How to Check Liquidity Lock Status on New Tokens (Without Getting Tricked)
Introduction
Everyone says “DYOR,” but let’s be honest most people don’t even check the basics. And one of the most important basics? Liquidity locks.
Just because a token has liquidity doesn’t mean it’s safe. It might look like it’s “locked,” but without checking how long, how much, and where it’s locked, you’re flying blind.
Here’s how to quickly and confidently check if a new token’s liquidity is truly locked or just pretending.
What Locked Liquidity Really Means
When a dev adds funds to a DEX like Uniswap or PancakeSwap, they get LP tokens in return. These LP tokens give them the power to pull that liquidity back at any time unless they lock those LP tokens in a smart contract.
Locked liquidity means the dev can’t yank the funds out until the timer expires. That’s supposed to protect you from rug pulls. But scammers know how to fake the optics, and that’s what you need to watch for.
How to Actually Verify a Liquidity Lock
There are two main ways to do it:
1. Use Reputable Locking Platforms
Go to trusted sites like:
- Team Finance
- Unicrypt
- DxSale
- Pinksale
Most have a dashboard where you can paste in the LP token address and see:
- How much liquidity is locked
- How long it’s locked for
- Whether it’s truly unwithdrawable
If a project says “locked liquidity” but gives you no link or verifiable proof, that’s a red flag. Always ask for the lock link.
2. Check on a Blockchain Explorer
If you want raw data, go to Etherscan (or BscScan, Polygonscan, etc.):
- Find the LP token address using DEXTools or DexScreener
- Paste it into the explorer
- Go to the “Holders” tab
- Look for a smart contract address holding the tokens
- Check if it’s a real locker (e.g., Unicrypt, Team Finance)
- Bonus: Look for the zero address (0x00…) if tokens were burned
Also check the Read Contract tab of the token’s smart contract and run owner(). If it returns 0x000…0, ownership has been renounced a strong trust signal.
What Makes a Lock Legit vs. Weak
Even if liquidity is locked, it might not mean much if:
- Only 20% is locked
- The lock is for just 7 days
- The dev can “extend” or “relock” it on demand
- The locker contract isn’t reputable or verified
Strong signs of a legit lock:
- 80%+ of LP tokens locked
- Lock duration of 6 months or more
- Lock is through a trusted platform
- Ownership of the contract has been renounced
This tells you the team is serious not just stalling until they pull a soft rug.
Use DEX Tools to Watch Behavior Over Time
Platforms like DEXTools, Dex Screener, and Gecko Terminal show:
- TVL (Total Value Locked) — sudden drops can mean funds are pulled
- Trading Volume — low or zero volume = no market demand
- Liquidity Pool Composition — some pairs look good on paper but fall apart under pressure
Don’t rely on just the lock status. Look at the big picture: behavior, volume, and dev actions.
Bonus: Use tokenchecker.io for Instant Analysis
Instead of digging through contract tabs or scanning Etherscan line by line, tokenchecker.io does this for you:
- Flags whether liquidity is locked
- Checks if the lock is verifiable
- Shows if the token is a honeypot
- Analyzes wallet distribution and ownership
Think of it like your radar for spotting fake safety signals before they drain your wallet.
Final Thoughts
Liquidity locks matter but only when they’re real, long-term, and verifiable.
Don’t just take a dev’s word for it. Ask for proof. Read the contract. Cross-check on a block explorer. Or better yet let tokenchecker.io do it in seconds.
Because a “locked” project that still rugs isn’t locked. It’s just more convincing bait.