The truth behind 313 questionnaires: How data transparency is reshaping the exchange listing ecosystem in 2026

RootData’s latest research report reveals a industry consensus: data transparency has shifted from a bonus to a necessity. This survey, based on 313 valid questionnaires involving exchange Listing BD, researchers, and listing committee members, shows that over 69% are directly involved in listing decisions. The behind-the-scenes data reflects not only the challenges faced by exchanges in their review process but also deeper issues within the entire Web3 information ecosystem.

The Real Dilemmas Faced by Exchanges

Information Overload and Decision Pressure

Approximately 50% of respondents need to evaluate more than 50 projects annually, meaning they handle at least one new project per week on average. Under this high-frequency evaluation pressure, the quality of information directly impacts decision-making efficiency.

More critically, over 30% of respondents indicated that data lag could lead to misjudgments or implicit score deductions. This not only prolongs the listing cycle but also increases uncertainty for project teams.

Chain Reaction Caused by Lack of Transparency

Insufficient data transparency triggers more serious consequences than imagined:

• 50% of respondents initiate defensive due diligence processes, directly extending review times
• 16.7% may stop reviews or reject listings outright due to opaque information
• 88.9% need to cross-verify data across multiple platforms, which means the review costs for each project are invisibly doubled

Why Data Transparency Has Become a Core Competitiveness

From “Optional” to “Mandatory” Shift

The report emphasizes that the credibility foundation of Web3 projects includes elements such as institutional investors, valuation, team, and roadmap. These pieces of information require third-party platforms to prevent falsification and misinformation.

91.4% of respondents believe that platforms like RootData, which include detailed information, can improve listing efficiency by at least 30%. What does this number indicate? It shows that the current time and cost wasted by exchanges in obtaining information are enormous.

The Foundation of Industry Trust

Over 80.6% of respondents agree that data platforms are crucial for listing decisions. Opaque information not only hampers the capitalization process of projects but also weakens the trust foundation of the entire industry. This is a long-term issue—if investors cannot access genuine data, the market cannot price effectively, ultimately harming the health of the entire ecosystem.

Trends and Insights

Implications for Exchanges

Data transparency has become a key factor in differentiating competitive advantages among exchanges. Those that establish standardized information disclosure systems early will gain a clear edge in listing review efficiency.

Implications for Projects

The report calls on project teams to proactively improve information disclosure levels and utilize tools like RootData to build a complete credibility system. This is not a passive response but the best strategy to accelerate the listing process.

Industry Insights

Third-party data platforms are becoming foundational infrastructure for the industry. The industry’s first transparency ranking system launched by RootData is an attempt to turn information disclosure from an optional to a mandatory requirement, promoting integration between Web3 and mainstream commerce.

Summary

The core insight of this research report is clear: the bottleneck in exchange listing decisions is not project quality but the efficiency and authenticity of information access. The importance of data transparency has never been more prominent. For exchanges, this is an opportunity to enhance competitiveness; for project teams, it’s a way to accelerate listings; for the entire industry, it’s the foundation for long-term trust. By 2026, those who better solve the information asymmetry problem will take the lead in the listing ecosystem.