{
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licenseUrl": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "attribution": "ChainChoice (https://chainchoice.io)",
  "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/2026.10.11.json",
  "version": "2026.10.11",
  "status": "archived",
  "publishedAt": "2026-10-20",
  "title": "Two new requirements: the chain you swap on, and a MiCA authorisation in the onramp's own name",
  "supersededBy": "2026.10.12",
  "previous": "2026.10.10",
  "changelog": {
    "url": "https://chainchoice.io/methodology/changelog#v-2026.10.11",
    "entry": {
      "version": "2026.10.11",
      "publishedAt": "2026-10-20",
      "title": "Two new requirements: the chain you swap on, and a MiCA authorisation in the onramp's own name",
      "summary": "Find my best for DEXs asks which chain you swap on, and a venue without two years of pools on that chain is removed with the reason; where each venue holds liquidity, and since when, is read from DefiLlama. Find my best for onramps adds the answer \"Authorised under MiCA in its own name\", which removes every provider that is not authorised under MiCA in its own entity's name (listed on ESMA's interim register of crypto-asset service providers). The published order, which no answer sets, does not change.",
      "rationale": "No answer moved the DEX or onramp winner: Uniswap and Transak led every brief, and a reader who swaps on Solana was shown Uniswap first, which holds no liquidity there. Since the last MiCA transitional period closed on 1 July 2026, a reader in the EU needs a provider that is authorised itself; Transak, which led, is not on the register. Both answers are requirements, not preferences: a venue with no pool on your chain cannot fill your swap, however it scores. The two-year line is the one this category already draws for Ekubo, so PancakeSwap's Solana pools, first measured on 2 July 2025, do not yet count.",
      "affectedCategories": [
        "dex",
        "onramp"
      ],
      "changes": [
        {
          "type": "added",
          "description": "DEXs: \"Which chain do you swap on?\" (Ethereum or another EVM chain, Solana, or several). Solana keeps only Orca and Raydium; EVM removes Orca, Raydium and Osmosis; it keeps a venue with two years of pools on any EVM chain, not necessarily the reader's. Each venue's chains come from data/dex-chain-deployments.json, read from DefiLlama on 2026-10-20."
        },
        {
          "type": "added",
          "description": "Onramps: \"Authorised under MiCA in its own name\" removes Transak, Mercuryo (it rides Criptan's authorisation), Stripe (its terms do not name the crypto provider), Topper (Uphold), Alchemy Pay and five regional rails (Koywe, Onramp Money, Onmeta, Fonbnk, Kotani Pay); six providers authorised in their own name remain. Each row is matched to ESMA's register by LEI (data/esma-casps.json, read 2026-10-10)."
        },
        {
          "type": "added",
          "description": "On every build a test holds each of the eight flagship categories to at least one answer that changes its winner."
        }
      ],
      "approvedBy": "mathias-siemonsmeier"
    }
  },
  "rules": {
    "source": {
      "src": "git:f711b27e0c1b5451d2f699137dd172ac6b498706",
      "at": "2026-10-23T10:52:29+02:00",
      "note": "The category specs as committed at the last commit before the next version was recorded."
    },
    "introduced": {
      "commit": "c96da25f4a9b2805ea358d70c1148e78d3147908",
      "at": "2026-10-21T00:15:05+02:00"
    },
    "specCommitsAfterIntroduction": 0,
    "categories": {
      "account_abstraction_infra": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "58ad2f3f8fa44ef71414d7a1f3977684999701b1b15ad2e7e274dcaa7b19a1e4",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/account_abstraction_infra.58ad2f3f8fa44ef7.json"
      },
      "appchains_l3s": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "f33254e49312065d8ed76706ffd02b02b91c167a13841494215fe0a93d694ea1",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/appchains_l3s.f33254e49312065d.json"
      },
      "attestations": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "6f57d08a3b11ddef9f19864bb5c14561169d90fd548873cec0da180aaabb7927",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/attestations.6f57d08a3b11ddef.json"
      },
      "automation_keepers": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "8b549f1bcb261d7bcbf6ceb9d799bc501c95b940f799afb5e1028c2ed4623875",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/automation_keepers.8b549f1bcb261d7b.json"
      },
      "bill_pay": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "b89b683b8fcf97536461acb1569a51a3627eb1c0e01ab134f6c0825e29b4a71e",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/bill_pay.b89b683b8fcf9753.json"
      },
      "block_explorers": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "8ae646a4b18d7c1905e14d938d91f31c76c97201a76721024c49cfbe1e5fc839",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/block_explorers.8ae646a4b18d7c19.json"
      },
      "bridges": {
        "specVersion": "2026.04",
        "sha256": "733d4c178fe740e461b9ab7366a8b81dcbd1572e8000b56e1b68895cdbd9ab4a",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/bridges.733d4c178fe740e4.json"
      },
      "bug_bounties": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "8ebfd4e205ed3889126452969cbeb3f8276ff621ea71a70f2e91ebe2de587a4c",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/bug_bounties.8ebfd4e205ed3889.json"
      },
      "business_banking": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "a34fedc73dc16e8dafef3e21a997aa565bef8ee821aea3ab39d54b9da29296c1",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/business_banking.a34fedc73dc16e8d.json"
      },
      "carbon_credits": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "6bbe74961a2cdf243038a147e14fce027ad597ca8f84d021441b5bc4dc7b9897",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/carbon_credits.6bbe74961a2cdf24.json"
      },
      "cdp_stablecoins": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "a865bd6524b40f97cf3d129bd9cc9b4eb6dbe82532298db7033fcf655e3f0b1c",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/cdp_stablecoins.a865bd6524b40f97.json"
      },
      "creator_mint_platforms": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "047c23e28f65715a236e751aca0196472405326264c3407553cdd64d67e7aa36",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/creator_mint_platforms.047c23e28f65715a.json"
      },
      "cross_chain_messaging": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "85b853475f5054400a90f62a92eab4e395b886adfb3efc87cac7345be22b6784",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/cross_chain_messaging.85b853475f505440.json"
      },
      "cross_chain_swaps": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "2892811404caeafc8286b9c98f9d3cb3c7b93dcb70ccd1a8ccc821fb77be3a6e",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/cross_chain_swaps.2892811404caeafc.json"
      },
      "crypto_backed_loans": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "b0f7de045c7830a89334e3d8773e7d941507b642b10c93a3198906c14a27e512",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/crypto_backed_loans.b0f7de045c7830a8.json"
      },
      "crypto_card": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "1bf31b62fa9d3933b3a2bcdd30d5de03ac2fc4232885d8895c86024769bd346b",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/crypto_card.1bf31b62fa9d3933.json"
      },
      "crypto_neobanks": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "57f5bdbfdc3d6d9e01b7db980bfd3b91f2f800539b2e39debb0a42edd2781409",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/crypto_neobanks.57f5bdbfdc3d6d9e.json"
      },
      "crypto_payroll": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "02d943c823c105792dbb86f39a645fc52655a39fd2ff303a2801d60622b2a6e4",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/crypto_payroll.02d943c823c10579.json"
      },
      "data_availability": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "ccd0556d47000353510065f50e5bf0e6cbcbc867df75263d0b566f47120bed76",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/data_availability.ccd0556d47000353.json"
      },
      "decentralised_compute": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "4b3f205c3f363f439489c6c4a3dee61b97943670bd192b892c81e93ec8b4bdfe",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/decentralised_compute.4b3f205c3f363f43.json"
      },
      "decentralised_id": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "5eea8b1a95f341f710ea784385a8d43ba1759e09b9670def986fae8bbca3d89c",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/decentralised_id.5eea8b1a95f341f7.json"
      },
      "decentralised_storage": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "edafd9d5ecc33a3894dfa5efddf2542f4eb98b728fbb1af4ebd0ba79c9f6eb66",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/decentralised_storage.edafd9d5ecc33a38.json"
      },
      "defi_dashboards": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "2d4781df76f13e99487f551bd1e395e564635e3e138d66aaafd3b74376627212",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/defi_dashboards.2d4781df76f13e99.json"
      },
      "defi_insurance": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "17f08fc8ac5f966b10d2c4b769d324148d134a2d896e9742b69a768f8a416fe6",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/defi_insurance.17f08fc8ac5f966b.json"
      },
      "depin_networks": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "d354c6cc8dd967decb5526e6e7b4e80c09fa30862b395985dc9afed2e5b05562",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/depin_networks.d354c6cc8dd967de.json"
      },
      "dev_frameworks": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "d9dc16de7450a56a9c194e6fede814fcb5038e0ccd0a1b6c6c72ef6388a6fa6e",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/dev_frameworks.d9dc16de7450a56a.json"
      },
      "dex": {
        "specVersion": "2026.07",
        "sha256": "664510f9469be2b761963563a6ad9fc7e2cedb36a0139b7bc0af89a64e090fb7",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/dex.664510f9469be2b7.json"
      },
      "dex_aggregator": {
        "specVersion": "2026.07",
        "sha256": "5dc33ad959c4b50dcc963d41afa4cfc12445221270a2d371a61c9b0473cd16f4",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/dex_aggregator.5dc33ad959c4b50d.json"
      },
      "enterprise_accounting": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "8c51c09bcadeebfe149ac623c05c54d12019312ad2ee6acc8d81f6acb0ff8e45",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/enterprise_accounting.8c51c09bcadeebfe.json"
      },
      "exchange": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "16e6a15aa28c83f12635a58e171118649c692696c5fd379e61b8ea01aeb7cb5a",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/exchange.16e6a15aa28c83f1.json"
      },
      "fixed_rate_yield": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "a9801fabcd4319462fdc95a3409c05eb6f2b587d83a5b728568f8f563d4c1e4a",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/fixed_rate_yield.a9801fabcd431946.json"
      },
      "flash_loans": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "f6d8f522ce2b028bfc346efc289f367b3411a8c4038cdb88887a8e623c631411",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/flash_loans.f6d8f522ce2b028b.json"
      },
      "gift_cards": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "b32742af565455bae48718f075906e13f16685eb476c90c252866bb4b9585054",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/gift_cards.b32742af565455ba.json"
      },
      "governance_tools": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "a7ff402431de95a3d5b5f6661b17ec6e90475df6ab604ae87a16d18108bfdf05",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/governance_tools.a7ff402431de95a3.json"
      },
      "hardware_wallet": {
        "specVersion": "2026.10",
        "sha256": "1f888d1c96426021ec32c361ed06867c0ede9808ffe1098bbc696b67caac7797",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/hardware_wallet.1f888d1c96426021.json"
      },
      "incentive_distribution": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "8b048846e298ea4760ce9b76d7e23bd87da8761b17972468e5acfce1f58eae84",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/incentive_distribution.8b048846e298ea47.json"
      },
      "indexers": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "a90ccb05853dfee10509b27ea7aaf776721909fd0c2220381a9ddf23704bed09",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/indexers.a90ccb05853dfee1.json"
      },
      "institutional_custody": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "6510cce219527b815331da565c5e16172a09cf8fa353c96a0bf8a65fcc6273b2",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/institutional_custody.6510cce219527b81.json"
      },
      "institutional_execution": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "4fe11bd110f70f9d6ced3969968e373fe66be76a84f150d47321d12748d38472",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/institutional_execution.4fe11bd110f70f9d.json"
      },
      "intents": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "8abb95def15042ff99024ff3cc2f4c017984e73e6a7e04ced0651d86701a99ac",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/intents.8abb95def15042ff.json"
      },
      "key_recovery": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "204d20de611a42c9906c44fe3be5555f927ae3f0c9f862f43fea890e6097f14f",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/key_recovery.204d20de611a42c9.json"
      },
      "kyc_compliance": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "ac107ea62d26c531ea57310ba2432769c390b0ec299249059d21f5c239825394",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/kyc_compliance.ac107ea62d26c531.json"
      },
      "l2_chains": {
        "specVersion": "2026.10",
        "sha256": "9a81b5b83b173e0621e84c46ac26e4d5785e54d7ad2af5164e4a70d5c228b2ee",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/l2_chains.9a81b5b83b173e06.json"
      },
      "launchpads": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "b72d4a367361d633c8f019f10a26e2a2c5c2f32662dfc8b723f5e57c41b554f0",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/launchpads.b72d4a367361d633.json"
      },
      "layer1_chains": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "b6ed8d16056e7316a32e85567ba721b505e9a105e096ada045bb6075ad3292b8",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/layer1_chains.b6ed8d16056e7316.json"
      },
      "lending_borrowing": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "c76e65e08f01bc5b4b9c8da0fffc138a8a1a9541e5af52fa898c0dc8288bd82c",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/lending_borrowing.c76e65e08f01bc5b.json"
      },
      "lightning_payment_infrastructure": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "94985ef73ea52dae74819709ddcf9ca83fb9ac579666a999ecce6e71e410a758",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/lightning_payment_infrastructure.94985ef73ea52dae.json"
      },
      "lightning_wallets": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "f7fd20b04d0fc5b24ee80a4439cc87d17449b1838941f3d8cea53611dc9fb19b",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/lightning_wallets.f7fd20b04d0fc5b2.json"
      },
      "liquid_lockers": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "4a526d0c853779b266eb60194a96e06863f6d4f0e2283a95a4f6502b8cdde9a9",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/liquid_lockers.4a526d0c853779b2.json"
      },
      "liquid_staking": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "e6f92adc17cb32f7b12c4f6942cc67a07fbc900a3ec2836d1b04dee4cf88e505",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/liquid_staking.e6f92adc17cb32f7.json"
      },
      "liquidity_management": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "aad6e6faef0781d634ed6db67a4dbc4e9680692723fef6181adc7eabb9f2563c",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/liquidity_management.aad6e6faef0781d6.json"
      },
      "market_data_apis": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "5a3326a8fc70b9a2af89edd4142d4182f513afd80546f4024d2dbff6ad9a8071",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/market_data_apis.5a3326a8fc70b9a2.json"
      },
      "mev_protection": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "8f340f42e63c1c8782a57f9810286b283515534f943ba70c758dbcc687a0dd4e",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/mev_protection.8f340f42e63c1c87.json"
      },
      "mining_pools": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "e17076a76a567eee1dbbd9c653533044466b8c3c09c67f7ff3817c149ed2eb48",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/mining_pools.e17076a76a567eee.json"
      },
      "money_market_funds": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "ce40101660541344187f1ccec4bb048fc405876183336ad96af5d5cb3c59b97e",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/money_market_funds.ce40101660541344.json"
      },
      "mpc_wallets": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "eeb22a44c70533a7a3b7c0098dcc76000154715b6312415176a6bb2b90b92b09",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/mpc_wallets.eeb22a44c70533a7.json"
      },
      "naming_services": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "55a5dabcd19b8ae0ac3e19133584aa4e071deb45f59f77410279fff7fce9d8ab",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/naming_services.55a5dabcd19b8ae0.json"
      },
      "nft_analytics": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "1cec13e2b0557752c2bec89b65d8960d154fcbf5a38162a540d52424cf570d02",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/nft_analytics.1cec13e2b0557752.json"
      },
      "nft_lending": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "5159f2dd26839c99ded832459a2213b1c92aef6ab8186be1173d22c487b52596",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/nft_lending.5159f2dd26839c99.json"
      },
      "nft_marketplace": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "4ecd2c667aac2aa588b2c718f71066f987561eb30f7069d4b49ae71976bcbbae",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/nft_marketplace.4ecd2c667aac2aa5.json"
      },
      "offramps": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "84984d6e772f0f92a6ba459849bdf7dd0ace2d3256a367a47cb14f14e0061008",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/offramps.84984d6e772f0f92.json"
      },
      "onchain_analytics": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "fdc900e2e1fb60376df3fbd9d9befa6386db9c9de54c15baaadf2297741f27ec",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/onchain_analytics.fdc900e2e1fb6037.json"
      },
      "onchain_monitoring": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "abdb07410717017ca5138e904fca98e477b7de118aa87ae2a4504d2988667c6d",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/onchain_monitoring.abdb07410717017c.json"
      },
      "onramp": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "0319e84ff1ab41f5687b03463fed1264915ecb429ff6ba066a317edc63e1495d",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/onramp.0319e84ff1ab41f5.json"
      },
      "options_vaults": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "f71cc0c6147996a9613c55a13c07ea23c8a4112587e889a436c46fbcd2a24f49",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/options_vaults.f71cc0c6147996a9.json"
      },
      "oracles": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "9e82375fc57e70c8a19a19159206968bea3b22b572a053fa6ad73ebbe6c89cfe",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/oracles.9e82375fc57e70c8.json"
      },
      "otc_desks": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "eb49f36143805d642b2cad1e94c9d0412795b17c3a3bd3aab48310aaf872ae41",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/otc_desks.eb49f36143805d64.json"
      },
      "p2p_exchanges": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "c8f66f457a8f67b5ee0e984bb4df3d919bf87c6d987db51dcaebf6f6cd08abdd",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/p2p_exchanges.c8f66f457a8f67b5.json"
      },
      "paid_research_seats": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "c94959beb43d3564da8987e09051a66a8d48a2fdba49a8155b8e51b8f998953b",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/paid_research_seats.c94959beb43d3564.json"
      },
      "payment_gateway": {
        "specVersion": "2026.04",
        "sha256": "2dc1139be927f6be259a07d56c0fd05048ae41dfc16868ecf1fac2a8d09a70f1",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/payment_gateway.2dc1139be927f6be.json"
      },
      "perp_dex": {
        "specVersion": "2026.07",
        "sha256": "c1be8c4b65ce679cf090221bc3981cbdcdf222fdcada3544aa9afa511f228e9c",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/perp_dex.c1be8c4b65ce679c.json"
      },
      "perp_house_vaults": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "c213dbbc73b619fb7a5c76739a8cf7b5469f1356efcb6bca083740bf79871c22",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/perp_house_vaults.c213dbbc73b619fb.json"
      },
      "portfolio_tracking": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "09e78545d808a387796a9953801cfb77576ad29565cfdf912ef10e426bc9773c",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/portfolio_tracking.09e78545d808a387.json"
      },
      "prediction_markets": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "36b51b2b1226f217f65b594de55b383d7983ebe9a4173f2cb652c970dc779d14",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/prediction_markets.36b51b2b1226f217.json"
      },
      "privacy_tools": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "eefd1f51429c6a6ba50e21a303003c9b447d09bdb4455fb5ab10be38aa84c9c7",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/privacy_tools.eefd1f51429c6a6b.json"
      },
      "private_credit": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "5512dd63ce2c3e79d1fca1b5e1c877afce84f902201f0c4c5db7107b43e36321",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/private_credit.5512dd63ce2c3e79.json"
      },
      "proof_of_personhood": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "c96b11a00b6e5d3e9ecc8f230f75d571882aa5ef754b543c42148a19bbaa8308",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/proof_of_personhood.c96b11a00b6e5d3e.json"
      },
      "relayers": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "ce007cbd1a4c2a15a2a379a0decd56532ab51f335165a6dac8fed1036e9ac6ab",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/relayers.ce007cbd1a4c2a15.json"
      },
      "remittances": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "3a0c8eaa396a72f65fa5724ceb57f1da06b630005e2bf6a069f6ce90b4453ae9",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/remittances.3a0c8eaa396a72f6.json"
      },
      "restaking": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "6aa74e9ac915561c7e289068315fa0f2a5df0640c8c0c7e4114e984e1f4d2eba",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/restaking.6aa74e9ac915561c.json"
      },
      "revoke_tools": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "97c46860388fce90700a33245d965f3bdb98a268213f9f57db6b45085cbd8dba",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/revoke_tools.97c46860388fce90.json"
      },
      "rollup_as_a_service": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "2a5b740118546cd7a5d07800c9376e71dd650f39e030b299e5e4bb923851e397",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/rollup_as_a_service.2a5b740118546cd7.json"
      },
      "rpc_nodes": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "13d93854b2d6a804d326cc464f64faf996e17377f5ab330db6e9d8ae8129db77",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/rpc_nodes.13d93854b2d6a804.json"
      },
      "screeners": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "18d7fed538fadf92e7ec655325714a9e1a994125851b8998cb6375cfb7a1a54b",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/screeners.18d7fed538fadf92.json"
      },
      "seed_backup": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "0c4f33a0170be38b4224d5a25400c7d6cb7cc08cb405fe6a72700c90388bb3ad",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/seed_backup.0c4f33a0170be38b.json"
      },
      "sentiment_analytics": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "97161c225480b8a261b93b6cc4ace49453d203dbba8c9c1aef15a09b53f1ab2e",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/sentiment_analytics.97161c225480b8a2.json"
      },
      "shared_sequencers": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "16d65542ac877ac42635bb9b000f4c1bf96ae2edfaf99c97c12fad97972e44c8",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/shared_sequencers.16d65542ac877ac4.json"
      },
      "sidechains": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "f3727d2c4e193135797b8a89d0b1337c5f8ccfa8967206a23bd5c90eee494465",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/sidechains.f3727d2c4e193135.json"
      },
      "simple_buy": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "0b5d6194edcace0117d944dc3393c8e49f11866ef198060103f9f389fb16ec9f",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/simple_buy.0b5d6194edcace01.json"
      },
      "smart_accounts": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "06ab05930946086c08726908cdae6e81fc172984f5faa5a2855320cb3694c33a",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/smart_accounts.06ab05930946086c.json"
      },
      "smart_contract_audits": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "f277123827c7c83ec991eb8507fb0c83ba5e405028ec2de5d3670c571ee21aa3",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/smart_contract_audits.f277123827c7c83e.json"
      },
      "socialfi": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "e7009daa4f71fdd8bb54d45c0309c83f9235d28a821323000ee2b2a3cf287747",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/socialfi.e7009daa4f71fdd8.json"
      },
      "stablecoin_issuance": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "6d7bea6d9769ff8009cb9981be3b483b5c97271f6f12967e3e3c3edaa2683829",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/stablecoin_issuance.6d7bea6d9769ff80.json"
      },
      "stablecoin_settlement": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "45b9a595ec256522d77c5d8e23a2330906017ad2f6a810652f15e96def82a173",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/stablecoin_settlement.45b9a595ec256522.json"
      },
      "stablecoin_yield": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "e804599ce282eaa568f8c9741408df637b36427e5a1430ad70e00e3f1bc889ff",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/stablecoin_yield.e804599ce282eaa5.json"
      },
      "stablecoins": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "1548c4750888d10e11299e9bcc8fbae239d5d9f8304016efddd08a713489f1fa",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/stablecoins.1548c4750888d10e.json"
      },
      "staking": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "c5f913299ce09f34fa77a6b65e80796a8b9a7a016219a00fcf18f010977c3101",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/staking.c5f913299ce09f34.json"
      },
      "structured_products": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "834c05a6d24a7487a8fdf399319aec2dd04d962acb8e11738174742a78e28dbe",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/structured_products.834c05a6d24a7487.json"
      },
      "subscriptions": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "d6bc50a9199b97fb1def3fd7ba4c5d59180861cbe8946300aff9654fd2a76097",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/subscriptions.d6bc50a9199b97fb.json"
      },
      "tax_software": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "37a1914aea513e28b19e10b33df7563c979098573c935307fcccf4afbd629e0d",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/tax_software.37a1914aea513e28.json"
      },
      "token_launch_platforms": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "2f869809acfaf16d48bb222b59f5c2b1911f6683aa98ae57a7597d3f5dee11db",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/token_launch_platforms.2f869809acfaf16d.json"
      },
      "token_standards": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "08fbb0fa5a232717daa643e2815db548210707cdbb9c2a0f8143052ec3b5082f",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/token_standards.08fbb0fa5a232717.json"
      },
      "tokenisation_platforms": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "6a237022c05a15ef60fff44fb32075dce41631370b68ca26829b4e8f834e1f78",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/tokenisation_platforms.6a237022c05a15ef.json"
      },
      "tokenised_bonds": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "664aa23e6ede1733f9687ecfb1741c8b6a7efc5bce7c6d5b184f69396dafc9a9",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/tokenised_bonds.664aa23e6ede1733.json"
      },
      "tokenised_commodities": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "77e0e218aa8a49dc76fb702aa34179d3263251439f132db1fcdb61167c09575d",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/tokenised_commodities.77e0e218aa8a49dc.json"
      },
      "tokenised_equities": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "c3ecbc2b49b9978b5ba59937d39e2646fdbd86d15043f7b79a46f9657ca3b77e",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/tokenised_equities.c3ecbc2b49b9978b.json"
      },
      "tokenised_funds": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "a4f8612284c5a8e0015f3937452fe07259994ea8634b15de78c3b9128a2db6ae",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/tokenised_funds.a4f8612284c5a8e0.json"
      },
      "tokenised_realestate": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "057db7cd7dbbb673b0c8361882faddbce0bd925dddcf350f7d08a7a070c63531",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/tokenised_realestate.057db7cd7dbbb673.json"
      },
      "tokenised_tbills": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "0d0990b14ddb376fe9312e1087072106d31a3133f5b43ac90c692f5dcec8b14c",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/tokenised_tbills.0d0990b14ddb376f.json"
      },
      "trading_bots": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "9e768ab9ef3705b15d7c8a4d99fc686659457e327703fa34c633aabf3d2cd87c",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/trading_bots.9e768ab9ef3705b1.json"
      },
      "trading_tools": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "2e299ffb20201e661c77b4b12e34cba11c8afa0c956bb4f036af6af3ef1354da",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/trading_tools.2e299ffb20201e66.json"
      },
      "transaction_simulation": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "58dd556dbd407f5f85ab06367488f8d7a86c4f8cc98ce629383a67f497124729",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/transaction_simulation.58dd556dbd407f5f.json"
      },
      "travel_rule_compliance": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "3e7809cb78df8f0a9732e56d32bc370700ccffe72ef8f184104de8e76af7e453",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/travel_rule_compliance.3e7809cb78df8f0a.json"
      },
      "wallet": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "995829226974b554a54657c4b1fb15788c216dc1a5cd4eab366efd44cdebe58c",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/wallet.995829226974b554.json"
      },
      "wallet_screening": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "3f825f55be80948d1a8143220349e0c50ed1896d5e1379d68659bf924a660ad8",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/wallet_screening.3f825f55be80948d.json"
      },
      "web3_apps": {
        "specVersion": "2026.04",
        "sha256": "e8d50d4b250528527c865af8dc467a70e7da18db3c4e734f4ecee38e503c760d",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/web3_apps.e8d50d4b25052852.json"
      },
      "wrapped_assets": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "7ba951d27fbfb170508aede43b1ef3114285a268bb3889133631f097bc1c005c",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/wrapped_assets.7ba951d27fbfb170.json"
      },
      "yield_aggregators": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "ef82a9d638956932e207391d4e0f4f1e5048b91897ab40eb0f2b3f6d76fbc217",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/yield_aggregators.ef82a9d638956932.json"
      },
      "yield_vaults": {
        "specVersion": "2026.08",
        "sha256": "2dd14ec1be13c04ba43614d6fcf798623761ab12b73aa61a1bde02df57dd67d2",
        "url": "https://chainchoice.io/data/methodology/category/yield_vaults.2dd14ec1be13c04b.json"
      }
    },
    "formula": {
      "step1_weightedTotal": "weightedTotal = round((SUM over dimensions of (breakdown[d] / baseWeight[d]) * weight[d]) / (SUM of weight[d]) * 86, 6 decimal places), where every breakdown[d] is a multiple of 0.1",
      "step2_absoluteScore": "absolute = min(99, max(40, round(weightedTotal <= 20 ? 40 + weightedTotal * ((60 + (20 / 86) * 38 - 40) / 20) : 60 + (weightedTotal / 86) * 38)))",
      "step3_poolRelative": "score = round(min(min(99, max(41, leaderScore - (leaderWeighted - weightedTotal) * 2.6)), scoreOfRowAbove))",
      "tieBreakChain": [
        "availabilitySource, for a reader who states a country only: in perp_dex, perp_house_vaults, options_vaults, prediction_markets, a row whose availability in that country rests on a region tag its record gives no source for (no availability note quoting the provider's terms, and no dated country entry) sorts below every row whose availability is sourced. No row carries it in the orders published in this file, which state no country.",
        "weightedTotal as step 1 states it, higher first. Only rows whose weighted totals are exactly equal reach the keys below.",
        "unroundedWeightedTotal, higher first: step 1 over the dimension points before they are kept to a tenth of a point, published per product. Since methodology v2 a shared weighted total from different unrounded points is ordered by those points, so only rows equal on both reach the keys below.",
        "criteriaAverage, higher first: the row's unrounded weighted average of its published criterion scores (0 to 10) under the weights in use. Applied only when both rows are scored on their category's criteria and the averages differ; otherwise the keys below decide. Since methodology 2026.09.12.",
        "tiebreakDelta, higher first: the sum of three factors. (1) Price: when the category has one comparable pricing basis that may decide rank (priced for at least two of its catalog rows, not an entry-plan figure derived from a price ladder, and quoted in a single currency), a priced row earns 0 to 2 points in proportion to where its price sits between the highest and the lowest in the pool, or 1 point when every published price on that basis is equal; a row with no price on that basis, and every row of a category without such a basis, earns 0. (2) Strength: 1 point when at least three of the row's catalog fitStrength values are 9 or above; those values are its published criterion scores, plus further strength keys on some rows. (3) Dimension: 1 point when the row scores at least 85% of the maximum on the highest-weighted dimension of the weights in use (the first in weights order when two are equal). A row outside the alternate product catalog (every payment_gateway row) carries 0. It orders rows and is never added to a score.",
        "objectiveFit points, higher first.",
        "product name, alphabetical."
      ],
      "tieBreakNote": "The published per-category tieBreakRules are not yet applied by the engine; where two rows share a weighted total and an unrounded weighted total, the chain above decides. Since methodology 2026.09.12 the first key after the totals is the two rows' unrounded weighted criterion averages, so a tie between rows scored on the published criteria is ordered by those criteria; the generic factors decide only where the averages are equal or a row has no criterion scores. tieBreakDecisions counts only pairs equal on both totals, and againstCriteria lists any of them still ordered against the criteria.",
      "note": "boundBy names which limit decided the number when one did: floor, ceiling, row-above, or none. Rows marked floor sit at 41 and the multiplication alone gives a lower figure.",
      "baseWeights": {
        "availability": 20,
        "objectiveFit": 30,
        "frictionFit": 10,
        "trustBonus": 8,
        "quantitative": 18
      },
      "unweightedDimensions": [
        "profileFit"
      ],
      "unweightedNote": "These dimensions are computed and published in every breakdown but carry no weight in the total. profileFit left the composite in methodology 2026.09.2: it was constant inside all 114 categories, so its 20 points moved every product in a pool identically and ordered nothing. Sum the breakdown against baseWeights and the unweighted terms are simply absent from the arithmetic — that is the intended reading, not an omission.",
      "weightVersusInfluence": "A base weight is how much a dimension COULD move a score, not how much it did. Each category publishes dimensionSpread: the range that dimension actually covered across its pool. A spread of 0 means the dimension was constant there and decided nothing, however large its weight.",
      "constantHereNote": "Each category publishes constantHere beside its weights: true for a weighted dimension whose value is identical for every ranked product of that category. Its weight still counts in step 1 and no score moves; it ordered nothing there, and every page that prints that category's weights prints \"constant here\" beside it.",
      "attestationNote": "Each category publishes attestations: of its ranked rows' criterion cells, how many rest on a provider officer's signed, dated and hashed attestation alone (labelled attested-by-provider), and that share in percent. An attestation lifts its criterion by at most 1 rung (one band of 0-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10) over the public evidence, and a score that rests on one reads \"Attested by provider\", never \"Verified\".",
      "ccssNote": "Custody categories in scope publish ccss: each ranked row's CryptoCurrency Security Standard level read off the C4 register on readAt. A current, entity-matched certificate (at most 365 days old) corroborates a band of the named criterion — Level 1 3-4, Level 2 5-6, Level 3 7-8 — and moves no score. not-listed means absent from that register page on that day, not that no audit exists.",
      "objectiveBasis": "Each product names where its objectiveFit points came from. \"criteria\": the block is the weighted sum of the published criterion cells, min(30, 0.75 × Σ weight × cell/10 × 32) kept to a tenth of a point, and a pairwise ledger can itemise it per criterion. \"whole\": the category scores the block from structural facts or capability flags rather than per-criterion cells, so it enters a ledger as one term. \"sunset\": the product no longer operates (sunsetAt gives the date) and the block is zeroed regardless of its cells.",
      "totalBaseWeight": 86,
      "dimensionResolution": 0.1,
      "weightedTotalDecimals": 6,
      "resolutionNote": "Since methodology v2 every breakdown value is kept to dimensionResolution (a tenth of a point) before it is weighted, and each product also publishes unroundedWeightedTotal: step 1 over its points before that rounding. Two products that share a weightedTotal are ordered by unroundedWeightedTotal before any key of tieBreakChain after it.",
      "spreadPerWeightedPoint": 2.6,
      "scoreFloor": 41,
      "scoreCeiling": 99,
      "leaderRobustnessNote": "leaderSurvivesOnePointChange: whether this category keeps its #1 when any single criterion score moves by one point on the 0-10 scale — the smallest difference two competent raters can hold. False in 35 of 118 categories. A false does not mean the ranking is wrong; it means the evidence separates the top two by less than the width of a judgement call, and the file says so rather than letting the displayed gap imply otherwise. null means the sweep could not run — too few criteria or too small a pool — and is deliberately not reported as robust."
    },
    "recipe": "sha256 is the SHA-256 of the category spec (the file's \"spec\" field) written as compact JSON: every object's keys sorted, no spaces or line breaks, non-ASCII characters as UTF-8 (not escaped), no trailing newline. That is the serialisation of the rankings digest."
  },
  "rankings": {
    "ledger": "https://chainchoice.io/data/rankings-ledger.jsonl",
    "produced": [
      {
        "seq": 4171,
        "rankingsDigest": "74235515a1041bd2db9c6ec3433cfd70881cb2fe682efe79b1e9c7ebb259b582",
        "ob": "2026-10-20",
        "src": "build",
        "engine": "2026.10.11"
      }
    ],
    "whenIntroduced": "9b25bed6884ce58d577c2aacd24ae91bcde17bb0650207229b475a9c05ce4bb4",
    "whenSuperseded": "74235515a1041bd2db9c6ec3433cfd70881cb2fe682efe79b1e9c7ebb259b582",
    "newest": null,
    "note": "produced lists the ledger's digest entries whose rankings.json was generated while this version was the newest changelog entry (seq is the entry's place in the ledger). whenIntroduced and whenSuperseded are the digests of the rankings.json committed with the first and the last commit of this version."
  },
  "gaps": [],
  "notes": []
}