When you buy a crypto token like Uniswap (UNI), Chainlink (LINK), or even a memecoin like Shiba Inu (SHIB), you’re usually holding an ERC-20 token, a standardized digital asset built on the Ethereum blockchain that follows a set of rules for how it’s created, transferred, and tracked. Also known as Ethereum token standard, it’s the reason thousands of tokens can talk to each other, swap on decentralized exchanges, and live in the same wallet. Without ERC-20, crypto would be a mess of incompatible coins that couldn’t interact. It’s not a coin like Bitcoin—it’s a rulebook that lets anyone build a token that works everywhere Ethereum does.
ERC-20 isn’t magic. It’s code. Specifically, it’s a set of functions and events that every token must include: things like transfer (to send tokens), balanceOf (to check how many you have), and totalSupply (to know how many exist). That’s why your MetaMask wallet can show your UNI, AAVE, and DAI all at once—they all speak the same language. But this simplicity also creates risks. Because the rules are basic, bad code can slip through. Many tokens have been hacked not because Ethereum broke, but because the token’s own code had flaws. Audits help, but they’re not foolproof. And because anyone can create an ERC-20 token in minutes, you’ll see hundreds of fake or useless ones pop up every day—like that ghost token with zero trading volume you read about.
ERC-20 tokens are tied to real-world use. They power DeFi lending, governance votes, staking rewards, and even in-game items. If you’ve ever connected your wallet to a dApp and clicked "Approve," you’re interacting with an ERC-20 token. But not all tokens are equal. Some are backed by real assets, others are pure speculation. The ones you see in our posts? They’re the real ones—the ones with actual trading, community, or utility—and the ones that are just noise. You’ll find reviews of tokens like BOW and BELLE, deep dives into airdrops like CANU and SCH, and warnings about scams hiding behind the ERC-20 name. The standard makes it easy to build tokens, but it doesn’t guarantee they’re worth holding. That’s where you come in.
Behind every ERC-20 token is a smart contract. That’s the real engine. And smart contracts run on Ethereum, which means gas fees, network congestion, and upgrades matter. When Ethereum shifts to new versions, ERC-20 tokens don’t break—but their performance might. That’s why some projects are slowly moving to other chains like Polygon or Base, trying to cut costs while keeping the ERC-20 structure. The standard is old, but it’s still the most trusted. Even new chains often copy its rules so users don’t have to learn a new system. It’s the lingua franca of crypto tokens.
So when you see a new token listed, ask: Is it ERC-20? Yes. But is it useful? Is it audited? Does it have real users? The answer to those questions matters more than the standard itself. The posts below don’t just list tokens—they dig into what’s behind them. You’ll find real data, not hype. No fluff. Just what’s working, what’s broken, and what to avoid in 2025.
Airbloc (ABL) is a nearly dead crypto token that promised a data marketplace but delivered nothing. With no development, zero community, and a market cap under $50K, it's a cautionary tale in crypto.