How to Check if a Crypto Token is a Honeypot
Honeypot tokens are one of the most common scams in crypto. You buy a token, the price goes up, but when you try to sell — the transaction fails. Your money is trapped.
Here's how to detect honeypots before you buy.
What Is a Honeypot Token?
A honeypot is a smart contract that lets users buy but not sell. Scammers use them to trap liquidity and drain it when enough victims have bought in.
Step 1: Check the Contract Source
Always verify the contract on Basescan. Unverified contracts are a red flag.
Step 2: Look for Dangerous Functions
Honeypot contracts often contain these Solidity functions:
- _transfer() modified — custom logic that blocks sells
- isBlackListed() or similar — the owner can block specific addresses from selling
- balanceOf() manipulation — fake balances displayed
- maxTxAmount — set to 0 for sell transactions
Step 3: Use Our Free Scanner
Our AI scanner checks the bytecode directly:
- Paste the contract address
- Get instant results with risk score
- See every dangerous function detected
Step 4: Check Liquidity
Low liquidity pools (<$10K) are easy to rug. Use DexScreener or GeckoTerminal to verify.
Red Flags Summary
| Red Flag | Risk Level |
|---|---|
| Unverified contract | 🔴 High |
| Custom _transfer logic | 🔴 High |
| Owner can pause trading | 🔴 High |
| Low liquidity pool | 🟡 Medium |
| Very new token (<1 day) | 🟡 Medium |
| No social presence | 🟡 Medium |
Free Scanner
No account, no wallet connect, no gas fees. Just paste and check.
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