How to Use a Token Scanner to Check if a Crypto Token is Safe

A token scanner analyzes a cryptocurrency token's smart contract to detect potential scams and risks. Here's how to use CryptoSage's free scanner to protect yourself.

Step 1: Find the Token's Contract Address

Every token on a blockchain has a unique contract address — a long string starting with "0x" on EVM chains (Ethereum, BSC, etc.) or a base58 string on Solana. You can find it:

On CoinGecko or CoinMarketCap — Go to the token's page and look for "Contract" in the info section.
On the DEX — When viewing a trading pair on Uniswap, PancakeSwap, or other DEX, the contract address is visible in the token details.
On DEXScreener — Search for the token and copy the contract address from the pair page.
On the block explorer — Search Etherscan, BSCScan, or the relevant chain's explorer.

Important: Always get the contract address from a trusted source. Scammers create fake tokens with the same name but different addresses.

Step 2: Select the Blockchain

On the CryptoSage scanner, select which blockchain the token is on. We support:

Ethereum (ETH)
BNB Smart Chain (BSC)
Base
Arbitrum
Polygon
Optimism
Avalanche
Fantom
Solana

Step 3: Paste the Contract Address and Scan

Paste the contract address into the input field and click "Scan Token". The scanner will analyze the contract and return results within a few seconds.

Step 4: Read the Results

The scan results include:

Safety Score (0-100)

The overall safety rating. Higher is safer. See our guide to safety scores for details on how this is calculated.

Risk Grade

A human-readable summary: LOW RISK, MODERATE RISK, HIGH RISK, VERY HIGH RISK, or DANGEROUS.

Quick Stats

Buy/Sell Tax — Transaction taxes applied when buying or selling. High taxes (>10%) are a warning sign.
Holders — Number of unique wallet addresses holding the token.
Liquidity — Total value locked in trading pools on decentralized exchanges.

Contract Flags

Quick yes/no indicators for honeypot status, source code verification, mintability, and proxy contract detection.

Detailed Risks

Each detected risk is listed with its severity level (Critical, High, Medium, Low) and a description of what it means.

Positive Indicators

Good signs like verified source code, trust list inclusion, CEX listing, fixed supply, and renounced ownership.

Step 5: Make Your Decision

Use the scan results alongside your own research:

Score 80+ — Contract looks safe. Check the project fundamentals.
Score 60-79 — Some risks. Investigate the specific issues before investing.
Score below 60 — High risk. Only invest if you fully understand and accept the risks.
DANGEROUS grade — Do not buy. Critical issues like honeypot detected.

Ready to try? Scan a token now — it's free.