategy. The presentation underscores that true success in Web3 relies on a strong community, not a costly CEX listing. Projects that focus solely on listing without building a committed community find themselves labelled as “overvalued” and “low volume,” struggling with an uphill battle to regain credibility in the market.
4. Exchanges Offer Superficial Marketing That Preys on Urgency: CEXs promise extensive exposure through their marketing channels push notifications, banner ads, and social media but these tactics create only temporary engagement. In fact, many CEX marketing tactics attract flippers and bot-driven engagement rather than a stable user base. Projects that rely on this superficial visibility often see inflated initial numbers that quickly dissipate, leaving founders scrambling to explain their sudden drop in interest and token value.

ANSG’s Solution: Real Community Building

At ANSG, we believe that real, lasting success comes from building a committed community, not from relying on costly and ineffective CEX listings. Meme coins are the perfect example of how powerful community-driven projects can be. According to data from the top 300 tokens on CoinMarketCap, meme coins like GIGA, POPCAT, and MOG have achieved staggering YTD growth rates of 326,531%, 7,552%, and 22,066% respectively, all without needing to rely heavily on CEXs for success.

Why? Because these projects have tapped into the strength of real, passionate communities that drive organic demand and long-term engagement. Meme coins succeed not because of massive marketing campaigns or CEX listings, but because their communities are engaged, excited, and deeply invested in the project’s mission and culture.

Here’s how we help you build that same kind of community-driven success:

Focus on Organic Growth and Real Demand: Like the meme coins that have outperformed most other tokens this year, we prioritise community-first strategies. We help you cultivate a loyal base of supporters who will stay with your project for the long term. Meme coins like GIGA and MOG don’t rely on the speculative hype of a CEX listing; they thrive because their communities genuinely care about the project. This organic growth leads to more sustainable demand, greater liquidity, and a healthier project lifecycle.

Creating Authentic Engagement: Instead of relying on superficial marketing tactics that inflate your numbers with bot-driven engagement or short-term speculators, ANSG helps you build real, meaningful engagement. Meme coins have taught us that community isn’t just a number, it’s a group of people who believe in your project and are excited to support it. We focus on helping you create authentic touchpoints with your audience that build trust, loyalty, and long-term value.

Sustainable Growth without the Hype: The allure of a CEX listing is the promise of immediate exposure and volume, but the success of meme coins proves that you don’t need to rely on a CEX to achieve great results. Projects like GIGA and PEPE have seen massive growth rates without CEX listings driving their success. We take a similar approach at ANSG by ensuring that your project grows organically through genuine community-building tactics, not artificial hype.

Tailored Strategies for Your Unique Project: Meme coins succeed because they deeply understand their audience and cater to their community’s interests. At ANSG, we provide customised strategies that align with your project’s unique mission and audience. This personalised approach ensures that we’re building the right kind of community for your project, one that will stick around long after the TGE hype fades.

The ANSG Solution: Key Strategies for Success

1. Collab Outreach Done Right: While many agencies promise collaborations with big names, at ANSG, we prioritise partnerships that align with your project’s unique value. Instead of focusing on numbers, we work with communities that resonate with your goals, creating real connections rather than superficial ties.
2. True Community Management: Managing a Discord or social media channel isn’t enough if the engagement is hollow. Our approach ensures each interaction builds loyalty and trust. We implement user journey mapping and strategic funnels that guide followers from one platform to another, optimising conversions across channels like Telegram, Discord, and your website.
3. Strategic Ambassador Programs: At ANSG, we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all KOLs. Every project has unique nuances, and our ambassador strategies reflect that. Our ambassadors do more than just retweet posts; they actively champion your project, create value, and engage with the community, acting as authentic advocates rather than hired voices.
4. Organic Community Growth: Instead of inflating numbers with incentivized raid groups, we focus on organic growth. We’ve helped projects establish core communities of around 100 engaged members who become brand champions. These early supporters are invaluable as they set the tone, support the project’s mission, and attract other genuine users.
5. Influencers with Purpose: The days of influencer-driven mass investment are over. At ANSG, we use influencers strategically to build brand awareness, not to generate empty hype. We help select influencers who connect authentically with your project, delivering real value rather than superficial engagement.

Real Value, Real Results

We’ve seen the difference that a genuine community can make. One project we supported, Lucky Lions Den, raised over $3 million in capital within 120 days by focusing on real connections with both the community and investors. This wasn’t about numbers; it was about nurturing a meaningful relationship with its audience. With our support, Lucky Lions Den thrived, avoiding the traps of fake engagement and shallow growth, and achieved sustainable success.

How to Recognize Red Flags and Avoid Common Traps

The harsh reality is that many agencies in this space overpromise and underdeliver. Here’s how to recognize common red flags:

• Overpromising Results: Be wary of agencies that guarantee hundreds of collaborations or instant engagement boosts.
• Lack of Transparency: Quality agencies will provide case studies and client references. It’s not just about reports; it’s about real conversations with past clients.
• Superficial Engagement: Avoid services that rely on raid groups or incentivized engagement. Look for agencies that prioritise genuine community building.
• High Fees, Low ROI: High fees should correlate with high value and tangible results.
• Customised Strategies: Beware of one-size-fits-all solutions. Every project is unique and deserves a tailored approach.

Building a Community That Lasts

At ANSG, we are committed to helping our clients generate real connections, build strong communities, and grow in a way that is sustainable and impactful. By focusing on organic growth and nurturing the core of your project, we believe you can achieve success that lasts far beyond the reach of a single influencer campaign. Together, we’ll help you build something that stands the test of time.

So, are you ready to stop spinning your wheels and start making real progress? Reach out to us, and we’ll help you build a sustainable path to success.